Volleyball athletes need to read and react in order to spike the ball onto opposing defenders. Speed and agility are critical attributes on the court, but if you don’t have the power to hit the ball once you run it down, your team will suffer the consequences.

If you want to gain power behind your spikes, you have to do more than simply working a few arm exercises into your daily routine. You need to work from the ground up. That’s just what the UCLA Bruin volleyball players do during their off-season volleyball strength training to add an extra boost into each hit.

“Volleyball is a power sport,” says Ray Weisenbarger, UCLA volleyball strength and conditioning coach. “It is explosive, [and] it’s fast. That’s the way the game has to be played.” Yet, strength and power training are often overlooked when players are preparing their bodies during the off-season.

If you’re looking to play in the Pac-10, arguably the best volleyball conference in the NCAA, gaining strength is the key to success. One way the Bruins gain an advantage over their competition is through a brutal strength program, one that’s especially crucial for incoming freshmen. “When you make the jump from high school to college, everybody is as good as you are,” Weisenbarger says.

Weisenbarger’s philosophy for weight room training is simple: power starts from the lower body, then up to the shoulders, arms and hands. “When you get up into the air to put a spike down, you have to have some power behind what you’re hitting,” Weisenbarger says. “[You] need power in your legs to get up into the air. [You] need power and strength in your upper body to spike, hold blocks and to dig balls.”

To add a little Hollywood Hills into your off-season training, incorporate this full-body volleyball strength training program once a week.

Volleyball Strength Training

Box Jumps

• Assume athletic stance an arm’s length away from plyo box
• Lower into quarter-squat, then explode through hips, knees and ankles and jump for maximum height
• Land softly with bent knees on top of plyo box
• Step down slowly; repeat for specified reps

Sets/Reps: 4×5
Coaching Point: Always start jump on balls of feet

Hang Clean

• Grip bar slightly wider than athletic stance
• Begin holding bar just above knees with back locked, shoulders up and abs and chest flexed
• Explode by forcefully shrugging and fully extending hips, knees and ankles
• Pull bar up, keeping it close to chest
• Drop under bar and catch it along front of shoulders in athletic stance with knees bent

Sets/Reps: 5×5 with two warm up sets
Coaching Points: Keep bar close to body // Use lower body to explode weight up // Focus on form instead of amount of weight

Dumbbell Forward Lunge

• Hold dumbbells at side
• Step forward into lunge position without touching knee to ground
• Using front foot, push back into standing position
• Repeat for specified reps
• Lead with other leg

Sets/Reps: 4×4 each leg?
Coaching Points: Keep back flat and chest up // Don’t over stride on lunge // Don’t allow knee to touch ground

Military Press

• Stand with weight slightly under chin
• Grip bar at shoulder width and lift off rack
• Press weight directly over head until arms are straight
• Bring back down to start position
• Repeat for specified reps

Sets/Reps: 3×8
Coaching Points: Make sure you have a spotter // Focus on bringing weight straight up // Start with light weight until you are comfortable performing the lift // Use dumbbells if unable to lift bar

Single-Arm Dumbbell Snatch

• Begin in athletic stance with feet shoulder-width apart; hold dumbbell in one hand between knees
• Squat slightly, then quickly press off ground using a jumping movement
• Extend ankles, knees and hips while pulling the dumbbell out and up
• Allow momentum to carry dumbbell up and over shoulder
• Hold fully extended position for one second, then lower
• Repeat for specified reps

Sets/Reps: 3×5 each arm
Coaching Points: Keep weight close to body // Bring weight up in straight line // Use lower body to explode up

Double Leg Bucks

• Lie on back with knees bent and feet flat on floor
• Place arms out to sides with palms on floor
• Squeeze glutes and thrust hips up as far possible
• After full glute contraction and hip extension, lower back and hips to start position

Sets/Reps: 3×10
Coaching Points: Pull heels in as close to butt as possible // Push hips all the way through

Reverse Hyper (performed using a Glute-Ham Machine)

• Start with upper body facing down on machine, with legs hanging perpendicular to floor
• Raise legs until parallel to floor; pause, then lower with control
• Return to start position

Sets/Reps: 3×10
Coaching Points: Keep legs and heels together // Maintain flat back

Med Ball Russian Twists

• Sit on ground with legs crossed and feet above floor
• Twist to one side, then twist to other side with med ball in hands (one rep total)
• Repeat movement for specified reps

Sets/Reps: 3×20
Coaching Points: Don’t let feet touch ground // Increase weight for added difficulty