First Step Shuffle
Speed & Acceleration
Legend
- player
- cones
- movement path
How it works
Develop the first-step lateral shuffle movement so young players can reach balls that are not directly in front of them.
What you need
- cones
- open gym space
- volleyball
Your focus
Young players often pivot and run to the ball rather than shuffling, which creates slow, crossed-feet movement and poor balance at contact. The lateral shuffle keeps players low and balanced, allowing faster court coverage with better passing platform angles. Learning this early makes all defensive skills more effective.
Set two cones 10 feet apart. Player starts at the center cone in ready position.
Coach points left or right; player shuffles (no crossing feet) to touch the cone on that side, then shuffles back to center.
Complete 10 touches in each direction; focus on keeping hips low and pushing off the inside foot.
Add a ball toss, after the player touches the side cone, coach tosses a ball to their platform and they bump it back before returning to center.
Goal
You've got it when you shuffle to the ball and your platform is already formed when you get there, not arriving and then forming, arriving ready.
Helpful cues
- Push off the inside foot, don't drag it
- Stay low, if you stand up, you slow down
- Quick first step, then glide
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Reduce cone distance to 6 feet and let players move at their own pace without a time constraint.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a third cone so players shuffle left, center, right, center in sequence without stopping.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.