--- title: "Butterfly Drill Volleyball: Setup, Rotation & Scoring" description: "The butterfly drill is a serve, pass and target rotation where every player follows the ball. See the line setup, flow, scoring goals and coaching points." url: "https://www.coachboard.app/library/volleyball/butterfly-drill" sport: "Volleyball" category: "Drill" level: "all-levels" dateModified: "2026-09-24" --- # Butterfly Drill — Volleyball Drill The butterfly drill is a continuous volleyball drill in which a server serves, a passer passes to a target at the net, and each player follows the ball to the next line. Few volleyball warm-ups are as widely used as the butterfly. Three lines on each side of the net keep the ball moving through serve, pass and catch, and the one rule that makes it work is simple: you follow the ball you just played. The server runs to the passing line, the passer runs to the target spot, and the target carries the ball to the serving line. That rotation gives a full team dozens of live serves and serve-receive contacts in ten minutes with almost no coaching interruptions. Because the players run it themselves, the coach is free to stand beside the passers and correct platforms, feet and angles while the reps keep coming. ## Objective Build serve-receive passing to a target under realistic serving, while training accurate serving and keeping a large group active with minimal standing time. ## Setup - **Area:** Full court, 18 × 9 m, both halves in use - **Players:** 9–16 players split into three lines per side (servers, passers, targets) - **Equipment:** 6–8 balls, 2 cones or a mat to mark each target spot, Optional scoreboard for a team pass total - **Duration:** 10–15 minutes - **Level:** all-levels (U12+) ## How it works 1. **Form the lines** — On each side, a serving line stands behind the end line in the zone 1 corner, a passing line waits just behind the end line in zone 5, and one target stands in the setter's spot at the net, about 1 m off the net between zones 2 and 3. Mirror the same three lines on the other half. 2. **Serve down the line to the passer** — The first server serves straight down the line from zone 1 to the passer stepping into zone 5 on the far side. Start with a controlled float or underhand serve so the passer sees a playable ball; the drill is about the pass, not aces. 3. **Pass to the target and follow** — The passer forearm-passes to the target at the net, then jogs forward and takes the target spot. The server who just served runs around the post to the back of the passing line on the side they served to. 4. **Carry the ball to the serving line** — The target catches the pass, then runs the ball back to the serving line on their own side and joins it. Both halves run at once, so players criss-cross through every role and the flow traces the wings that gave the drill its name. 5. **Score the rotation** — Count a team total of passes the target catches without moving more than one step. Set a goal, such as 25 good passes in a row or 40 in five minutes, and restart the count on a missed serve or a pass the target has to chase. ## Coaching points - Passers should be stopped and balanced before contact: a short shuffle into the ball beats a lunge with the platform swinging. - Angle the platform at the target from behind the ball, so the arms face the setter spot even when the body is still facing the server. - Servers pick a spot before they toss; the aim is a serve the passer must move to, not a lob to the chest or a blast into the net. - Keep the transitions at a jog. Walking between lines kills the tempo that makes the butterfly worth running. ## Variations - **Crosscourt butterfly** — Move the passing lines to zone 1 so every serve from the zone 1 corner travels crosscourt. Alternate line and crosscourt rounds so passers learn to adjust their platform angle from both back corners. - **Setter target with a hitter** — Replace the catching target with a setter who sets a high ball to an outside hitter in zone 4. The hitter catches or attacks, then carries the ball to the serving line, adding a fourth role for older groups. - **Pressure serves** — For advanced teams, servers aim for seams between zones or serve topspin, and the good-pass count only grows on a pass rated 3 (the setter can run every option). ## Build it in Coach Board Lay out the three lines on both halves of the volleyball court in Coach Board, then draw the serve, the pass and each player's follow run as arrows. Animate one full cycle and share the link before practice, so a new group arrives already knowing who runs where and the first five minutes aren't spent sorting out the rotation. [Volleyball coaching app](https://www.coachboard.app/sports/volleyball) · [Start 14-day free trial, no card](https://my.coachboard.app) ## FAQ ### Why is it called the butterfly drill? It is named after the pattern the players trace. With lines running on both halves of the court, the serve, the follow runs and the return to the serving line form two looping paths that cross in the middle, which looks like a pair of butterfly wings when you watch the drill from above. ### How many players do you need for a butterfly drill? Nine is a practical minimum: three per line on one side, or a smaller one-sided version with a line of servers, a line of passers and one target. The drill works best with 12–16 players across both halves. Beyond that, lines get long and players wait too long between contacts, so split into two courts. ## Related - https://www.coachboard.app/library/volleyball/passing-drill.md - https://www.coachboard.app/library/volleyball/serving-drill.md - https://www.coachboard.app/library/volleyball/pepper-drill.md - https://www.coachboard.app/library/volleyball/beginner-practice-plan.md --- [Volleyball coaching app](https://www.coachboard.app/sports/volleyball) · Animate and share this drill with your team: https://my.coachboard.app