What is Peppering?

Coaches and players who are new to the sport may hear the term “pepper” or “peppering” and think, “what the heck does that even mean!?”

For the uninitiated, the traditional game of “pepper” is when two players take turns playing the ball while trying to keep the rally going without losing control.

If the players have control of the ball, peppering will go as follows:

• Player 1: Toss the ball to to Player 2

• Player 2: Pass the ball to to Player 1

• Player 1: Set the ball to to Player 2

• Player 2: Hit the ball to to Player 1

• Player 1: Pass the ball to to Player 2

• Player 2: Set the ball to to Player 1

• Player 1: Hit the ball to to Player 1

• Continue to pass-set-hit the ball until it drops.

Essentially, two players just attempt to pass-set-hit over and over again with their partner! Pretty straightforward!

Visual learner? Great! Here’s a short video of when I tried to teach my husband how to pepper (emphasis on the word tried).

What’s interesting is that, although peppering is fun and incorporates the basic skills of passing, setting, and hitting, some coaches are strongly opposed to the use of this classic volleyball warm-up.

In this article I’m going to explain the pros and cons of peppering so you can better decide if this is a warm-up you want to use with your players.

Benefits of Peppering in Volleyball

Simple

Once players begin to understand that peppering consists of pass-set-hit over and over, even the youngest athletes are able to keep a rally going. This of course takes practice, but players are able to understand concept with only minimal instruction. 

Think your athletes are too young to pepper? Check out these kids! They were 7 and 9-years-old when this was filmed.

Teaches Ball Control

Since the goal is to keep a rally going, players need to get the ball to their partner. If the ball drops or they start to get out of control, it becomes pretty clear that the athlete needs to make adjustments.

For example: if their partner can never set them because their passes are too low, they learn pretty quickly to pass the ball higher! And if they always send their teammate chasing after the ball because they hit it too hard or off to the side? The desire to keep a rally going longer will encourage them to swing with more control.

Ball control comes with practice, and peppering forces an athlete to touch every other ball.

Lots of Reps

Since they’re touching every other ball in quick succession, athletes will contact the ball much more frequently than many other basic warm-up drills. High-rep volleyball drills are a favorite amongst experienced coaches because… well, the players get to touch the ball more! This means more individual practice and faster skill development.

Teaches Decision Making

Another advantage of teaching players how to pepper is that it teaches decision making through trial and error. When the next ball is supposed to be a set but the pass was too low, should they try to set anyway? Move back to pass? Tip it back to their partner to get it under control?

The goal may be pass-set-hit, but that’s not always how it works out. The desire to keep the ball in play teaches players to make adjustments based on the height of the ball, the angle, the pace, and the positioning of their partner. Over time, players learn how to play the ball according to the situation, not based on what is “supposed” to happen.

No Net Needed

This is a huge benefit in my mind, especially for encouraging at-home practice. When players can drag a sister, brother, uncle, etc outside to practice volleyball for 20 minutes, they’re getting to practice away from the court! Many athletes do not have a net at home or within walking distance, so peppering is a great activity for two players who only have a ball.

Also, using peppering as a warm-up activity during youth camps is an easy way to get a lot of reps in without over-crowding at the net. Players can easily spread out all over the gym and practice their skills. You’re also teaching them something they can go home and show to their parents.

Fun

Peppering is fun, plain and simple. If you watched the video of me and my husband *attempting* to pepper, you’ll notice there’s a lot of smiling and laughing. This is pretty common! Peppering is an easy way to let your athletes have a little fun at practice while still working on their skills.

Disadvantages of Peppering in Volleyball

Not Gamelike

This is a pretty big deal, especially for more advanced players.

Coaches for higher-skilled club teams and high school coaches only have a couple of hours a day with their teams, and using valuable practice time to practice something players won’t experience in a game is often looked down on.

The main complaint against peppering is that you’re always returning the ball to where it came from (which is why there have been plenty of spin-offs of traditional peppering to address this issue). 

In a match, players will need to pass at an angle probably 95% of the time (instead of straight forward like when peppering), the setter will almost always need to adjust their body to redirect the pass to a hitter, and hitters will never hit the ball back towards the setter (hopefully haha). 

In other words, peppering teaches and reinforces improper techniques. Time would be better spent on drills and warm-ups that are more gamelike.

Players Get Sloppy

When you see players peppering, it’s very common to see that their “form” is almost non-existent. In fact, it’s very rare to see athletes (especially older ones) taking peppering seriously. Players stand up straight while passing, reach for the ball instead of moving their feet, and overall practice bad habits.

So… Should You Pepper?

Ultimately, that choice is up to you! If you feel that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for your specific team, then have at it! But if you believe your team is a little more on the advanced side, it might be best to leave peppering as a “before practice” or “at home” activity.

I typically will teach players how to pepper with a friend or teammate when they begin playing volleyball no matter what their age is. I don’t usually use peppering in practice, but I still think it’s beneficial for athletes to know how to do it. This way they have a way to play volleyball away from the court!

Once players are on teams that can keep a rally going and use pass-set-hit a majority of the time, I encourage you to move on to more gamelike warm-ups (usually about 14u/8th grade). Of course, there are plenty of other warm-up games to choose from! If you feel that your younger players have mastered peppering or if you see them being lazy with their form, I suggest you move on to more focused and gamelike warm-ups.