Introduction

Passing is perhaps the most challenging fundamental skill in the sport of volleyball. While hitting flashy spikes may get all the glory, a team’s passing ability sets the foundation for its offense. Without solid passing, a team will struggle to run its offense or transition into attacks.

For individual players, an ability to pass well is crucial. Strong passing translates into more playing time and opportunities to contribute on the court. While some players may rely on natural athletic gifts early on, long-term success requires mastering proper passing fundamentals and techniques.

When introducing passing to new players, coaches must set clear expectations regarding proper technique. The passing motion requires precise hand and platform position, controlled body movements, and proper angles to redirect the ball accurately to the setter. Players must keep their limbs rigid and limit extraneous motion throughout the passing movement. Proper technique will feel unnatural at first and require lots of repetition to ingrain.

Coaches must also emphasize the difficulty of passing. Reading the ball’s trajectory, adjusting footwork, and executing the pass all while moving is incredibly challenging. Even experienced players shank passes or get caught out of position. It is critical to be patient and celebrate small wins while players work to develop consistency.

With an introduction to the complexity and importance of passing, players will appreciate why coaches devote significant time to this skill in training sessions. A strong foundation in proper passing technique, coupled with quality repetitions and game experience, will position each player to excel and help the team operate an efficient offense. Though not flashy, solid passing remains the unsung hero that makes volleyball click.

Hand Position

Proper hand position forms the foundation of sound passing technique. The passer’s hands serve as the first point of contact with the ball and largely determine accuracy. Optimizing hand structure and placement is crucial.

Players should start by bringing their hands together, palms flattened with fingers overlayed and thumbs aligned evenly. The palms should be as flat as possible, with no space between them. This creates a solid and stable platform on which to receive the ball.

Coaches must ensure players do not spread hands too wide or allow gaps between fingers. The hands should also not be too narrow or cramped. Find a hand placement in the middle that feels balanced and natural.

Once set, hands should remain fixed in this position throughout the passing motion. The platform must retain its rigid shape on contact. Resist the urge to clench hands or splay fingers when the ball arrives.

Before the serve, hold hands in front of the body at a neutral height. Set them around waist level, avoiding the extremes of too high or too low. This allows the arms to move smoothly into passing position.

Hand placement is personal and will vary slightly by player. The keys are keeping hands vertical, palms flat and platform unified. Solid hand positioning enables accuracy and consistency in passing.

Platform (Forearms)

The platform refers to the passer’s forearms and the contact surface used to redirect the ball. Proper platform structure and movement is essential for control.

To create the platform, players rotate their forearms down so the insides of the forearms face forward, parallel to each other. The elbows should be close together, nearly touching.

Maintaining a rigid, flat platform is crucial throughout the passing motion. Players must resist bending their elbows or wrists on contact. Locking out the arms provides stability.

Coaches should cue players to finish their passing motion with a fully extended platform. The elbows remain straight and forearms flat even after redirecting the ball.

For most players, the ideal contact point is 2-4 inches above the wrists. Contacting the ball here provides the best rebound off the platform. Players should avoid passing with the wrists or just below them.

During the passing motion, the platform stays fully extended. Only the shoulders and torso adjust angles to direct the ball. The arms and platform hold their structure.

With a stable, locked platform, players can achieve accuracy in their passing and develop consistency through repetition.

Body Position

Proper body posture and positioning is vital for balanced and effective passing technique. Coaches must pay close attention to players’ footwork, torso and head position.

Players should stand with knees bent in an athletic ready position as they prepare to pass. The torso should be upright, with shoulders stacked over the knees. Avoid an overly erect or slouched posture.

Feet should be shoulder-width apart, pointed toward the server or direction the ball is coming from. Weight balanced evenly between both feet. Avoid standing flat-footed.

As the ball is served, the passer shifts weight as needed to move into position. Short adjust steps are preferable to lunging or reaching.

Coaches must watch for excessive dipping or lowering of the torso when passing. Cue players to keep their head and chest up throughout the motion.

The head should remain still and steady from ready position through ball contact. The passer’s gaze remains fixed forward throughout the motion.

Proper body posture facilitates balanced footwork and weight transfer. This allows the passer to move smoothly into position and establish a strong base.

Angles

Creating proper angles with the platform is one of the most critical elements of quality passing. The passer must redirect the ball to the target area using their platform angle.

As the ball approaches, the passer turns their shoulders and torso to face the intended target. This opens up the body diagonally toward the target.

Dropping the inside shoulder helps establish the desired platform angle. The platform itself remains flat, but the shoulder tilt angles it toward the target.

The key is letting the ball deflect cleanly off the rigid platform. Passers should avoid excessive arm movement or ‘swinging’ to redirect the ball.

Swinging usually indicates the platform is not establishing a defined angle. Cue players to keep elbows locked and use their shoulder to adjust angles.

The angle should direct the ball out away from the net, not straight up to the setter. A moderate platform angle can achieve this.

With a proper shoulder tilt and platform angle, passers can confidently aim passes to the setter’s location. This facilitates running an efficient offense.

Movement

When executed properly, passing involves efficient, economical movement. Excess motion and instability make passing more difficult. Coaches must emphasize controlled movement.

Passers should limit any extraneous motion of the head, arms or platform during the passing action. Keep the upper body quiet throughout the motion.

The head should remain steady, moving only slightly forward as the body adjusts to pass. Resist excessive dipping or lateral head movement.

Footwork should be compact and controlled. Use small adjust steps to smoothly get into position. Avoid lunging or reaching for the ball.

The passing motion itself involves only subtle arm movement. The arms remain mostly static as the shoulders rotate and adjust angles.

By keeping movement crisp and controlled, passers maintain balance and stability. This fosters consistency in technique and accuracy.

While movement should be economical, it is important for passers to move decisively. They must get their body behind passes with purpose.

With compact footwork and limited extraneous motions, passers can perform smoothly even at high speeds during intense play.

Teaching Methodology

When teaching proper passing technique, coaches must set clear expectations, quickly incorporate game play, and provide quality feedback.

To start, coaches must explain proper technique in detail and demonstrate correct form. Players need to know exactly what is expected.

However, avoid only practicing passing in isolation. Quickly progress to game-like drills and scenarios where passing is one element of play.

Game simulations better reinforce technique as players must pass while performing other skills simultaneously. It mirrors real match demands.

Provide consistent feedback throughout practice games. Praise proper technique and promptly correct errors.

Use concise, positive cues to reinforce key coaching points – “platform flat”, “lock elbows”, “head steady”.

Mix individual instruction with addressing the full team, so everyone hears technique cues.

By teaching, demonstrating, and reinforcing sound fundamentals within game play, coaches can engrain quality passing technique. Players gain confidence executing passes in applied settings.

Conclusion

In closing, passing is a challenging yet critically important volleyball skill. Mastery requires significant practice and dedication to proper technique.

By sticking to the technical fundamentals covered in this guide, coaches can equip their players with the tools to develop solid, consistent passing.

Have patience through frustration and mistakes. Maintain composure and continue emphasizing quality repetition. Celebrate small wins.

With an athletic ready position, proper hand/platform structure, controlled movement, and precise angles, players will grow leaps and bounds as passers.

Though arduous, the journey to become an excellent passer is extremely rewarding. Players take pride in contributing clean passes that spark offensive success.

Reliable passing frees up teammates to maximize their talents. The libero-to-setter pass becomes poetry in motion.

Much work lies ahead, but armed with an understanding of proper technique, young players can embrace the challenge pass after pass.