The Forearm Pass: From Basic Technique to Serve Receive

Types of Forearm Pass

The forearm pass in volleyball manifests in various forms, each with its own technical and tactical nuances. The set-up forearm pass is characterized by its precision and softness, designed to construct the most effective offensive play. Equally crucial is the setting forearm pass, which demands accuracy and timing to maximize the attackers’ potential. In defensive scenarios, the coverage forearm pass comes into play, requiring reactivity and intuition to counter opponent attacks. The defensive forearm pass stands as a tenacious and courageous last line of defense on the court. Lastly, the serve receive forearm pass, stable and precise, serves as the first fundamental in building a valid offensive reconstruction.

While these variations of the forearm pass differ in their specific applications, they all share common technical elements. The positioning of the feet is paramount, as it determines the player’s stability and reactivity. The height of the center of gravity plays a significant role in influencing movement speed and the ability to cover the court effectively. The inclination of the torso is another critical factor, varying based on the ball’s trajectory and the specific type of forearm pass being executed. Furthermore, the synchronized activation of both lower and upper limbs is essential to ensure power and precision in the execution of the technique.

Among these shared elements, one stands out as the cornerstone of all forearm pass variations: the construction of a solid and reactive contact surface. This wide, stable, and correctly oriented platform is the fulcrum upon which the effectiveness of the entire technical gesture rests. It allows for superior ball control and enables precise direction towards a teammate or the opponent’s court, ultimately defining the success of the forearm pass in any given situation.

Building a Solid and Reactive Contact Surface

The construction of a solid and reactive contact surface represents the beating heart of an effective forearm pass, the pillar upon which the ability to control the ball and direct it with precision is founded.

The entire process begins with a fluid and coordinated movement of the shoulders. Rather than remaining rigid or locked, they are brought forward and slightly closed inward, almost as if to “embrace” the incoming ball. The simultaneous extension of the arms forward, with elbows locked, contributes to creating a wide and stable rebounding surface, essential for managing balls coming from different angles and with various rotations.

At this point, an often underestimated element comes into play: the differentiated perception between shoulders and forearms. While the former, as anticipated, maintain a certain softness to accommodate the ball’s trajectory, the latter transform into a solid platform, a compact and reactive surface ready to repel the impact of the ball.

The grip, in turn, plays a crucial role in ensuring the solidity of the contact surface. The strong hand, positioned under the weak hand, acts as a solid and reliable base, while the weak hand, with the index finger overlapping that of the strong hand, contributes to creating a wider and more uniform contact surface. The closure of the grip, finally entrusted to the thumbs pressing decisively forward and downward, imparts to the ball the necessary force to reach the desired target.

It’s important to emphasize that there is no “universal” grip valid for all players. The strong hand, for example, doesn’t always coincide with the dominant hand, and in general, anatomical conformation and individual characteristics influence the choice of the most effective grip.

This is why, rather than becoming fixated on predefined models, it’s fundamental to adopt a flexible approach that allows the player to experiment with different grips and find the one that best adapts to their characteristics, ensuring fluidity, openness of the forearms, and ultimately, maximum effectiveness in the technical gesture.

Developing Specific Forearm Pass Motility

The forearm pass, far from being a static and repetitive technical gesture, requires a wide range of movements and motor adaptations that vary depending on the game situation and the type of forearm pass to be executed.

An often overlooked aspect concerns the difference in motility between the frontal forearm pass, the angular forearm pass, and the overhead forearm pass. While in the first case the player is facing the ball’s trajectory and can exploit the frontal thrust of the lower limbs, in the second and third cases, the body position and movement dynamics change radically. The angular forearm pass requires rapid and precise movements, with the body rotating to accommodate the ball’s trajectory, while the overhead forearm pass requires precise control of movements and perfect coordination between lower and upper limbs.

In this context, the importance of clear language and fast transfer in teaching technique emerges. The coach, rather than using complex or unintuitive technical terms, should favor simple and direct language, easily understandable even by younger and less experienced players. Similarly, the use of specific exercises that simulate real game situations favors the transfer of technique learned in training to concrete game situations.

Running and movements represent, in this context, two fundamental elements for an effective forearm pass. A player who masters basic movements, such as forward, backward, lateral, and diagonal running, will be able to reach the ideal position to execute a precise and timely forearm pass. Likewise, the ability to perform quick and coordinated movements, such as side steps or cross steps, allows for managing balls coming from different angles and with various rotations.

Regarding the set-up forearm pass, the ideal starting position involves feet slightly apart, with body weight evenly distributed on both legs. The center of gravity, slightly lowered, favors reactivity and speed of movement, while the anticipated construction of the contact surface, with arms extended forward and hands joined, allows for intercepting the ball with maximum precision.

The Japanese approach to the forearm pass, with its meticulous attention to detail, offers interesting insights to optimize the thrust phase. The closure of the tibio-tarsal angle, for example, obtained by bringing the knee forward in relation to the tip of the foot, allows for generating a more powerful and explosive thrust, while maintaining correct posture, with a straight back and contracted abdominals, ensures stability and balance during the execution of the technical gesture.

The Thrust of the Lower Limbs

The execution phase of the forearm pass, the moment when the ball meets the contact surface and is directed towards the target, represents the culmination of a complex process involving the entire body. While the upper limbs, with their fluid and controlled movement, guide the ball and accommodate its trajectory, it is the lower limbs that provide the propulsive thrust, the driving force that determines the speed and precision of the gesture.

The thrust, generated by a coordinated movement of leg extension and gluteal contraction, propagates from bottom to top, traversing the entire body and discharging onto the ball through the contact surface. Depending on the desired trajectory, the thrust can be directed exclusively forward for a tense and low forearm pass, or slightly upward to impart a wider parabola to the ball.

The correct execution of the thrust, besides influencing the speed of the game, also has a direct impact on the setter’s work. A precise and timely forearm pass, with the right parabola and speed, allows the setter to position themselves calmly under the ball and construct an effective set for the attackers. Conversely, an imprecise or lacking power forearm pass forces the setter into sudden and uncoordinated movements, compromising the fluidity and effectiveness of the offensive play.

There are two main schools of thought regarding the thrust of the lower limbs in the forearm pass. The first, more traditional, maintains that the body’s center of gravity remains on the same line throughout the movement, thus ensuring maximum stability and control. The second, more modern approach, involves a slight upward thrust, obtained by lifting the heel of the rear foot off the ground. This movement, although less stable, allows for imparting greater speed to the ball and reaching more distant targets.

Regardless of the school of thought one adheres to, maintaining correct posture throughout the execution of the technical gesture remains fundamental. The shoulder line should be parallel to the hip line, the knee of the front leg should be slightly flexed and positioned above the tip of the foot, while the torso should remain erect, with the abdominals contracted to support the back.

A final aspect, often subject to debate, concerns the method of “blocking” the ball on the contact surface. Some coaches, especially in youth settings, tend to favor the idea of a soft and controlled block, with the hands accompanying the ball for a few moments after impact. Others, on the contrary, encourage a more decisive and reactive block, with the arms stiffening at the moment of contact, almost as if to repel the impact of the ball.

Both schools of thought present advantages and disadvantages. The soft block favors control and precision but risks slowing down the game and limiting the power of the forearm pass. The decisive block, on the other hand, ensures speed and reactivity but requires high motor control and perfect coordination.

Assessment Exercises and Teaching Proposals

Teaching the forearm pass, especially in the initial phases, cannot be separated from a careful evaluation of the players’ motor and coordination skills. Observing movement with a critical eye, identifying weaknesses and strengths, becomes fundamental for creating a personalized learning path and maximizing the effectiveness of training.

In this context, assessment exercises assume a role of primary importance. Simple yet effective, they allow for isolating individual aspects of the technical gesture and evaluating the players’ degree of learning, providing the coach with valuable insights for planning future training sessions.

An example? The use of cones or plates arranged on the ground can help visualize the ideal position of the feet during the waiting phase and during movement. Foam blocks held between the forearms, on the other hand, allow for verifying the correct extension of the arms and the solidity of the contact surface.

A key concept, to be introduced from the earliest stages of learning, is the centrality of the ball in relation to the body. The player must learn to “feel” the ball, to perceive its position in space relative to their own body, in order to move fluidly and precisely to meet it. Exercises in pairs or groups, where the ball is repeatedly passed between players with different trajectories and speeds, are particularly useful for developing coordination, reactivity, and spatial perception.

An exercise, often present in youth training but of dubious utility, is passing the ball between the legs. While it may seem fun and engaging, it offers a distorted representation of the reality of the game, where the ball rarely arrives with that trajectory and at that speed. It’s better to favor exercises that simulate real game situations, where players are called to move freely in space and manage balls with variable trajectories and speeds.

During the execution of exercises, verbal and non-verbal communication between players assumes crucial importance. Learning to communicate with teammates, to signal one’s position and intentions, is fundamental to avoid misunderstandings and to build a fluid and coordinated game. Encouraging players to talk to each other, to give advice and support each other, contributes to creating a positive and collaborative climate, essential for effective learning.

From Set-Up Forearm Pass to Serve Receive

Although distinct technical gestures, the set-up forearm pass and the serve receive forearm pass are positioned along a technical continuum, an evolutionary path that sees the former as a preparatory basis for the latter.

While the set-up forearm pass, executed in controlled game situations, allows for learning and consolidating the fundamentals of the technical gesture, the serve receive forearm pass, performed in real and unpredictable game situations, requires a broader and more sophisticated technical and tactical skill set.

The main difference between the two gestures lies in the preparation phase. In the set-up forearm pass, the player has ample time to prepare for the ball’s arrival, positioning correctly and assuming a stable and balanced posture. In serve receive, the available time is limited, and reaction capability becomes fundamental.

To be effective in reception, the player must develop extraordinary reflexes, a sort of “sixth sense” that allows anticipating the ball’s trajectory and moving with maximum speed to intercept it.

The preparation phase thus transforms into a continuous search for information, a constant analysis of the game context that begins well before the opponent’s serve. The player, with attentive gaze and focused mind, must be able to:

Read the ball’s trajectory: analyze the parabola, speed, and rotation of the ball to predict the landing point and possible bounce;
Understand the server’s intentions: observe posture, arm movement, and facial expression to anticipate the type of serve and possible direction;
Maintain an active posture: feet slightly apart, low center of gravity, body weight equally distributed on both legs, arms extended forward and ready to react.

Once the ball is served, the player enters the adjustment and balance phase. In this phase, crucial for an effective serve receive, the player must:

Accurately assess the ball’s trajectory: confirm or correct initial predictions, also considering any unforeseen effects due to rotation or wind;
Identify the highest point of the parabola: a key element for calculating available time and synchronizing movement with the ball’s arrival;
Choose the most effective type of movement: side steps, cross steps, or running, depending on the distance and direction of the ball;
Maintain a low and stable center of gravity: avoiding abrupt or unbalanced movements that could compromise the precision of the gesture.

The final phase, that of the actual forearm pass, largely follows the technical principles of the set-up forearm pass. The player, after positioning correctly in relation to the ball, must:

Impact the ball with maximum precision: using the central part of the forearms, keeping the arms together and elbows locked;
Orient the contact surface towards the target: adjusting the inclination of the torso and the thrust of the lower limbs;
Maintain an active and reactive attitude: accompanying the ball with body movement and preparing for the next game action.

It’s important to emphasize that the serve receive forearm pass is not an end in itself, but represents only the first link in a chain involving all players on the court. A precise and timely forearm pass, directed towards the ideal point for the setter, lays the foundation for an effective and winning offensive reconstruction.

In this perspective, the concept of the “90/10 principle” assumes fundamental importance. Reception is not just a matter of technique, but also and above all of reading, analysis capability, and anticipation. We could say that 90% of the success of a reception depends on the player’s ability to read the game situation, predict the ball’s trajectory, and make quick and effective decisions. The remaining 10% is entrusted to technique, the correct execution of the technical gesture.

To develop reading and anticipation skills, it can be useful to divide the court into three imaginary zones:

Zone 1: the starting zone, where the player positions before the opponent’s serve, carefully observing the server and preparing to react;
Zone 2: the movement zone, where the player, after reading the ball’s trajectory, moves quickly to intercept it at the ideal point;
Zone 3: the impact zone, where the player, after positioning correctly, executes the actual forearm pass.

This division, although artificial, can help players develop greater spatial and temporal awareness, improving their reading and reaction capabilities.

Analysis of Game Timing and Concluding Reflections

The world of volleyball, often anchored to traditions and common beliefs, requires a critical and analytical approach that challenges false myths and paves the way for new interpretations of the game.

A study on game timing, conducted across various competitive categories, has brought to light a surprising fact: contrary to what one might think, the reaction and execution times of fundamentals do not differ significantly between under-14 and under-18 players. This means that, given equal technical level and experience, an under-14 player faces game situations with speed and complexity comparable to those an under-18 player will face.

Analyzing in detail the times of serving, receiving, setting, and attacking, it emerges that the speed of the game remains constant across different categories. In short, the ball doesn’t magically slow down as age or category increases.

This extremely significant data leads us to reflect on the importance of not underestimating the technical and tactical capabilities of younger players. The under-14 category, often relegated to a mere introduction to the game, reveals itself instead as an important training ground for players’ growth and technical evolution. It’s a stimulating environment in which to experiment with advanced game schemes, develop reading and anticipation skills, and refine individual and team techniques.

It’s no coincidence that, observing the training sessions of high-level youth teams, it’s possible to notice how the complexity of game schemes and the variety of proposed situations increasingly approach those of professional volleyball.

Another aspect that emerged from the study concerns the continuity of actions. While in under-14, there’s a tendency to favor more fragmented play with short and intense actions, in under-18, there’s greater fluidity and continuity in the game. This data, partly linked to players’ experience and maturity, underlines the importance of immediately accustoming young athletes to think and play proactively, developing the ability to manage ball possession and construct effective offensive actions.

In conclusion, teaching volleyball, especially at the youth level, requires a holistic approach that takes into account not only technical and tactical aspects but also psychological and motivational ones.

Creating a stimulating and fun learning environment, where young athletes feel free to experiment, make mistakes, and grow, represents the first step in forming not only technically prepared players but also responsible, aware, and passionate individuals.

The coach, in this journey, assumes the role of guide and mentor, a constant point of reference capable of transmitting not only technical notions but also ethical and sporting values.