Being able to pass tough float and spin serves is critical for gaining the advantage in volleyball. Excellent serve reception takes away opponents’ ability to score through a potent service game. At high levels, coaches spend significant time drilling proper receiving techniques and tactics into their players.

There are three foundational concepts that form the basis for developing strong passing skills:

1. Approaching the ball
2. Platform formation
3. Body positioning

This article outlines the key coaching points for each of these core serve receive components. Implementing proper methods for reaction time, platform shaping, and body mechanics will provide players and coaches at all levels with an excellent framework for excelling at passing. While serving with power and precision is hugely impactful, learning to receive serve effectively may be even more vital for success.

Approaching the Ball

Having quick reaction time and getting your platform in position behind the ball are critical skills for good passing technique. Here are some key coaching points:

• Read the server and move on his/her contact. Don’t wait for the ball to reach your side of the court before reacting.
• As soon as you read the server’s contact, take your first shuffle step toward the ball. Angle your shoulders and hips to face the location you expect the ball to go.
• Keep shuffling so your body is moving as the ball travels to your side of the court. Syncing your movement with the ball’s flight will put you in better position.
• Get your platform set while the ball is still in the air. Extend your arms fully and spread your hands wide into a stable passing platform.
• Your last shuffle step should align your hips directly behind the ball. Bend your knees to lower your body.
• Do not wait until after the ball bounces to get your platform in place. Meeting the ball at the peak of its arc allows maximum control.
• Adjust your footwork speed according to the velocity of the serve. Faster serves require quicker shuffle steps to get behind the ball in time.

Mastering these reaction and footwork skills will enable you to consistently get your platform aligned behind the ball’s trajectory. This proper positioning is crucial for directing your pass accurately to the target.

Platform Formation

Correctly shaping your passing platform with your arms and hands is vital for controlling different types of serves. Follow these key tips:

On spin serves:

• As soon as you read the serve, join your forearms together in front of your chest, hands clasped. 
• Keep forearms pressed firmly together to form a unified, stable platform. This controls the unpredictability of the spin.
• Thumbs should be pointed down and angled inward toward your body at about 45 degrees.
• Hold platform rigid and immobile to absorb the spin with your entire forearm surface.
• Avoid collapsing or separating your arms when the ball contacts your platform. Maintaining shape controls the spin.

On float serves:

• Spread your arms wide and extend your hands outward into a lateral passing platform.
• Thumbs should point straight up to maximize the surface area of the platform.
• Hands should be distanced about shoulder-width apart or wider if you have time.
• Keep hands and arms extended fully on contact to direct the float serve.
• Avoid allowing hands and arms to cave inward when passing. A consistent wide platform better controls float movement.

Varying your platform shape based on serve type will give you much better control. With proper arm and hand positioning, you can handle both spin and float serves effectively.

Body Positioning

Proper posture and footwork allow you to position your body optimally behind the ball for solid passes. Follow these body positioning tips:

Footwork:

• Keep feet shoulder-width apart in an athletic stance throughout the pass.
• Use shuffle steps to align your body behind the ball’s path.
• Time your last step to place your hips directly behind the ball’s arrival point.
• Bend knees to lower your body and receive the ball at a higher contact point.
• Keep feet active and knees bent even after passing to allow movement in all directions.

Posture:

• Maintain neutral spine by keeping back straight and chest lifted. Avoid bending at the waist.
• Look forward towards your target throughout the pass. Keep chin up.
• Push shoulders forward to meet the ball. Do not allow shoulders to roll backwards.
• Firmly brace your core muscles to provide stability during ball contact.
• Shift weight from back foot to front foot during the pass to generate power.

With proper footwork and posture, you can achieve optimal body alignment and balance to pass cleanly and accurately. Keep practicing these body basics.