5 Great Volleyball Passing Drills You Need To Know!

Volleyball passing drills are an essential part of every volleyball practice. As a professional volleyball libero, I understand the critical role that passing plays in the game:

1. Foundation of Play: Passing sets the stage for the entire play. It’s the initial contact with the ball during serve reception. A successful pass allows your team to transition from defense to offense more easily.

2. Control and Flow: Accurate passing ensures that the setter receives the ball in an optimal position. This smooth transfer of the ball enables efficient offensive plays and keeps the game flowing.

Types of Passes:

Different situations require different techniques of passing. For example:

1. Forearm Pass:
   • The most basic and commonly used pass in volleyball.
   • Executed by using the forearms to strike the ball and send it to a teammate.
   • Ideal for handling jump spin serve.
   • Ideal for handling strong float serves.
2. Overhead Pass:
   • A more advanced technique involving hands, arms, and shoulders.
   • Used to receive float and more controlled serves.

Let’s talk about Passing Technique First

Before, I’ve played volleyball relying mostly on raw talent and instinct. However, my recent experiences working with top-tier coaches have illuminated a crucial truth: technique is the linchpin of efficient passing. How to receive strong float serve? Powerful jump-spin? How to receive short serve? Let’s take a look on a correct passing technique for each situation.

1. Basic Stance:
   • Start with your feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart.
   • Bend your knees to drop your hips closer to the ground.
   • Shift your weight onto the balls of your feet (avoid being too heel-heavy).
2. Arms Unattached:
   • Keep your arms unattached when preparing to pass or play defense.
   • Maintain a bent arm position (around 90-145 degrees).
   • Position your arms/hands halfway between bumping and setting.
   • React quickly to either pass with fingers overhead or bump with forearms.
3. High Volleyball Passing Position (For Float serves):
   • Use this technique for passing floaters.
   • Keep your legs slightly bent.
   • Position your body off the ball since floaters don’t pull down rapidly as topspin serves and receive lateral when using forearm pass! Similar to tennis, you need to “attack” the ball.
4. Low Volleyball Passing Position:
   • Use this technique for top spin serves (jump serves).
   • Bend your knees deeply and drop your hips toward the ground.
   • You need to get “under the ball” to pass it effectively. (Use Forearm pass!)

Remember these key points:

• Move your feet to the spot where the ball will be.
• Pull your hands/wrists down for a flatter forearm surface.
• Square up your hips and arms to the target.
• Use your forearms to direct the ball accurately.

Incorporate these techniques into every volleyball passing drill.

1. Wall Passing Drill

The Wall Passing Drill is an effective way to improve your passing skills in volleyball. It’s a simple yet valuable exercise that you can do individually or with a partner. Here’s how it works:

1. Objective:
   • Enhance passing accuracy, ball control, and footwork.
   • Simulate serve-receive scenarios without a partner.
2. Setup:
   • Stand facing a wall, approximately 6-10 feet away.
   • Make sure you have enough space to move and pass comfortably.
   • You’ll need a volleyball.
3. Execution:
   1. Passing Against the Wall:
      • Toss the ball against the wall.
      • As it rebounds back to you, perform a pass (forearm pass or bump) against the wall.
      • Focus on maintaining proper technique, including a strong platform (forearms together).
      • Repeat for a set number of reps (e.g., 15-20).
      • Rest briefly and continue practicing.
   2. Setting Against the Wall (Optional):
      • For setting practice, toss the ball higher against the wall.
      • Set the ball back to the wall using your fingertips.
      • Work on accuracy and consistency.
4. Tips:
   • Choose a spot on the wall (e.g., a specific brick or area) as your target.
   • Aim to pass or set the ball to that spot consistently.
   • If the ball doesn’t hit the target, reset and try again.
   • Pay attention to footwork and body positioning.

Remember: The wall won’t provide feedback like a live partner, but it’s a great way to work on muscle memory, timing, and precision. Use this drill regularly to reinforce good passing habits! 

2. Russian Passing Drill

The Russian Passing Drill is a valuable exercise for improving passing skills in volleyball. Here are two variations of this drill:

1. Russian Passing Drill (Three-Person Version):
   • Objective: Enhance passing accuracy and footwork.
   • Setup:
     • Form a straight line with three players, standing about 4 to 5 meters apart from each other.
     • You (the passer) stand in the middle, facing the first player.
   • Execution:
     1. The first player tosses the ball to you.
     2. React quickly and move diagonally, forward, or backward to access the ball.
     3. Execute a proper pass (forearm pass or bump) back to the first player.
     4. After each pass, turn and face the next player in line.
     5. Repeat the process as the ball moves down the line.
   • Focus Areas:
     • Proper passing technique.
     • Quick adjustments to ball trajectory.
     • Efficient footwork.
2. Russian Passing Drill (Two-Person Version):
   • Objective: Improve passing accuracy and communication.
   • Setup:
     • Two players face each other, approximately 6 feet apart.
     • You (the passer) hold the ball.
   • Execution:
     1. The first player tosses the ball to you.
     2. React quickly and move to access the ball.
     3. Pass the ball back to the first player using a forearm pass.
     4. Focus on maintaining control and accuracy.
     5. Switch roles and repeat the drill.
   • Focus Areas:
     • Communication between players.
     • Consistent passing form.
     • Reading the ball trajectory.

Remember to maintain a strong platform (forearms together) during passing, keep your eyes on the ball, and adjust your body position as needed.

3. Butterfly Passing Drill

 The Butterfly Passing Drill is well-known in volleyball and can be used to hone various skills. It’s versatile and adaptable, making it a favourite among coaches. Here’s how it works:

1. Objective:
   • The Butterfly Drill focuses on passing accuracy and footwork.
   • It can be used as a warm-up or during practice.
2. Setup:
   • Form two lines: one for servers and one for passers.
   • Passers waiting to enter the drill stand off the sideline.
3. Execution:
   1. The server gets the ball over the net to the general area of the passer.
   2. After serving, the server moves to the end of the passing line on the opposite side.
   3. The passer receives the serve and passes to the target (usually a setter).
   4. The passer has two options after passing:
      • (a) Replace the target, and the target goes to the end of the serving line on her side.
      • (b) If there’s a true setter in the setter spot, the passer goes to the end of the serving line on her side.
   5. The next server in line receives a ball rolled from the target or setter.
   6. The next serve is put into play as soon as the new passer is on the court.
4. Variations:
   • Keeping Score: Count only good passes as points to make the drill more challenging.

The Butterfly Drill puts pressure on passers to focus on the task at hand: delivering a good pass. Emphasize proper positioning of the passing platform and efficient footwork. It’s a great way to improve passing skills!

4. Wave Passing Drill

Serve-receive drills are essential for improving team’s passing efficiency in volleyball. Let’s explore a few effective drills that focus on serve receive:

• Objective: Enhance serve to receive accuracy and teamwork.
• Setup:
  • Divide players into teams of three.
  • One team serves, one forms a serve-receive line, and the other fills the same roles on the opposite side of the net.
• Execution:
  1. Servers take turns serving from different positions behind the end line.
  2. Passers aim to make good passes to the target (it can be a setter).
  3. Rotate passers after 5 minutes.
  4. The drill lasts two minutes.
  5. If passers don’t achieve the goal (e.g., 10 good passes), they perform physical exercises (sprints, etc.).
  6. Coaches can require excellent or positive passes for an added challenge.
  7. Servers must avoid serving to the same passer twice in a row.
  8. After 10 minutes, the servers switch sides and repeat.

5. Passing ladder drill

The passing ladder drill is a valuable exercise in volleyball training. It aims to enhance accurate and competitive passing against challenging serves. Here’s how it works:

1. Setup:
   • Divide the court into two halves.
   • Position one server on each side of the net.
   • Place a passer on the opposite side of the net, directly across from the server.
2. Execution:
   • The server serves eight consecutive balls to the passer.
   • The passer receives each serve and passes it accurately back to the server.
   • Repeat the same pattern on the other side of the court.
3. Scoring:
   • Establish a scoring system for both the passer and the server.
   • This drill helps players refine their serve-receive skills and develop consistency in passing.

Conclusion

Here are several fundamental passing drills that you can easily incorporate into your next practice. Some of these drills are designed for larger groups, while others can be done individually at home. These are just a few examples out of many, and I’ll continue to include more in future blog posts. If you have any additional passing drills that you’d like to share, feel free to leave a comment below—I’d love to hear from you! 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Mail