Forearm Pass
Technical Description
• The start position
• Start with the basic ready position
• This position should be comfortable, relaxed, and allow
movement in any direction
• Shoulder should be square to the net
• The feet should be slightly wider than shoulder width
apart and knees are slightly flexed
• Slight forward bend at the waist, arms are relaxed and
in front of the body
• Movement to the ball
• Athletes should determine the path of the ball as soon
as possible
• Athletes should try to get behind the ball using a shuffle
footwork pattern
• Movement should be primarily in a horizontal plane,
with minimal up-down movement
• Once behind the ball athletes should use a split step to
get one foot slightly ahead of the other, to get feet
slightly wider than shoulder width apart, be in a flex
loaded position ready to execute the pass.
• Passing Action
• Prior to contact the athlete must straighten the arms
and bring the hands together. The thumbs should be
pressed together forming a flat even platform from
wrist to elbow
• The arms will primarily move forward with a transfer of
weight towards the target.
• The arm movement should be short and crisp (4-8
inches). On faster moving balls athlete should use less
arm movement and exaggerate a movement towards
the floor
• Body position at Contact
• Arms are straight, approximately parallel to the thighs.
Arms should be about 90 degrees to the body
• Trunk is straight with a forward lean at the waist
• The shoulders should be elevated, relaxed and forward
of the body
• The head should be in a neutral position, eyes should
track the ball all the way to contact
• The knees are bent to about 90 degrees
• Contact with the ball
• The ball contacts both forearms about 4-8 inches above
the wrists
• Follow through
• The body moves forward towards the target on towards
the target/floor on faster moving balls
Forearm Pass
Teaching Progressions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Proper grip and contact point
Pass ball from kneeling position
Pass ball from ready position
Move and pass
Change direction of ball
Continuous pass
Complex drills
Overhand Pass
Technical Description
• The start position
• Start with the basic ready position
• This position should be comfortable, relaxed, and allow
movement in any direction
• Shoulder should be square to the ball
• The feet should be shoulder width apart and knees are
slightly flexed
• Slight forward bend at the waist, arms are relaxed and
in front of the body
• Movement to the ball
• Athletes should determine the path of the ball as soon
as possible
• Athletes should try to get behind and under the ball
using a natural quick footwork pattern
• Movement should be primarily in a horizontal plane,
with minimal up-down movement
• Once behind and under the ball athletes should use a
split step to get one foot slightly ahead of the other, to
get feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart, be in
a flex loaded position ready to execute the pass.
• Passing Action
• Prior to contact athletes must bring hands up to a position 5-10cm
above and in front of the forehead
• Fingers should be spread and in the shape of a ball
• Thumbs and index figures should create a triangular position, with
thumbs pointing back towards the opposite eyes
• The arms should start to move up and forward just prior to ball
contact
• Arms should extend fully, while the fingers a wrist slightly absorb
the ball
• During the arm movement there should be a transfer of weight
from the back foot onto the front foot.
• The final phase of this movement should see a slight outward
hand rotation and index fingers should finish 2-3 inches apart
• Body position at Contact
• Arms should be bent at approximately 90 degrees
• The torso is straight
• The head should be tipped back slightly with the eyes
tracking the ball through the hand position
• The knees are flexed and remain flexed throughout
execution of the pass
• There should be lots of space between arms and torso
• The back is flat with a forward lean from the hips
• Shoulders are relaxed and forward
• The head should be neutral, relaxed. Eyes should be tracking
the ball.
• The knees are bent and will allow the body to move
• Contact with the ball
• The ball contacts the pads of the fingers and thumbs
• The ball should not contact the palms of the hands or
the finger tips
• Follow through
• After release there is some external rotation and
flexion
• There is usually movement of the body in a horizontal
plane towards the target
• The greater the distance to the target the greater the
transfer of weight and force through the arm extension
Overhead Pass
Teaching Progressions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Proper hand position and contact point
Pass ball from prone position
Catch partners toss
Pass partners toss
Move and pass
Change direction of ball
Continuous pass
Complex drills
Serving
Technical Description
• The start position
• Erect stance, feet are narrower than shoulder width
• Non dominant foot is forward and weight is on the back
foot
• The ball is in the nondominant hand, arm is straight,
held parallel to the floor and orientated in front of the
dominant shoulder
• The dominant arm is held with the forearm parallel to
the floor, elbow bent and above the shoulder
• The wrist is held stiff
• Movement to the ball
• The nondominant foot steps forward
• The ball is tossed p and forward to a position just above
the contact point
• The contact arm draws back using trunk rotation and
shoulder extension
• Striking Action
• After the toss the toss arm drops down and away, the
action starts with trunk rotation, shoulder flexion, the
upper arm leads and the forearm lags behind
• The lower arm catches up to the forearm just prior to
contact, the body is now parallel to the net and the
hand is open and stiff
• Body position at Contact
•
•
•
•
Upper body will be upright or slight backward lean
Arm is fully extended at contact
Contact is forward of the shoulder
Body weight is on the nondominant foot, knee is bent
for balance
• Contact with the ball
• Ball is contacted with the heel and palm in the middle
of the ball
• The contact should be short and sharp
• Follow through
• The serve hand should drive thru the midline of the ball
along the intended serve path
• The transfer of weight is towards the serve direction
and the dominant foot will be dragged into a balanced
position
Serving
Teaching Progressions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Work on proper start position
Work on the step, toss and arm pull
Serve against wall
Serve from midcourt over net to partner
Serve from end line over the net
Complex serving drills
Blocking
Technical Description
• The start position
• Feet are shoulder width apart and knees are slightly
bent
• The back is straight and upright
• The hands are high, in front of the face, palms to the
net
• Hands are open and 4-6 inches apart, the entire length
of the forearm is parallel to the net
• Blocker should stand approximately 12-18 inches from
the net
• Movement to the ball
• The athlete moves laterally along the net.
• They initiate movement with a shuffle, then cross over or running
movement depending on distance to the ball
• They use a simultaneous break step to stop their lateral movement
and prepare for the vertical movement
• When moving 1-3 meters the athletes should remain square to the
net and not cross over the feet
• For movements greater than 3 meters some athletes may need to turn
and use a cross over
• After the break step the athletes will add slightly more knee bend and
jump straight up
• The hands/arms do not swing and remain high throughout the
movement
• The jump motion is very dynamic and the hands immediately cross
the plane of the net once they are above the net
• Blocking Action
• It is important to keep the eyes open in order to watch
the attacker and see the ball
• The arms extend up and when above the net they
penetrate the plane of the net reaching as far to the
ball as possible
• The wrists are firm and fingers are spread
• Just prior to contact the shoulders shrug and the
abdominals tighten
• Body position at Contact
• Shoulders square to net
• The head should be inline with the arms or slightly back
• Arms are extended into opponents side and hands are
open and angled towards the floor
• Contact with the ball
• Ball is contacted with the hands or arms
• Recovery and landing
• Draw the arms back
• Land balanced on both feet
• Absorb landing with the knees
• Position of the block
• The correctly position the block you need to use an eye
sequence that identifies the attacker-sees the pass and
set – refocuses on the attacker
• You should be directly in font of the attackers angle of
approach
• For proper timing you should jump after the attacker
does. Focus on the hitting arm and ball at this point
Blocking
Teaching Progressions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Work on proper start position
Work on the arm portion of the blocking action
Jump and block stationary ball
Jump and block a moving ball
Move jump and block, no ball
Move jump and block ball
Block balls hit by an attacker
Two players block together
Complex block drills
The Attack
Technical Description
• The start position
• Athlete will usually start at or behind the 3 meter line
• Will start at a 45 degree angle to the intended hitting
zone
• Athlete start in a fairly erect posture with weight on the
right foot (right handed attacker)
• Approach and jump
• The first step towards the hitting zone is with a left step. This step is used to
adjust the approach for minor changes in location and speed of set
• The second step is with the right leg and this is a powerful long step.
• Simultaneously the arms are swung back behind the trunk in an extended
position
• The third step is with the left and it is used to change the horizontal
movement to a veritical movement. This is achieve by placing it just in front of
the right foot and angled to orientate the body back towards the right (for a
set coming from the right)
• The feet should contact the floor with a heel to toe action and should be
shoulder width apart on the final closing step
• The jump involves a powerful extension of the legs as the arms continue
upwards
• As the body nears its jump height the hitting arm draws back with the elbow
staying above the shoulder and good trunk rotation to get the elbow as far
back as possible
• Striking Action
• If the body is in the proper position the striking action
will start with the trunk and shoulder rotating back
towards a parallel position to the net
• Then the upper arm rotates forward and upward, the
forearm lags behind
• Finally the forearm rotates forward and upward tp
make contact with the ball
• There is also a simultaneous extension of the legs and
flexion of the abdominals
• Body position at Contact
• Striking arm is at full extension
• The ball is contacted at its highest possible point and
slightly ahead of the shoulder
• The body is slightly bent forward at the waist
• Contact with the ball
• The contact hand makes contact with the fingers
comfortably spread and slightly flexed
• The wrist is relaxed and moves towards flexion
• The entire hand makes contact simultaneously with the
base contacting the ball above the midline. This will creat
top spin
• Follow through
• The body moves primarily forward towards the target
• With faster moving balls the movement will still be forward
but towards the floor as well to absorb the higher velocity
• Follow through and landing
• After contact the hitting arm continues down towards
the navel
• The athlete should land on two feet, balanced, and with
flexion in the knees to absorb the impact of landing
The Attack
Teaching Progressions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Develop proper arm action
Work on the hand contact motion
Standing spike action
One step approach and jump
Two step approach and jump
Three step approach and jump
Approach, jump and catch the ball at the net
Approach, jump and attack the ball over the net
Complex attack drills