TO BE A GREAT PASSER

Everything else in volleyball depends on making a good pass to the setter. Every player wants to play in all six rotations, back row and front row, and the simple truth is that as a player progresses to older Junior Olympic teams and eventually into high school, if you can't pass, you can't play. But if you are a good passer, you will play on any team.

As with all volleyball skills (except for serving), you must have great pre-contact movement in order to get your body into the proper position to make a good pass. This article primarily addresses proper serve receive and free ball passing execution. Proper movement for passing includes:

1. Directly facing where the ball is coming from: the hitter, server, or free ball passer. This is when the coach yells at you to stay square to the flight of the ball.
2. Moving laterally (side to side) in order to contact the ball directly in the middle of your body. This is when the coach yells at you to center the ball.
3. Moving forward or backward in order to contact the ball knee high in front of your body. This is when the coach yells at you to not stand up to pass the ball.
4. Always moving your feet to the ball before you move your platform (your arms) to the ball. This is when the coach yells at you to move your feet and do not reach for the ball.
5. Always moving both feet, not just one lunge step, so you can stay square to the ball with your feet (still more than shoulder width apart), hips, and shoulders. This is when the coach yells at you not to lunge for the ball, but to move both feet.

Proper contact with the ball in order to produce a good pass if you are to the left of the setting target (where the setter goes to set a good pass) includes:

1. Having your feet a bit more than shoulder width apart.
2. Having your right foot in front of your left foot.
3. Having your toes, hips, and shoulders facing the ball, not the target.
4. Having your heels off the ground so your weight is forward.
5. Having your knees in front of your feet and your shoulders in front of your knees.
6. Fully extending your platform (your arms) and pulling your wrists down.
7. Tilting the platform by dropping your right shoulder so that it is lower than your left shoulder, not swiveling your hips to re-direct the ball.
8. Watching the ball all the way into your platform (your arms), not looking at the target.
9. Pushing with your legs to pass the ball, not swinging the platform (your arms) or if the ball is coming extremely fast, cushioning the contact.
10. Freezing for a moment after contact.

If you are passing from the right back position and you are to the right of the setting target, the only difference is your left foot is in front of your right foot, so you can drop the left shoulder to re-direct the ball to the target.

Passing is the soul of the game. Nobody except the coach and the setter really appreciate good passing, so there is little external glory for the passer. But in order for a team to be successful, it must pass well.