4 Simple Volleyball Passing Drills For Beginners [With Video]

So, you’re new to volleyball, haven’t really played much before?

No worries! This guide is all about getting you up to speed with the most fundamental aspects of the game – passing.

For beginners, it’s crucial to get a strong grip on the basics, and today we’re zeroing in on two key types of passes: the overhand pass and the forearm pass. These are the building blocks that will set the foundation for your volleyball journey.

Let’s dive into some effective passing drills that are perfect for beginners, helping you evolve from a novice to a confident player on the court!

Absolutely, let’s break down the basics of overhand passes for beginners in volleyball. This skill is essential and surprisingly straightforward to pick up.

The Overhand Passes

In volleyball, especially for beginners, the overhand pass is a fundamental skill that’s essential to grasp. It’s simpler to learn compared to the forearm pass and is critical for keeping the ball in play – a key strategy in winning points. By practicing in pairs or trios, beginners can effectively learn and improve their overhand passing skills. These drills not only enhance your ability to handle basic passes but also prepare you for more advanced techniques as you progress in your volleyball journey.

1. Setup:
   You and your partner should stand about 15 feet apart.
2. Technique:
   When your partner tosses the ball, position your hands in front of your forehead, almost forming a triangle with your thumbs and index fingers.
3. Execution:
   Use a combination of leg and arm power to send the ball back. Keep your arms and legs bent initially, then straighten them as you pass the ball for maximum power.

Adding Movement

1. Dynamic Practice:
   After mastering the stationary pass, introduce movement. Have your partner mix up the throws with varying distances.
2. Real-Game Simulation:
   This phase helps you adapt to moving and positioning yourself correctly, a crucial aspect of actual gameplay.

Through consistent practice of these drills, you and your partner will enhance your overhand passing skills, a fundamental aspect of volleyball.

The Overhand Passes Drill in a Trio is a fantastic step up from the pair drill. Here’s how you can make it work:

1. Forming a Triangle:
   Three players form a large triangle on the court.
2. Starting Simple, Then Raising the Bar:
   Begin with easy passes to get warmed up. Gradually, start making more challenging passes – not directly to your partners, but near them, requiring movement to receive the ball.
3. Emphasizing Movement and Communication:
   This drill mimics real-game scenarios where players often need to move quickly to position themselves. The key is to communicate effectively. If the ball is heading into a space between two players, the player best positioned should call “Mine!” and go for the ball.
4. Decision Making:
   It’s crucial to make quick decisions on who should receive and pass the ball.

By practicing this drill, you’ll not only improve your overhand passing skills but also learn the essentials of communication and positioning, which are vital in actual volleyball matches.

Watch below video from Elevate Yourself for more detail

The Fore Arm Passes

Forearm passes are a crucial part of volleyball, often used more frequently in games than overhand passes. They might seem a bit intimidating initially, particularly for blocking, but starting with gentle drills can make learning these passes less daunting.

Since forearm passes come with various techniques and require precise execution, they’re typically harder to master than overhand passes. It’s beneficial for beginners to focus more on forearm passes.

Remember, the drills discussed here are basic and meant for complete novices. As your volleyball skills improve, these drills will become easier and form the foundation of your more advanced volleyball techniques.

The Standing Forearm Pass Drill is a great starting point for beginners learning forearm passes in volleyball. You can practice it in pairs or trios. Here’s how it goes:

1. Partner’s Role:
   Your partner gently throws the ball towards you at a slow pace and at an angle.
2. Body Positioning:
   Keep your knees slightly bent, similar to the overhand pass, to effectively absorb the ball’s impact and prepare for the pass.
3. Arm Technique:
   Connect your palms with thumbs parallel, keeping forearms close but not touching. The key is to keep your arms straight from the palm to the shoulder as you hit the ball.
4. Passing Mechanics:
   Use your legs to generate power (not your elbows) and swing your arms from the shoulders. The force needed will depend on the distance between you and your partner.
5. Practice Routine:
   Focus on standing passes with minimal movement initially. This drill is about mastering the forearm pass technique before adding movement in more advanced drills.

Moving on to the Moving Forearm Pass Drill, this is where you add motion and dynamic elements to your forearm pass practice:

1. Dynamic Practice:
   With one or two partners, start the drill. Instead of direct throws, the ball should come from various angles – to your sides or short tosses in front of you.
2. Adapting to Movement:
   You’ll need to move quickly to position yourself for these unpredictable passes. This may include running, turning, or even dropping to your knees for low balls.
3. Sideways Forearm Pass:
   Learn to adapt your forearm pass when receiving balls from the side. The technique remains the same, but the swing comes from the side.

For group practice, simulate a game environment by dividing into teams and passing the ball over an imaginary or real net. This group drill enhances your ability to use forearm passes in a game-like scenario, teaching control and precision. It’s a more challenging drill but crucial for realistic practice and improving your in-game forearm pass skills.

Watch below video for the visual practice

Top 3 Errors to Avoid in Volleyball Passing Drill

In volleyball, mastering the pass, which is the initial contact with the ball, is essential for players at all levels. High-performance volleyball depends heavily on repeated practice of the correct techniques. The three typical errors that hinder effective passing are:

1. Not Moving Feet to the Ball: This leads to reaching for the ball instead of moving towards it, resulting in less control over the pass.
2. Swinging at the Ball: Incorrectly swinging at the ball impacts the control of the pass.
3. Poor Posture: Inappropriate body posture during passing can affect both the accuracy and power of the pass.

Addressing these habits is key to developing strong and consistent passing skills in volleyball.

The focus of these volleyball drills is to encourage you to move your feet towards the ball, which is essential for developing good passing techniques, especially as the game’s pace increases. Here are the drills:

1. Rolls: You’ll shuffle to pass a ball that your partner rolls down their leg while sitting.
2. Scoops: Similar to Rolls, but your partner stands this time.
3. Corners: This drill emphasizes on your positioning and movement.
4. Leg Bounce: Pass a ball that’s bounced through your legs.
5. Band Passing: Use elastic bands around your ankles to promote proper foot movement.
6. Knee Pad Touch Drill: Focuses on improving your agility and positional awareness.

These drills are designed to enhance your footwork and passing accuracy, fundamental for volleyball success.

In your volleyball passing drills, remember it’s important not to swing or swipe at the ball. Here’s how you can refine your technique:

• Drop the Shoulder: Lower your shoulder and angle your platform by shifting your weight. This helps drive the ball toward the middle of the court.
• Subtle Weight Transfer: Move through the ball with a gentle shift in weight for more control.
• Directing the Ball: Use the angle of your platform and your momentum to accurately target the ball.

Drills to Improve Your Technique:

• Partner Knee Passing: Keep your platform above your knee while passing.
• Belly Bump: Place the ball under your shirt to maintain an extended platform.
• Side to Side Short: Execute quick, short passes from side to side.
• Lanes Narrow: Practice passing in a straight, narrow path.
• Lane Narrow with Tilt: Add a slight tilt to your narrow lane passes.
• Lanes Wide with Tilt: Use wider lanes and focus on tilting, not twisting.
• Shuffle Passing: Shuffle your feet to stay mobile while passing.

When it comes to volleyball passing, posture is key. You might find yourself unintentionally raising your shoulders when the ball is served. Focus on keeping your hips back and your shoulders forward. Your stance should be about shoulder-width apart. Here are some drills to help you:

1. Towel or Dot Drill: Keep a towel or dot on your back while you pass. The challenge is not to let it fall off, especially when moving backward.
2. Russian Drill: This drill is specifically designed to improve your posture and technique in passing.
3. Antenna Drill: Hold an antenna or noodle at head height in front of you as a visual guide to keep your head steady during serves and passes.

These drills will help you maintain proper posture, which is crucial for effective passing.

Equiment List To Start Practicing Volleyball Passing Drills

Starting out in volleyball is pretty straightforward in terms of equipment. Here’s what you’ll need for beginner passing drills:

1. Volleyball: Of course, a volleyball is essential.
2. A Partner or Friends: Having someone to practice with makes drills more effective and enjoyable.
3. Volleyball Net (Optional): For group drills, a net is ideal. You can rent a court or join a club where nets are available.
4. Solo Training Gear (Optional): If you often practice alone, consider investing in volleyball rebounders and setting nets. These tools can help improve your skills without needing a partner.

Remember, the key to mastering volleyball is consistent practice. The more you work on these fundamental drills, the quicker you’ll progress to more advanced techniques.