How to Pass or Bump a Volleyball

Passing is the most fundamental, yet difficult, part of volleyball. If your team can successfully pass the ball more times than your opponent, then you are guaranteed the victory. Passing is a defensive part of the game of volleyball and sets up the offensive part of the game as soon as the ball reaches the setter's hands.

Passing a volleyball can be characterized by the successful action of returning the opponents hit to your teammate (or setter) to set up your offensive possession. Passing a volleyball is the second step of defense (if you count attempting to block the opponents hit) and is the most important step to starting your offensive possession. If you don't have a good pass to your setter, then it is impossible to start your offensive set or play. There are several steps to passing a volleyball correctly and efficiently in order to allow your setter the opportunity to set all the options on the court. If all steps are given attention, then passing will become second nature to you in no time!

Step 1:

Keep your eyes on the opponent's arm as he swings at the ball in order to determine or estimate the direction and position of the ball following his hit.

Step 2:

Once the ball has successfully crossed the plane of the net, you are able to adjust your positioning in regards to the ball's position as to pass it successfully.

Step 3:

The following couple of steps are in regards to your stance and positioning on the court. A huge part of passing the ball is your stance:

• You must be balanced and on the balls of your feet, rather than your heels, so that you can react quickly and effectively to the ball's placement and movement.
• Your arms must be directly in front of you with somewhat of a slant towards the ground, your elbows locked, and your shoulders shrugged.
• Make sure that your hands always stay together. There are two ways that I currently know about to hold your hands together as to create a smooth and parallel surface on your forearms (which is where the ball should be passed from).
  1) Make a fist with your right hand and mold your left hand around it with both thumbs on top of the hands.
  2) Make a flat surface with both hands and put your right hand inside of your left with both thumbs on top. Both of these techniques provide the flattest surface for you forearms so that the ball can go in the correct direction.
• Your legs must be bent and in a steady position as to be able to slide to the ball.
• You never swing your arms at the ball, but rather use your legs as to push the ball upwards and then into a parabolic motion towards your setter.
• Always aim your feet at the setter, rather than swinging your arms towards the setter.
• Constantly keep your eyes on the ball before, during, and after passing the ball to allow a more correct form.

Get ready to do it again!
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