The forearm pass in volleyball is a reception technique used mostly
during the first contact in a rally by a player on the offensive team in
serve receive that's just been served the ball.
Its made when you clasp your hands together, one closed fist
inside the other hand that wraps around the fist and with both
Keeping your thumbs pointed to the ground, keeps your elbows straight
which is needed to create a flat surface on which the ball contacts
your arms, above your wrists and below the inside of your elbows.
Your legs are shoulder width apart in a balanced athletic position once
you've moved to where you see the ball is going to land in your
court and you position your body behind the ball after its
To make the pass, you contact the ball before the ball is lower than
your hips and you use your angled platform "arms" to control or angle
the ball to the target, usually your setter who's waiting in Zone 3 near the
net.
In beach volleyball the forearm pass is used more frequently as
the first and second contact in a rally.
The first contact, just like in the indoor game is to get the ball up to the
setter, who's waiting close to the net.
But in beach because of windier conditions, the setter often uses
the forearm pass in volleyball to set the ball up for a hit over the
net by the partner who passed the ball.
Setters on the beach will forearm pass or "bump set the ball" to
avoid being called for a fault because of the increased possibility of
contacting the ball twice or lifting it when trying to overhand set the ball
in outside weather.
Whether you call it the bump, the serve receive, the
underhand pass or the forearm pass every player needs to
master the art of ball control in order to perform this offensive
technique effectively in both beach or indoor volleyball.
Begin right now to familiarize yourself with the study guide of passing
and reception terms I've listed below because this is the skill you will use
the most on the court.
The forearm pass is the technique most commonly used
during the first contact in a rally especially if you're trying to get
the ball to another player or if you're trying to get the ball over the net
without spiking it.
To pass the ball you keep your hands and wrists pressed together at the
wrists with the thumbs of both hands pointing down to the ground.
Keeping your thumbs pointed to the ground keeps your arms
straight and this creates what we call in volleyball jargon " your
platform" a flat surface like one you would see on a table.
Your "platform" is what you use to make contact with the ball,
guiding it to your setter, or to another hitter or even across the
net.
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Pass a Ball |
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How To Pass |
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