15 club volleyball tryout tips from a Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee and elite club coach who's helped hundreds of athletes navigate tryouts successfully.15 club volleyball tryout tips from a Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee and elite club coach who's helped hundreds of athletes navigate tryouts successfully.

The Beach Volleyball Ready Position Your Athletic Stance Is Everything

Your beach volleyball ready position is important because the primary function of your arms when you pass is to redirect the volleyball to your intended target.

Your beach volleyball ready position is important because the primary function of your arms when you pass is to redirect the volleyball to your intended target. (Ralph Aversen)Your beach volleyball ready position is important because the primary function of your arms when you pass is to redirect the volleyball to your intended target. (Ralph Aversen)

If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.

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Struggling with passing consistency?

I help talented passers tired of getting pulled from games because of inconsistent serve receive skills  BUILD passing confidence without expensive private lessons using the same 3-step system that's helped dozens of my athletes get recruited.

Download my eBook for $7.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.

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Where and how your arms are positioned before your pass is an important part of your volleyball ready position.

Your beach volleyball ready position is important because the primary function of your arms when you pass a ball on the sand is to redirect the ball to your target.

You should consider your arms -- as a wall or a tabletop that you put up for the ball to rebound off of so that it goes directly to your setter or a predetermined place where your setter will be so she can give you the best set possible. 

Although different players have different starting stance styles for passing a ball on the beach, they often adopt the stance which allows them to react to a tough serve very quickly.

Some adopt a running stance which means they have one foot straddling an imaginary starting line and their shoulders are erect but turned perpendicular to the player who is serving the ball on the opposing team.

I believe the rationale behind starting this way is that in theory when you could turn and run towards the net or away from it to pass a volleyball that's served deep in the court, a lot faster by starting in this runner's stance.


The beach volleyball ready position pro players use has their arms extended in front of them elbows bent at 45 degree angle with palms of the hands facing upwards towards the sky. (Aversen)The beach volleyball ready position pro players use has their arms extended in front of them elbows bent at 45 degree angle with palms of the hands facing upwards towards the sky. (Aversen)


The majority of players for the most part, adopt a beach volleyball ready position similar to the one used by indoor volleyball players.

The traditional one with shoulders and upper body parallel and square to the net and facing the server when beach volleyball passing.

The beach volleyball ready position pro players use is for arms to extend in front of their body at a 45 degree angle with the palms of the hand facing upwards towards the sky. (Aversen)The beach volleyball ready position pro players use is for arms to extend in front of their body at a 45 degree angle with the palms of the hand facing upwards towards the sky. (Aversen)

Typically, the beach volleyball ready position pro beach players use is for their

  • arms to extend in front of their body towards the net
  • elbows bent at around a 45 degree angle with the palms of the hand facing upwards towards the sky
  • pretty much looking as if they were holding an invisible baby but with their arms closer to their waist line.

The beach volleyball ready position pro players use is for their arms to extend in front of their body towards the net elbows bent at around a 45 degree angle with the palms of the hand facing upThe beach volleyball ready position pro players use is for their arms to extend in front of their body towards the net elbows bent at around a 45 degree angle with the palms of the hand facing up

Guys have a tendency to start the same way or they will rest their hands on their thighs or the hem of their board shorts until the server serves and/or the ball is just crossing the net.


Beach Volleyball Ready Position: Guys have a tendency to rest their hands on their thighs or the hem of their board shorts until the server serves. (R. Aversen)Beach Volleyball Ready Position: Guys have a tendency to rest their hands on their thighs or the hem of their board shorts until the server serves. (R. Aversen)

One other beach volleyball ready position that elite volleyball players use was made popular by American Steve Anderson coach of the Australian women's Olympic gold medalist Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst, bronze medalist in Atlanta and gold medalist in Sydney in 2000.  

The Australians, Natalie and Kerri, when adopting their beach volleyball ready position for passing has their shoulders parallel and square to the net but instead of holding their arms in front of them in a cradle position they would hold them straight out from their sides with elbows very slightly bent.


They do this for two reasons

  • to make the court look smaller
  • to bolster the passers confidence in being able to quickly get to any served ball

To make the court look smaller...

...to the opposing team's server, the court size looks much smaller making it more difficult for the server to pick a wide open space to serve to.

To bolster passers confidence...

...It bolsters the players confidence in helping them to believe that they can get to any spot quickly while passing since the court seems smaller with their arms spread so widely.

Famous beach volleyball players who are or who have been coached by the Australian Olympian Kerri Pottharst like

  • Tyra Turner
  • Rachel Wacholder
  • Angie Akers 

have a tendency to adopt a wider-arm beach volleyball ready position starting stance or a modified version of it while passing in the sand.


This has been an important message by your favorite volleyball coach! That's me!!

Thanks for visiting.

Be sure to check out more of my volleyball articles by clicking one of the links below!  (April Chapple)

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Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience. These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis. Sign up now!Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience. These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis. Sign up now!


Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag to improve your game even faster!

I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list. 


Learn More About How To Play Beach Volleyball



If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.

Ebook_How_to_Clean_Up_Your_Passing_and_Get_More_-linkedin-profile-cover-1.jpeg

Struggling with passing consistency?

I help talented passers tired of getting pulled from games because of inconsistent serve receive skills  BUILD passing confidence without expensive private lessons using the same 3-step system that's helped dozens of my athletes get recruited.

Download my eBook for $7.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.




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From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?

Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier Division

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!

A-1 Vegas Volley VBC

    In It To Win It      Tournament   

May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament

Gold Medalists

18s Premier Division



Making A-1 Vegas Volleyball history as the very first TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! In the In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament, A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier DivisionMaking A-1 Vegas Volleyball history as the very first TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! In the In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament, A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier Division




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Thanks for stopping by. Hope you learned something today that will help you reach your volleyball goals.

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Stay strong! Stay motivated!

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Vegas Volleyball's Unsung Heroes: Celebrating Moms with Peace Love Volleyball Shirts

In the city that never sleeps, my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are your 24/7 support system. Las Vegas pulses with endless energy, and as a volleyball mom, you're the powerhouse behind your player's non-stop journey.In the city that never sleeps, my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are your 24/7 support system.
More than just clothing, my shirts are a tribute to the tireless spirit of Vegas volleyball moms.More than just clothing, my shirts are a tribute to the tireless spirit of Vegas volleyball moms.
With motivational messages and vibrant designs, they mirror the dynamic energy of our city while celebrating your constant presence in your player's volleyball adventure.With motivational messages and vibrant designs, they mirror the dynamic energy of our city while celebrating your constant presence in your player's volleyball adventure.
In a town that's always on, you're the ever-present force driving your player's success.In a town that's always on, you're the ever-present force driving your player's success.

Ready to energize your volleyball mom journey?

Subscribe to my 'Producing Powerful Passionate Peaceful Players' email list above on ImproveYourVolley.com.

You'll receive energy-boosting tips, exclusive insights from me,        Coach April Chapple on maintaining momentum in volleyball.

Let's power up the Vegas volleyball scene together!


Struggling with the unique demands of being a volleyball mom in the desert? My Peace Love Volleyball shirts offer both comfort and inspiration for the challenges you face. From dealing with intense heat during outdoor practices to long drives across the valley for tournaments, Vegas volleyball moms face obstacles that others might not understand.Dear Vegas Volleyball Mom, I know that balancing Vegas life with volleyball commitments can feel like walking a tightrope, but my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are here to support you every step of the way.
As the Vegas volleyball scene grows, so does the pressure on players and moms alike. My Peace Love Volleyball shirts are here to remind you of your inner peace amidst the chaos.As the Vegas volleyball scene grows, so does the pressure on players and moms alike. My Peace Love Volleyball shirts are here to remind you of your inner peace amidst the chaos.
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