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Beginner Volleyball Passing: Turn Good Passes Into A Starting JV Spot

Some players always get playing time while others wonder why they dont. Here's the beginner volleyball passing checklist that makes coaches choose you to play.

Good passes but no varsity spot? No playing time? Here's the beginner volleyball passing checklist that separates bench players from starters coaches actually trust.

I watched hundreds of players struggle with their beginner volleyball passing until

I figured out the one thing that makes it click.

Let me show you how to pass a volleyball the right way:

After a teammate passes the ball (first contact), the setter positions themselves under the ball and delivers a precise set (second contact) to a hitter who attacks (third contact).

Want to know why some players always get varsity spots while others with the same talent sit on JV?

Most players try to learn everything about passing at once, but the secret to how to pass a volleyball correctly is starting with one simple foundation that controls everything else.

Are You Tired Yet of Watching Less Talented JV Players Get Starting Time While You're Still on the Bench?

I like to work on this 3 person "Dodgeball" drill where the person in the middle has to choose which side to get their midsection out of the way of the oncoming ball that's being tossed at their chest before they present their passing platform with an angled shoulder positioned towards the target.

You watch other players make passes look easy.

You try to copy what they do but your passes fly everywhere except to the setter.

When coaches explain passing, you feel confused by all the different parts.

Here's the truth coaches won't tell you:

You're not struggling because volleyball passing is hard—you're struggling because you're trying to learn everything at once instead of getting good at the one foundation skill that separates starting players from everyone else.

Every crazy pass that flies over the net, every ball that bounces off your arms weird, every time you feel like you'll never "get it"—these aren't signs you're bad at volleyball.

aprilselfietopprivatevolleyballcoachinvegas

My tips on How to do wall passing drills...

Volleyball wall passing and wall setting drills can be done daily at home with a goal of at least 250 - 500 reps of various drills to keep your

passing or setting technique,
angled platform work,
ball contacting skills and
control of the ball.....extremely sharp!

Pick a brick, a specific spot on the wall or mark a big X in chalk on a wall or use a basketball net or backboard ...no matter what you decide to use as your target... anybody walking by.... should be able to see exactly where the spot is that you are aiming for EVERY...single....time .⁠

Do 3 to 5 sets of 100... five feet from the wall ....then side step two feet and repeat. Then step back and repeat.⁠

Complete 300 to 500 passing repetitions

They're "the exact gaps" that keep coaches from trusting you in big games when varsity spots are on the line.

Stop fighting your passes. Start building the platform that gets you noticed.

Why Do Some Players Always Get Playing Time While You Sit on the Bench?

Here's the truth coaches won't tell you: You're not struggling because volleyball passing is hard—you're struggling because you're trying to learn everything at once instead of getting good at the one foundation skill that separates varsity players from everyone else.(Ralph Arvesen Creative Commons)

You're struggling because you're trying to learn everything at once instead of getting good at the one foundation skill that separates varsity players from everyone else.(Ralph Arvesen)

You practice during team time and try to follow what coaches say.

You watch videos and try to copy what you see.

But when balls come at you during drills, your passes are all over the place.

Here's the varsity secret I learned after teaching hundreds of beginners how to pass a volleyball:

Those players who seem to "get it" fast and always get playing time aren't more talented—they learned "the right platform first" before worrying about anything else.

Does this sound like your volleyball reality?

Your passes go different directions even when you try the same thing
Balls bounce off your arms in weird ways
You feel like your platform falls apart when coaches are watching
Other players make passing look automatic while yours feels crazy
You wonder what you're missing that keeps you from getting varsity consideration

The missing piece is the platform secret that varsity players know—and it's easier than you think.

What Separates Varsity Players From Everyone Else? The 5 Platform Secrets

Ever wonder why coaches always trust certain players with the important passes? Here are the 5 platform secrets that separate varsity starters from bench players: Volleyball girl passing a ball (Herald Post Creative Commons)

Ever wonder why coaches always trust certain players with the important passes?

Here are the 5 platform secrets that separate varsity starters from bench players:

✅ Secret #1: Perfect Hand Position That Coaches Notice

Watch how Tstreet 17-2s Head Coach Kenny Buen stays balanced and accurately passes the ball to my hand, his target without making me move while I'm holding the camera.

What varsity players know:

The biggest forearm area for consistent ball contact

Why coaches care:

Bad hand position ruins every other part of volleyball passing

The varsity difference:

Make fist with right hand, wrap left hand around it, thumbs pointing down

Coach's test:

Are your thumbs side-by-side pointing straight toward the ground?

Want to know what I tell players who want more playing time or get a varsity spot?

Practice platform formation for 100 times daily before you ever touch a ball.

✅ Secret #2: Platform Stability That Works Under Pressure

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Passing the deep serve consistently requires teammates to talk to each other to let each other know who is going to move deep in the court to pass the deep serve.

What varsity players know:

Platform that stays the same shape when the game matters

Why coaches care:

Wobbly platforms make unpredictable ball flight during crucial points

The varsity difference:

Press wrists together tight, keep elbows straight but not locked

Coach's test:

Can your platform stay the same shape when someone pushes against it?

✅ Secret #3: Aim Control That Makes Setters Love You

Beat the ball to where you think its going to land in your court and get there before the ball does instead of timing the ball and getting to the spot at the same time.

What varsity players know:

Exact ball direction to your setter every time

Why coaches care:

Random ball direction makes it impossible for setters to run plays

The varsity difference:

Drop inside shoulder slightly toward target, keep outside shoulder steady

Coach's test:

Can you direct passes to specific spots consistently?

✅ Secret #4: Contact Point Consistency That Builds Trust

Problem: If you find yourself passing line serves straight ahead of you instead of to the middle of the court because you’re not dropping your inside shoulder early enough and if you don’t have enough strength yet to set the ball from the back row to the front row… this drill could help.

Ella and Turi work on:

Solution:
👉🏾passing 20 and 10 which means passing the ball 20 feet in the air and angling your platform early so the ball rebounds off your angled arms and lands on or just inside .. the ten foot line. .. while also

👉🏾working on reading early where the ball is going to be after it’s been passed by your partner and then moving quickly to place your feet and forehead directly underneath the ball (no leaning) before pushing it back to the ceiling to set it with triangle shaped hands.

Check to see if you get distracted by taking your eyes off the ball between the time the server serves it and the time the ball crosses the net.

What varsity players know:

Predictable ball flight that setters can count on

Why coaches care:

Different contact points create different ball speeds and paths

The varsity difference:

Contact ball on upper forearms, same spot every single pass

Coach's test:

Is the ball hitting the same area on your arms each time?

✅ Secret #5: Platform Freeze Technique That Impresses Coaches

Passing in Volleyball: When Passing Face The Net, Drop The Inside Shoulder and Angle Your Platform

What varsity players know:

Clean ball contact without arm swing that ruins accuracy

Why coaches care:

Swinging arms during volleyball passes creates crazy ball flight

The varsity difference:

Form platform, freeze it on contact, let ball bounce off your arms

Coach's test:

Are you keeping your platform still during ball contact?

Press both wrists together when passing, without breaking them apart no matter how hard or easy the serve.

Why Most Players Never Make Varsity (And How You Can Be Different)

When you keep your platform too close to your body you are forced to swing your arms when you contact the ball.

When using correct passing technique you want to avoid swinging your arms when you pass because you are in less control of the ball and you increase the probability of the ball going right back over the net or staying close to you instead of being directed to the setter who's waiting at the net.

Here's four reasons why most players stay on JV forever:

They skip platform basics and jump to ball contact
They create bad habits that coaches can't trust in big games
They focus on looking good instead of building reliably consistent passing technique
They overwhelm themselves with too many things instead of narrowing their focus down to concentrating on just the ball

Here's four reasons why JV starters and varsity players always get playing time:

They learned the best basic technical foundation first before adding complicated stuff
They created reliably consistent habits that coaches trust in pressure situations
They eliminated the unimportant body control and ball control moves that cause inconsistent passes
They developed good habits that lead to automatic and disciplined technique that works during big matches

I tell every player who wants more playing time or varsity consideration:

"Get really good at the basics especially focusing on your platform angles and platform placement first. Coaches notice players that are disciplined with their upper body body control and foot speed to the ball."

Ready to Turn Good Passes into Your Varsity Spot?

Stop hoping coaches will notice you.

Start building the platform passing technique that makes coaches trust you in big games.

The choice is yours:

- Keep struggling with inconsistent passes and hope for varsity consideration

- Or learn the platform secrets that separate varsity starters from bench players

Your varsity dreams deserve the foundation that makes them reality.

Real Beginners, Real Beginner Volleyball Passing Success

"Coach April's beginner volleyball passing platform checklist made volleyball passing finally make sense. I went from scared of the ball to confident passer in three weeks!"

— Katelyn H., Freshman volleyball player

This simple server vs passer drill is one of the passing drills I do with my club volleyball players, clients and college volleyball players that I train, done to improve ball control skills and to improve their ability to get the ball to the target consistently from anywhere on the court. Katelyn starts in this video in the left back video for a certain amount of time or a certain amount of reps and then we move to middle back and do the same and then right back before moving on to the next drill.

Coach April's beginner volleyball passing platform checklist made volleyball passing finally make sense. I went from scared of the ball to confident passer in three weeks!"

— Carmela, private client

Like in most beginner volleyball drills, one player will "guide" the drill while the other player "works" the drill.

Want to know what happens when beginners learn the right way?

The beginner volleyball passing numbers prove fast improvement

Beginners learning "volleyball passing basics" in 2-3 weeks instead of months
Players fixing "chronic passing problems" through simple platform correction
90%+ improvement in pass accuracy within 4 weeks of platform training
Consistent change "from crazy to automatic passing"

The difference?

They stopped trying to figure it out alone and started using a proven beginner volleyball passing checklist.

Get My Complete Beginner Volleyball Passing Platform Checklist

Stop struggling with inconsistent volleyball passes.
Start learning the platform foundation that makes every pass automatic.

Ready to turn your good passes into the varsity spot you deserve?

Here's exactly what you get in your beginner volleyball passing guide:

What You Get in Your Beginner Volleyball Passing Platform Checklist:

✅ Perfect Hand Position Guide
Learn the hand technique that creates the biggest forearm contact area

✅ Platform Stability Training
Build strong platform that stays the same shape under any pressure

✅ Perfect Aim Control Methods
Direct your passes exactly where you want them every single time

✅ Same Contact Point Development
Create predictable ball flight that setters can count on

✅ Daily Platform Training Checklist
Simple practice methods that build automatic muscle memory

✅ One-Page Easy Format
Clear, simple instructions for beginner volleyball passing done correctly

Your Beginner Volleyball Passing Success Starts in 3 Easy Steps

Step 1: Download Your Beginner Volleyball Passing Platform Checklist

Get the simple basics that teach you the right way from the beginning.

Step 2: Learn Perfect Platform Formation

Practice perfect hand position and stability before you ever touch a ball.

Step 3: Build Automatic Consistency

Use daily training methods that make your passes automatic and reliable.

Most beginners see huge improvement in their passing within 2-3 weeks of using the beginner volleyball passing platform checklist.

Stop Fighting Your Passes. Start Building Your Varsity Future.

Here's the truth about beginner volleyball passing:

Your hard work shouldn't be wasted on random practice that creates bad habits instead of proper technique.

Every day you practice volleyball passing without the right beginner volleyball passing foundation, you're making it harder to get the varsity spot you want.

The choice is yours:

Keep struggling with inconsistent passes and hoping coaches notice you
Or use the beginner volleyball passing platform checklist that turns good passes into varsity opportunities

Get Your Complete Beginner Volleyball Passing Platform Checklist - $7

Click to Download:

Beginner Volleyball Passing Checklist

Build elite-level platform control and targeting precision

Click to Download Your Platform Excellence Foundation: 🎯 Beginner Volleyball Passing Technique Checklist - $7 Transform your volleyball passing from inconsistent struggle to automatic confidence with the beginner volleyball passing platform checklist that coaches notice.

Build the Foundation That Gets You Noticed:

✅ Perfect hand position that creates the best ball control

✅ Strong platform stability that works under any pressure

✅ Perfect aim control for exact ball placement

✅ Same contact points that eliminate guesswork

✅ Daily training checklist that helps build automatic muscle memory

✅ Simple one-page format for immediate use

Your varsity dreams start with the beginner volleyball passing foundation that makes coaches trust you with important passes.

Click to Download Your Platform Excellence Foundation:

🎯 Advanced Passing Technique Guide - $7

Build elite-level platform control and targeting precision

Click to Download Your Platform Excellence Foundation: 🎯 Advanced Passing Technique Guide - $7 Build elite-level platform control and targeting precision

Download To Fix Your Passing Error Percentage:

📋 Passing Error Correction System - $7

Fix the platform mistakes that sabotage your passing consistency

Build Your Platform Excellence Foundation:

🤝 Perfect Platform Mastery Checklist - $7

Master hand position fundamentals and systematic formation techniques

Contact:

info@improveyourvolley.com

More help:

ImproveYourVolley.com

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.

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 $17.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.

From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend

Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.

utkaprilcollegepiconneylandstadiumvideoboard

Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee, Coach April Chapple is

the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
former USA National team member
one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist

April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match

Coach April's 2025 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training

Pre-Registration now open for 2025 Private and Semiprivate Training Sessions with Coach April . Get prepared for club tryouts or train with me during club season!

Email now for information on semiprivate or private indoor skills, individual or small group training volleyball classes and my Breakfast Club for College Players training for 2025.

Invest in your improvement while preepping for your next level and college goals while working hard and training smart.

Email me right now to register or for more information.

info@improveyourvolley.com

Serving slang is not just about individual techniques; it also relates to overall game strategy. A coach might instruct a player to serve a "short serve" or a "deep serve" to target specific areas of the opponent's court or exploit weaknesses in their serve receive formation.

Ari, my private training client and I are working specifically on serving on jump float cross court serves ...short to Zone 2

There's so much we work on to get to this point where she can contact the ball with

the same toss height and same toss location
the same armswing speed
the same timing for when her serving hand contacts the ball
the middle of the hand contacting the middle of the ball every single time
getting use to watching her serving hand contact the ball at the highest point of her jump ...before she starts to land
and finally contacting the ball in the precise spot on the ball so it goes where the coach wants the player to put it so in this case ..a short serve in the farthest short right corner on the court also called Zone 2.

kamiminerpac12setteroftheyearformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

Tommi Stockham All Big West Conference sophomore former Coach April Chapple private client 3 years

katepriorallwestcoastconferencebyufreshmanformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

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Dear Vegas Parent

Read my open letter to Las Vegas Jr high/high school volleyball parents about my predictions on individual and small group volleyball training trends for 2019/2021

Tennessee Athletics Honors April Chapple at Champions Weekend for Legendary Volleyball Achievements

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

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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!

A-1 Vegas Volley VBC

In It To Win It Tournament

May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament

Gold Medalists

18s Premier Division

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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 Division