Volleyball Passer Keep Eyes On The Ball When Its In The Server's Hands

As a passer in serve receive you can improve ball control skills by keeping your eyes on the ball when its in the server's hands before it crosses the net.   

Keeping your eyes on the ball and tracking the ball early

• while it's still in the opposing server's hands
• before it crosses the net

is how to improve your volleyball passing skills. 

Before the serve

• Keep feet shoulder width apart in a balanced position with knees bent so you're in a slight squat.
• Keep feet slightly staggered so right foot is two-three inches in front of your left foot so you can move quickly in any direction.
• Hands can rest on knees with shoulders over the knees. 

During The Serve

• As the server tosses the ball the passer's hands come off the knees and extend out in front of you
• Arms and shoulders shouldn't be too high or too close to your body.
• The perfect distance to hold your passing arms from your body ...you should be able to fit a ball underneath your armpits

After The Serve

Once the server contacts the ball

• Anticipate where you need to be based on the path the served ball takes and
• Get your body behind the ball EARLY
• Be stopped and in a balanced position with body and shoulders facing and parallel to the net
• Create a platform with your arms by making a fist with one hand and cover the fist with the other hand while keeping wrists together and thumbs pointed to the ground
• Keep hips below the level of the ball 
• Use your platform to contact the ball on your forearms above your wrists and below the insides of your elbows   
• Angle your inside shoulder towards your intended target
• Freeze your platform on ball contact and don't swing your arms. This freezing action keeps the ball in the air longer and it allows the setter to read and anticipate where the pass is going

You should lock your eyes on the ball and visibly track it from the server's hands once she makes contact with it.

Keep visually tracking the ball, keeping your eyes on it as it crosses the net and as the ball travels closer and closer towards you.

When performing any forearm pass, you want to intensify your ability to focus on the ball as it comes from the server, into your court, all the way into the extended arms of your platform.

if its possible try not to take your eyes off the ball even when it makes contact with your forearms while you are passing it.

You want to watch the ball all the way into your court until it makes contact with your passing platform and then you want to keep watching the ball as it travels off of your platform and makes its way to the setter.

Act like your eyes have a tracking device in them that won't allow you to take them off of the ball.

Imagine that this tracking device is activated just before the server tosses the ball in the air for her serve, and continues tracking the ball all the way across the net into your platform and continued until the ball reaches the setter's hands from your pass.

Focusing on the ball like this should

• reduce the amount of times you get surprised by the ball at the last minute
• will help you anticipate any last minute moves that you may have to make after the served ball crosses the net to your side of the court
  
• improves your passing skills against a tough overhand float serve

Collegiate and professional volleyball players have protected themselves against the effects of a fast moving floater serve because

• they watch the ball out of the opposing server's hands,
• so when it gets to the net and then crosses to their side
• it's easy for them to move their feet quickly

to get into position to pass the ball right to the target.

A quick review..

when you pass you want to keep your eyes on the ball and

• stay very focused and concentrated on the ball starting from when it's in the opposing team's server's hands and 
• as it crosses the net and 
• ending when it's bounced off of your platform and is heading to your setter's hands.

Where do you need to go now? 

Your three options are: 

1. You can learn more about Passing in volleyball by visiting the Related Links below.  
2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page   Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. Or visit the pages in the How to Play Volleyball section in the drop down menu at the top of the page to get started. 
4. Before leaving this page Say "Hi" to  Ms. Resee the Kangaroo, wearing the #11 jersey below. She's a left side hitter with precision passing and a member of the VolleyBragSwag All Beast Third team. 

Meet Resee the Kangaroo and Passing Specialist on VolleyBragSwag's All Beast Team

Follow me on Instagram @coach_apchap to improve your game even faster!