600x600 Get 5 free servingtipspromoGet 5 FREE Serving Tips (Plus 20 Bonus Techniques)! at ImproveYourVolley.com/complete-serving-system-checklists.html

Register TODAY! for my
Coach April's
May 16 -17 and 30 -31
Spiking and Hitting clinics

COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today
COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today
COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today
COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today

Email: info@improveyourvolley.com for info or to register for this weekend's clinics! 


How To Receive Volleyball Serve Tips To Learn How To Fix Your Pass

This coach's playbook helps new coaches learn to teach how to receive volleyball serve to elevate their team's serve receive skills with tips and drills.  

New volleyball coach? This guide has you covered! Learn the fundamentals of how to receive volleyball serve with techniques, drill and tips to help get ready to transform your team's performanceNew volleyball coach? This guide has you covered! Learn the fundamentals of how to receive volleyball serve with techniques, drill and tips to help get ready to transform your team's performance

As a new volleyball coach, you understand the importance of building a strong foundation for your team's success.

One of the most critical skills to master is serve reception, often referred to as "passing."

This first contact with the ball sets the stage for your entire offensive strategy, making it a crucial element of the game.




In my comprehensive guide, we'll explore the essential techniques, drills, and strategies to help you elevate your team's serve receive game.


The Fundamentals of Serve Reception

Proper serve reception technique is the backbone of a successful volleyball program.

Let's start by breaking down the key elements:


1. Ready Position

Feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, weight on the balls of the feet. This balanced, athletic stance allows players to react quickly to the serve.


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

2. Passing Platform Formation

Arms extended, hands clasped, creating a flat surface to contact the ball. A solid platform ensures a clean, controlled pass.

3. Movement to the Ball

Quick, short steps to get behind the ball before contact. Efficient footwork is crucial for accurate passes.


Now that you are learning more about how to coach serve receive - grab my step-by-step advanced passing checklist that I use with my private training clients.





4. Eye on the Ball

Keeping eyes focused on the ball from the server's hand until contact is made. This visual focus is essential for making adjustments and reading the serve.

Mastering these fundamentals lays the groundwork for more advanced serve receive skills.




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. 


Progressing from Basics to Game-Like Scenarios

When teaching serve reception, it's important to take a progressive approach.

Start with isolated drills to build muscle memory, then gradually increase the complexity to simulate game situations.





1. Stationary Passing Drills


Focus on proper platform formation and ball control through partner passing, wall drills, and self-toss exercises.


2. Dynamic Movement Drills

Incorporate shuffling, jogging, and jumping to develop footwork and reaction time.





3. Serve Simulation Drills





Have players receive serves from a coach or teammate, gradually increasing serve speed and placement.



4. Game-Like Situations

Create pressure-filled scenarios by adding defenders, varying serve types, and incorporating transitions to the next skill.

By building up from the basics, your players will develop the confidence and decision-making abilities needed to excel in match play.


Now that you are learning how to receive the volleyball serve, learn more about how to coach passing skills with my serve receive strategy checklist


Effective Communication Strategies

Clear communication is essential for a serve receive group of passers.

Encourage your players to:

1. Call the Ball

Establish a system where players clearly communicate who will take the serve.


liberopassing

2. Provide Feedback

After each rep, have players offer constructive feedback to their teammates.

3. Encourage Positive Reinforcement

Foster a supportive environment where players celebrate each other's successes.

Modeling this communication during practice will help your players transfer these skills to the court.


Troubleshooting Common Issues

Build up players' self-belief through positive feedback and incremental goal-setting.Build up players' self-belief through positive feedback and incremental goal-setting.

As your players work to improve their serve reception, you may encounter some common challenges.

Be prepared to address these:

1. Inconsistent Platform

Remind players to maintain a stable, flat platform throughout the contact.

2. Footwork Struggles

Emphasize the importance of quick, efficient movement to get in position.





3. Eyes On the Ball

Stress the need to keep visual focus on the ball from start to finish.

4. Lack of Confidence

Build up players' self-belief through positive feedback and incremental goal-setting.

By identifying and addressing these issues early on, you'll help your players develop more reliable and confident passing skills.


Integrating Serve Receive into Full-Game Scenarios





Once your players have a solid grasp of the fundamentals, it's time to mix in serve receive into more comprehensive training.

This will help them understand how this skill fits into the overall team strategy.





1. Transition Drills


Incorporate passing into sequences that flow into setting, hitting, and defense.




2. Competitive Situations

Create game-like scenarios with scoring, time constraints, and pressure to simulate match conditions.


3. Tactical Discussions




Analyze how effective serve reception can impact your team's offensive and defensive approaches.

Measuring Progress and Setting Goals



Establishing clear metrics for success is crucial for tracking your players' development.

Consider the following:


1. Passing Percentage

Monitor the ratio of successful to unsuccessful passes during drills and matches.


2. Consistency

Observe how often players are able to execute proper technique, regardless of serve placement.


Now that you are learning more about how to receive the serve - grab my step-by-step perfect platform mastery checklist used by my private training clients.


3. Decision-Making

Evaluate players' ability to adjust their positioning and platform based on the serve.

Use these measurements to set achievable, incremental goals for your team, celebrating milestones along the way.


Elevating Your Team's Serve Receive Game





Mastering the volleyball serve receive is a journey, but with the right techniques, drills, and strategies, you can transform your team's performance.

Remember to start with the fundamentals, progress gradually, and foster a supportive, communicative environment.

By empowering your players to become confident, skilled passers, you'll unlock your team's full offensive potential and set them up for long-term success on the court.


  Coach April Chapple's Volleyball Passing Tips For Youth Volleyball Players

MY PASSING EBOOK QUICKLY HELPS YOU IMPROVE YOUR PASSING SKILLS. Learn how to perform one of the most important skills you need to know to gain more playing time on the court!MY PASSING EBOOK QUICKLY HELPS YOU IMPROVE YOUR PASSING SKILLS. Learn how to perform one of the most important skills you need to know to gain more playing time on the court!
Learn Passing Secrets!
 

 


 

 




A Volleyball Passing Guide With How To Receive Volleyball Serve Tips To Improve Your Bumping Skills




Do You Follow Me on Pinterest?

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. 



Volleyball Tips:
Where Do You Go From Here?


What do you need to do now? You have three options: 

  1. Learn more about volleyball offense, attacking and serve receive in 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 Mr Resee the Kangaroo, wearing the #11 jersey below. He's another defensive specialist and team captain for the VolleyBragSwag All Beast team. 

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

Explore My Volleyball Player's Guide To Passing in the articles below.



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

Volleyball Player Whisperer in Vegas Restoring Power + Peace + Passion To Burnt Out Players, High Performance Volleyball Coach, ImproveYourVolley Web Author, Peace Love Volleyball CollectionVolleyball Player Whisperer in Vegas Restoring Power + Peace + Passion To Burnt Out Players, High Performance Volleyball Coach, ImproveYourVolley Web Author, Peace Love Volleyball Collection

AUTHOR BIO

April Chapple is an elite private volleyball trainer, former USA National Team member, and University of Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee who has coached in Las Vegas for 15+ years, training hundreds of athletes and helping numerous players reach college volleyball, including Division I standouts.

She's also the head coach for girls and boys 18s at Squad VBC and offers coaches consulting on technical teaching and player development. Connect with April on LinkedIn or at ImproveYourVolley.com, where her eye for overlooked talent sets her apart.


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

What Are You Looking For?

Click to Download Your Pre Serving Ritual Mastery Checklist pdf:

🎯Volleyball Pre Serving Ritual Guide -

Players! Learn How To Transform Your Serve from Weak to Weapon

Click to Download Your Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist pdf

🎯Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist Guide

Parents! Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves (Even If You've Never Played)


5freeseervingtips600by600promoGet 5 FREE Serving Tips (Plus 20 Bonus Techniques)! at ImproveYourVolley.com/complete-serving-system-checklists.html

Hi there!

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

Be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter so you can learn more each week!

Stay strong! Stay motivated!

-Coach April


 SUSCRIBE  to my email newsletter below!

as seen as on USA News InfluencerTennessee Athletics Honors April Chapple at Champions Weekend for Legendary Volleyball Achievements
utkchampionsweekendneylandstadiumselfiewithsharrieffaduringsocial

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



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.
In a city known for its high energy, finding moments of calm can be challenging, especially when juggling the demands of volleyball life.In a city known for its high energy, finding moments of calm can be challenging, especially when juggling the demands of volleyball life.
My volleyball mom shirts aren't just about looking good - they're about feeling good too.My volleyball mom shirts aren't just about looking good - they're about feeling good too.
With messages that promote mindfulness and positivity, they serve as a wearable reminder to breathe, center yourself, and approach each volleyball challenge with a peaceful mindset.With messages that promote mindfulness and positivity, they serve as a wearable reminder to breathe, center yourself, and approach each volleyball challenge with a peaceful mindset.
In the fast-paced world of Vegas volleyball, these moments of zen can make all the difference.In the fast-paced world of Vegas volleyball, these moments of zen can make all the difference.

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. Team Building Activities for Volleyball: A Freshman Coach's Guide

    May 12, 26 11:05 PM

    coachapril18steambondingpaintcerramicsteamouting2
    Boost Your Freshmen Team's Chemistry! Discover fun and effective team building activities for volleyball freshmen players to improve communication and teamwork.

    Read More

  2. 2 High School Volleyball Tips On How To Use Your Communications Skills

    May 10, 26 12:21 AM

    young vb spiker too far under the ball when spiking looking straight up instead of keeping the ball infrontofheralcase
    One of my high school volleyball tips is to be the back row quarterback who maximizes your communication skills to help guide your team through every play.

    Read More

  3. How To Improve In Volleyball The Volleycats Elite Volleyball Club Way

    May 10, 26 12:17 AM

    norasvcebookpage22
    When I became club director of my own Volleycats Elite Club I created a strategic practice and conditioning plan for players on how to improve in volleyball.

    Read More

Resee the Volleybragswag Kangaroo Shirts available now.Resee the Kangaroo Shirts
Resee the Volleybragswag Kangaroo Shirts available now.Resee the Volleybragswag Kangaroo Shirts available now.
Resee the Volleybragswag Kangaroo Shirts available now.Resee the Volleybragswag Kangaroo Shirts available now.