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Learn 3 Important Steps To Improve Your Volleyball Bump Pass Skills

Players use these steps to passing a volleyball to get the ball to a player or over the net holding their wrists together to form a platform with the forearms

The volleyball bump pass, also known as the forearm pass, is a critical skill in volleyball, allowing players to transfer the ball from one teammate to another or over the net with control and accuracy.(Shots by Shanty)

Dear Volleyball Mom, Did you know your player can Upgrade their volleyball skills with an expert college volleyball prep coach Las Vegas based April Chapple (that's me!) creator of the Breakfast Club for College Players.

Welcome to my comprehensive guide on how to master the volleyball bump pass technique.

The bump pass, also known as the forearm pass, is a critical skill, allowing players to transfer the ball from one teammate to another or over the net with control and accuracy.

In this article, I take you through my step-by-step guide, complete with clear instructions and visuals, on how to execute the perfect bump pass.

I also provide you with valuable tips and techniques to improve your passing skills and contribute to a more effective and cohesive team offense.

Whether you're new to the sport or looking to fine-tune your technique, this guide will help you become a consistently reliable passer on the volleyball court.

So, let's get started and take your bump pass skills to new heights!

Mastering the Volleyball Bump Pass Technique

What're the steps to a good volleyball bump pass?

Passing in volleyball is the way to get the ball from one person to another or from one side of the net to the other side by using your forearms as a tool that creates a flat platform to make contact with the ball.

Passing occurs most often as the first of three contacts the team in serve receive uses to set up their attack against the defensive team.

Steps To A Good Volleyball Bump Pass:
What is the correct way to pass a volleyball?

Creating a Flat Platform for Contact: Keep hands and wrists pressed together with the fist of one hand inside the other hand while thumbs of both hands point down to the ground. (Shots by Shanty)

Creating a Flat Platform for Contact

You

keep your hands and wrists pressed together with the fist of one hand inside the other hand while the thumbs of both hands point down to the ground.

Keeping the thumbs pointed to the ground when contacting the ball keeps your arms straight.

Your arms need to be kept straight in order to maintain a flat surface like the one you would see on a table top.

As we say in volleyball, this is your "platform."

Creating a Flat Platform for Contact: Keep hands and wrists pressed together with the fist of one hand inside the other hand while thumbs of both hands point down to the ground.

You would then use your "platform" to make contact with the ball, while angling your arms and shoulders to your target.

This guides the ball to your target your setter or to another hitter or even across the net depending on where you want the ball to go.

You would then use your "platform" to make contact with the ball, while angling your arms and shoulders to your target. This guides the ball to your target your setter or to another hitter or even across the net depending on where you want the ball to go. (Shots by Shanty)

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!

Learn Passing Secrets!

Steps To A Good Volleyball Bump Pass:
The "Ready" Position

Perfecting the Ready Position for the Bump Pass

Before the rally starts, a player will position their body in an athletic stance, which many coaches call the "ready position."

Before the rally starts, a player will position their body in an athletic stance, which many coaches call the "ready position." Feet are just outside the shoulders, with knees slightly bent in a loaded position so its easy to move right, left front or backwards to get to where the ball has been served.

Positioning Your Feet, Knees, and Legs

Feet are just outside the shoulders, with knees slightly bent in a loaded position so its easy to move right, left front or backwards to get to where the ball has been served.

Maintaining Proper Shoulder Alignment

Shoulders are over the knees and arms are held out in front of you.

Your shoulders and upper body should be leaning forward a bit and parallel and squared to the net while you face the server.

What's The Optimal Distance for Your Arms Away from the Body

When you form your platform you don't want your arms too close to your body nor do you want them too far away from your body.

I tell my clients, club players and boot campers that you should be able to fit a volleyball ball under your armpits.

That's the perfect distance that your arms should be held away from your body in your ready position.

Passing is done when you hold both wrists together and with both thumbs side by side and pointing to the ground as you contact the ball on the forearms of both arms. (April Chapple)

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

To Review What
The Volleyball Bump Pass
Technique Is
Step-by-Step Guide: Volleyball Bump Pass Technique

Volleyball Bump Pass Technique: When you're passing in volleyball, you use your forearms to transfer the ball from one player to another or over the net (Shots by Shanty)

Step 1: Position yourself in the "ready position"

Stand with your feet just outside your shoulders keeping them shoulder-width apart.
Bend your knees slightly to maintain a loaded position.
Keep your shoulders over your knees and arms held out in front of you, palms up
Lean your upper body forward a bit and face the server.

How Do You Create Your Platform? By wrapping your left hand around your right fist, with your thumbs pointing straight down to the ground.

Step 2: Form the correct hand and wrist positioning

Press your hands and wrists together, with the fist of one hand inside the other hand.
Point both thumbs down towards the ground.
Maintain this position throughout the bump pass.

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.

Step 3: Create a flat platform for contact

Keep your arms straight to maintain a flat surface, similar to a tabletop.
Avoid bending your elbows during the contact with the ball.
Aim to make contact with the ball on the forearms of both arms.

Step 4: Angle your arms and shoulders towards the target

Adjust the angle of your arms and shoulders to direct the ball to your desired target.
For passes to your setter or another hitter, angle your arms and shoulders towards them.
To pass over the net or to a specific location on the court, adjust the angle accordingly.

Step 5: Follow-through and recovery

After making contact with the ball, continue the motion through with your arms but stop at the level of your belly button....too high is too much
Follow the ball with your eyes to ensure it is going towards the intended target.
Quickly recover your ready position to be prepared for the next play.

After making contact with the ball, continue the motion through with your arms but stop at the level of your belly button....too high is too much Follow the ball with your eyes to ensure it is going towards the intended target.

Tips and Techniques for Effective Passing in Volleyball

1. Focus on accuracy over power:

The bump pass in volleyball requires precision rather than brute force. Concentrate on controlling the ball and accurately angling your platform to your target.

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.

2. Stay balanced:

Maintain good balance throughout the pass by distributing your weight evenly and keeping a stable base while staying low. This will help you execute the technique effectively and react to the ball's trajectory.

3. Use your legs and core:

Transfer power from your legs and core into the bump pass. Bend your knees and engage your core muscles for added stability and power in your pass.

4. Anticipate the ball's trajectory:

Read the server's body position and the ball's flight path to anticipate where the ball will land. This enables you to position yourself correctly and make a successful pass.

5. Practice proper timing:

As the ball approaches, time your movement and contact to meet the ball at the optimal spot on your forearms. Practicing timing is essential for accurate and controlled passing.

6. Communicate with your teammates:

Effective passing requires good communication. Signal your intentions to your teammates, call out who should take the pass, and help direct the ball to the desired target.

Remember, when you pass a volleyball, you are transferring the ball from one player to another or over the net

without letting the ball come to a complete stop,
while clasping both hands together at the wrists and
contacting the ball on your forearms

You do that by doing lots and lots of reps which we do and practice in our Boot Camp classes.

By following the step-by-step guide and implementing the tips and techniques, you can improve your bump pass skills, enhance your passing accuracy, and contribute to a successful offense in volleyball.

Steps To Passing A Volleyball:
Where Do You Go From Here?

Your three options are:

You can learn more about Passing in volleyball by visiting the Related Links below.
Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
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.
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

Whether you call it the volleyball bump, the serve receive, the underhand pass or the forearm pass every player needs to master the art of controlling the ball while consistently passing it to the intended target. You do that by doing lots and lots of reps which we do and practice in our Boot Camp classes.

For more volleyball passing technique information in the pages below.

Basic Volleyball Skills for Beginners: Six Essential Skills to Learn
Trying out for varsity? There are 6 basic volleyball skills, you need to learn beforehand: setting, passing, serving, hitting, blocking and digging
The Volleyball Toss How Consistent Is Your Ball Toss Before You Serve?
The volleyball toss for the overhand serve needs to consistently be two feet up in the air and one foot in front of front foot which puts the ball in front of your serving arm.
Volleyball Serve Use A Float, Jump Or Overhand Serve To Start A Rally
The overhand, underhand or jump volleyball serve is used to start a rally after the ref blows the whistle for the player in Zone 1 behind the service line.
Tips And Help On How To Develop An Ace-Scoring Good Volleyball Serve
I spend alot of time with my clients, club and college players teaching the correct technique needed to develop a good volleyball serve to score regular aces.
3 Volleyball Forearm Pass Cues On What To Do With Arms, Feet And Hips
There are three volleyball forearm pass cues you should use to improve your passing skills, keep your arms together, feet grounded and hips behind the ball.
How To Master The Volleyball Passing Platform: Techniques and Tips
A volleyball passing platform is with forearms clasping your thumbs together and pointing them to the ground so ball contacts above wrists and below elbows.
What's The Correct Volleyball Ready Position for Passing in Volleyball
Learn the volleyball ready position for passing where clasped thumbs are pointed to the ground to form a platform with forearms to pass balls in a rally.
Volleyball Spike Approach Master The 3 and 4 Step Approach For Hitting
The volleyball spike approach for hitting is also called the spike approach and is done by a spiker taking 3 or 4 steps to a ball in the air before hitting it.
Volleyball Spike: The Basics For Attacking The Ball Hard For Points
A volleyball spike is the way a hitter attacks the ball after a spike approach sending it over the net to score a point in the opposing court with force.
The Volleyball Dig: What Is It, When To Do It and How To Dig A Ball
The volleyball dig or digging a volleyball up in defense means that you are able to keep an attacked ball by the opposing team off your court floor.
Volleyball Ball Handling Begins With Ball Control and Faster Footwork
Improve your passing skills with great ball control and volleyball ball handling skills along with faster footwork when moving to a served ball on your court.
The Underhand Volleyball Serve How Should A Beginner Serve The Basics
Here's a ten step check list for beginners who can easily learn in ten steps how to perform the underhand volleyball serve.
Use A Jump Float Serve To Create Power For An Ace Or To Start A Rally
Use the overhand jump float serve to generate a powerful serve that starts a rally after the ref blows the whistle for the player behind the service line.
Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones
Here's how to learn volleyball rotations, the 6 volleyball zones or positions that players rotate in and out of depending on the offense their team runs.
What's The Block in Volleyball?: Where Do Blockers Place There Hands?
Another way to learn how to block in volleyball efficiently is to keep the palms of your hands up close to your shoulders in a ready position before the rally.
Basic Rules of Volleyball For Youth Players, Coaches, Parents and Fans
In the basic rules of volleyball two teams compete on one court with a net and a rally starts with a serve and each team trying to score with 3 contacts

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Improve Your Passing Tips: Press both wrists together when passing no matter what...

Improve Your Passing Tips: Move your feet first to position yourself behind the ball.

Improve Your Passing Tips: Present your platform after you've stopped running.

Improve Your Passing Tips: Focus on the ball in the opposing server's hands not on the server's face. Its the ball you have to pass.

Improve Your Passing Tips: Keep your eyes on the ball. focus early on the ball before it comes to your side.

Improve Your Passing Tips: Anticipate where you need to be. Get there BEFORE you start to pass.

Improve Your Passing Tips: Keep your eyes on the ball. Visually track it from the server's hands to your passing platform.

Click to read Passing in Volleyball: Fundamental Skills For Receiving The Ball Better

Improve Your Passing Tips: Pass with both feet on the floor. Avoid the jump bump.

Improve Your Passing Tips: Work on speed and agility drills so you can move quickly to get to balls in serve receive.

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