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May 16 -17 and 30 -31
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COACH APRIL’S MAY
HITTING CLINICS
AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL

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

Volleyball Hands
2 Ways To Hold Your Hands When You Pass A Volleyball

Learn 2 volleyball passing techniques on where to make contact with the ball on your arms and how to hold your volleyball hands while passing or bumping the ball.

What do you do with your volleyball hands when you're passing or bumping the ball to your target? (Ralph Arvesen)

Now that you're learning more about how to pass a volleyball - grab my step-by-step wall passing training checklist used by my private training clients.

How do you hold your volleyball hands when you're passing or bumping in volleyball?

To pass a volleyball consistently to the target you have to be able

to hold your hands and wrists together so your forearms maintain a flat surface called a "platform" that you'll use to pass the ball to the target.

Volleyball Hands: To pass a ball to the target hold your hands and wrists together so your forearms maintain a flat surface called a "platform" that you'll use to pass the ball to the target.

Learn three volleyball passing hand grips to choose from, each which will help you pass the ball to your setter consistently during your matches.

How do you hold your volleyball hands when you're passing or bumping in volleyball?

In your practices experiment by trying each one and choose the volleyball hands passing grip that will help you consistently get the ball to Zone 3 the setter zone in serve receive.

Cool Volleyball Shirts To Wear On and Off The Volleyball Court

Here is step-by-step instruction for all three hand grips you can choose when you pass a ball.

How do you make volleyball hands?
Passing Grip Option #1

First you would put the back of your open right hand into the open palm of your left hand.

That way, your two opened palms are turned upwards towards the sky so your two open hands form an X.

Then you close your hands together in such a way that both thumbs remain on top of both fists and in contact with each other, side by side.

Now point both thumbs to the ground.

You now have created your "platform" with your arms, wrists and forearms which you use when you contact the ball.

Conference USA Rice libero with straight arms, elbows and wrists that create a platform with her volleyball handa which is what the ball contacts when passing. (M.E. Johnston)

Volleyball Hands Secrets To Keeping Your Platform Arms Straight For Better Passing

Volleyball hands: Pointing your thumbs to the ground, creates a flat platform with your arms, perfect for controlling the ball to your intended target when you make contact with it.

Keep your thumbs together and pointed to the ground.

By pointing your thumbs to the ground, the platform created with your arms, remains nice and superflat, perfect for controlling the ball to your intended target when you make contact with it.

Where do you hit a volleyball on your hands or arms to deflect, bump or pass it to the intended target?

When passing in volleyball contact the ball on your forearms not on your hands. To control a hard serve the ball makes contact above your wrists and below the insides of your elbows.

When passing in volleyball you contact the ball on your forearms not on your hands. In order to control a hard serve the ball makes contact

above your wrists and
below the insides of your elbows.

Be sure to make contact with the ball above your wrists and below your inner elbows, not on your hands!

Beginner middle school and adult players have a tendency to interlace their fingers and contact the ball on their hands and fingers.

If you're on a school team then you're expected to know that you'd don't hit the volleyball on your hands but you make contact on the inside of your forearms which is now called your "platform"

Your "platform" is where the volleyball hits your arms and is deflected back into the air towards your intended target.

How do you make volleyball hands?
Passing Grip Option #2

First make a fist with your right hand, turning it sideways so you see your thumb on top of your fist.

Then

place that fist of your right hand into the palm of your left hand until, once again your two thumbs meet and are lined up side-by-side.

Volleyball Hands:To pass a volleyball with your platform point both thumbs down towards the ground, tightly holding your the wrists and thumbs of both hands together.

Then, just like in forearm pass grip option #1, you would point both thumbs down towards the ground, tightly holding your the wrists and thumbs of both hands together.

This forces you to keep both of your elbows straight and will help you maintain a flat platform or flat surface when you contact the ball.

Volleyball Hands: This forces you to keep both of your elbows straight and will help you maintain a flat platform or flat surface when you contact the ball. (Matt Van Winkle)

Once again, do not make contact with the ball on your hands....which is below your wrists, you will never be able to consistently control the ball and get it to your intended target that way.

You do want to move your feet fast enough to get to where you think the ball is going to land, before it gets there. This is called reading and anticipating the ball.

Once you do that then you position your body to pass the ball on the part of your arms that is below your inner elbow and above your wrists.

How do you make volleyball hands?
Passing Grip Option #3

I don't recommend this grip for beginners.

But for some college and pro volleyball players this type of volleyball hands grip works for them.

c) This last option is to choose to not have a real hand grip at all.

But if you can manage to keep your wrists together, so they still form the required "table-top" platform with your forearms, keeping them as close as possible when you bump the ball, you can still be a precise passer using this style of grip.

I tried option C for a while when I was playing professional indoor volleyball, but I didn't like how often my arms broke apart, which increased the risk of passing the ball with bent elbows.

Volleyball passing with bent elbows decreased my chances of passing the ball to the target.

Throughout your entire volleyball passing technique you want to keep your hands together and not have them break apart.

How do you make volleyball hands? Throughout your entire passing technique you want to keep your hands together and not have them break apart.

So I went back to volleyball pass grip option #1 which I felt most comfortable with.

Volleyball Hands: The most critical element to remember when you pass a volleyball is to keep your wrists, forearms and elbows together and a straight as possible when you make contact with the ball.

The most critical element to remember when you pass a volleyball is to keep your wrists, forearms and elbows together and a straight as possible when you make contact with the ball.

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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 Techniques:
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.

Explore More Volleyball Techniques in the pages below

Types of Volleyball Serves What's A Float, Jump Float, Spin, Jump Spin
What're the types of volleyball serves like the standing float serve, the jump float where you add spike approach footwork and the topspin and jump spin serves.
The Proper Volleyball Serve Technique, What Types of Serves Are Best?
What's the most proper volleyball serve technique to know? Learn the five serve types and terms for the let serve, sky ball, the overhand and underhand serve.
Step-by-step Instructions On Performing The Volleyball Dig Technique
Master the volleyball dig technique with my comprehensive guide. Learn step-by-step instructions, tips, and common mistakes to avoid for great defensive plays
How to Use Good Volleyball Service Techniques To Serve for Points
Learn what good volleyball service techniques in volleyball will help you score points and increase the aces you score during a game after the ref whistles.
Overhand Serve Volleyball Technique Tips To Help Volleyball Service
The overhand serve, underhand serve and jump serve are the 3 overhand serve volleyball techniques you'll learn to improve these skills.
Volleyball Passing Fundamentals An 8 Step Review of Basic Pass Skills
These volleyball passing fundamentals review in 8 easy to understand steps the basic technical skills needed to pass a ball correctly to the intended target.
Passing in Volleyball Learn This 8 Step Volleyball Passing Tutorial
This quick 8 step tutorial on passing in volleyball teaches you correctly what to do and how to pass the ball before during and after the opposing team serve.
Volleyball Pass Techniques: Watch The Ball Before It Crosses The Net
You can get better at your volleyball pass technique by tracking the ball earlier when its in the opposing server's hands then track it as it crosses the net.
Steps to Passing a Volleyball: 5 Essential Techniques for Success
Want to pass like a pro? Learn the 5 essential steps to passing a volleyball with perfect technique, and learn home passing drills and common mistakes to avoid.
Seven Blocking Techniques in Volleyball Used In Defense At The Net
Some important blocking techniques in volleyball are sealing the net, stuff block, read blocking, cross court block, swing block, commit block, delayed block.
Two Volleyball Blocking Strategies: The Stuff Block and Read Blocking
There are two volleyball blocking strategies players use in defense to stop hitters from spiking across the net, one is read blocking the other stuff blocking.
Improve Your Defense With The Volleyball Barrel Roll Dig Technique
Improve your defense with my comprehensive guide on the volleyball barrel roll technique with my step-by-step instructions and tips to improve defensive plays.
Good Volleyball Ball Control Is the Key To Improve Your Passing Skill
Passing is important in volleyball because your team needs good passers with good volleyball ball control skills to run an offense in order to score points.
7 Ways A Spiker In Volleyball Can Improve Their Attacking Technique
The outside hitter is the left side spiker in volleyball at the net who is the team's offensive weapon who usually gets the most sets and attack attempts.

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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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.

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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 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.

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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

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Bundle #1:
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🎯Parent's Volleyball Serving Guide Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves Guide - $7

Parents Volleyball Serving Checklist pdf ✓Learn exactly what to look for in your player's serving form so you can provide meaningful feedback. ✓Confidence Building Strategies Discover how to provide encouragement that actually improves performance and mental toughness. ✓Smart Coach Questions Know exactly what to ask coaches to show you're engaged and help your player develop properly. ✓Home Practice Ideas Simple, effective drills that don't require a gym or expensive equipment. ✓Volleyball Terminology Understand the language coaches use so you can better support your player's development. ✓Mental Game Support Help your player develop the psychological aspects of serving that many coaches don't have time to address.

You'll Get:

✓Learn exactly what to look for in your player's serving form so you can provide meaningful feedback.

✓Discover how to provide encouragement that actually improves performance and mental toughness.

✓Know exactly what to ask coaches to show you're engaged and help your player develop properly.

✓Simple, effective drills that don't require a gym or expensive equipment.

✓Understand the language coaches use so you can better support your player's development.

✓Help your player develop the psychological aspects of serving that many coaches don't have time to address.

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.

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

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🎯Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist Guide

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

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

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