3. Passing

Forearm Passing

The first ball that comes over the net should be passed to your setter to set up your offense.
Passing is a very important skill in volleyball and involves setting up your offense. You want to have control over your bump and get it high and close enough to your setter to give your setter an easy chance to set someone for a spike. Bumping is a fundamental part of volleyball, and without it, your team will likely not have a strong offense. To perform a forearm pass, the player:

• Is in an athletic stance
• Hands ready
• Fingers at 90
• Thumbs together
• Arms are fully extended
• Contacts the ball with forearm and shrugs the shoulders (does not swing arms)

Watch the instructional video below on how to perform the forearm pass.

Overhead Passing or Setting

Setting is the second touch and should “set” up your offense for a hit or spike. For beginners, the person in the middle front will often act as the setter to eliminate confusion. The main idea for beginners is to set the ball high and off the net so that the attackers have a chance to make their approach. The fundamentals of the set are very important. To perform a set, the player:

• Has elbows high and hands above head in the shape of a triangle
• Body is square
• Contacts the pull with finger pads and extends arms
• Gently push ball up and out (end with arms like superman)
• Uses legs as needed

Watch the instructional video below on how to perform the overhead/set pass.

Back set: when a player sets the ball to someone behind him/her. The player is facing one direction and instead of setting the ball forward, s/he pushes the ball behind and a hitter attacks the ball. This is used to throw off the opponents as they likely are ready to block the hitter in front of the setter. A back set allows the offense to take advantage and surprise their opponents. To perform a back set, the player:

• Has elbows high and hands above head in the shape of a triangle
• Body is square
• Leads with their eyes
• Contacts the pull with finger pads and extends arms
• Gently push ball up and out (end with arms like superman)
• Uses legs as needed

Watch the instructional video below on how to perform a back set.