Teaching Hand Passing
-By Dave Cross
A Question for Dave:
I am coaching a 17's team and have a back row player that won't use her hands
when taking 1st balls. What is a good thing or drill to correct this?
Dave's Reply:
First of all, why won't she use her hands? Is it because of
previous coaches that have worked with her discouraging that? Or is
it because she just isn't very good at it?
The reason I ask is, if it is the first one, you are going to have
to sit her down and explain WHY she should be passing with her hands whenever
possible, because she has been taught previously not to do this.
Ok, the first thing you need to do in teaching her how to pass with
her hands is this:
-Take the ball "forehead
high" with thumbs at eyebrows.
-Hold hands firm and catch/set ball in a fluid
1-2 motion (Catch-Set). By telling them to think "Catch-Set" you will
get them to hold their hands firm enough, and eliminate the ball going through
their hands/fingers. When the skill is performed like this, it looks
like the ball comes out as a "Set", without the "Catch", and thus is legal.
NOTE: Stress to them that they have to
get the bottom on the ball down on the top of their
thumbs when they receive it, (or into the "L" between the index finger
and thumb).
-Follow through
by pushing up and away from forehead at about a 45 degree angle. (Too many
times players will push straight out from their foreheads and do not get
enough arc on the pass).
-Hold the
follow through at full arm extension with palms facing target, then
follow through with palms to thighs by rotating at the shoulder. By
stressing this follow through you eliminate the "jabbing" motion that leads
to errant passes and more ball-handling error whistles.
To drill this, put her about three feet
away from the wall with her back to the wall. Either a coach or a teammate
stands about 10-15 away and hits "flat floater serve-type" balls at her forehead.
Don't worry if you hit it a little high/low or to the side once in awhile,
because players have to learn to adjust and still make the dig.
To apply this on the court, tell her
to focus on taking every ball at either of one of two
heights: Mid thigh (with forearms) or
Forehead ( with hands) and too move her feet to receive the ball at
one of those two spots.
Good Luck!
-Dave Cross
National Director
Yes I Can Volleyball
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