MASTER PASSING IN BEACH VOLLEYBALL

One of the trickier elements of passing is the timing of your platform: When do you put your hands together to form your platform? Every player has his or her own technique. Watch a video of John Mayer, an AVP champion and former MVP, and he puts his hands together before the serve. Watch Kim Hildreth and Sarah Schermerhorn, and their arms are wide as can be, like birds of prey, until virtually the last possible moment. 

Point is: Everyone is different. It's mostly a comfort thing.

However, we do have our recommendations here at Better at Beach. As this is a common question among the folks at our beach volleyball classes in the South Bay and an extensive topic at our vacation camps in St Pete, we did our best to answer it. 

Passing During Drills Is Easy

It is easy to have your platform solidly built if you have somebody tossing or hitting straight to you. They'll just have you put your hands together, arms locked out and have you finish with your arms together. That is the easy way. But in an actual game, you will be moving constantly and you have to move quickly in order to pass.

Building Your Platform Early While Moving

You need to create some movement and see how long and early you have to build your platform. Most people will run for a short ball using sprint mechanics and then shoot their hands out at the last moment. If you only need two steps to get to that short ball, then you don't need heavy run mechanics.

Watch as Coach Nate explains, how to pass a volleyball and build your platform, to two athletes at our 7 Day Vacation Camp in St Pete Beach.  

The earlier you get your platform out, the more consistent you'll be passing. It's not going to slow you down as much as you think it will. If it's just two steps, then you don't need those elbow pumps. Just make sure you get your platform out as if you're holding a nice tray of champagne. If someone feeds you a short ball, try to get your platform out nice and early.

It's not every day you get the opportunity to play volleyball for hours on end.

Well, we do it 7 days in a row!

You can get at least 40 hours of beach volleyball in just one week at our Adult Vacation Camps in St Pete Beach, FL!

Key Points to Consider

When you build your platform, take note of your elbows and see if they are locked out early. If you end up pumping your arms while running to the ball and then receiving it at the last moment, that short ball is going to become really difficult for you.

Always make sure to get your platform out early when you're moving so that;

• You can line the ball up.
• Your partner can read where the ball is headed.
• You can have consistency with your passing.

Our Complete Player Program  includes our Serve Receive Course and starts at the bottom and takes you all the way to the top. Whether you are a true beginner or you've been playing for decades, this course will offer you a chance to build and re-build your basics and take the next jump. Take the time to follow the course and do the drills. We guarantee you are going to Get Better at Beach! 

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