Passing & Digging Skills

Introduction
Passing & digging are very important skills to learn in the game of volleyball. They set the offense, so without a good pass, it'll be tough for the setter to make a good set, & it'll be tough for the spiker to make a good hit. Digging the ball on defense is a pretty tough skill to master because you have to be able to "read" the spiker by judging where he/she will hit. Once you second guess on what spot the spiker will hit, it'll be an instant kill. Sure, you may not get much glory being a backrow (defensive) specialist than the spikers, but once you get consistent & pass the ball like nails, you can turn a whole match around.

How to Setup Your Pass
One component is hand position.To position your hands, you make a fist with one hand & wrap your other hand around it. Some people prefer to lay one hand on top of the other, which I call the "butterfly". Either way is fine, just as long as you're able to line up your thumbs. Your thumbs should be flat & pressed together, & the heels of your hands should be pressed together as well, but don't squeeze hard.

Another component is arm position. With your hands together as described earlier, extend your arms in front of you as far as you can. Shrug your shoulders slightly to get full extension, then lock your elbows so your arms are rigid. You arms, elbows, & hands should be able to move up & down as a one. Basically, you have to imagine your arms as a stiff & rigid board. Then, tilt your clasped hands downward so your thumbs are pointing toward the ground, instead of straight ahead, & roll your forearms outward. Doing this will bring your wrists & elbows close together.

The final component is body position. When you position your legs, keep this phrase in mind, "Shoulders, over knees, over toes." Basically, keep your legs shoulder-width apart & always keep them bent. It's a good idea to have one foot in front of the other to keep yourself balanced. You want to be "on your toes", so put your weight forward on the balls of your feet. Putting weight on your heels won't give you momentum to move right, left, forward, or backwards.

How to Execute Your Pass
When passing a ball, you want it to contact on the fleshy part of your forearms, between your wrists & your elbows. If your forearms create a flat surface, you know your arms & hands are correctly positioned.

As the ball approaches, always keep your head up in order to judge the speed & trajectory, but don't watch it to the point of contact. It's also a good idea have your body balanced. Use a short armswing & put a little leg power when passing. Don't throw your arms up & never bring them above perpendicular to the floor. This will cause the ball to go backwards. Use your locked hands as a guide for the direction of the pass. Your thumbs should end up pointing at your target (the setter's spot, which is right-front, between your middle & right hitters).

Tips
*Use a pressing motion instead of swinging your arms to pass. Let the momentum of the ball do the work.
*Don't bend your elbows, or what I call "praying before you pass." (Do that before the match. Hee hee!!) This will keep your arms from being rigid, so always lock your arms during the motion.
*Don't run to the ball with your hands & arms together. This slows you down. Make sure you're able to put your hands together quickly in order to get your thumbs lined up & flat.
*When moving to get to the ball, keep your arms relaxed, but shrugged. When you get to the ball, get your feet & legs set, get balanced, & then bring your arms together in the passing position. Arms should be rigid.
*Keep your arms away from your body when contacting the ball. Keeping your arms close to your body will cause the ball to make a low shoot, instead of a nice, high arch.
*Always stay low, but not so low that you're not able to move. Bend your legs at your comfortable spot, in which you're able to move anywhere without standing up.
*Don't stand up. Hel-lo!! The ball is coming straight DOWN to the floor, not "lollipopped" in an arch like a rainbow. You need to get behind & under the ball.
*Like I explained earlier, put your weight on the balls of your feet, not on your heels. You'll get to the ball more quickly when your "on your toes".