SKILLS

THE VOLLEY (Click here for animation)

The volley is the most common way of playing the ball.  The ball is always played in the air, and more often than not it is above head-height, so it is essential to be able to play the volley.  Because the volley is the shot you will use more than any other during a game your students should practice it at an early stage in their development.  Practice NOW will play dividends later. (Click here for Setting drills)

BODY POSITION:
1) Knees bent, one foot slightly ahead of the other
2) Arms bent from the elbows, hands form a window (others call it a "diamond" or "triangle")
3) Student is looking through the hole created by the hands
4) Shoulders are square to the target.
5) Feet are shoulder width apart.

CONTACT:
1) Body uncoils from legs
2) Arms are extended in the direction of flight
3) The ball is contacted by ONLY the pads of the upper two joints of the fingers NOT the palms of the hands.  Both hands apply equal force to the ball.

FOLLOW-THROUGH
1) Hands follow the ball until the arms are fully extended.
2) Legs are completely extended.
3) Weight shifts to the front foot and toward target.


THE FOREARM PASS (a.k.a. "The Bump")

BODY POSITION:
1) Hand-In-Hand Method:  Left hand straight out with palm up, the right hand is placed on top palm up as well.  Turn hands/thumbs inwards so the thumbs are straight, paralllel and pressed together.
2) Fist-Into-Palm Method:  Make a fist with one hand with the thumb on top and straight.  The other hand overlaps the fist.  Once again, the thumbs are straight, parallel and pressed together.
3) Kness are bent and arms are straight
4) Eye on the ball
5)  Feet are staggered with feet slightly wider than hip width.

CONTACT:
1) The ball is contacted with the flat surface of the forearms, just above the wrist.  The body is directly behind the ball.
2) Avoid swinging the arms at the ball. (Arm movement is very little).
3) The eyes should see contact of the ball on the arms.

FOLLOW-THROUGH:
1)  Knees are extended.  Push off with the legs. Toes are pointed in direction of the pass.
2) The elbows are NOT bent.

THE UNDERHAND SERVE

READY POSITION:
1) Stand behind the service line, with your shoulders sqaure to your target.
2) Begin with your feet together. The foot opposite your serving hand steps forward. 
3) The ball is held in the palm of your non-hitting hand.
4) The serving hand/arm swings back like a pendulum.
5) The serving hand may be open or closed.  If closed, do not place the thumb inside.  Instead place it to the side, beside the index finger.

CONTACT:
1) Try to make contact with the ball right out of your hand.  In other words, the ball is dropped by the holding hand.  It is more difficult to hit a ball that has been thrown or tossed up in the air. 
2) Contact should be made with the heel of the hand (i.e. "meat" part of the hand).
3) The head and eyes are focused on the ball.
4) Contact is made at waist level in the centre of the ball just below the mid-section of the ball.

FOLLOW-THROUGH:
1) Arms should follow-through in the direction of the serve (i.e. your target)
2) The weight is transferred from the back to front foot as the serving arm swings through.

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