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US Sports Volleyball - Volleyball Passing Drills to Win More Matches And Japan 🇯🇵 vs. Korea 🇰🇷 - Semi Final FIVB Presented on US Sports by New Balance

 

• By Jackson Chlebowy

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Passing wins games. Whether you're a coach designing a volleyball practice plan, a player working on consistency, or a parent helping your child develop core volleyball skills, strong passing is the foundation for success on the volleyball court.

In this article, Coach Charlene Johnson Tungaloa from Drills and Kills shares foundational volleyball passing drills from her course ‘Indoor Volleyball Essentials’ for players of all levels. These expert-curated drills will help your athletes improve their form, footwork, and passing accuracy over time.

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Why Passing Matters in Volleyball

In volleyball, the first contact after a serve sets the tone for the entire rally. An accurate pass allows your setter to control the offense, whether you're coaching club athletes in California or running volleyball drills for middle school students in Ohio. 

Indoor Volleyball Essentials

by Charlene Johnson

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Key Volleyball Passing Fundamentals

1. Face the Server

Every pass begins with body positioning. Make sure your shoulders and hips are square to the server. This puts you in the best position to read the ball and react quickly.

2. Platform to Target

Your platform, formed by your forearms, should control the direction of the ball. While your body faces the server, your arms must angle the pass toward your setter or center target.

3. Stay Low and Ready

Keep your hips low and feet shoulder-width apart. A stable lower body helps you absorb the ball’s momentum and control your pass. This stance is essential for all levels, from beginners to advanced players.

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Volleyball Passing Drills

1. Basic Passing Drill: Straight-On Serve

This foundational drill is great for warm-ups and introductory training. It’s also frequently used in volleyball drills for middle school athletes learning proper positioning.

Start in a balanced, ready stance

- Keep your body low

- Receive a straight serve or toss

- Use your platform to direct the ball straight to the target

This drill reinforces the habit of minimal movement and clean platform angles—critical components of every solid volleyball pass.

2. Off-Center Passing Drill

Learning how to pass balls to your left or right is an important next step.

- For a ball to your left, get your right arm down first, then bring your hands together

- For a ball to your right, lead with your left arm

- Do not swing your arms—just angle and control

3. The Russian Passing Drill

The Russian Passing Drill is a high-tempo, movement-focused drill used to improve backcourt footwork, reaction speed, and platform control under pressure. It’s excellent for older players and can be adapted for advanced middle school and high school teams.

Here’s how it works:

- One player starts in a ready position

- A partner or coach tosses balls deep and to the sides of the passer

- The passer must shuffle back quickly, staying low, keeping shoulders forward, and passing the ball under control

- The tosser increases difficulty as the passer improves

- Focus is on quick feet, body control, and consistent platform angles

This drill builds intensity and grit while reinforcing the technical foundation taught in simpler passing drills. Include it later in practice sessions once players are warmed up and technically sharp. You can find more fundamental drills and skills from Coach Megan Brown in her course 'Drills for 7th Grade Through Varsity'.

4. Directional Passing Drill

To simulate game-like conditions, have players practice passing from different areas of the court.

- On the left-back side: body faces the server, platform angles right

- On the right-back side: body still faces the server, platform angles left

This drill helps players develop directional awareness and build consistency regardless of court position.

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Strength and Stability for Passing

Strength is a key part of passing. Strong legs and a stable core help players stay low, resist fatigue, and maintain control throughout long matches.

Consider adding these exercises to your volleyball practice plan:

- Wall sits

- Bodyweight squats

- Lateral lunges

- Quick shuffle footwork drills

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Coaching Tips for Teaching Passing

Whether you're working with beginners or elite players, keep your coaching cues simple and repeatable:

- Face the server

- Angle the platform to the setter

- Stay low and centered

- Avoid excess movement or arm swinging

These coaching points can be used across every level of your volleyball practice plan.

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Where to Use These Drills

These volleyball passing drills are flexible and can be adapted to different training environments:

Indoors with a partner or coach

- At home, using a wall

- Outdoors on grass or a driveway

- In structured practices or clinics

Whether you're developing youth athletes or competitive club players, consistency is key—reps build results.

Want to help kids find sports they love? Sign up to be a coach or volunteer in a local youth sports program. Learn more ways to support youth sports in the National Youth Sports Strategy: https://bit.ly/2lIHPUc

US Sports Softball: Coaching Culture, Gen Z, and effective Practice planning - Patrick Murphy and Team Ricketts vs. Team Brown AUSL All-Star Cup Highlights

Coaching Culture, Gen Z, and effective Practice planning - Patrick Murphy

by THSCA Softball

Presented by: Head Coach Patrick Murphy | University of Alabama Softball

What if the secret to winning more games… was loving your athletes more?

In this powerful and emotional clinic session, legendary Alabama Softball coach Patrick Murphy shares the soul of his coaching philosophy—one built not just on championships, but on character, connection, and care. This isn’t just about coaching players—this is about changing lives.

Inside this course, you’ll learn how to:

• ✅ Build a program culture rooted in mudita—a joyful celebration of others’ success

• ✅ Use recruiting strategies that prioritize intangibles over stats (like “unconditional love without judgment”)

• ✅ Create unforgettable team bonding moments that strengthen trust and vulnerability

• ✅ Coach Gen Z athletes with empathy, consistency, and purpose

• ✅ Foster player-led leadership and lasting life skills through intentional traditions

Coach Murphy opens his playbook—both strategic and emotional—sharing stories and rituals that shaped his program’s identity and sustained a culture of excellence for decades.

If you want to coach with impact, build a team culture that endures, and truly connect with your athletes on and off the field—this course will challenge, inspire, and equip you. Learn more and book this course....

The Rock Almighty Shaker Of Heaven And Earth On US Sports Radio Never Forget. Where Our True Freedom Lies And Artist Spotlight Barebones

 The Rock Almighty. Now streaming on US Sports Radio

Freedom in Christ

Confession is the door that leads to experiencing God’s grace, healing, and freedom.

From Intouch Ministries

September 11, 2026

Colossians 3:5-10

We all sin, but the heavenly Father is faithful to restore fellowship with His beloved children. He does this by breaking down walls that were built up through our disobedience. The first step toward that restoration is our honest confession—in other words, instead of remaining in denial about the sin that has a hold on us, we name it. Otherwise, denial blocks the healing and freedom God offers.

But sin rarely exists in a vacuum. The reasons behind wrong behavior are often deeply emotional. Feelings like insecurity, inadequacy, or a lack of self-worth can drive us to search for ways to satisfy or escape the pain. What results is often some form of unhealthy behavior that compounds the struggle.....Keep reading.....

The Las Vegas Raiders On US Sports Radio - Offseason Recap, Numbers To Know and Slowing the Dolphins’ Run Game

 

JT The Brick and Q Myers are joined by Eric Allen and Cynthia Frelund to preview Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins on Raiders Weekly. Now streaming on US Sports Radio

Presented on US Sports by Minecraft.

Minecraft, created by Mojang, is a renowned game allowing players to build and explore diverse virtual worlds. Emphasizing creativity and survival, Minecraft offers a dynamic gaming experience for all ages.

The NFL On US Sports - New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks Game Highlights Week 1

 

Now streaming on US Sports Radio

Presented on US Sports by LOWE'S

Up to 45% off Select Appliances

US Sports Golf - Three Priceless Tips From a Golf Legend And Best shots from the 2026 PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoffs Presented on US Sports by Footlocker!

 

• By Grant Young
 

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Getting into golf can be quite daunting for several reasons. First, mastering the sport demands unwavering dedication and a willingness to invest time and effort in honing your skills. Secondly, navigating the multitude of equipment options can be overwhelming for beginners.

Plus, the cost of golfing (particularly when factoring in green fees and equipment expenses) can be a deterrent for many. Understanding the intricate rules and etiquette of the game (and getting into a proper golf mindset) might also be difficult for newcomers to comprehend. 

Despite these obstacles, the gratification and enjoyment that golf offers make overcoming these challenges well worth the effort, proven by golf becoming the preferred hobby for countless people worldwide. It's a sport that can be enjoyed at any age, making it a lifelong pursuit that offers opportunities for continued growth and improvement. And the beauty of golf courses and the sense of accomplishment that comes with mastering a difficult shot all make the experience incredibly fulfilling.

All of this is to say that overcoming the initial struggles of getting into golf is incredibly worthwhile if you decide to stick with it. And with a few fundamental golfing tips, you can get over your rookie woes and fall in love with this magical sport even sooner. 

And Kathy Whitworth has a few tips that will speed up your path to golfing expertise. 

With 88 career wins, Kathy Whitworth holds the all-time record for both men's and women's U.S. Golf Tours. She also finished in second place in 95 tournaments. Kathy's professional golfing career spanned 32 years, from 1959 to 1991. She is the first woman to earn a million dollars in LPGA tournament play. Kathy Whitworth is a seven-time LPGA Player of the Year and has won six Major Championships. She was the Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 1965 and 1967 and was inducted into the LPGA's Hall of Fame in 1975.

With her professional career now behind her, Coach Whitworth now spends her time passing her decades of elite gold knowledge on to future generations of players. And her ‘Golf Tips and Techniques Featuring Kathy Whitworth’ course is a gold mine of information about how you can boost your golf skills.

How to Aim

Coach Whitworth has a few great tips on how to improve your aiming so that your golf shot is more accurate. 

She notes that a common mistake many beginner golfers make is that, while they’re looking at a target before shooting, they’re not actually aiming at that target. 

Once you do decide on a target to aim for, Coach Whitworth notes that you should then line your club’s blade up with the ball then square your body off to an imaginary straight line to where you are aiming. 

Another important lesson Coach Whitworth imparts is that the habit of aiming must begin on the driving range. Often golfers will just be focused on their swing while at the driving range and won’t care about where the ball goes. While it’s important to be feeling attuned to your swing, you should also be aiming for specific targets while shooting. If you don’t do this, you are going to get on to the golf course and not be used to aiming for a specific target, which will make your accuracy suffer. 

When trying to decide where to aim, it’s best to stand behind the ball (like you’ll often see professional golfers doing on TV) to get a clear, straight-on view of the course in front of you, and how you should approach it. 

Pre Shot Routine

Having a pre-shot routine is integral to any golfer’s success. As Coach Whitworth mentioned previously, the first part of any golfer’s pre-shot routine is standing behind the ball and taking a look at the course before them, which will help forecast where the golfers should aim their next shot. 

On approaching the ball, the golfer will want to square themselves up to the target they are aiming at. 

From there, the golfer should have enough of a basic pre-shot routine to get themselves ready to shoot. But golf is also a superstitious game, and many golfers have habits or other things they will want to do before lining up for a shot. This could be establishing a steady breathing pattern, stepping up to the shot a certain way, adjusting their hat, or anything else. 

These types of rituals are going to be different for any golfer and certainly aren’t necessary for succeeding. But because golf is such a mental game, anything that a golfer can do to make themselves confident in themselves and their next shot is worth doing — even if it may look like a silly habit from the outside looking in. 

For higher-level and professional golfers, being able to make a long putt can often be the difference between winning and losing a tournament. And for beginners, all it takes is one made long putt for a whole afternoon at the golf course to feel worthwhile. 

One of Coach Whitworth’s tips when approaching longer putts is to trust her eyes when it comes to what the shot’s distance is and how hard she should hit the shot.

In addition, Coach Whitworth explains that a major key is to have one’s eyes over the ball while they’re putting to have a perpendicular stroke. 

At that point, the golfer will want to take a good look at their club to ensure that the blade is square, and is going to connect with the ball straight on. 

Reading the green is also important because it will help you figure out how to adjust your putt. Just like when gauging distance, your best bet in doing this is by trusting your eyes. 

Want to help kids stick with sports? Prioritize fun and #PhysicalActivity over competition in #YouthSports programs. Learn more in @HealthGov’s National Youth Sports Strategy: https://bit.ly/2lQ85f6