The McKibbin Brothers
Beach volleyball passing technique explained
Serve receive fundamentals from two AVP pros.
Adult training · Week of October 19
Passing night
Mondays and Thursdays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Elevate in Bonita Springs. Same plan both nights — come to one or both.
Week of October 19 · one-hour session
Passing night
Monday and Thursday this week we train passing: three drills, then Queen & King of the Court. All levels welcome.
Sessions
Monday, October 19
Thursday, October 22
Time
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Where
Sports Challenge America (Elevate), 28120 Race Track Road, Bonita Springs
0:00 – 0:05
Skill explanation
Serve receive decides how often you get to run your own offense. Tonight is about beating the ball to the spot, stopping your feet, and letting a quiet platform angle solve direction — no swinging arms.
- Beat the ball to the spot, then stop your feet
- Flat platform, shoulders square to target
- Hold the finish — no arm swing at contact
- Read the toss and contact to judge float vs topspin
The hour
Session plan
No warm-up — we start on the ball. Three drills, fifteen minutes each, then we compete.
- 6:30 pm – 6:35 pm5 min
Passing — coach explanation
Serve receive decides how often you get to run your own offense. Tonight is about beating the ball to the spot, stopping your feet, and letting a quiet platform angle solve direction — no swinging arms.
- 6:35 pm – 6:50 pm15 min
Half-Court Triangle Passing
Intermediate · 1 ball per trio, 3 cones marking triangle points per group
Why: Reinforce angle-to-target and early communication in a continuous three-player pattern without net or serve pressure.
- Continuous pass-pass-pass around the triangle in a defined rotation (clockwise, then counter-clockwise after 3 min). Each athlete calls the next target's name before contact. Reset on every drop.
- Coach emphasis: Angle solves direction — face who you're passing to.
- 6:50 pm – 7:05 pm15 min
Pass → Set → Catch (Connection)
Intermediate · 1 ball per group of 3, Cone for setter target
Why: Link first and second contacts in a controlled chain.
- Coach serves → pass → set → catch. Rotate every 5 reps. Track quality of each contact.
- Coach emphasis: The setter is responsible for fixing the pass — every pass is a 'good' pass to the setter.
- 7:05 pm – 7:20 pm15 min
Servers vs. Passers
Advanced · Cart of balls, Full court, Target zone marker (cone or towel)
Why: Build accountability on both sides of the serve — servers compete to ace, passers compete to deliver perfect balls.
- Servers earn 1 point for an ace or service error forced (shanked pass), 2 for a clean ace. Passers earn 1 for a hittable pass, 2 for a perfect pass to target. After each round of couplets, tally and rotate. First side to 15 wins; loser does a team movement (5 burpees, run a line, etc.).
- Coach emphasis: Both sides are competing every rep. No casual serves. No casual passes.
- 7:20 pm – 7:30 pm10 min
Queen & King of the Court
Every session ends the same way: continuous Queen & King of the Court. Challengers serve in, winners hold the King/Queen side, losers rotate off. Competitive reps that put the night's skill under real pressure.
- Challenger side serves; winner of the rally moves toward the King/Queen side
- Lose on the King/Queen side and you rotate off to the back of the challenger line
- Points only count when you win on the King/Queen side
- Play until time — highest score wins the night
Watch before you play
Passing videos
Two minutes of video before practice makes the drills click faster. Press play right here.
Better at Beach
3 tips to make your pass perfect every time
Platform, posture and target line.
Better at Beach
How to pass a serve — beginner footwork guide
Start here if you are new to the sand.
Other weeks