Pepper
Partner drill. Two players pass, set and hit to each other to build control.
Volleyball Passing Drills
The best passing drills give players many contacts with a clear target, then slowly add real serves and decisions. Start with partner drills to build a steady platform, move to group drills like butterfly passing to add movement, and finish with serve-receive drills where three passers share the court. The drills below are listed in that order.
Units
- Main target
- Setter target, zones 2–3
- Drills on this page
- 3 core + 2 related
- Levels
- Beginner to intermediate
- Key cue
- Feet first, then platform
What good passing practice looks like
- A target every time. A player or a cone at the setter target (right of center, about 1 m off the net) tells passers exactly where the ball should go.
- Lots of contacts. Pairs and small groups give each player many more touches than one long line.
- From toss to serve. Begin with tossed balls, then easy serves, then tougher serves from the end line.
- A simple score. Many coaches rate each pass on a 0–3 scale (0 = error, 3 = perfect pass the setter can do anything with) and track the average.
For technique, see Passing. For how passers line up when the other team serves, see Serve Receive. Zone numbers are explained on Court Zones.
Core passing drills
Butterfly passing
Small group. Toss or serve, pass to a target, then rotate to the next spot.
Serve-receive triangle
Small group. Three passers in zones 1, 6 and 5 receive serves and sort out the seams.
Watch it
Video: Junior Volleyball Association on YouTube. Learn Volley is not affiliated with this channel.
Related drills from other categories
Dig to target
Defensive passing against controlled attacks.
Free ball transition
Passing an easy ball and turning it into an attack.
Solo option: Solo drills includes wall passing for practice at home.
Choosing a passing drill
- New players or warm-up: Pepper or butterfly passing with tossed balls.
- Players who can pass a toss well: Butterfly passing with easy serves.
- Before a match or for older teams: Serve-receive triangle with scoring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best drill for beginners to learn passing?
Partner passing with gentle tosses is the best start, because each player gets many touches with an easy ball. Once that is steady, move to butterfly passing.
How do I know if a pass is good?
A good pass reaches the setter target high enough for the setter to get under it. Many coaches score passes 0–3 so players can track progress.
Should passers practice against real serves?
Yes, as soon as they can control tossed balls. Real serves teach players to read speed and direction, which tosses cannot do.
How many players do I need for passing drills?
Two players are enough for pepper. Butterfly passing works best with 6–9 players, and the serve-receive triangle needs at least 5.