You might be familiar with the term “overhand pass,” but “overhand reception” may sound a little new. In this article, we’ll dive into the history of this technique and explore why it’s often undervalued in the world of volleyball, particularly in Japan.
The Birth of Overhand Reception
The term “overhand reception” was born directly from a major rule change in six-person volleyball: the allowance of a double contact on the first team hit in 1995. While the rule was temporarily changed back in 2012, it was reinstated in 2013 and remains in effect today.
Before this rule was implemented, a double contact was immediately called as a fault for any first team hit, such as a serve receive or a dig. This meant that the term “overhand reception” didn’t even exist as a viable technique. As a result, it is a relatively new skill in the history of volleyball, introduced to the game only in the last 25 years.
“The rule allowing a double contact on the first team hit was applied in 1995, enabling the active use of the overhand pass. While the rule was temporarily reversed in 2012, it was postponed again in April 2013, effectively keeping the 1995 rule in place. This has significantly increased the importance of overhand reception.” —Excerpt from a thesis on overhand techniques used by world-class volleyball players.
Why the Skill of Overhand Reception Is Overlooked
Despite its introduction over 25 years ago, “overhand reception” is still not a common term or skill among many players. I’ve developed a hypothesis for this, particularly from the perspective of youth coaching.
The Early Specialization of Young Players
In many European countries, as well as the U.S. and Canada, it is not common for elementary school-aged children to specialize in a single sport. The prevailing belief is that engaging in a wide variety of sports during these early years is better for an athlete’s nervous system and overall physical development, and leads to greater athletic success in the long run.
In contrast, Japan tends to emphasize early specialization, where children start focusing on a single sport at a very young age. In the early stages, when a child’s arm, wrist, and finger muscles are underdeveloped, using an underhand pass to send the ball further is often considered more effective. This leads to an over-reliance on underhand passes in both receiving and passing situations.
This early specialization might also cause players to develop an aversion—and even a fear—of overhand passing.
The Flawed “Catch and Throw” Coaching Method
A common coaching method for overhand passes for beginners is “catch and throw.” I remember doing this drill myself when I started playing volleyball. Looking back, it didn’t feel like it helped me improve my overhand pass, and I struggled to overcome my dislike for the skill.
From a biomechanical perspective, this method is highly inefficient. It ignores the fundamental principles of the overhand pass.
Repeating a drill that goes against the motion can create bad habits, like the “catching habit,” which makes it difficult for players to pass the ball far and takes a lot of time to correct later on. Since overhand reception follows the same principles, a player who hasn’t mastered the proper technique of the overhand pass will find it almost impossible to learn how to receive with their hands.
I believe that the early negative experiences and the fear of overhand passing that many players acquire in the beginning stages of their career are a major problem. They move to the next level without having properly developed their overhand passing skills, and when overhand reception becomes a necessary skill, they are unprepared. As a result, this crucial skill is ultimately neglected throughout their careers.
