In previous article, we discussed the history of the overhand reception and why it’s often undervalued. Now, we’ll explore why this skill is more important than ever and how you can master it to gain a competitive edge.
Why Overhand Reception is a Must-Have Skill
World-class volleyball requires a complete skill set, and overhand reception has become a critical piece of the puzzle. An interview with Japanese national team player Masahiro Yanagida reveals this, where he shares that his coach constantly instructed him to “receive with your hands as much as possible.”
While some might think that top-level male players can perform this skill because of their size and strength, an article from a top Japanese women’s team highlights that mastering overhand reception is also a required skill for them. It’s not a skill you can acquire overnight; it must be developed from a young age.
Three Key Benefits of Overhand Reception
- Increases Your Range and Coverage
In volleyball, the closer you are to the server, the wider your defensive range. Since an overhand reception allows you to contact the ball at a higher point, you can take the ball earlier and closer to the server, meaning you can cover a wider area with less movement. - Neutralizes Tricky Serves
While jump serves are becoming more common, many players still use float serves that unpredictably drop or swerve. Receiving these unpredictable serves with your forearms is extremely difficult.
In contrast, an overhand reception allows you to contact the ball earlier, before the serve has a chance to change direction. It can essentially neutralize the serve’s trickiness.Unlike an underhand reception, which uses your forearms, an overhand reception uses your fingertips, which are the most precise parts of your body. This gives you much better control over the ball, just like how a setter uses their hands to set the ball instead of their forearms.
Reference articles：The Physics of Ball Movement: How can understanding It Improve Reception? - Facilitates Your Attack
For attackers, especially outside-hitters, participating in the attack after receiving the serve is crucial for creating an offensive advantage. While a successful underhand reception is great, an overhand reception makes it easier to transition into an attacking motion because of the body positioning. This allows your team to get more attackers involved in the play.
How to Master Overhand Reception
So, how can you acquire this essential skill?
My belief is that the first step is to master the overhand pass. The goal shouldn’t be to learn a pass that is on the verge of being a fault, but to acquire the proper technique based on the biomechanical principles of the skill. From the very beginning of a player’s career, it is crucial to eliminate the fear and aversion to overhand passing.
I believe coaches should start training players to receive with their hands around middle school, when their finger muscles are more developed. A coach must be flexible in their approach, tailoring the training to each player’s unique developmental stage.
The skills needed at the highest level aren’t acquired overnight. They must be developed with a long-term plan, starting from the youth categories. Coaches who understand this principle are the key to building the next generation of volleyball players.
