6 Volleyball Passing Training Aids That Build True Ball Control

You’ve seen the look on your child’s face after a shanked pass sails into the stands—frustration, confusion, and a little bit of embarrassment. As a parent, you want to help them build the confidence that comes from solid, reliable skill. In volleyball, that skill starts with passing, and the right training aid can be the key to unlocking true ball control.

Building a Solid Passing Foundation with Aids

When your player is just starting, the game can feel chaotic. The ball comes over the net fast, and their first instinct is often to swing their arms or panic. This is where passing, the fundamental first touch of every single rally, becomes the bedrock of their entire game. Without a good pass, there’s no set and no hit.

Training aids are not magic wands that instantly create a perfect player. Think of them as guardrails for development. They isolate a single, crucial part of a complex motion and force the body to learn the correct feeling through repetition. An aid can physically prevent a player from breaking their arms apart or force them to move their feet to an unpredictable ball, building muscle memory far more efficiently than verbal cues alone.

The goal is to move a player from simply reacting to the ball to commanding it. A beginner just wants to get the ball up in the air. An intermediate player needs to direct it to a target. A competitive player must do so consistently under pressure. The right tool, introduced at the right stage, helps your child build these layers of skill one at a time, turning frustration into focused improvement.

Tandem Sport Pass Rite for Proper Arm Placement

You’re watching practice and you see it again: your child’s arms fly apart the moment the ball arrives. The coach says "keep your platform together," but in the heat of the moment, the old habit takes over. This is the exact problem the Pass Rite was designed to solve.

This simple, inexpensive strap connects the player’s arms just above the elbows, making it physically impossible to "break" the platform. It’s a brilliant tool for beginners, typically in the 8-12 age range, who are building their initial muscle memory. It doesn’t teach them everything about passing, but it relentlessly corrects the single most common form breakdown in young players.

The Pass Rite is a classic example of a short-term tool with long-term impact. Your child will likely only need it for a season or two before the proper form becomes second nature. Because it addresses a specific, foundational skill, it’s a smart, low-cost investment to fix a problem before it becomes a deeply ingrained habit that’s much harder to correct later.

SKLZ Reaction Ball for Faster Passing Reflexes

Once your player has a stable platform, the next challenge arrives: not every pass is a perfect, gentle toss. Serves have spin, hits are fast, and tips are unpredictable. If your player looks flat-footed or is a step late to the ball, it’s not their platform that needs work—it’s their reaction time and footwork.

The SKLZ Reaction Ball is a six-sided rubber ball that bounces in a completely erratic direction. Tossing it against a wall or having a partner throw it forces a player to abandon anticipating and instead react. They must take quick, explosive steps to get their body behind the ball before they can even think about making a platform. This directly translates to the split-second decisions needed on defense.

This aid is ideal for the intermediate player, often 11-14 years old, who is ready to move beyond static passing drills. It trains the eyes to track an unpredictable object and the feet to respond instantly. It’s a fantastic tool for developing the agility that separates good passers from great defenders, turning a player from a passive receiver into an active ball-hunter.

Park & Sun Pass Catcher for Solo Repetitions

"Can you toss me some balls?" It’s a request every volleyball parent has heard. But you can’t always be available, and practicing against the garage door gets old (and loud). For the player whose passion for the game extends beyond scheduled practices, the ability to train independently is a game-changer.

The Pass Catcher is a large net target that catches and collects balls, allowing a player to get hundreds of repetitions without a partner. They can work on their form, aim, and consistency all on their own time. This is a significant investment in both cost and space, making it best suited for the truly dedicated player who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the sport.

Before making this purchase, consider the logistics and your child’s motivation. Do you have a yard or basement space where it can be set up? Is your player self-motivated enough to use it consistently? For the right kid, this tool can accelerate development by providing access to unlimited practice. It also holds its value well and can easily be passed down to a younger sibling or sold to another volleyball family when your player outgrows the need for it.

Tandem Target Challenger for Passing Accuracy

Your player isn’t shanking the ball anymore. They get it up in the air consistently. But the passes are all over the place—too far off the net, behind the setter, or right back over. The next developmental step is moving from contact to control, and that requires a clear goal.

The Target Challenger is a simple ring that a coach, parent, or teammate can hold, or it can be attached to the net. It provides a clear, unmissable visual cue for where the pass should go. This shifts the player’s mental focus from "just get the ball up" to "pass the ball here." It transforms a generic drill into a goal-oriented exercise in precision.

This is a versatile tool that grows with your player. For a 10-year-old, the target might be large and stationary. For a 15-year-old working on out-of-system plays, the target can be moved around to simulate a setter scrambling. It’s an excellent investment for any player moving into competitive club volleyball where passing accuracy is non-negotiable.

Tachikara Weighted Ball for Platform Strength

Sometimes a player has good form, but a hard-hit serve simply knocks their arms back. Their platform "breaks" not from bad habits, but from a lack of functional strength to absorb the ball’s pace. This is especially common in younger players or those who are still developing physically.

A weighted training ball, which is slightly heavier than a regulation ball, can help build that specific strength. When passing this ball, a player is forced to engage their legs and core to create a solid base. It exaggerates the force they need to control, strengthening the precise muscles used to hold a steady platform against a powerful hit.

However, this is a specialized tool that must be used with caution. It is not meant for long rallies or general gameplay. Use it for short, focused drills of 10-15 minutes, emphasizing controlled movements. Think of it like a batter using a weighted donut in the on-deck circle—it’s for building strength and feel, not for playing the whole game. It’s best for players 12 and up who have solid mechanics but need an extra edge in strength and stability.

Vb Star Trainer for Consistent Ball Contact

The perfect pass makes a distinct "thump" sound as it connects with the fleshy part of the forearms. Many young players struggle to find this sweet spot, instead making contact on their wrists, hands, or inner arms. The key to finding it is a massive number of repetitions, which can be tedious when you’re constantly chasing the ball.

The Vb Star Trainer, a ball attached to an elastic cord and a waist strap, solves this problem brilliantly. It allows a player to make contact with the ball over and over without it ever hitting the floor. While often marketed for hitting and serving, it is an outstanding tool for grooving the passing motion and learning the feel of the proper contact point.

This is a low-cost, high-value aid that is useful for nearly any age or skill level. A beginner can use it in the living room to get hundreds of touches in minutes, building a feel for the ball. An advanced player can use it as a warm-up tool to dial in their platform before a match. It’s portable, effective, and removes the single biggest barrier to high-volume repetition: chasing the ball.

Integrating Aids into Your Player’s Drills

Walking into a sporting goods store can feel overwhelming, with gadgets promising to fix every flaw. The key is to remember that these aids are tools, not solutions. They work best when they are used to target a specific, identified weakness in your child’s game.

Before you buy anything, have a clear sense of the goal. Is the problem inconsistent arm placement? The Pass Rite is your answer. Is it slow footwork? Try the Reaction Ball. Is it a lack of accuracy? The Target Challenger provides a clear goal. Don’t buy a strength tool like the weighted ball if the core issue is a technical flaw in their form.

Start with the simplest, most direct tool for the job. Often, a small, focused investment can correct a foundational issue that unlocks the next stage of development. The goal isn’t to accumulate a bag full of equipment, but to use the right aid at the right time to help your player feel successful, build confidence, and deepen their love for the game.

Ultimately, your support is the most valuable aid your child will ever have. By choosing the right tools to help them overcome specific hurdles, you’re not just buying equipment; you’re investing in their confidence and empowering them to take ownership of their growth on the court.