In the dynamic realm of volleyball, mastering the art of serving can be a game-changer. This guide is crafted for those who seek to turn every serve into a strategic advantage. These drills, carefully designed and easy to follow, are your gateway to mastering serving techniques that can intimidate opponents and boost your team’s confidence.
With each drill, we delve into the nuances of power, precision, and consistency, transforming a basic skill into a formidable weapon on the court.
Let’s unlock the secrets to powerful, strategic serves that can give any player an edge on the court
In the Serve Reception drill, your focus is to hone your serve reception skills, a key element in setting up your team’s offense. Here’s what you’ll do:
Setup
- Join your team on one side of the court in a serve receive formation.
- Your teammates will serve from the other side.
How You’ll Practice
- When the whistle blows, receive serves one by one, aiming to execute a solid forearm or overhead pass to your Setter.
- The Setter is your target but keep the play simple, just focus on your pass.
- Keep the drill continuous and fast-paced.
What to Focus On
- Pay attention to your technique in approaching and hitting the ball.
- Decide quickly whether to use a forearm or overhead pass.
- Stay on your toes, ready to move towards the ball quickly.
- Learn to read the server’s body language and the ball’s flight.
- Remember, for forearm passes, keep your arms straight and together; use your legs and shoulders. For overhead passes, form a triangle with your hands and push with your legs.
- Communicate clearly with your teammates during the drill.
- Aim for consistent, quality passes to set up strong attacks.
This drill is all about getting the right serve reception to help you control the ball better on the court and set up the best attack.
“Partner Serving” is a drill designed to sharpen your focus and precision in the midst of distractions, using a partner-based approach. This drill’s objective is to enhance ball control and maintain focus despite distractions.
Getting Ready
- Pair up with a teammate.
- Each pair gets one ball and positions themselves on opposite service lines.
Execution
- On the whistle, serve the ball to your partner.
- Aim to catch your partner’s serve and then serve back effectively.
- Continue this back-and-forth serving for a set time or until each of you has served at least 10 times.
Remember
- Don’t worry about stray serves, they’re part of the drill, helping you stay focused amidst distractions.
- Use this time to work on technique and seek guidance if needed.
“Serve Receive” is a dynamic drill designed to refine your serving, bumping, and setting skills in a situation that mirrors an actual game, making it ideal for team practice. Your focus is to engage in a realistic practice of serving, bumping, and setting.
Setting Up
- Assign 2-3 players as Servers.
- Setters get 3-5 balls.
- Divide the rest into Passers and Setters.
Execution
- Start with a Server serving the ball.
- As a Passer, quickly position yourself to bump the ball to a Setter.
- The Setter then sets the ball.
- Rotate roles, ensuring everyone practices as both Passer and Setter.
Benefits & Advancements
- This drill enhances your offensive setup and strengthens fundamental skills.
- For a challenge, vary the Setter’s position to improve the Passer’s directional control.
This drill focuses on developing your serving technique to enhance serving accuracy.
Setup
- Line up at the attack line on both sides of the net.
- Each player gets a ball.
Execution
- Serve from the attack line on the whistle.
- Focus on practicing your form and technique.
- After 5 successful serves, take a step back and continue.
- Progressively move back after every 5 good serves until you reach a comfortable serving distance.
Advice
- If you struggle to get the ball over the net, adjust your position or technique.
- Remember, using the correct form, though initially uncomfortable, will ultimately improve your serving skills.
“Serve and Shag” is an excellent drill to get your arms warmed up, hone your serving technique, and condition your body.
Your Role
- You’re not just rushing through the serves, focus on technique, then sprint to retrieve your ball.
- After serving, sprint around the court to get your ball, then serve again from the other side.
- This goes on for 5-10 minutes.
- Count your successful in-bounds serves to report to the coach.
Remember
- The emphasis is on quality serving followed by quick sprinting.
- Make sure to sprint, not jog, to maximize the conditioning aspect of the drill.
Effective Volleyball Serving Drills: Perfecting Technique & Breaking Bad Habits
In volleyball, mastering serving is often a beginner’s first goal. It’s a skill that brings a sense of achievement, especially when you can consistently serve over the net. To develop proper serving technique, repetition is key. It’s crucial to practice the right techniques to form good habits and avoid bad ones.
As a player, you need to be aware of these bad habits and work systematically to replace them with correct techniques.
Bad Habit #1
When your elbow moves from low to high, which can affect power, accuracy, and the serve’s trajectory.
Key Points:
- Keep your elbow high, at the height of your ear, and swing straight through the ball.
- The contact point should be the middle of your hand to the middle of the ball.
- Simulate a bow and arrow movement, with your hand at ear or pony-tail height before the toss.
Drills to Correct This:
- Toss, Set, Trap on the Wall: Practice your form against a wall.
- Throw to Wall: Use one hand (advanced) or two hands (younger players), starting with the elbow high.
- X Marks the Spot: Aim at an ‘X’ on the wall or a specific spot, repeatedly. Record your serves to analyze.
Additional Tip:
- Use a cell phone to record your serves, focusing on your starting position, toss, follow-through, and hand contact. Record from behind for a general view and from the side to specifically check your elbow position.
Bad Habit #2
An improper toss, which can be too high, left, or right, affecting the power, accuracy, and trajectory of your serve.
Key Tips:
- Aim for a toss that’s an arm’s length away, in front of your hitting shoulder.
- Control of the toss is vital for a successful serve.
- Think of it as a ‘lift,’ not a throw, to ensure the right motion.
Drill to Improve:
- Toss and Drop: Use tape to mark the spot for the ball to land, directly in front of your hitting shoulder. Practice tossing and letting the ball drop ten times in a row to the marked spot, maintaining accuracy and consistency. Remember to focus and take your time for a perfect toss.
Bad Habit #3
Using a closed hand, which can reduce power, accuracy, and affect the serve’s trajectory.
Key Focus:
- Maximizing the surface area of your hand on the ball for better control.
- Concentrate on the contact point: the middle of your hand should meet the middle of the ball.
- Keep your eyes on the ball, ensuring you see the moment of contact.
Drills to Correct This:
- Fist: Practice making contact with the ball using a closed fist.
- Open Hand Contact: Get a feel for the proper hand contact by hitting the ball with an open hand.
- Progressive Hits: Advance to hitting the ball down to the floor.
Bad Habit #4
Inadequate follow-through.
Key Focus:
- Ensure a straight follow-through with the palm of your hand facing the target, without wrist snap.
- Step and transfer your weight straight through the ball.
Drills:
- X Marks the Spot: Serve towards an ‘X’ on the wall, with a partner recording your serves.
- 10-Foot Line Challenge: Serve at each other from the 10-foot line, focusing on straight follow-through. Move back a step after three successful straight serves.
- Field Goal: Serve through a narrowed space between antennas or pool noodles placed in the net, gradually reducing the space for precision.
Remember, consistent practice with the correct technique is crucial for mastering serving.
To enhance your skills further, make sure to explore our tailored volleyball training and drills designed for each specific aspect of volleyball. We’re here to provide you with valuable insights, authoritative guidance, and relatable expertise on your journey to improvement.