An opera doesn’t end until the fat lady sings, and a volleyball match doesn’t start until someone serves the ball. Serving can be nerve-wracking, since you’re hitting the ball from as far away from the net as you’ll ever have to, but it’s also an opportunity to get an early lead. That being said, if your team struggles to serve the ball over the net, then they won’t be able to win a game. Here we’ll take a look at the three most important parts of a serve and what to look for when coaching them, then give you some drills to improve your squad’s serving.

There are three main parts to properly serving a volleyball: the step, the toss, and contacting the ball. Above all, it’s key that your players keep their eyes on the ball and their bodies lined up toward their target. Beyond this, your players are going to be trying to hit the ball with enough power that the other team either struggles to return it or can’t return it at all. A successful serve is one that lands in the opposition’s court, but a spectacular serve is one that scores a point for your squad. Let’s go over each part of the serve and turn those decent starts into aces.

Parts of the Serve

The Step

The step is what gives the player the power to jump ahead of their serve. Getting their body into the air gives them the advantage of momentum as well as height, which makes it easier to hit hard and to direct the ball down over the net, rather than lofting it. The second part of the step is the jump. Jumping when serving is less about height, like a defensive block might be, and more about aligning your body and weight in the direction you want the ball to go. Keep this in mind when watching your players serve.

The Toss

Tossing the ball during a serve can be a difficult thing to teach because it relies heavily on a player’s ability to judge their own strength, speed, and jump height. Many service errors occur because of the toss, and they don’t have to. What’s important to remember is that the goal of the toss is not to get the ball as high as possible but to consistently get it to the same height so that you know the timing of it. It can also help to time your toss with your step, rather than tossing the ball and then stepping when it’s already in the air. If a player can make contact consistently at their maximum height, then their toss is great. 

Contacting the Ball

Even with a perfect toss-step, a serve can easily go awry if the ball isn’t contacted properly. Often, this is because a player lets their hand and wrist go limp once they make contact, which reduces power and can send the ball in unpredictable directions. Another point of note is powering through the ball. A player has to have enough force to get the ball over the net, and this relies on contact. Make sure your players are serving through the ball rather than aiming to stop their swing at the ball. This should also help with accuracy, since following through happens in the direction of the target. 

 

 

Serving Drills 

Tip the Can

Purpose: Increase power and accuracy

How: Place a plastic garbage can (preferably empty) on the opposite side of the net from your server. The attacker is trying to hit the can hard enough to tip it over. Move the can around the court to test accuracy.

Notes: This is a good indication of a player’s power. It works as an accuracy drill and gives you a good idea of a player’s ball speed.

Serving with a Partner

Purpose: Warmup, timing, and accuracy

How: Have players partner up and stand on opposite sides of the net. Have players serve the ball back and forth. You can vary their distance from the net to increase or decrease the challenge.

Notes: Watch your players’ form during this drill. Being consistent in simple drills like this will carry forward into game situations.

Zones

Purpose: Consistency and accuracy

How: Split the court into six zones, three in the backcourt and three in the front court. Have players serve into specific zones. Have players call out which zone they are aiming for, tell them which zone to hit, or have them serve into zones one through six in order.

Notes: If there is a particular part of the court your players struggle to serve to, use this drill to highlight and improve upon that. This drill can also be turned into a light competition.