SERVING
The serve begins
play and is the only skill completely within the control of an individual player.
The serve is the only skill that can be duplicated without any adjustments
in technique on all occasions. Successful serves can force opponents into difficult
attack positions, reducing their attack options and enabling the serving team
to react more effectively in setting up the defense. In addition, a server can
score a point by serving the ball in such a way that the opponent is unable
to return it. This is known as an ace. Types of serves vary and include the
underhand serve, overhead float, jump serve, and standing spike. This handout
will discuss the underhand serve and overhead float serve.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
To ensure consistent
service, the following steps shouldbe followed:
- Duplicate the same skill mechanics
each time you serve.
- The flight of the ball is determined
by how close to the net and how high the ball is contacted.
- Contact the ball with the "meat"
part of the hand (Figure 2-2)
- Continue moving through the
ball and toward the target after contact.
The Underhand Serve
The simplest of the serving techniques,
the underhand serve is excellent for young players and for those just beginning
their involvement in volleyball. It is also a starting point forlearning other
serves because it teaches the concepts of comfortable contact and familiarizes
the player with the amount of force required to get the ball over the net. The
underhand serve can easily evolve into a sidearm or overhead technique.
Preparation 
In preparing to serve, the player
should stand in a semi-crouched position with the lead toe pointing toward the
target and with the body weight predominantly on the back foot (Figure 2-3.)
The nonserving "shelf arm" should be bent 90 degrees at the elbow and held comfortably
so that the ball is in front of the navel when placed on the "shelf" (hand.)
The hitting arm should hang comfortably at the player's side. The hitting hand
can be held in a variety of forms: fist, paddle hand or open hand. In any case,
the contact point will be the same-the meat part of the hand.
Precontact Movement
All serving techniques use a two-contact
rhythm. On the count of one, the hitting arm is cocked and is brought back past
the hips and the weight is transferred from the back foot to the front foot.
On the count of two, the hitting arm is swung forward, the hips are turned toward
the target, and the ball is then contacted by the lower part of the palm. Contact
Contact should be made with the meat part of the hitting hand as the weight
shifts to the front foot. It is important that the player swing her arm in line
with the intended flight of the ball. In addition, the server must focus on
the ball during the hitting motion. To complete an effective serve, the hitting
hand should accelerate throughout the swing with the greatest acceleration occurring
just prior to ball contact.
Coaching Points
1. The ball must be contacted as
the shelf hand is removed from the ball.
2. Players should contact the ball
with the meat part of the hand.
3. The precontact swing of the
hitting arm should be in line with the desired flight of the ball.
4. Accelerate the contact hand
just prior to contact.
The Overhead Float Serve
The overhead float serve is designed
to produce a "floating" ball that has no spin. Air currents, the ball not being
perfectly round, the humidity, and the altitude can influence such a ball's
path, making it its flight unpredictable. The floating serve's final destination
is also unpredictable. The ball bobs, weaves, dips, rises, curves, and fades.
In addition, the receiver has difficulty determining the speed of the serve
because there is no spin to read.
Preparation 
The server should take a position
behind the serving line. The feet are spread apart with the foot on the same
side as the shelf hand forward. The front leg should be flexed with the toe
pointed toward the target. Most of the body weight is on the back leg. The shelf
arm should be held comfortably flexed at a 90 degree angle at the elbow. The
hand holding the ball should be at the player's neck level. The hitting arm
should be positioned so that the elbow is as high and as far from the shoulder
as possible. This position will reduce wind-up movements and insure consistent
and high contact. The hitting hand should be in line with the lead toe and the
wrist locked with the fingers pointing over the top of the ball at the target
(Figure 2-4.)
Precontact Movement
The serving motion has a two-count
rhythm begun by the hitting arm being drawn back, the
toss, and the lead foot stepping forward. On the count of two, the weight is
transferred, and the ball is contacted. The toss is the key to a successful
serve. During the toss, the ball should never be more than 12 to 18 inches above
the shelf hand. With a well executed toss, the ball will have no spin and if
the ball were to drop to the floor after the toss, it should land directly on
or slightly in front of the lead toe (Figure 2-5.)
Contact
On the second count of the serving
rhythm, the player should transfer weight from the back foot to the lead foot.
The back foot drags on the toes and does not pass the lead foot. This allows
for body stability and insures that the force of contact is directed at the
selected target. The hitting arm's forward motion is begun with the shoulder
and elbow. By leading with the shoulder and elbow, the player propels the hand
forward in a whipping motion. The hitting hand remains locked at the wrist and
is extended to contact the ball as high and as far in front of the head as possible.
Contact is again made with the meat part of the hand. The hitting arm accelerates
throughout the swing with the greatest forward motion occurring 6-8 inches prior
to contact of the ball. You can tell how the ball was hit by watching the spin
produced. If the ball spins to the left, contact was made on the right side
of the ball; if the ball spins to the right, contact was made on the left side
of the ball. Backspin indicates contact under the ball with a flexed wrist;
topspin indicates contact over the top of the ball allowing the wrist to break.
No spin means the ball was contacted dead center. Figure 2-7 illustrates these
situations.
Coaching Points
1. The lead leg should be comfortable
with the toe directed at the target.
2. The hitting arm should be drawn
back with the elbow at shoulder level or higher.
3. The hitting hand should be locked
at the wrist.
4. Players should hit through the
ball with the meat part of the hand.
5. Greatest acceleration of the
contact hand should occur just prior to contact on the ball.
Tactical Applications
The first and foremost application
of the serve is to get the ball into the opponent's court. There are no tactics,
nor is there play, if the serve is into the net or out of bounds. Once a player
can consistently serve into the opponent's court, she should begin to vary the
flight, velocity, and target of the serve. Consistent serving means that the
player is able to place the served ball into the opponent's court with confidence
and control 80% of the time.
Varying Trajectory
The server should be able to control
the flight of the ball. The most effective servers use a variety of trajectories
ranging from flat serves to lobs. This allows for flexible targeting. The trajectory
can be varied by changing the distance behind the endline from which the player
contacts the ball, or the height of the ball at contact. Such variation, coupled
with a change in velocity, can increase the difficulty in the ability of the
opponent's ability to receive the serve.
Varying Velocity
The server must learn to harness
the force that controls the speed of the serve. Each player must learn (through
experimentation) how much energy is required to get the ball to the intended
target. The accomplished server will mask the amount of force used by appearing
to use a particular motion, but increasing or decreasing acceleration just prior
to contact of the ball. Varying Targets It is important that servers
learn to place their serves to a variety of locations on the court. No seam
of the opponent's alignment or corner of the opponent's court should be immune
to a server's aim.
Varying Techniques
Ideally, as the player develops
her skill in volleyball, she should develop several types of serves. At the
beginning level, players should develop the underhand serve, the sidearm serve,
and the overhand serve well enough to use in competition.
Serving is a weapon. It is one
of the four ways of scoring in volleyball.