Volleyball is a situational sport. Service is an atypical feature: is the only skill that doesn’t undergo external influences. It is a movement that can’t be standardized and that simply involves the athlete and the ball. Although it could be apparently easy, at every level it appears decisive.
It is for this reason that through the repetition in an analytic form is possible to have an instant feedback in terms of learning and control of the ball and with a significative number of repetitions it is possible to consolidate the gesture in a relatively short time.
Obviously the practice of the serve not only concern the analytic part, that will be needed to stabilize the gesture, but will also included in the other forms of drills:
- Serve and reception in two modalities:
1. repetition to improve/ to master the reception technique
2. competitive drill with efficiency goal
- in Side out drills, remembering that the improvement of this phase is obtained by a high number of repetitions. In this case the amount of work is highly related to the improvement, and it is necessary to insert a few situational variables in the 6 vs. 6.
It is for this reason that through the repetition in an analytic form is possible to have an instant feedback in terms of learning and control of the ball and with a significative number of repetitions it is possible to consolidate the gesture in a relatively short time.
Obviously the practice of the serve not only concern the analytic part, that will be needed to stabilize the gesture, but will also included in the other forms of drills:
- Serve and reception in two modalities:
1. repetition to improve/ to master the reception technique
2. competitive drill with efficiency goal
- in Side out drills, remembering that the improvement of this phase is obtained by a high number of repetitions. In this case the amount of work is highly related to the improvement, and it is necessary to insert a few situational variables in the 6 vs. 6.
TACTIC AND METHODOLOGIC DEVELOPEMENT OF THE SERVE
Obviously the initial target will be the one to give a way to start the game. In this sense it has to be seen the use of the underhand serve. It doesn’t seem necessary to spend a lot of time practicing that during a training: other than not letting the reception pass, it will be a gesture only used for a short time by the young volleyball player and for functional reasons:
- to not overcharge the shoulder articulation ( and guaranteeing the integrity of the back) that could be not strong enough to support the execution of a float serve, also because of a wrong technique.
- To facilitate the development of the drill if the reception technique is not stable there is the risk of a control of the serve with easily imaginable consequences and very low motivation by the athletes in continuing the drill.
So the following goal, once the technique is thought and stabilized, will be the one to “offend the opponent”. Obviously the tactic and the managing of the serve will be inserted in a team system. The main target is not (only) to score a point, but keep the construction of the action difficult for the other team. It wil be necessary a training methodology that will focus on:
- Management of the mistake ( single and team)
- Maximizing the ratio points/errors
- Put pressure on the other team, influence their game and making block/defence choices easier for our team
- Types of serves. Float – jump float – jump spin/top spin. With the variables for the first two types related to the position and the starting zone of the serve.
- Serve execution’s tactic:
- in a specific zone ( to influence the setter choices)
- on a attacker (short in order to take away the approach - long in order to not let a proper run-up- on the figure of the player in order to create technical difficulties in that type of shot).
- on the conflict area
- If the serve will have principally tactic tasks, a high precision will be required, instead if the serve will be powerful ( or served far from the line) it will be on a zone and not on a single player. But we have to remember that a serve that hits a target and loses efficiency is not a good serve.
During the teaching period it is necessary to keep in mind the level of the physical conditioning of the athletes. For the boys, for example, the application of strength it is to be inserted in a gradual and progressive way. The young athlete matures between 16 and 18 years, so it is a waste of time to force a strength conditioning program with weightlifting too soon.
Others risks are the possibility of the boredom for the many repetitions and the difficulty of training the basics under pressure.
DIDACTIC OF THE FLOAT SERVE
It is the base technique that later will evolve in the jump float. It principally consists in hitting the ball with a stiff and flat hand, through neat shot, not carried and with the hand that stops shortly after the actuation of the shot. The ball doesn’t rotate in order to have an irregular line that disadvantages the receiver. In case of a serve far from the line the shot can be a little bit carried, but keeping in mind that the shoulder doesn’t have to give in.
THE TOSS
Is the most important phase to avoid important executive mistakes. It has to be preferably done with the opposite arm regarding the one that hit the ball. The starting posture consists in one foot further opposite to the other ( indicatively the point of the foot back is positioned at half of the further foot). At the moment of the toss the weight is unbalanced back and then forward at the moment of the hit. How to control the toss:
- Initially it can be preferred the toss with two hands in order to obtain more precision
- Toss high and over the shoulder that strikes ( if I toss and let the arm fall, the ball will land in front of the right foot)
- “Lift” movement of the arm that doesn’t hit the ball and that leads the ball upwards/towards
- Detach the ball as higher as possible and reduce its flight time
- Hit in the dead point
- Avoid the tosses that are too high, that disadvantage a correct coordination. The ball has to be high enough to permit to hit with an extended arm.
- Some players prefer to start with the arm that hits already charged, instead others prefer with a loose arm
- There are also players that ( with a less strong arm)do some steps before the hit.
- Initially it can be preferred the toss with two hands in order to obtain more precision
- Toss high and over the shoulder that strikes ( if I toss and let the arm fall, the ball will land in front of the right foot)
- “Lift” movement of the arm that doesn’t hit the ball and that leads the ball upwards/towards
- Detach the ball as higher as possible and reduce its flight time
- Hit in the dead point
- Avoid the tosses that are too high, that disadvantage a correct coordination. The ball has to be high enough to permit to hit with an extended arm.
- Some players prefer to start with the arm that hits already charged, instead others prefer with a loose arm
- There are also players that ( with a less strong arm)do some steps before the hit.
THE ARM SWING
- The arm swing comes with the hand that is rotated towards the outside in order to open the shoulder and call in the pectoral
- Hit with extended arm
- The movement of the arm is fast
- Clear shot and stiff hand/ wrist we don’t have to “let the ball lead us”. If the hand is not rigid enough the risks are lateral or dorsal flexions that, in the best of the scenarios will take a high line above the net ( in case of dorsal flexion) and in the worst of cases an error or a diametrically opposite line compared to the one wanted.
In the didactic progression we have to try to generate tight lines close to the net tape. In order to do this there are some main steps:
- During the learning process it is necessary to locate a reduced distance to cover, gradually increased when the player is able to keep a good execution and a sufficient control of the ball.
- Then we will work on the speed imprinted on the ball. In order to do it the toss has to be stable and we have to pay attention on the impact between hand and ball, it has not to be conditioned.
- The arm swing comes with the hand that is rotated towards the outside in order to open the shoulder and call in the pectoral
- Hit with extended arm
- The movement of the arm is fast
- Clear shot and stiff hand/ wrist we don’t have to “let the ball lead us”. If the hand is not rigid enough the risks are lateral or dorsal flexions that, in the best of the scenarios will take a high line above the net ( in case of dorsal flexion) and in the worst of cases an error or a diametrically opposite line compared to the one wanted.
In the didactic progression we have to try to generate tight lines close to the net tape. In order to do this there are some main steps:
- During the learning process it is necessary to locate a reduced distance to cover, gradually increased when the player is able to keep a good execution and a sufficient control of the ball.
- Then we will work on the speed imprinted on the ball. In order to do it the toss has to be stable and we have to pay attention on the impact between hand and ball, it has not to be conditioned.
DRILLS
- Imitative of the hit towards the floor
- Toss close to the wall ( it doesn’t have to touch the wall, but only be close)
- Toss and stop the ball with an extended arm
- Serve keeping the ball with the hand
- Hit the ball a stiff wrist the ball to the wall ( or hit the wall/mattress with the hand)
- Serve from 4.5 m against a target ( on the wall or the backboard)
- As before but seated on a chair the ball in these 2 drills as to return straight
- As before with a knee on the ground ( the knee that’s on the ground is the one that corresponds to the arm that hits in order to help the width)
- Serves on targets/pads and drills between servers like a competition
- Imitative of the hit towards the floor
- Toss close to the wall ( it doesn’t have to touch the wall, but only be close)
- Toss and stop the ball with an extended arm
- Serve keeping the ball with the hand
- Hit the ball a stiff wrist the ball to the wall ( or hit the wall/mattress with the hand)
- Serve from 4.5 m against a target ( on the wall or the backboard)
- As before but seated on a chair the ball in these 2 drills as to return straight
- As before with a knee on the ground ( the knee that’s on the ground is the one that corresponds to the arm that hits in order to help the width)
- Serves on targets/pads and drills between servers like a competition
In this video Marco Paolini illustrate the 3 main types of serve adding some drills for the didactic:
Here are some videos of Paolo Cerruti that presents some didactic progressions in order to consolidate the toss and the hit on the ball:
THE JUMP FLOAT SERVE
Compared to the normal floating serve the jump float allows greater height of impact, letting the use of more incisive lines and, with equal speed, a higher speed of the ball thanks to the inertia exerted by the body in motion and transferred on the ball. It is used a lot because it allows to have a higher dangerousness while containing the number of errors.
To set up the jump float serve the player has to have a perfect command of the floating service. The next step will be the one to insert a serve while walking, without the jump, in order to visualize the best moment to toss.
The higher level gives different types on technique, already starting from the steps of the approach used and type of toss.
Here you can see the video analysis of the jump float by Sheilla:
Here the different types of approach :
The approach with the two hands toss, typical of the male’s teams ( in this case represents by one of the masters of this technique Emanuele Birarelli)
The most common approach in the women’s team is similar to the one for the spike with left/right/let progression and the toss has to be done when the right foot hits the floor, with one hand. Instead, in the male’s team the most common is with two hands in order to have a highest precision. This is determined only by a strength matter. For women the strength is less so the toss with only one hand allows the shoulder to open wider. For male, instead, there isn’t that much necessity to have a powerful shot, so precision and control of the toss are preferred. At the end everyone adapts himself with the type that is easier. What is important is always maintain some standards, regardless of the number of steps used or the type of toss, like:
- Ball forward from the body axis in the moment of the shot
- Ball over the shoulder that hits
- Extended arm
- Speed of execution
- Clear shot and stiff hand/wrist
DRILLS FOR THE JUMP FLOAT SERVE
The same drills for the float. Adding:
- Stretch an elastic band as high as the net near the serve line serving at the maximum height
- Serve a jump float starting up from a plinth or bench avoid to hit the ball in the descending phase
The same drills for the float. Adding:
- Stretch an elastic band as high as the net near the serve line serving at the maximum height
- Serve a jump float starting up from a plinth or bench avoid to hit the ball in the descending phase
JUMP SPIN SERVE
It is the type of serve that especially characterizes higher level men’s volleyball, but also some good player in women’s volleyball. The minor use in women’s is due to less efficiency of the shot: if not powerful enough the serve with a sort of rotation is easier to handle compared to a jump float.
It is the type of serve that especially characterizes higher level men’s volleyball, but also some good player in women’s volleyball. The minor use in women’s is due to less efficiency of the shot: if not powerful enough the serve with a sort of rotation is easier to handle compared to a jump float.
THE TOSS
From the toss we can notice the firs huge difference. While, as we saw for the jump float serve the toss was done during the approach, in this case the ball has to be tossed before we start the approach. The toss usually is done with the opposite arm form the one that hits the ball because, usually, helps the coordination and it has to be upwards and towards in order to have a correct development of the approach that is the same of the spike. In order to obtain the stability of the toss, blocking the joints of the elbow and wrist and raising the ball using only the shoulder. It’s like a spike from the bottom of the field. The arm is loose and fast and the shot is done at the highest point, with an extended arm. As for the jump float it is important that the shoulder ahead of the corporal axis and ahead of the shoulder that hits. If we look at the higher level’s players we can notice that almost everyone has a consolidated routine of steps to approach to the serving point. This helps calculate the distance regarding the point where we jump ( the closest to the line) in order to get there correctly. Normally almost everyone uses a 3 steps approach, but there are some examples of god servers that toss the ball lower and do only one approaching step ( for example Juantorena). As in the spike point will be better to slightly close with the left foot ( o right for the left-handed) in order to verticalize the jump and at the same time to jump as close as possible to the line, without stepping on it.
THE SHOT
The shot must give to the ball a rotation, so is the same we use for the spike. So it is necessary that the hand wraps the ball in the correct way through a fast action the wrist has to give speed and rotation. The wrist lets us do a powerful shot ( that is the base), but also all the variations ( short cut, lifted shot).
THE LANDING
It is personal, there is who prefers to do a toss that lets one inside the field and who does it in order to finish near the line. The important thing is to always maintain the correct ratio with the axis, not going too much under the ball and do a shot as high and powerful as possible.
It is personal, there is who prefers to do a toss that lets one inside the field and who does it in order to finish near the line. The important thing is to always maintain the correct ratio with the axis, not going too much under the ball and do a shot as high and powerful as possible.
DIDACTIC PROGRESSION
Starting point as close to the line as possible with only two steps of approach and a low toss. This solution permit to have a more precise approaching point ad helps the coordination.
- Far starting point, extend the steps and add the third one, at the same time increasing the height of the toss and the impact inside the field more coordination difficulties and the neuromuscular request of the impact from the jump.
- Long approach e high toss in order to improve the timing and obtain power using once own organic-muscular skills.
Starting point as close to the line as possible with only two steps of approach and a low toss. This solution permit to have a more precise approaching point ad helps the coordination.
- Far starting point, extend the steps and add the third one, at the same time increasing the height of the toss and the impact inside the field more coordination difficulties and the neuromuscular request of the impact from the jump.
- Long approach e high toss in order to improve the timing and obtain power using once own organic-muscular skills.
DRILLS
- Spin serve with no jump ball on the field with power hit with extended and fast arm, speeding up the shot of the hand on the ball.
- Serves with the band over the net
- Jump at least 50 cm from the line-> approach and cut behind the band/tape on the floor.
Video with jump spin shot analysis
This is Clayton Stanley ( former opposite hitter of the USA national team)
Savani & Juantorena
Rafael ( ex Trento) shows the variations with jump float approach. The last shot is a spin on a typical jump float approach.
SERVICE MANAGEMENT
As said before it will be important, above all during the training sessions to give clear indications on how we want to manage the pressure and the mistakes during the serve. Clearly the ideal situation is the one where there are more points than mistakes and the opponent team game is strongly influenced. But we have to remember that we must be sure that our players are able to do what we are asking. It is obvious that if i never train a short serve, I can’t ask my player to that during the game. Or rather: I can’t expect that he/she can do that correctly and without the possibility of error. At the same time if during practice I tolerate the error ( in this case for example, give too much “bonus” for the serve during drills with points/target can be a double-edge sword), I don’t give indications where to serve and I don’t correct the serve technique, I can’t demand that this things disappear ( technical mistake or forcing) or that they magically disappear ( tactic serve) during the game.
Everyone can have his own philosophy: there is who wants servers that can take more risks and others that will more tactic tasks. We can also decide that every player can force the serve. The important thing is that it has to be clear for everyone. There are also other indications, that now are almost mantras for us coaches, that can help to create some team rules for the management of the serve. You can agree or disagree with them and are not mandatory:
- Make as few mistakes as possible. It seems obvious but we often forget that. Even the strongest teams don’t have 100% of positivity in the side-out phase, so we don’t always have to solve the problem for them- the same thing happens after a series of serves: the opponent team is already under pressure because they can’t rotate. We can lower risk factor and avoid to help them rotate without touching the ball.
- Change the type of serve and have different types in our technical baggage
- Avoid the errors after an interruption ( time out, subs, etc..)
- Avoid errors on the first action of the match or during the possible match ball
- Avoid the error after a teammate that already did one on the previous rotation
Some words deserves the management of a server during a time out that precedes a serve. Clearly we have to know the athlete, because luckily we are not the same. For sure we don’t have to say “ don’t miss the serve”. For a perfectly normal mechanism our athlete will concentrate only in what we want to avoid, the missed serve ( it is normal if someone tells us “ don’t think of a tree” the first thing that we think about is the tree..)
As said before it will be important, above all during the training sessions to give clear indications on how we want to manage the pressure and the mistakes during the serve. Clearly the ideal situation is the one where there are more points than mistakes and the opponent team game is strongly influenced. But we have to remember that we must be sure that our players are able to do what we are asking. It is obvious that if i never train a short serve, I can’t ask my player to that during the game. Or rather: I can’t expect that he/she can do that correctly and without the possibility of error. At the same time if during practice I tolerate the error ( in this case for example, give too much “bonus” for the serve during drills with points/target can be a double-edge sword), I don’t give indications where to serve and I don’t correct the serve technique, I can’t demand that this things disappear ( technical mistake or forcing) or that they magically disappear ( tactic serve) during the game.
Everyone can have his own philosophy: there is who wants servers that can take more risks and others that will more tactic tasks. We can also decide that every player can force the serve. The important thing is that it has to be clear for everyone. There are also other indications, that now are almost mantras for us coaches, that can help to create some team rules for the management of the serve. You can agree or disagree with them and are not mandatory:
- Make as few mistakes as possible. It seems obvious but we often forget that. Even the strongest teams don’t have 100% of positivity in the side-out phase, so we don’t always have to solve the problem for them- the same thing happens after a series of serves: the opponent team is already under pressure because they can’t rotate. We can lower risk factor and avoid to help them rotate without touching the ball.
- Change the type of serve and have different types in our technical baggage
- Avoid the errors after an interruption ( time out, subs, etc..)
- Avoid errors on the first action of the match or during the possible match ball
- Avoid the error after a teammate that already did one on the previous rotation
Some words deserves the management of a server during a time out that precedes a serve. Clearly we have to know the athlete, because luckily we are not the same. For sure we don’t have to say “ don’t miss the serve”. For a perfectly normal mechanism our athlete will concentrate only in what we want to avoid, the missed serve ( it is normal if someone tells us “ don’t think of a tree” the first thing that we think about is the tree..)
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