Volleyball Drills for Serving

Volleyball game starts with a serve. Obviously, if a volleyball player can serve the ball effectively the chance of his or her team to win the rally increases dramatically. Successful serves will not allow your opponents to complete effective attack hits. Without a doubt, serving skills are incredibly important to every volleyball player.

That’s why volleyball drills for serving must be the part of a player’s training program. Obviously, it takes volleyball players some time to develop strong serving skills. However, practicing effective volleyball serving drills regularly will definitely help any player become a successful server. Here, we want to provide the best volleyball drills to help volleyball players master the art of serving successfully.

2 Player Volleyball Drill for Serving

This drill is actively used by coaches to help beginners with learning basic serving techniques. The volleyball drill for serving is practiced by two players, who stand on different sides of the court. Initially, the distance between players has to be short.

When the drill begins players start mastering a serving technique by hitting the ball to each other. As a result, players will get used to the drill and their serving skills will improve. So, now it is time to increase the distance between two players and make the task more complicated. This drill can be practiced by volleyball players as long as they want.

Amoeba Drill

Practicing this volleyball skill helps servers understand pressure better. At the beginning of the game one player should go to 6 zone of the court. Other players of the team should stand at the end line on the opposite side of the court. Setting volleyball players should keep balls in their hands and have to be ready to serve. When all players are positioned properly it is time to start practicing the drill.

The drill begins and players, who stand at the end line, start serving the ball. The task of the seated player (who is positioned on the opposite side of the court) is to catch the ball after serve. If the serve is successful the sitting player has to sit cross-legged next to the seated player. After several players serve the ball successfully – so called an “amoeba-like” pattern will be formed on the floor.

It is also important to know that this drill has to be performed within the certain period of time. Obviously, the serving players are under the pressure and that’s why they often feel stressed when practicing this drill. This volleyball drill is finished successfully if an “amoeba-like” pattern is created by serving players on the opposite side of the court.

Arm Toss Drill

This drill is also incredibly important for helping a volleyball player improve his or her serving skills. At the beginning of practicing this drill a player should hold the ball in left had (if a player is a right-handed). Afterwards, a player has to extend the arm straight. So, the angle between the arm and a body has to be 90 degrees. Additionally, a player has to put his left foot ahead (if a player is a right-handed). As to left-handed players, they have to do the same things, but in an exactly opposite way.

Now, the player has to toss the ball 18 inches high. Keep in mind that it is crucial for volleyball players to toss the ball with a firm wrist. Afterwards, a player shouldn’t prevent the ball from falling to the ground. The task of a player is to land the ball near the leading foot (left foot if the player is right handed and right foot if the player left handed).

Jump and Catch Drill

So called jump and catch drill is also often used by volleyball coaches for training successful servers. Actually, this drill consists of two stages. At the first stage, a coach has to toss the ball and allow it to drop down. So, the ball has to land between the end line and three feet inside the end line. Doing this drill helps volleyball players learn how to toss the ball in the right way.

When a volleyball player learns how to toss the ball correctly – the second stage of this drill begins. Now, the task of a volleyball player is to toss the ball and approach to it. So, the player has to jump and serve the ball. While practicing this volleyball drill it is incredibly important for a player to choose the right position as well as the right moment for serving the ball.

Target Aim Drill

Target aim is another important drill that players have to practice regularly to improve their serving skills. This volleyball drill is practiced by the entire team. Initially, all players of the volleyball team have to stand behind the end line. This drill also involves using the ball cart.

Before the drill begins the ball cart has to be placed on the court. Actually, the ball cart can be placed at any part of the court. However, it’s reasonable to place it on one of the corners on the opposite side of the court.

When this drill begins all the players of the volleyball team have to serve the ball simultaneously. Moreover, each of team’s players has to do his or her best to hit the ball cart target. So, if a serve is successful then a player gets 3 points. However, if serve is not successful then a player gets no points.

When a player receives 15 points when practicing this drill he or she has to sit. In the meantime, other players should continue practicing the drill. There is no doubt that doing this volleyball drill helps players improve their serving skills dramatically. It is also worth noting that practicing this drill regularly helps volleyball players hit the targets on the court more successfully.

Target Practice Drill

Doing this drill helps volleyball players learn how to hit the target on the serve successfully. The volleyball team is divided into two groups. If a player hits the target on serve then his group will be awarded with points. The aim of each group is to earn as many points as possible and of course win the game. So, two groups will compete with each other when practicing the drill.

Before the drill begins two groups of players should be located on one side of the court. In the meantime, six targets are setup on the opposite side of the court. Targets are installed in front right, front left, front middle as well as back right, back left and back middle positions.

In fact, there are several ways of practicing this volleyball drill for serving. For example, a coach can divide players into two teams. When the drill begins a coach will show players the targets which they have to hit on serve. The task of a server is to hit the target successfully. If a serve is successful then the team of a player earns points. So, a team that has more successful serves wins the competition.

Players can practice this drill separately as well. Each player is allowed to hit on serve six times. The task of a player is to hit the target successfully and get a point. If a serve is not successful – no points are given to a player. The player, who earns the maximum number of points while practicing the drill, wins the competition.

Here are also some tips to help you maximize the benefits of target practice drill. When serving the ball during this volleyball drill players should always focus on keeping wrist firm. The heel of player’s hand has to contact the ball in the central part. Also, a player has to ensure that his or her hand follows a ball to target.

Serve ‘n Sprint Drill

Serve ‘n Sprint volleyball drill is incredibly important to serving players. This drill improves the ability of players to spread correctly on the court after serve. Before this drill begins players have to be divided into two groups. Initially, players have to form the line at the end of the court.

When the drill begins the first player of each group starts serving the ball. If the serve is successful then a serving player has to retrieve the ball and give it to another player of his group.  Afterwards, the player has to sit behind his group. So, the next player serves the ball. However, if the serve is not successful then the player will need to serve once again. The player serves the ball until his or her serve is not successful.

The group finishes the drill when all its players serve the ball successfully. It is worth noting that when practicing this volleyball drill two groups of players are competing with each other. So, in order to win the game the group has to finish doing the drill first.