A standard query I hear from coaches of younger groups considerations troubleshooting for brand new servers who lack energy and battle to get their serves over the web.
Earlier than stepping into some useful hints, you will need to keep in mind that our teaching precedence helps new gamers fall in love with the sport. With that in thoughts, coaches ought to be very deliberate when selecting a serving distance for gamers. I typically see younger gamers standing behind the endline and serving a bunch of balls that hardly attain the web. The following discouragement was tough to observe.
We should always all the time take a look at our gamers’ power by seeing how far they will throw the ball. Gamers ought to start on the 10’ line and transfer again a step each time they’re profitable. You’ll shortly see which gamers have thrown earlier than and which haven’t. These weaker athletes ought to by no means try to serve from a distance that they can not cowl with a throw.
For gamers who’re very weak, I’ve resorted to the torque (not underhand) serve. This can be a sidearm approach, and we use the identical key phrases as our overhand serve (see under). In fact, gamers typically dislike the stigma that may accompany the torque serve. To fight that, I’ll train it to all servers.
Along with instructing the torque serve, what follows are my tips of the commerce for serving to younger gamers improve their serving distance.
1. Throw each follow
This can be a easy means to assist gamers coordinate the kinetic chain, that’s join a single left step with a hip rotation, shoulder flip, elbow extension, and wrist flexion. With one step, how far can they throw? This can be a key exercise for serving to gamers perceive the significance of arm pace.
2. Use key phrases: Prepared, Raise, Step—Swing
Key phrases permit coaches to chunk data and helps us from overloading gamers with verbiage. There’s nothing magical about mine, although I’ve found they assist simplify the serve for brand new gamers. Firstly of the season, we’ll do “dummy serving”, that’s finishing the serving movement with out a ball. I’ll ask the gamers to do that collectively whereas the recite the important thing phrases. This helps train them the mandatory rhythm.
3. Begin with toes collectively at 45 levels
Many gamers will initially start with their toes dealing with the web. Shifting them to 45 levels (not perpendicular or parallel to the web, however midway) helps generate rotational energy. Equally, if the toes are too far aside, the participant can not take a step and switch weight. I’m a one-step man (often….). Easy is best than complicated.
4. Raise (in entrance)
For a few years, I used the time period “toss”, however I’ve now changed it with “carry” or “place”. Many new gamers get wild with the toss, and the change of time period has helped them to simplify the transfer. For gamers who all the time carry the ball again behind their heads, attempt beginning them with a bent elbow after which straighten it as they carry.
5. Use exterior, relatively than inside, cues
Sports activities science has proven that inside (utilizing physique elements) cues should not as efficient as exterior (distances, outcomes, metaphors) cues. My favorites for serving are: Hammer the nail. (Helps for gamers who “shot put”.) Use a baseball bat, not a dishrag. (For gamers who’ve a smooth hand and wrist.) Hit the underside of the ball (For gamers who contact it too low).
6. Heel of hand contact
Gamers get a bit extra distance with the heel of the hand, relatively than the palm. I’ll additionally ask gamers to experiment with a fist. Have them make a fist with fingers and palm forming a flat floor (thumb to the facet). Although the fist contact might lead to just a few extra mishits, the ensuing 5-10 toes of elevated distance could also be value it.
7. Use a wall to follow.
The wall creates an amazing suggestions loop. Can gamers serve into the wall (above the peak of the web) after which catch the ball because it rebounds again. Slowly, transfer the gamers again, to see if they will nonetheless catch the rebounds. We would use some wall serving as a station in follow after which have a setting or protection station on the opposite facet of the web. I’ll additionally ask gamers to discover a wall at residence to make use of for follow.
8. Serve from the center of the court docket
Many younger gamers anchor themselves close to the precise sideline after they start to serve. I need to transfer them to the center of the court docket. The center is extra forgiving, particularly for these gamers (righthanders) who don’t hit the ball far sufficient in entrance. It will trigger the ball to veer proper.
9. Maintain in-a-row stats
We’ll do that 2-3 instances every follow (What number of in a row in 60 or 90 seconds?), after which put the outcomes on the whiteboard. Additionally it is the only stat we preserve throughout matches for all of our younger groups.
10. Be conscious of the problem level for every server
For the weakest servers, this is likely to be a line 20-25 toes from the web. As gamers grow to be extra expert, the problem level ought to change. When gamers can serve 10/10 from the endline, we’ll then decrease trajectory (below elastic), ask them to differ tempos, and experiment with the soar float and soar spin serves.
Get rid of unhealthy serving habits
Serving drills
The Volleyball Coach’s Guide of Lists, is a compilation of inspiration and instruction from over 130 coaches. Tod Mattox gathered knowledge from a number of the prime volleyball coaches within the sport, together with Karch Kiraly, Kirsten Bernthal-Sales space, Dan Fisher, JJ Van Niel and plenty of extra. Membership administrators, coaches, and gamers will discover worth with chapters on Tradition, Follow, Technique, Assets, and Mother and father.
From Dan Fisher’s Pitt Tradition Questions
1. How grateful is she to be right here? Gratitude is proven via motion.
2. How a lot pleasure does this give her?
3. How a lot enthusiasm is she bringing?
4. Is she a learner? Is she curious?
5. How does she react to emphasize/when issues don’t go her means?
Take a look at the Amazon hyperlink and seize a duplicate as we speak.
Concerning the Writer
Tod Mattox began his teaching journey in 1981, and he’s been working with highschool and membership groups for the previous 44 years. Tod is a frequent contributor to The Artwork of Teaching Volleyball, and he’s introduced a number of workshops at AVCA Conventions. At the moment, he and his teaching pal, Davis Ransom, create a weekly podcast, The VolleyPod, the place they share concepts on teaching youngsters’ volleyball. He continues to discover methods to enhance his teaching at The Bishop’s College, COAST Volleyball Membership (a JVA member membership), and Catalyst Volleyball Membership.
