Using leg drive

When receiv­ing a hard-driven serve, your passing platform should remain stable.

The natural rebound of the ball from your arms will provide plenty of force.

For a softer serve, you need to use some leg drive when the forearms contact the ball (take a look at the picture). Imagine you are sitting on the edge of a chair as you get into proper passing position.

As you contact the ball use just enough power in your legs to stand up.

Continue Reading

The tip

Depending on the effectiveness of the block, an offspeed attack may be a good option. The tip is a de­ceptive attack disguised by a strong approach and dynamic jump.

Instead of swinging at the ball, reach high with a locked el­bow, contacting the ball with your finger pads. Place the ball just over the blockers’ hands and on the floor in open space not covered by defenders.

This action can really surprise the opponents block, especially if you don’t perform it so often. Continue Reading

As a setter, you are not always limited to setting to teammates in front of you. You can send the ball behind with a back set and surprise the opponents.

The back set may be challenging for new players. The setter receives the ball the same as she would on a front set. The initial body, arm, and hand position will be helpful in execution of the back set. Contact the ball near your forehead, but then arch your back and drive your arms high above your head. This extension should finish with your biceps very close to your ears. With experience and prac­tice, you will gain confidence in set­ting to a player that you cannot see.

Good setters are able to set in either direction and have their form look exactly the same. So, if you want to perform the back set, don’t look back over the top of your head because the blockers will know what you are about to do and they will have advantage against the hitter.

The overhead pass is typically referred to as the set .  The execution of most volleyball skills requires effective movement of players prior to contacting the ball. When executing a set, focus on moving your feet to the ball and squaring your shoulders to the target, lifting your hands and forming a shape similar to the vol­leyball, and using the extension of your arms and legs to push the set high into the air.

To be able to square your shoul­ders in the direction of your intended set, you need to arrive at the spot where the ball is heading.It’s very important to get there before the ball does. Once you have arrived, it is important to get your hands up quickly and have your body in an athletic stance with your feet stag­gered and your knees bent comfort­ably. It is preferable to have your right foot forward, especially if a serve reception forces you near the net.

Continue Reading

At the competitive level, serving strategy is based on your philosophy for playing the game. Will you be conservative or assertive? What are the risks and rewards involved in each situation?

Initial serving strategy could include the following objectives: serving to the weakest receiver in the opponent’s team; serve between two players; serving short; serving to the deep third of the opponent’s court; serve to the front-row attackers in the opponent’s team; challenge the strongest attacker to pass the ball, then attack.

Highly skilled players can control the ball on offense and attack at a high rate of efficiency. Strong, effective serves are needed to force an opponent to unpleasant situation, leading to a less successful attack from the opponent. At a lower or intermediate level, effective serving may require a high percentage of serves simply to be in play, since the opponent’s offense may not be powerfull.

Continue Reading

The jump serve can be a funtastic weapon; it is both powerful and deceptive. The jump serve can create difficulties to your opponents if they are not used to facing this type of serve. Basicly, the jump serve is very similar to attacking technique.

The main difference is that instead you attack a set from a teammate, you attack the ball that is thrown high by yourself. Hold the ball in front of your serving shoulder as you prepare for the toss. Use a one-handed toss, but toss the ball with your serving arm. You will launch yourself into the air to attack the toss, so toss the ball high in front of you. It is essential to coordinate the toss with a sequence of steps, allowing you to jump and swing naturally. Step forward on your nondominant foot as you toss the ball.

The underhand serve is a good beginning serve. It does not provide a lot of power, but it can be very accurate and consistent. Volleyball rules require a toss  of the ball prior to the serve. Coordination of the toss and contact of an underhand serve is actually quite challenging.

Think of the toss in the under- J hand serve as a release. Create a pendulum motion with your arms. As the hand holding the ball drops, your serving hand moves forward through the ball.

Contacting an underhand serve from a toss can be difficult. Keep the fingers of your serving hand pointing behind your body to expose the heel of your hand to the ball. This will allow you to contact the ball with the meaty part of your hand. Many players attempt to use a fist for an underhand serve, but this often causes inconsistent contact. In addition, the open hand leads to a more natural progression from the underhand serve to the overhand floater.