Facts About The Volleyball Serve
The volleyball serve is something each player will do, usually several times in the course of a game. The volleyball serve is not terribly difficult to learn, and is considered one of the fundamental skills needed to play the came and not a specialty.
In a game like softball, a great deal of reliance is placed upon the pitcher, and the same person may pitch most or all of a game, and perhaps be the pitcher in most or all of the games in the course of a season. The quarterback position in football is similar. Not so with the volleyball server, who has a number of other positions to play during a match, all the other positions in fact, and may be much better in one or more of those positions than as a server.
Still, the volleyball serve is very important. A good server is required if your team hopes to score many points, or hopes to keep an offensive streak alive. Every player on the squad therefore needs to work towards being a good volleyball server, and that means practice. The technique involved in serving may not be overwhelmingly difficult, which is not to say it is easy, but consistency is key.
The Mechanics - The volleyball serve may appear to be rather simple, with power being often looked at as being of prime importance. That isn't exactly true. A powerful serve is good, but finesse and placement are every bit as important. Like most athletic technique, the volleyball serve is made up of a number of mini-techniques, practiced, put together, and practiced still more.
A server needs to start in a strong stance, with feet hips, and hands properly positioned. One hand is drawn straight back, with the forearm kept parallel to the ground and the hand brought back towards the ear. At the same time the ball is pushed, not tossed, into the air with the other hand, so that it would land about a foot in front of the server if allowed to do so. As is the case with tennis, the toss (it is called that even though you "push" the ball) needs to be practiced until it can be done with the same result achieved consistently.
The Hips, The Hips - Whether you are serving a volleyball, throwing a baseball or football, of chopping wood, the power comes from the rotation of the hips, some refer to this as a snap of the hips. All the time the server needs to keep his or her eye on the ball and hit it with an open palm, fingers spread. Hit the ball with the fist and accurate placement becomes nearly impossible.
Placement - A good volleyball serve goes to a designated spot, not just to anywhere. The server is obviously going to place it where it will be most likely to give the opponent difficulty in making a good return, hit it to a player thought to be a weak player, or wear out a person believed to be a strong player. A good server will note the opposing team’s defensive lineup and adjust the type or placement of the serve accordingly.
Types Of Volleyball Serve - There are three basic types of serve, the floater, the topspin, and the jump serve. The floater, though it sounds like a "baby serve", is possibly the most difficult to master, and also difficult to return, as the travel of the ball, though slow, is often erratic. The topspin is more accurate and easier to master, and can be difficult to return due to a combination of speed and spin. The jump serve is a power serve, in which the server will leave his or her feet when striking the ball. Though this serve is a much harder serve in terms of speed, it can also lead to more errant serves, and good placement may suffer even when the serve remains within bounds.
Learning to serve and serve well can be quite enjoyable, and any team blessed with a number of good servers is bound to do well in competition.