Serve and move
Ready when: Underhand pass and set ladders (b2) started.
What you are learning
The underhand serve: feet apart behind the line, the ball held out in front, a step forward with the opposite foot and a swing that hits the ball with the palm, following through to the target. Doing the same short routine before every serve makes it steady.
Words on this card Underhand serve, Serving line, Battleships, Line
- Underhand serve
- A serve hit from below the waist; an overhead serve with no spin that wobbles; a serve hit after a jump.
- Serving line
- The back line the server stands behind.
- Battleships
- A serving game where serves try to land in hoops on the other side.
- Line
- Attacking straight down the side, diagonally, or at a steep angle.
Set up
A rope or net; three or four hoops on the far side.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand behind the line, feet apart, the ball held out in front in the non-hitting hand.
- Swing the hitting arm back, step forward with the opposite foot, and hit the ball with the palm.
- Follow through toward the target; use the same routine each time (a bounce, a breath, then serve).
Your part while they practise
Retrieve and count.
Step by step
- Feet apart behind the line, ball held out in the other hand.
- Step forward with the opposite foot.
- Swing and hit with the palm.
- Follow through to the target.
- Serve to a partner who catches and serves back; step back as it improves.
How much: 20 serves 10 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Battleships
Hoops on the other side; a serve that lands in a hoop wins it; the first side to win all the hoops wins.
Who plays: 2 players or 2 small teams, taking turns to serve.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Each side puts 4 hoops on its half
- Take turns serving at the other side's hoops
- A serve that lands in a hoop wins it: take the hoop away
- The first side to win all the other side's hoops wins
- Fair play
- A grown-up serves from 2 steps further back.
- Points
- 1 point for each hoop won.
- Fouls
- The serve does not count
- A foot over the serving line
- Throwing the ball over instead of hitting it
- The serve goes under the net or rope
- Winning
- The first to win all 4 hoops.
- 1 points for 1 star
- 2 points for 2 stars
- 4 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Close to the net.
From the serving line.
What you will see, and what to say
- the toss is wild
Hold the ball in front, then swing
Hold, don't throw. - the serve hits the net
Aim higher, follow through
Up and over.
Self-check
6 of 10 underhand serves over the net.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the shoulder.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains serve.
awiseathlete.com/sports/volleyball/volleyball-b3