So just imagine you were competing in an important conference game.
It's match point and you're walking back to serve.
Your teammates are counting on you.
The opposing team is watching you nervously trying to figure out where, how and to who you're about to serve to.
In this moment, you hold complete control over what happens next.
No blockers, no setters needed - just you and your serve.
Here's what most players don't realize: serving is the ONLY skill in volleyball where you have 100% control from start to finish.
How about THAT for power?
They treat serving like its just a way to get the rally started, like a formality, instead of the point-scoring offensive weapon it really can be.
If you could add just 2-3 service aces per game to your stats, wouldn't that dramatically increase your value to any team?
Vegas Volley Girls 18s, coached by Coach April outside hitter @sof.hamm1, class of 2025 shows the overhand serving form she used all weekend to score a team high of 43 aces during the three day Las Vegas Classic... one of the ways she helped captain the team to a 9th place finish.... the highest finish in Vegas Volley’s 4 years of existence.
That's exactly what you'll learn in my "How To Serve In Volleyball" guide - how to transform your serve from a simple 'let me just get the ball-over-the-net' motion into a strong, reliable, consistent strategic weapon that wins games.
In order to learn how to serve for points, you need to develop two things
Why do you want to develop a tough serve?
Once you've learned the basics on serving then you want to take advantage of your serving opportunity because its the one skill in volleyball that you do alone - which you and only you... control...
This means
for the opposing squad to easily run a play and score points against your team
Think about who is the best server on your team.
Don't they always seem to know exactly where they're serving before they even get the ball?
That's not coincidence - it's strategy.
Now that I've explained to you about the mindset needed to consistently serve aggressively, let's break down the act of serving into step-by-step instructions for our beginner friends:
1. Positioning
Start by standing behind the service line, the court boundary line located 30 feet from the net on each side of the court.
Make sure you are
Right-handed players usually put their left foot slightly ahead (and vice versa for left-handed players).
2. Ball Grip
Hold the volleyball in your non-dominant hand.
The other hand/arm (the dominant or serving hand), is extended above your head with palm of hand kept flat and facing the opposite wall, ready to strike.
Hold the volleyball in your non-dominant hand.
3. Focus and Decide
Decide where you intend to serve.
Think about aiming at a specific player or a specific place, zone or position on the court.
4. Your Toss
Extend your non-dominant arm and toss the ball upwards.
The height of the toss can vary, but it's crucial to toss the ball consistently to the same height every time.
I usually advise to toss two feet up in the air and one foot in front of your front foot.
5. Ball Contact
As the ball begins to descend from the toss, step into the serve with your hips open to the net.
Always follow through with your swing.
6. Evaluation
After every serve, assess your performance. How close was the serve to your target?
Did it have the desired trajectory and power?
This self-evaluation is crucial to improving your serving skills over time.
Remember, these steps serve as a basic guide.
Consistency comes with practice, and with time, you'll be able to add more power and accuracy to your serve.
Once you've mastered the basics, isn't it time to expand your serving arsenal?
The best servers have multiple weapons - here's how to build yours.
The easier your serve is, the easier it is for the opposing team to run a point scoring play.
The tougher your serve is the harder it is to run a point scoring play against your team.
You don't want to make an easy serve because you don't want to make it easy for the other team to score against yours.
"Think about what you want to do with your serve and how you want to do it" (Coach ApChap)
How To Serve In Volleyball: To develop a tough serve you need to decide early where to serve and then think about attacking the ball with your serve then serve to a position on the court.
THINK, THINK, THINK
If you don't think about scoring a point when you serve, then you're less likely to do it.
But if you don't do it, then you are passing up a golden opportunity to help your team score an easy point.
Remember to THINK about making a tough serve, not an easy one.
From now on when you rotate back to Zone one on your way back to serve, as you are walking back to the base line you should be mentally forming this serving strategy.
Here's a question...
You better believe your opponents feel the same way.
You should make up your mind that you are going to go back and serve an aggressive ball to a certain spot or to a certain player on the court.
Our tough serving played an important part in our finishing undefeated on Day One of the Las Vegas Classic 2025.
When learning how to serve in volleyball you should picture yourself attacking the ball with your serve.
Think about it!
When you hit the ball, you are in an aggressive state of mind, right?
Well, just like you are in an aggressive state of mind when you spike a ball you want to recreate that same state of mind when you go back to serve a volleyball.
So when I say that you should be attacking with your overhand volleyball serve I am describing a mental process that you must adapt first----even before you prepare to physically do any serving.
Quick Review
To develop a tough serve you need
in order to improve how to serve in volleyball.
Even Olympic servers started with these exact same fundamentals. If these steps work for players at the highest level, won't they work for you?
Now that we've broken down the basic steps to serve a volleyball, let's explore some different types of serves.
1. The Underhand Serve:
This is the most basic type of serve, often taught to beginners.
You'll hold the ball in your non-dominant hand, swing your dominant arm like a pendulum under the ball, and strike it gently.
The serve follows a low trajectory and is slower, making it easier for opponents to return.
2. The Overhand Serve:
A step up from the underhand serve, the overhand serve involves tossing the ball up and striking it with a lot of force.
This serve style can send the ball to the opponent's court much faster and is a commonly used serve in competitive high school, club, college and professional volleyball.
3. The Jump Serve:
This is an advanced type of serve where players use a spike-like action to serve the ball, adding an even more powerful and unpredictable element to the game.
The server tosses the ball high, takes a run-up, and jumps to strike the ball at its highest point.
This overhand jump serve style can send the ball to the opponent's court much faster and is a commonly used serve in competitive high school, club, college and professional volleyball.
4. The Float Serve:
As the name suggests, this serve creates a floating effect. By hitting the ball in the middle with a firm wrist, servers can make the ball move unpredictably in the air, making it difficult for opponents to return.
Watch how deadly Vegas Volley 17s outside hitter Siena Novak's topspin serve is
This is another advanced serve.
The server tosses the ball high, steps forward, and hits the ball in such a way that it spins forward rapidly.
Despite one's best efforts, errors can creep into serving techniques. Here are some common mistakes and tips on how to rectify them:
1. Inconsistent Toss:
The ball toss for the serve is crucial as it sets up the rest of the action.
If your toss is inconsistent, it significantly reduces your chance of a good serve.
2. Faulty Contact:
Incorrect contact with the ball during the serve can lead to undesirable results.
The ball should be struck in the middle to maintain control over direction and power.
Practicing your striking technique can significantly improve your contact with the ball.
3. Lack of Target:
Serving without a strategy or specific target can result in lost opportunities to put the opponent under pressure.
Always have a serving plan, targeting either weak receivers or challenging zones on the court.
4. Overpowering the Serve:
While power is useful, an excessive focus on it could compromise accuracy, leading to missed serves.
Serving out all the time is something that cam easily be fixed.
Trying to find a balance between power and precision should be the goal for every server.
5. Stiff Wrist:
A stiff wrist during serving can result in the ball going in various undesired directions.
When serving, your wrist should be firm but flexible to allow for the whip-like motion needed for a precise, powerful serve.
Remember, everyone makes mistakes, and even the most experienced players are constantly refining their skills.
Be patient with your progress, and with regular practice, you'll see improvements in your serving game."
If you're serious about developing a serve that earns you more playing time and helps your team win, sometimes personalized coaching makes all the difference.
Curious about what individualized training could do for your serve?
[Learn more about training with Coach April] - because sometimes the fastest path to improvement is having an experienced coach analyze your specific technique.
Every ace you'll ever serve starts with improving these fundamentals.
Whether you're working on your first overhand serve or perfecting your jump float, remember this: serving is the one moment in volleyball where you're completely in control.
The players who embrace this responsibility - who walk back to serve with purpose and strategy - are the ones who become game-changers.
They're the servers opponents whisper about during timeouts.
They're the ones coaches trust in crucial moments.
Tomorrow at practice, implement just ONE concept from this guide.
Maybe it's deciding your target before you serve.
Maybe it's focusing on a consistent toss.
Whatever you choose, commit to it for an entire practice.
Because here's the truth: In 30 days, you'll either have a serve that changes games, or you'll still be hoping someone else scores the points.
Which player will you choose to be?"
Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag to improve your game even faster!
I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.
Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.
If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list.
Your three options are:
Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!
A-1 Vegas Volley VBC
In It To Win It Tournament
May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament
Gold Medalists
18s Premier Division
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Thanks for stopping by. Hope you learned something today that will help you reach your volleyball goals.
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-Coach April
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