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Setup:

  • Players are free to position themselves wherever they like – the whole team will be in on this drill.
  • Two coaches will be on the floor, each on the right side, 5 feet behind the attack line.
  • Every player will grab a ball of their own and head to one of the two baselines.

Purpose:

This serving drill provides a fun game that will get players a ton of reps and drives home the point that we want to serve and serve with intention.

Execution:

  • There is no line or turns in this drill. Players will simply get behind the baseline, and serve when they are comfortable, aiming for one of the targets.
  • They will then chase down their ball on the other side of the court, and hit a serve going the other way.
  • The drill will continue until half the players have hit 21.

Coaching Tips:

  • The scoring is as follows: players will score anywhere from 0-4 points for each serve, as seen in Figure 1.
  • Players will receive -1 points for any serve that lands out of bounds, and 5 points for any serve that hits either of the two coaches standing on the court.
  • By forcing players to chase their own balls, it gives them some accountability, and forces them to dial in, as they aren’t going to want to chase down a mishit.
  • The team has 3 minutes to get to 21. You can make a successful run with half the team reaching 21, or for a more difficult variation, every player must achieve that mark.

For Younger Athletes:

  • Emphasize the importance of a consistent serving routine to build a rhythm and increase accuracy.
  • Teach them to focus on the target area, visualizing where they want the ball to go before serving.
  • Encourage practicing a variety of serves (floaters, jump serves) to develop a well-rounded serving skill set.

For Older Athletes:

  • Focus on serving under pressure by simulating match-like conditions, perhaps by having consequences for missed serves.
  • Work on tactical serving, such as aiming for weaker passers or specific zones on the court to disrupt the opponents’ offense.
  • Incorporate strength and conditioning exercises specific to serving, to improve power and endurance in serves.
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