The quality of your serves determines how easy or hard the game will be for your team. The goal should be for you to have the advantage every time you serve. In the following video Kent Miller, St. Louis University Head Women’s Volleyball Coach and 1992 U.S. Olympic Team Assistant Coach, shows how to hit the float serve. Coach does a tremendous job of breaking down the serve and giving you critical teaching points to help instruct your players and help them be more efficient.
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If you are interested in more in information from the DVD that this sample came from click on the link Skill Development Drills: Serving
Coach Miller wants his players to get in stance that he calls tall athletic position. He wants to be comfortable and tall or upright. For right handed players the right foot should be back and the left foot forward with the players facing as if she were serving down the line. The ball is placed in the left hand and held out in front high enough so that the server is looking over the top of the ball.
The right arm is pulled back with the elbow back and higher that the shoulder. The ball should be tossed moderately high and the player should step forward slightly with the left foot as the ball is tossed. The ball should land just in front of the left foot after the small step forward. You do not want the ball behind the head.
Coach Miller stresses that you do not need or want large steps. Large steps tend to cause the player to rotate their shoulders making it difficult to hit through the ball. He believes that a player can generate plenty of power with small steps and a clean hit. He also stresses to not use the lower body to help toss the ball.
To hit a float serve the player must get her hand to go straight through the ball. She must make contact with a firm wrist. In addition she should strike the ball with the palm and her fingers should be spread in a relaxed fashion.
Finally after making clean contact straight through the ball with a firm wrist, the player should bring their straight down to their side. It is important that the player not follow through as if they were spiking the ball if they are attempting to hit the float serve.