What can you do to help your team win? Preparing them for serve receive is one way. By scouting your opponent, putting your players in the right position, and making them aware of tendencies, you can improve your chances of success.
In the clip below Mike Krause, Parkland High School, PA, discusses his philosophy on serve receive and shares his thoughts on how the coach can help his players. His stated goal in serve receive is to attack from the pass in such a way as to maximize the opposition’s defensive responsibilities.
The clip below is just a short sample from Coach Krause’s presentation Serve Receive: Preparing for and Adjusting During Competition at a Glazier Volleyball Clinic. For information about how to gain access to his entire presentation, as well as hundreds of other great clinic presentaions, click the link Glazier Volleyball Clinics
The following are the main topics of Coach Krause presentation below:
I. Responsibilities
Who takes which ball. If it is in the seam, who takes it. Philosophically it might simply be the person whose hips can be more easily turned to the target. But what if a player is slow to react, or the player with their hips turned is the weaker passer. Coaches must make these decisions ahead of time and drill the players accordingly.
II. Patterns of Serve
Through scouting and charting a coach can usually collect enough data to make predictions on serve location. Having that data allows a coach to position his players so that the best passer is more likely to receive the ball.
III. Types of Serve
It is important to know what type of serve each player is likely to use, what speed, height and depth. This knowledge can help coaches put player in better position
IV. Location History
Do they spray the ball in zones? How consistent is the depth? Can they serve various areas? These are answers that can make your serve receive more effective
V. Where do they stand in relation to the sideline
The video below has audio, so please make sure that your sound is turned on. Click the arrow to play the video.