Jamie McDougald, Head Girls’ Volleyball Coach, Iola HS, TX
Full video on Glazier Drive: Serving to Win: Competitive Drills & Game-Based Training to Develop Pressure, Precision, & Consistency
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SERVE WARM-UP FUNDAMENTALS
Start players behind the serve line with a hard, flat overhand throw to build proper mechanics.
Use an elastic band stretched across the net (between the top of net and antenna height) to reinforce a low, flat, clean serve trajectory. Progress players from serving at a passer from the 10-foot line, then the 20-foot line, gradually working them back — this is especially effective for topspin servers focusing on ball control and spin.
TARGETING AND SERVE PLACEMENT
Have servers work from right back, middle back, and left back positions, serving at passers in left back and right back (avoiding the middle, since the opponent’s best passer is often there). Progress to having servers work against a full passing sequence — pass, set, hit — and practice calling specific zones (one-to-five, five-to-one, one-to-one, five-to-five) so coaches learn which serves each player can execute reliably in games.
KNOW YOUR SERVERS
A recurring theme: use practice to identify which serves each player can actually perform under pressure, so you don’t call a serve in a game they haven’t mastered. Watch servers closely during zone and target drills to build a mental map of each player’s strengths.
SERVE THEN TRANSITION TO DEFENSE
An often-overlooked skill: after serving, players must step into their defensive position and be ready to play a down ball. This is especially important for front-row players (like middles) who rotate back to serve — they need reps transitioning from serve to a defensive read.
ZONE AND COURT-DIVISION DRILLS
Divide the court into thirds using pool noodles on the net to mark serving zones. Progress players from short (10-foot line) to deep serves within each zone. Combine with passing/setting sequences and back-row attack practice. Target specific zones such as serving seams, serving at the outside hitter (disrupting her approach), serving at the setter, and serving deep corners.
COMPETITIVE AND GAME-LIKE DRILLS
- Two-Serve Challenge: First serve must land behind the 28-foot line (deep), second serve must land inside the 10-foot line (short) — builds confidence varying serve depth in games.
- Time/Zone Competitions: Split the team in half and compete to hit a target zone a set number of times.
- Keep-Away Drill: Mark a specific player (e.g., with a colored jersey during scrimmages) and practice keeping serves/hits away from them — useful when scouting an opponent’s top threat.
INDIVIDUAL SERVING TIME
Give players unstructured time (start or end of practice) to develop their own technique without being watched or corrected constantly. Use a point system on a whiteboard (e.g., 1 point for an in serve, 2 for behind the 28-foot line, 3 for inside the 10-foot line) with a target score, optionally subtracting points for misses. Include fun variations like “clippers” — serves that just clip the tape and fall over — to sharpen low, flat serving.