OVERHAND SERVE

TEACHING KEYWORDS

ARM TOSS

• With firm wrist, arm toss the ball 18 inches - so that the ball falls to the spot just inside of the lead foot and in line with the hitting shoulder.

HAND UP AND BACK BEFORE THE TOSS

• Elbow and hand are at shoulder height or above throughout the entire serving motion.

SHIFT

• Shift weight to lead foot, or step forward, as you make contact with the ball.

SWING TO TARGET

• Wrist firm throughout serve.
• Contact with heel of hand through middle back of ball.
• The contact should sound like a "thud", not a "slap" sound.
• Hand follows ball to target.
• Finish with hand alongside or within body line.

HITTING/SPIKE

TEACHING KEYWORDS

BOW AND ARROW

• As you leave the leave the floor to jump, pull the hitting arm back with the elbow and hand at shoulder height or higher.
• The hand should be open and relaxed, with the plam facing away from the ear.
• The elbow should swing forward and raise above the head.
• Then the arm and hand swing over the top as the heal of the hand contacts the ball.
• This is followed by the palm and fingers, which then snap through the ball.
• Contact point is slightly in front of and as high as possible above the hitting shoulder.

APPROACH

• Right - Left finish. (for right handers)
• Left - Right finish. (for left handers)
• Three step or four step approach (both o.k.)
• Important to both approaches is to make the step preceding the step close a long and explosive one.
• Also, important to both approaches is to keep the knees bent for all approach steps.
• Finally, be sure to face your range spot when you make your step close.

JUMP

• Jump up (vertically) to meet ball.
• Contact the ball at the peak of your jump with a straight arm.
• Check landing spot, which should not be more than a distance of one foot past the contact point.

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PRACTICE IDEAS

 
1. In pairs, one on each side of the net.
 Players toss the ball to themselves (TWO hand toss)
 and hit it across the net using the spiking action.
 Remember to have the opposite feet to the spiking hand
 forward and toss the ball with TWO hands underhanded.
 Follow by having the kids jumping before they spike

BLOCKING

TEACHING KEYWORDS

SEAL AND PENETRATE

• Seal the net with your hands, thumbs pointing to the ceiling a balls width apart, and arms locked.
• Whenever possible extend your arms across the net (penetration).
• Keep your shoulders square to the net.

PLANT

• When you move along the net to block, plant so that you jump straight up and down.
• Land in the same place from where you jump.
• Seal and be square to the net.

CARRY HANDS HIGH

• When moving along the net and when jumping, carry the hands at shoulder height.

HITTER KEYS

JUMP WITH YOUR HITTER

• The farther off the net the hitter is hitting the ball, the later the jump.

WATCH THE SHOULDERS

• As the hitters shoulders turn, try to move hands into the area.

WATCH HITTER'S HAND

• As the hitters hand turns, try to move your hands into the area.

WATCH HITTER'S EYES

• Where the hitter is looking is a good indication of where the hit will go.

ANGLE OF APPROACH

• Front your hitter.
• Blocker needs to move and set the block in the hitters angle of approach.

SETTER WATCH

• Watch the setters hands.
• Focus on the setters hands BEFORE the ball is set.

SETTING/OVERHAND PASS

TEACHING KEYWORDS

HANDS UP EARLY SHAPED LIKE THE BALL

• Wait for ball with hands 4 to 6 inches above forehead.
• Thumbs and index fingers form a triangle through which you can see ball (triangular window).
• Rest of hands form the shape of a ball.

ONE AND FREEZE

• The correct contact point is just above the forehead (hairline).
• When contacting the ball, the hands move in one direction only.
• Freeze with arms fully extended in the direction you want the ball to go. (Hands are the same distance apart upon completion as they were during coantct.)
• Hands follow the ball.

FOREHEAD AND HIPS

• The correct body position is with the ball, forehead, and hips in a vertical line.

FACE THE TARGET

• With your right foot forward, square off to target with shoulders and feet before you deliver set
• Face your sweet spot (for outside sets - the point on the left sideline that is 3 feet from the center line) for all of your sets

LONG DISTANCE SETS

• With your right foot forward and knees bent, place weight on the back foot (left) and at contact, transfer weight to the front foot (right).