If you play volleyball plz answer this!?

Question

Hey, I'm Meaghan Wood. I'm going into 8th next year which means I can try out 4 volleyball. I'm pretty good, but I want a couple tips on volleyball. I'd love some tips on overhand servs, and underhand serves but i'd also b grateful for anything.:)

xoxo,

Meaghan Wood

Answer 1

Okay, I used to be horrible at any serve, but now I have the best underhand serve on my team, and overhand uhh yeah well I can get it over the net....

Underhand tips: When you serve make sure you have a powerful swing backwards, and keep your hand tight in a fist (keep your arm tight, too), and when you serve make your fist point evenly to the volleyball. And if you throw your volleyball in the air you have less control (only saying this because I have seen many out serves from that). But, nothing will halp any serve as much as practice.

Overhand tips: (here are some my coach gave me):

Take your time when serving and PICTURE exactly what you want to happen with your serve.

Start with left foot in front and right foot back

Lift and release the ball in front of your hitting shoulder (12 inches above the hand that released the ball)

Contact the ball with a strong hand at the highest point possible with the base of your hand (arm should be extended and locked)

My tips-- A lot of the time overhand serves are messed up by the throw, so practicing that may help you, and make sure you hit the ball with the heel of your hand.

Other tips: When Passing a ball remember:

Better high than low

Better in than out (of the court)

Better off than on (the net)

Better in front than behind (the player)

Every ball is always "MINE", NOT "Yours"

We NEVER give up a point on a free ball

We ALWAYS keep the ball on our side and aim to pass, set and spike the ball over

ALWAYS pass the ball high enough and with a good arch to give a teammate an opportunity to play it

Use fast feet and slow arms

In defense, READ the hitter's body and arm position and move before the ball is hit

When passing a free ball, have one foot in front of the other, bend your knees and follow through the ball to your target

on Defense, take a pre-hop, get very low with a wide stance, step towards the ball

Never walk on a volleyball court (move quickly all the time)

NEVER let a ball drop without going for it, no matter where it is

Start in ready position ( knees bent, weight over inside toes, low with a wide stance, head up, arms in front of body with bent elbows

Move to the ball don't reach with your arms

Lock your elbows by extending downwards from your wrist

keeping your thumbs together and even

Contact the ball on the top of your forearms, 2-3 inches above your wrist

Follow through with straight arms towards your target

Always pass the ball with a nice high arch to your target

SPIKING

The first two steps of your approach help you adjust and position yourself for your take off

The last two steps for your take off transfer your forward movement to upward

This forward momentum is transferred by planting your heel and then pushing off your toes.

Use both arms to help with your jump; Raise your non-hitting arm high in the air and keep it up until you start your hit

DEFENSE

Don't play hard hit serves or spikes with your fingers

Position yourself on the court so that you never have to back up and that any ball at shoulder level is OUT

The pancake or sprawl defensive technique is a last resort.  Most of the time you can get to the ball by just taking an extra step.

Hope this helps :]. Sorry this is so long too.

Answer 2

Ask your parents to purchase a cheap practice volleyball for you.  This can be used outside on any hard surface and against any hard surface, like brick, concrete walls, etc etc.

What you can do, is practice your serves against a wall - you can guess at what distance the wall needs to be at, so that it will be about the same as for serving in court.  You should be aware of how high the ball needs to travel to just pass over the net - so that you have the ball travelling a similar height and distance to the wall, as a serve might reach it.

Anyway - you need to be able to hit the ball confidently - using the bent elbow, which straightens for your spike serve, adding a curling of your wrist as you make contact with the ball - this adds spin, so that the ball will go over the net, if it hits it, also to help keep the ball from going out of court.  You can just hold the ball high and then to hit it.  You do not need to throw it up, to do a spike serve.  After about 5 minutes practice of this (or up to 10 minutes) you can then practice some spiking.  You use exactly the same technique, but this time you can throw up the ball like it is a 'set' - that the ball follows the path of a set, so that it falls/drops into the normal place where a set would be --- then you go forward and spike it. Spiking it against the wall.  Beginners are not confident about going towards a 'set' and spiking it.  Constant practice will give you the surety that you can do this - that this now becomes 'natural' for you to do.  You can then vary the set, so that you can go towards any kind of set - and do something with it.  Normally you will do a standard spike - but that will vary depending on the set - and if you get a very bad set, then you still can do something with it - make some kind of contact and get the ball over.  Any kind of practice will pay off..  Try developing the 'windmill' serve - this can be an excellent serve - it adds more spin than any other serve, and is excellent when you are tired and will beat any other underarm serve. It's kinda a reverse underarm..

Answer 3

- When doing overhand serves don't throw it up in a way that you have to reach behide you to hit the ball.

- Be a ballhog because if you think that way you play better!

- Also when doing overhand serves hit it with the palm of your hand because it gives you more power.

- When serving step foward with your left leg if you serve with your right hand, or step with your right leg if you serve with your left hand. It gives more momentum.

- If the ball comes at you from the person serving just try to get it up by bumping it don't try to get it back over the net.

Answer 4

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

play around while your friends, youll be surprised how having fun while playing will help improve your skills rather than strenuous drills.

FYI you cant underhand serve in high school volleyball

Answer 5

hey meaghan, im a full rot. setter for my varsity team at school and ive made two jr olympic vb teams while also playing at college camps and summer leagues.. im going to be a senior this upcoming school year but ive been playing volleyball since i was in 7th grade. i only served underhand for half a year in 7th grade but i got 14 aces in a row in one game but ive had a more than a couple concussions so i only remember holding the ball low and serving quickly=P

as for other volleyball tips i can help.

im actually icing right now from two games i just played..just make sure you stretch after a quick warm up so youre not sore haha.

1) for overhand serves- get your own unique "ritual" to do before a serve. i toss the ball three times while walkeing behind the line then when i turn around i spin the ball and bounce it 5 times really fast, spin it up into my hands, take a breath, pick a position to serve it to and rock it. bend your knees and know your right toss(not too high or low-i serve right above the net so mine are kind of short tosses). pretend your shoulder is like a sling shot.

i dont really know if i explained this right but ive made the local newspapers so i must be doing something right hah.

2) bumping-make sure your arms are underneath the ball.  when passing, make sure your feet are shoulder width apart and depending if your right-handed or left (im a righty), put that foot slightly in front of the other (my right is about half a foot in front of the other). square up with your target, most likely the setter in most cases.  make sort of a fist with your right hand with your finger tips touching right above the wrist and cup your other hand around it making a flat surface for the ball. try to make sure the ball hits closer to your wrists than your elbows. USE YOUR LEGS! bend while passing!!!! dont swing your arms a lot use some leg or else itll hit the ceiling and you'll maybe be embarassed.

3) setting-get right underneath the pass, square up to your target, hold your arms straight in the air and before setting bend your knees slightly while stepping your right foot first then quickly your left (itll help your accuracy). if you have small hands like me-bend your elbows a little and spread your fingers while making a triangle with your index fingers and thumbs. while pushing up (only touch the ball with your finger tips) make your arms straight and at the appropriate angle to the hitter while flicking your wrist.

4)hitting- your approach is prob. the most important. start out in the corner of the attacking line while facing the setter. put your left leg out while holding your arms up in the air and when the ball reaches the climax of the set (the highest it gets before coming back down) step with your right foot(after your right foot lands, start swinging your arms back), then left foot, and make a quick jump landing on your right foot then planting your left foot next to it.bend down (both your arms should be behind your back) and jump up while swinging your arms up to get speed and get above the ball before it gets below the top of the net and (with an open hand for accuracy) spike the ball.  jumping is key, along with timing.

most of all: have confidence.  you're not going to achieve anything without confidence and dont let mistakes get to you- shake it off! don't apologize for messing up either, instead say, "i got it next time."  stay positive and cheer others on by saying good job or something else optimistic.  it'll motivate others and yourself.

but, please-- do not be cocky! no one will like you.  (sorry i seem to be outspoken to other people, but I know its hard to get along with cocky people.)

good luck at tryouts:)

and sorry if it was hard to understand any of this-im a visual learner and teacher haha.

Answer 6

To get more power in your searves step back with your left foot before you step into your searve with your left foot. ( this is for overhand serves.

Answer 7

Remember that the judges are looking for people who can...

     -be loud! so cheer your teamates on and call the ball (never let a ball drop!)

     -always hustle! wether it is going for the ball, or huddling up with everyone, hustle!!!

     -when you spike remember to reach for the ball, and JUMP!!!!!!!

     -the judges ALWAYS look for good passers. If you can pass, you can play!

     -put all of your effort into vb. (don't ba a girly girl)

     -be positive about EVERYONE!!! don't be one of those people who get mad when someone playing w/ them gets the ball in the net.

     -attitude is everything!!!!!!!!!

Have Fun!

Answer 8

If u r really good @ overhand you should try jump serving or flick your wrist down when u hit the ball.

Answer 9

Don't rush your over hand serves. Don't toss the ball too high or it will go out, and don't toss it to low or it will hit the net.

I can't really help you with underhand serves because I haven't done one of those in a long time.

Spiking - hit the ball at its highest point. swing your arms all the way back to get a good hit, when hitting take your hand behind your ear and follow through. and timing is everything.

Hope that helped :)

Answer 10

for an overhand serve its all in the toss! i had to serve under hand untill my freshman yeah because i couldnt get my toss down! then when i finally did, i discovered i had an amazing serve! so for a good overhand toss you need practice.

take a ball at home and just toss it once and a while. you have to make sure that the toss is INFRONT of you and that it is infront of your hitting hand. also work on the height of the toss. not to hight and not to short. it should...at its highest point in the toss...be at your highest reaching point while stepping forward.  

also dont forget to move forward when your overhand serving.  contact is also key. dont hit it on your wrist, fingers or palm....you want to hit it on the ball of your hand.  

once you get consistant about getting the ball over the net, try snapping your wrist to get different effects on the ball.  also, dont expact to be a pro at it right away.

it will take time and practice!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best wishes!

Rachel

Answer 11

You seem to have gotten a lot of advice so far! Serving is different for every player, and only with practice can you really understand what works for you. I'd focus on:

- Height of toss -- what's comfortable for you? How high does your toss have to be to get it over cleanly every time?

- Steps -- do you need to take steps in order to get more power behind the ball? Or do you not need to walk at all?

- Arm extension -- practice contacting the ball with your arm fully extended for maximum power.

-- Hand contact -- flat palm, never fingers...it hurts :)

-- Shifting body weight -- figure out when your body weight needs to shift for maximum power. It is probably at the same time your arm is fully extended: when you contact the ball, that is to say.

-- Follow through -- don't just halt after contact, but let your arm swing downwards, all the way through.

Remember to always focus on the ball, and relax.  Practice your serve until you don't even need to think about it at all. Over thinking it leads to mistakes, so figure out the logistics during practice.

Answer 12

i agree totally with the second person who answered (with the really long list)....

with overhand serves the key is practice, you have to practice your tossing.  without a good toss, you won't be able to serve. hit the ball at its highest point when you are spiking...i think the second person covered it all