Serve recieve issues?

Question

I really want to play back all around in volleyball. Right now i'm only in front row, but I wish I could play backrow. I'm a good digger, and I'm quick, but my problem is serve recieve. It isn't that i'm a bad passer it's just that when i get ready to pass I get extremely nervous, and let my nervousness overcome me, many times resulting in a shank. When i'm in practice with my team mates I do fine, but something about games freak me out. Any ideas to help calm me?

Answer 1

I had the same "problem". I could dig up all hard spikes, but was on-and-off with my serve receive. I figured out that my problem was that my stance was too low as I was "too serious" getting ready for serve-receive. Once I got higher stance I became more mobile, thus had less error.

Most beginners were told to "stay low", but that would be "over low" for experienced players like you and me.

Answer 2

be confident when you play. any time the other team is serving, know in your head that you are going to make a perfect pass. picture it in your mind. i am libero and i still get the nervousness you feel but you just have to want to make a perfect pass.

also know that amazing feeling you get when you make a perfect pass off a tough serve. strive for that feeling anytime you are in serve receive.

and after the first seve by a person, you can tell how they are going to serve the rest of the game. remember if their serve floats or drops or whatever and be able to read them when they go up to serve again.

if you shank once, they are going to keep picking on you, so be ready and prove to them that you are a better passer than they are server.

hope it helps. good luck! =]

Answer 3

it sounds like you are letting the serve get into your head, and you are thinking too much. i had this problem for a long time too. this is what i did.

if you have ever seen "The Perfect Game", the pitcher in the game before each batter, says, "clear the mechanism". this helped him focus as it blocked the stadium noise and he only saw the glove and the plate. i adopted something similar. before every play, i put my hands on my knees and either stare down the hitter i am blocking against or the server. of course i don't do this when i am serving, but you get the idea. try to find something that will clear your mind before each play, be it putting your hands on your knees, or saying "clear the mechanism" to your self. breathe deep and controlled and think to the server, "hey, your serve is a piece of cake, try to ace me, come on." use whatever passing method you are most comfortable with, hands or platform (bump).

Answer 4

Don't be afraid to miss!  The worst thing you can do is over-think a pass.  I made up a routine I do before every serve (hit the ground with my hands), and that gets my mind focus.  As well, visualize and anticipate that the ball is coming to you, the worst thing that could happen is you being surprised when the ball comes your way!  Anyways I'm sure you'll do fine, just loosen up and try not to be nervous, the reason you do well in practice is you don't put any pressure on yourself and you are having fun!

Answer 5

okayy, so most of the time when people get nervous its because of mess ups from before, but if you forget about it you will do fine. just tell your self 'next ones mine, comon' serve it to me again' andd you'll get it (:

Answer 6

i have had the same problem. what i found helps is to calm yourself down and think about how well you do at practice, and the main thing is to say to yourself, "i want the ball. serve the ball to me. i want the ball to come to me. i will get the ball and it will be a good pass." i know that it sounds really lame, but it  makes you determined and works for me. If it doesnt work for you, then find some other way to calm your head down, because the nervousness is all in your head.

Answer 7

Be confident in yourself and don't succumb to the pressure. Just play the game just like if you were practicing and it was just you and your team. Don't think about the crowd, if anything you are thinking too much. You shouldn't have to think about anything, just do what you know you should do. Don't pay attention to the crowd. Have Fun!

Answer 8

don't be afraid

do the best you can

Answer 9

just act natural and don't think about it because i know the moment i think about exactly what i have to do it all goes down the drain so use your muscle memory and remember your not trying to impress anyone just play your game

Answer 10

Breathe deeply.  

Stare at the ball.  I really mean STARE at the volleyball.

You have to WANT the ball.  You are worried that the ball will come to you and you will shank it.  And the ball comes to you and you shank it.  Once you decide that you want the ball more than anyone else on your team, visualize (as stated above several times) the ball traveling to you and you passing the ball right to the setter.  And try not to be shocked when it really happens.  

If you mess up, get really mad for about 1 second.  Breathe deeply and do the above.  If you dwell on your previous mistake, you will make a second.  And a third and so on.

Answer 11

Only thing thats gonna help is mentalize.  Thats a fancy name the experts gave to, before the game, just start to think of the times that you did it well.  Try to imagine how you would like to play, passing, spiking....everything.  Ive made it a habit of my own and it works because almost all the errors are mental.  You just gotta stay focus and get that confidence up.  If youre doing ok in practice then that means that you are not bad, so you just gotta trust yourself!

Answer 12

Try breathing out prior to passing the ball. A lot of times players will tense up and become stiff as the serve is coming toward them. As you go for the ball breath out. It will take your mind off passing and will kind of relax you. It works! Some of the best passers in the game want every serve. Go after it, if you shank one, shake it off and give your setter a money pass on the next serve.

Answer 13

use pressure situations in practice.  set up consequences for failure in practice.