What is the best way to position yourself to return a floater serve?

Question

i play varsity volleyball for my highschool and i do very well digging, returning serves, and overall passing, but i do find it very hard to accurately return a floater or knuckleball serve. does anyone have any tips?

Answer 1

Be ready, watch the servers eyes, track their form..be ready for wherever they're serving. Have your arms parallel to your thighs. Shuffle your feet to the right position to pass it up, I feel your pain..floaters pretty much can kill your serve receive.

Answer 2

follow and watch the ball come to you...use a lot of shuffling and abs to get the ball to your platform..

then make sure your platform is very sturdy [arms are locked]

when you go and bump the ball... guide the ball to your target [while your arms are locked]

Answer 3

That's a great tip in this thread about "attacking the ball when you pass".

On floaters, always be moving and make a play on the ball before "the ball plays you".

Also, floaters can often be predictable if you pay attention to the server. For example, many players that serve floaters serve the same exact floater each time they serve. So don't get too frustrated when you have trouble with a floater, just remember next time that player serves to expect the same floating action.

Answer 4

I agree with the term of "attacking"... which means you need to step up and "move to the ball" instead of waiting for the ball to come to your passing arms. We usually call out short "hit the ball" but I don't want to confuse anyone in case you get called for attacking a serve.

If you have strong fingers, you can lower your stance, or step up, and pass with your open hands (overhand pass). It would be illegal ten years ago, but is perfect these days.

The key is that you don't "position" yourself statically. You need to move your feet based on the movement of the ball, and you need to know where your teammates are and when you need to let them take over the serve-receive (not to move your feet over your teammates' feet).

Answer 5

I love this question, nice one Ben.

You must attack a floater or knuckleball. These kinds of serves have what we call "action." This action doesn't occur until well on our side of the net. If the gym has open air, the action is much greater.

If you wait for the ball to get to you, the action will have more time to kick in. If you attack it and rush forward to intercept the ball before the action happens, you will have much better luck with it. Many times, overhand passing a floater is the desired skill because you have more control with your fingers than you do with you forearms.

Most importantly, don't think to much, be aggressive and let your muscles react. Thinking about it too much is what gets most passers in trouble.

Answer 6

keep moving and attack the ball

Answer 7

I agree with volleyballcoachz but to elaborate in my thoughts and specifics, I train an coach my players to "face pass" or "set" the ball on that type of serve while aggressively moving toward the serve. The reason I coach that method is because under the current rule interpretations (USAV) any first ball over the net is allowed 2 hits.