--- title: "Volleyball Serving Drills: Toss, Contact & Zone Targets" description: "Volleyball serving drills fix the toss first, then contact and serve type. Run a zone-target serving game with setup, scoring, steps and coaching points." url: "https://www.coachboard.app/library/volleyball/serving-drill" sport: "Volleyball" category: "Drill" level: "all-levels" dateModified: "2026-09-24" --- # Volleyball Serving Drill — Volleyball Drill This volleyball serving drill builds a repeatable toss and contact, separates the float serve from the topspin serve, and finishes with a points game aimed at numbered zones on the far court. The serve is the only skill in volleyball a player performs with no one else touching the ball first, which makes it the easiest to practise and the most frustrating to miss. Most missed serves start with the toss: a ball tossed too high, too far behind the head or drifting sideways forces the arm to chase it. The drill below fixes the toss before it asks for power, then introduces the two main overhand serves. The float serve is struck with a firm wrist and no spin so it wobbles unpredictably; the topspin serve is brushed from below and over the top so it dips. It ends with a target game, because serving to a zone is what wins points in a match. ## Objective Build a consistent toss and contact point, teach the float and topspin serve, and train players to serve to specific zones rather than just over the net. ## Setup - **Area:** Full court, 18 × 9 m, servers behind one end line and targets on the far half - **Players:** 4–14 players, 2–3 per ball - **Equipment:** 1 ball per 2 players, 6 hoops, towels or small mats as zone targets, Cones for a short-court serving line - **Duration:** 15–20 minutes - **Level:** all-levels (U10+) ## How it works 1. **Toss-only reps** — Each server stands in their serving stance, non-dominant foot slightly forward, and tosses the ball about 30–60 cm above full arm reach, in front of the hitting shoulder, then lets it drop. The ball should land just in front of the lead foot. Ten tosses, no swing. 2. **Contact from short range** — Partners stand either side of the net about 3–4 m back. Servers swing with the elbow high and strike the centre of the ball with the heel of an open, firm hand, following through toward the target. Move back a metre every five successful serves until players reach the end line. 3. **Float versus topspin** — For the float, keep the wrist locked and stop the follow-through short so the ball has no spin. For topspin, toss slightly higher and in front, contact below centre and snap the wrist over the top. Each player serves five of each and names which one they hit. 4. **Zone-target game** — Place a target in each of zones 1 and 5 near the far end line, and in zone 6 in the middle back. Servers score 1 point for an in-bounds serve, 2 for landing in a named zone, 3 for hitting a target. A missed serve costs 1. First pair to 15 wins. 5. **Call the zone** — Before each serve, the coach or a partner calls a zone number and the server has about 8 seconds to serve, matching the time allowed after the referee's whistle in FIVB rules. This adds the small pressure of a real service turn. ## Coaching points - The toss is the serve. If the ball goes somewhere unusual, catch it and restart, which is fine in practice even though a dropped toss is a service fault under FIVB rules. - Keep the hitting elbow above shoulder height and contact the ball in front of the body, not directly overhead. - Step toward the target with the front foot as you swing; the body weight should finish moving forward, not falling away. - Pick a serving routine (bounce, breathe, look at the zone) and use it every time so the serve feels the same under pressure. ## Variations - **Underhand start for beginners** — Young players hold the ball at hip height in the non-hitting hand and swing a closed fist from below, contacting the ball out of the hand. Serve from 6 m first, then from the end line once they land 7 of 10. - **Seam serving** — Place three passers on the far side and reward serves that land between two of them. Serving the seams tests communication in serve receive, and it teaches servers to read the formation, not just the empty space. ## Build it in Coach Board On the volleyball court in Coach Board, place the ball in the service zone and draw an arrow into each zone you want your servers to hit. Save one board per serve plan, such as float deep to zone 1 or short to zone 2, and group them in a playbook by opponent, so servers can check the game plan on their phone before a match. [Volleyball coaching app](https://www.coachboard.app/sports/volleyball) · [Start 14-day free trial, no card](https://my.coachboard.app) ## FAQ ### What is the difference between a float serve and a topspin serve? A float serve is hit with no spin, using a firm wrist and a short follow-through, so the ball moves unpredictably in the air like a knuckleball. A topspin serve is brushed from below and over the top with a wrist snap, making the ball dip quickly. Most teams use the float for accuracy and topspin for pace. ### How can I make my volleyball serve more consistent? Make the toss consistent first. Toss the same height every time, in front of the hitting shoulder, and catch any bad toss in practice instead of swinging at it. Then contact the ball with a firm, open hand and step toward the target. A fixed pre-serve routine also helps under pressure. ## Related - https://www.coachboard.app/library/volleyball/butterfly-drill.md - https://www.coachboard.app/library/volleyball/passing-drill.md - https://www.coachboard.app/library/volleyball/beginner-practice-plan.md --- [Volleyball coaching app](https://www.coachboard.app/sports/volleyball) · Animate and share this drill with your team: https://my.coachboard.app