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Serve Receive Drills

Here are some service reception drills that you may find useful. These drills deal with the individual skill itself. Eventually drills should lead to block coverage and to more complex drills involving service reception as the beginning skill. Relationships between different receivers on the court, responsibilities for different receivers, etc. – have to be standardized. Who sweeps deep, who covers short, what to do when there is a spin server, talking before reception on where the ball is to come, linking to each other when ball is being contacted, how much space for the libero (if you use one), changes in patterns if there are problems, etc. – these are all concepts that have to be taught to the receivers.

Service reception should be included in more complex drills once the repetition factor has been accomplished. Repetition is the key to learning service reception and becoming the "pure passer." Serve and receive should be done in each training session. Technical reinforcement/feedback is essential when players are involved in any of these drills.
Lastly, the libero is the most important person within receiving drills. Even though rules do not allow the ‘libero’ to be the floor captain, the libero is really the ‘commander’ when receiving is involved. The libero is the person who makes changes to patterns and ideally handles most of the balls coming from the server.

Rules for service reception:

1. Always have a target

2. Have purpose to drill

3. Quantity to quality

4. Simple to complex

5. Never 2 misses in a row by one or two servers

6. Pass higher and away from the net to ensure
chances for your setters to make quality sets to their attackers

7. During drills- serve with rhythm needed to allow receivers to maximize their chances to receive

8. If players are serving and a mistake is made then the other server should be ready to serve or the coach should give the receivers another ball – maintain a good pace for the receivers.

A. Coach drills (Players can be substituted for Coach):

#1. Repetition Drill

- Usually coach runs the drill (serves as many balls as necessary) - Sometimes be close to end line, sometimes be further away
.- Coach can stand on platform.
- Use different types of serves, but side arm is best if you want repetition and if you want to serve for a long time.
- Coach usually alternates line and x-court serve as the drill demands.
- Each player stays for two balls.
- Go for quantity (if group of 3, then 30, if group of 4, then 40 etc.).
- Or for quality - group stays until a certain number of balls hit the target.
- Same drill as above (to learn spatial awareness): -In pairs -In triangles
-In 4's -In 5's (use the pattern of your team serve receive as the model)

#2. Double Receive

- Coach 1, serves 30 line balls
- C2 serves slightly later, 30 x-court balls. Groups of 3, 4 or 5 work best.
- Player 1 receives two balls, the first one on the line and the second x-court. -The group stays until it passes 30 good balls to the target or until each player passes a certain number.
- At 28 the next group gets ready to come in. (Each player stays for two serves from the coaches) Note: Another player can count how many serves are needed to get the 30 perfect or each player though the drill.

#3. Three's or Five's

- Same drill as above, either coach can serve or the players, one serve x-court and the other line. Each player stays in position to receive two balls on the line, then go to the back of the line, and then two balls x-court.
- Each player stays until they make three or five (coach's decision) good passes. They must go through both sides (left and right). Can repeat, if wanted.
- At 1 before the total is reached the player calls out to the other player to get ready to come in. This keeps the drill going.

#4. Distraction Drill

- Server (s) serves to player (x). Distracter (d) tries to interfere with ball going to passer (X) by jumping in front of ball, moving at the last second, talking etc.

#5. Finish Practice Drill

-Start drill with 10 to 30 minutes left in practice. Team has to put a certain number of balls into the target hoop. When done the team is finished practice. (Can also use an individual goal of 3 or 5 each). When last person is still finishing everyone is cheering to help them. Another method is where everyone must rotate in after 1 or 2 balls are put in the target.

#6. Figure 8

- Coach works with one or two players.
- Show figure 8 movements with arms.
- Serve, from 5 M. away, slow at first then faster.
- Serve from low to the ground - serve first at mid line of player then left and right, gradually increasing the arc and time the ball takes to reach the player.
- Work on backward movements, high, angle (45 degree) and straight back.
- Coach should gradually move back, eventually to 20-25 meters.
- When close can serve under the net - If court is being used then use the area next to court

#7. Double Serve Receive

- C1 serves then C2 serves right after -
Two in a row for each player
- Can use any of the above methods for numbers.

#8. One Arm Passing

- Coach or player serving flat serves
- Start 3m apart and gradually increase distance to service distance.

#9. Glove, Ball, Elastic Drill

- In order to learn how to keep the shoulders rounded and the arms at the right distance from the body, you can insert a glove or kneepad under each armpit. This causes the athlete to have to learn how to move in a smoother and more relaxed manner. (At first the athlete will be tight but will eventually relax). The athlete can even play balls in repetition this way.- If the athlete has trouble with the chin staying down then put a tennis ball under the chin. The athlete has to receive serves without allowing the ball to drop.- If footwork is a problem then use and elastic bandage to tie the feet together. This does not allow the athlete to pass with wide feet.

#10. Mimic Drill

-This is the old type "PT" drill where the coach controls all the players the players are spread out evenly on the court facing the coach. The coach moves through the desired movements and the athletes follow, mimicking the movements. It is great when this is done in a room with mirrors where the athletes can see themselves.

#11. Size of Court Drill

- The court can be 9m x 4.5m in a 3 vs 3 game (see below). This allows for short serves to be received.
- Other size courts can be used to create different situations to receive the ball.

#12. Blanket Drill

- Put a number of bed sheets/blankets over the net. Players have to concentrate on receive balls where they cannot see the server.

B. Player drills

These drills can change emphasis to being drills of a serving objective, a passing objective or in some cases it can be for both objectives. By combining these drills between the server and the passer perhaps better time can be utilized if practice time is short.

#1. Serve Repetition Drill

- Servers should know that the drill is for the passers, so they must have control. Players should switch after a certain number.

#2. Serve-Pass-Target Follow Drill

- Serve, pass, target, etc. Players are arranged on both sides of the court. After they serve they then go and receive. After receiving they go and become the target. After being the target they then go and serve from the same side and the process repeats itself.

3. Pairs/Threes/Fours/Fives Service Reception

These drills are done to build confidence in reception of service by formation. It is important to know which formation you will be using and which responsibilities each player will have. When you have a service reception formation break it down into:
- line (pairs/threes),
- center (pairs/threes);
- & diagonal (pairs/threes).

Practice reception to a target, then perhaps add attack off of reception, etc. Below is an example of breaking down a four-receiver pattern:

C. Left Side and Right Side

Should you use ‘negative’ reinforcements if a ball lands on court or mistakes are made more than the norm? That is up to you but many coaches do use this ‘reinforcement’ tool to ensure that players understand the importance of what is required.
Younger teams should consider using 4 receivers and not 3 which is the norm for women or 2 with men. The more people involved in the reception patterns the easier it will be to cover the court. Front row middles can also help by assisting with short serves.
These are only a few ideas for receiving. Make sure that you continue to evolve your objectives within reception repetition. Once the skill of reception has some ‘substance’ to it then move on to add it into your more complex drills that need a reception within its structure. You can add an attacker and setter to get repetitions as well, if you want to link this aspect within your drill.
Good luck with your reception drills – tie them in with your service.

Dr. L. Sawula
Head Coach
GBR Women