Serve

The first contact that starts every rally is called a “serve”. The player who serves is
called the “server”. Usually a server uses one, open hand to swing overhead and
send the ball over the net from behind the end line. Less experienced players may
serve underhand with one closed fist. Sometimes younger age groups are allowed to
serve from within the court so be sure to check local league rules. There are 3 main
types of serves that are defined below.

Serving – is an integral part of a volleyball match. A highly effective serve will score an outright winner –
an ace.  ACE, when a team is unable to play the ball after the first contact of the serve.  There are two
types of serves:  overhand serve or underhand serve.  This is used to put the ball into play.

Ace A serve that results directly in a point without further action by players on the serving team.

Typically, the ace can be detected due to inability to touch the served ball or a shanked pass by a player

on the receiving team. However, if the serve-receiving player passes the ball to another player, and that

second player can make a play on it, but fails, this serve is not considered an ace

Serve The act by one player to put the ball into play. The serving player is usually
identified by the current rotation. When serving, the player must be located in a
designated area behind the back line.

Volleyball Serve Techniques

Underhand, Float, and Jump Serve

The volleyball serve is one of the six basic volleyball techniques. A serve is used to
put the ball into play to start the volley.

The serve is the only skill controlled solely by one player. Advanced players take
advantage of this fact by developing their serving skills.

How tough players serve has a huge impact on whether or not the other team will
return the ball by attacking it or send over an easier ball to play such as a free ball.
Therefore, a players serve will dramatically affect the outcome of the volley and then
of course the outcome of the game.

4 Types of Serves in Volleyball Overhand, Underhand, Topspin and Jump

There are four types of serves in volleyball varsity players learn. Beginners learn the underhand
serve first, then the overhand serve, then topspin and jump serve.  

How many types of serves in volleyball are there?

There are three main types of serves that Vegas varsity players should learn how to do. 

The underhand, the overhand serve and the jump serve. 

 the underhand serve

 the overhand serve - float serve
 the overhand serve - topspin serve 
 the jump serve - jump float 
 the jump spin - jump topspin

 When players first learn the basic skills in volleyball they are usually taught how to
underhand serve first. 


 A Step-by-Step Guide on How To Underhand         Serve in Volleyball

The underhand serve is done by

 having the left foot in front of the right foot in a balanced position with your weight on
the back foot and toe of the left foot pointed towards where you intend to serve the ball
(lefties do the opposite)
 holding the ball in one hand and
 swinging your other arm back keeping it parallel to your body 
 then swinging your arm forward with a closed fist or open hand contacting the bottom
panels of the ball 
 when your arm swings forward you shift your weight from your back foot to your front
foot which helps to 
 propel the ball across your court and into the opposing team's court using the momentum
of the swinging arm to get the ball to travel over the net