How to Serve a Volleyball

You can serve a volleyball in two ways, a float serve and a jump serve. A float serve is performed with the volleyball tossed slightly into the air. In a jump serve, you toss the ball high in the air while striding forward and then hit while jumping up as the ball descends. This guide will discuss proper technique for both types of serves.

Things You'll Need

• Volleyball
• Volleyball court

Instructions

Learn to Jump Serve a Volleyball

1. Stand at the back line of the volleyball court. You will be taking three long strides forward before you serve the volleyball.

2. Take one large step forward, leading with your left leg.

3. Begin to step forward again, leading with your right leg. While stepping forward, toss the volleyball straight up into the air. You toss should be in front of you and quite high.

4. Stride forward one last time, and plant your right foot down and jump up to meet the ball.

5. Strike the ball with your hand as it is descending. Aim for the center of the ball near the top.

6. Follow through on your serve by landing at or over the service line. Your momentum should carry you towards the net.

7. Practice your jump serve frequently. Focus on maintaining your balance throughout the service process.

Practice the Float Volleyball Serve

1. Stand a few feet back from the net while holding a volleyball.

2. Arrange your stance so that your left foot is in front and pointed at the net--or the right foot forward if you are left-handed.

3. Shift your weight to your back foot.

4. Raise the volleyball, with your left hand supporting it from underneath. Your right hand should be resting lightly atop the ball.

5. Move your right hand to your ear, keeping your elbow high in the air. Your left arm still supports the volleyball in front of you.

6. Toss the ball into the air about two feet high and in front of your shoulder.

7. Shift your body weight to the front foot, and hit the back of the ball with your right hand. Do not follow through as you would with a jump serve.

8. Practice your float serve. The goal is to hit the ball straight across the net without much of an arch.

Tips & Warnings

• If you land short of the line while jump serving, you need to throw the ball higher in the air before you hit it.

• The jump serve instructions below should be reversed for left-handed servers.