A short volleyball player can still challenge tall opponents from the end line. The best volleyball serving drills for short players should focus on making contact clean. The serving motion itself should be worked on, allowing players to get good tosses, increase body drive in their serves, learn to place the ball, and gain confidence.
According to official indoor rules, the service zone is nine meters wide. A server can stand anywhere they like behind the end line, as long as they do not touch the line before making contact or taking off. Thus, there is a possibility for short servers to find a good angle to attack the ball.
It is not necessary to copy the motion of the team’s tallest player. Instead, the short server must develop a good motion to suit their needs. In addition, they must learn to place the ball in the weak spots of the first passers.
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Pros and Cons of the Best Volleyball Serving Drills for Short Players
The best volleyball serving drills for short players must be realistic to their needs. All the drills listed below have their benefits and drawbacks.
1. Close-range contact drill
The player stands 3-5 steps away from the net and practices the standing float serve.
They must focus on making clean contact with the ball on the middle back part of the ball with a firm grip. A good contact will have a palm pointing to the target and a firm wrist. The server must also finish the motion with their serving hand facing the desired position.
Pros:
Focus on the fundamentals without power
Good for developing float serve and jump float serve
Helps to eliminate frustration early
Cons:
Does not build power needed for long-distance serves
Can lead to lazy footwork if overused
The player walks backward for 5 serves in a row, until they reach the end line, alternating serves until they reach the end line.
2. Toss-and-freeze drill
The player practices their serve toss. They make the toss but do not hit the ball. The toss must be placed to the side of the front foot so that it peaks over the hitting shoulder, rather than sticking out behind the head.
They perform this exercise for 10 tosses in a row, followed by 5 serves with the same motion.
Pros:
Builds good timing and contact height
Keeps the server from chasing bad tosses
Offers a relaxed routine prior to serving
Cons:
Can feel sluggish for more aggressive players
Requires commitment to self-correction
The short players often lose power when they reach for poor tosses. A good toss will keep them moving forward with every step.
3. Wall-line serving drill
The player marks a line on the wall at the height of the net. They must stand a few meters away and throw the ball over the line. USA Volleyball recommends wall serving as an alternative to serve when no net is available. They also suggest serving from different positions along the end line, if the server is practicing alone.
The player must stand far enough to be able to make clean contact with the ball. They should walk back after several successful serves.
Pros:
Suitable for small practice areas
Offers instant feedback about the height of the serve
Encourages regular solo practice
Provides a good serving routine for regular use
Cons:
Does not indicate where the ball will land
Hard to replicate the distance of a match serve
This drill is recommended as one of the best volleyball serving drills for short players because it rewards good height. It helps to develop the ability to get the ball over the net without trying to put too much power into the serve.
4. Deep-corner target drill
Cones are placed in zone 1 and 5 to mark the target areas. The player then scores 2 points for every ball landed in the marked area and 1 point for landing nearby. They receive 0 points for missing the target areas completely. The players must not chase the points, but rather use a good firm serve to aim for the zones.
Pros:
Builds valuable targeting skills for a match
Opens the passing game for the opponent
Adds excitement through a simple scoring system
Cons:
The use of small scoring areas can lead to early discouragement
Players may fall into the habit of steering the ball into the target
The players should start with larger areas and narrow the targets as their skills improve.
5. Short-and-deep alternation drill
The player practices serving one ball short and one ball deep in an alternating fashion. They continue this pattern for 12 serves in a row, changing the starting position after every repetition.
Pros:
Develops a good variety of serves
Forces the first-passers to change direction
Encourages better control over the serve distance
Cons:
Requires good fundamental ball contact
High short serves can become easy passes for the opponent
This drill is essential for short players because it allows them to use their height advantage to change the position of the ball. The first passers have to move in different directions with each serve.
6. Step-in power drill
The player begins their serve motion one big step back. They must step into the serve and shift their weight forward from their back foot. The serve must be contacted in front of the hitting shoulder so that the ball flies forward, rather than up and over the net. The power must come from the lower body, rather than the arms.
Pros:
Adds power to the serve through the lower body
Encourages the use of legs and core
Helps to maintain a forward-moving motion
Cons:
Poor timing can cause the foot faults
A poorly-timed step can disrupt the toss
The players should record their performance from the side several times, ensuring that the body moves toward the target with every serve.
7. Pressure ladder drill
The player sets the goal at 5 serves in a row. They restart the ladder every time they miss a serve.
They practice this drill in the following sequence:
One serve anywhere inside the court
One serve sent deep
One serve sent to zone 1
One serve sent to zone 5
One final serve to the preferred target.
This drill helps to recreate the pressure of a real match, without having to use complicated rules.
Pros:
Helps to develop better focus after a fault
Builds a good routine prior to serving
Tracks progress from serve to serve
Cons:
Can be discouraging to some players
The lack of achievable targets can induce stress
The players should be allowed to restart the ladder after two consecutive faults. The pressure can be increased as the players develop better skills.
Expert Advice for Short Volleyball Servers
The best volleyball serving drills for short players rely on good advice and proper techniques. The suggestions below can help to maximize the results of any serving drill.
Choose the Serve You Can Control
A powerful jump serve may look good, but it offers less consistency. A short player should begin their development with a standing float serve. They can then add power with a jump float, once they become more comfortable with float serves. The float serve relies on the lowest amount of rotation to be successful. As such, it is essential to focus on making clean contact with the ball.
Use the Full Service Zone
The player should not always begin their serve from the back-right position. They should mix in serves from the middle and the left side as well. A different starting position will offer a different angle to serve the ball.
They should practice serving from 3 different positions. It is essential to note which position feels the most comfortable.
Generate Power From the Lower Body
The players must bend their knees slightly to push themselves forward with their entire body. The rotation of the hips and shoulders should add to the momentum of the serve. The arms should finish the motion, rather than create it. The entire body must move forward, as if the player is throwing themselves at the target. This motion will create additional power without sacrificing control and accuracy.
Keep the Toss Simple
The serves with the highest tosses tend to create additional timing issues. The player should strive to make their toss as simple as possible. A controlled standing float toss will allow them to generate power without additional rotations. The jump-float toss must be placed in front as well. This will allow them to move forward into the ball and make contact.
The players must avoid rotating their wrists during the toss. Extra rotation can lead to additional rotation during the float serve contact, which can be more difficult to control.
Accuracy Before Power
Harder serves will only benefit the player if they can consistently land inside the court. It is essential to focus on these drills:
Land 8 out of every 10 serves inside the court.
Aim to send 8 out of every 10 serves to the deep third of the court.
Hit 8 out of every 10 serves to a particular zone.
The players should begin developing power by adding more intensity to their serves without changing their routine. The serve speed can be increased gradually.
Practice Serving After Movement
The player can practice running up to the end line before serving the ball. They take one breath and begin serving in the same fashion as they would during a match.
This drill will recreate the physical and mental challenges of a real match. As another option, the player can perform 5 defensive shuffles before serving and maintaining a steady breathing pattern.
Develop a Good Routine
The player must use the same routine before every serve. Their routine can include a bounce, a breath, a glance at the target, and a specific starting position. Every server must find a routine that allows them to recreate the same mental and physical patterns prior to serving. A consistent routine is vital during important points.
Track Useful Serving Statistics
The player should not keep track of the number of good serves. Instead, they should focus on these statistics:
Serves landed inside the court
Serves landed in the deep third
Serves landed in a particular zone
Served with little or no rotation
Missed serves going into the net
Missed serves going out of bounds
A weekly analysis of these numbers will indicate whether the player is consistently improving or not. It will also help to identify weak areas that need more attention.
For instance, a higher number of net hits indicates poor contact. Missed serves beyond the end line suggest that the player is adding too much power to their serve.
Final Thoughts
Short servers should not be limited by their height. They must be able to perform the same actions as their taller teammates. The best volleyball serving drills for short players will allow them to focus on making contact with the ball, controlling their toss, generating power with their legs, targeting specific zones, varying their serves, practicing under pressure, and finding good angles.
They must learn the best ways to develop control before power, consistency before variety, and accuracy before speed. Every short server should spend 2-3 hours per week practicing their serve. They should always follow a realistic routine that keeps the drills simple. A good session could include 10 tosses, followed by 20 target serves and a pressure ladder. The statistics must be tracked regularly so that the players can see their progress.
Overall, it is necessary for short volleyball players to understand that height is not as important as confidence and preparation.