Serving to zones — nine on the line

Six servers on the line and three players at the cones on the other side: both back corners and deep middle. That gives every ball an address, and the retriever who sends it back is instant proof of whether it landed right. With nine players and two balls the line keeps moving without anybody standing still.

9 players 7 phases ± 15 min 3 cones, 2 balls, full court with net From U15 upwards

Phase 1 of 7Six servers on the end line; three retrievers stand by the cones

Six servers on the end line and three retrievers at the target zones Equipment Ball

This animation comes straight out of the Koach app. In the app you play it at your own pace and the positions carry your players' real names.

Open in the app

How the drill runs

What you are training

Serving drill: all nine players serve in turn to changing target zones; the ball flies over the net to the marked corner.

Hitting the three toughest spots in the back court separately: zone 5, zone 1 and deep in zone 6.
Setting the direction with your starting point and your body position, not with a flick of the wrist.
Making the waiting useful: watching where the ball of the player before you lands.

Coaching points

Deep middle is the hardest zone, not the easiest.

Players think the middle is safe, but it is the furthest away and in a match there are three players around it. A ball that really lands deep there is a strong serve.

For an angle you move your starting point, not your swing.

Shifting two meters along behind the line changes the angle more than any arm movement can. Let players try that before you start rebuilding their technique.

Whoever is waiting watches the ball of the player in front of them.

In a line of six you serve one ball in six. The other five only teach you something if you see where they land and why.

The retriever calls 'in' or 'out' out loud.

From the end line you cannot see exactly where the ball landed. Without that feedback a player serves the same ball six times without ever noticing.

Variations

Easier: Two cones with a target zone of three by three meters around them. Servers who cannot reach yet start on the three-meter line.
Harder: The server works through the three zones in a fixed order and goes back to the first one after a miss.
With six players: Four servers and two retrievers with a cone in each back corner. Retrievers and servers swap roles after every round.
As a game: Two groups of three servers side by side. Every zone scores one point and counts only once per round; first to twelve wins.

Volleyball drills

4 players · 6 phases SafeVolley base round Warm-up 3 players · 5 phases Shoulder activation with band Warm-up 2 players · 6 phases Dynamic movement patterns Warm-up 5 players · 5 phases Core plank with rotation Warm-up

Read on in the knowledge base: more ball contacts per player in a big group · which position has which number · building up an overhand serve