7th grader not overhand serving. What can be done to promote it?

Question
My daughter is a 7th grader and this is her first year in volleyball.  She would like to serve overhand, but just cant get the power into it she needs.  What does she need to do to get the height and power into her serve?  Any information you can give her would be great!   Thank you

Answer
Good afternoon and welcome to www.allexperts.com!!

I always say that the best way for a girl to develop the strength to overhand serve is to just keep her heart beating.  haha  Yep, that is the answer for most girls.  

In the 1990's, my JV coach of 7 years didn't exactly believe that, so she would ask her girls to serve overhanded about 5 ot 10 minutes each day.  At first I thought she was wasting her time; but, then I saw how her girls progressed as the season went on.  I was just stunned!  So she proved me partially wrong.  :)  Overhand serving proficiency can be improved by persistent effort.  

HOWEVER.........PARENTS........Do not tell your daughter, "Coach Houser said if you just work at it, you can do it."  No.  I didn't.  I said, "If you work on it a little each day, the skill will improve slowly and gradually."  So, parents, there's no need to ask or expect your daughter serve more than a few minutes a day.  If you push her harder, she may begin to hate vball, and even develop an injury.  Then how will you feel?

Lifting weights in the 7th grade?  Nah.  Just let her get older, encourage her to work on it a little as often as she wishes, and let it happen.  I've only coached 1 girl who never mastered an overhand serve.  So she learned a killer underhand serve, and as a senior, went in to each game to serve!  

I hope this helps some.  Do you have a moment to visit www.coachhouser.com?  I think all the smiling faces will make your day.  And make your daughter's day as well.  

Thanks for writing!
Coach Houser