Serving close to the line

Question
My daughter has played volleyball for 4 years and started playing on a team that was organized last year.  She's also been to 3 skills camps during this time.  Her problem is that her current coach is insisting that she serve almost right on the line.  In the past, she has served farther away from the line because she has so much power in her serve that she would hit it out and when she tried to rein her power in, she wouldn't get it over the net.  Up until last year she was never told that she had to serve from the line.  Her serving farther back has never prevented her from getting back into position on the court to make contact on a return.  What can we do?  The coach has really forced this issue but hasn't given her any suggestions to help her adjust her serve, she just tells her to serve close to the line.  We would really appreciate any help you can give her because she loves volleyball but this is a hard habit to change, especially when she's not told why she should change something when no one else has told her to.  As a matter of fact she was told to scoot back to compensate for her power.  Help!


Answer
Good evening Becky!

A few things I can tell you!

I never move my girls back b/c they are too powerful.  I ask them to slow their arms down so that they have control of their serve.  <-- that's the advice that your daughter is looking for!

Good news!  If your daughter is so powerful, standing close to the line will actually keep her from taking much of a step, thus decreasing her power, thus she shouldn't have to worry as much about serving out.  She can even use a "no footwork" serve, where instead of "toss/step/hit," she just does "toss/wait/hit".  <-- more advice that your daughter may want to use!!

If your daughter was on my team, I would not put her up against the line.  BUT I wouldn't let her move back either.  I would expect her to slow down her armswing, get control of the serve, put it in the court at 90%, and hit the target she's aiming for at least 50% of the time.  As she got older, I would ask her to experiment with moving further and further back to see if she can "bomb" the opponents.  

Yes, you're right about being on time to her defensive positions.  I have asked girls to serve from 20' or 30' behind the end line and I don't remember ever getting beat b/c the girls were late getting into the court.  

Am I contradicting myself?  I first say I wouldn't let your daughter move back, but then I say that I encourage my players to move back?  FIRST, my players serve from 2 or 3 feet back.  For most of them, that's where they spend their entire career.  But THEN if the girl is strong & accurate enough, I will ask her to move back.....which creates a NASTY "bomb" serve.  

If your daughter is athletic and strong, she can serve close to the line (limiting armswing and footwork), and she can serve behind the line where she can use more of her power, and she can serve pretty much anywhere the coach asks.  In other words, she can adjust.  Please show this to her!  She can do it!!  If she wants more explanation/support, you guys can email me at [email protected].

One final thing: I need you to visit us at www.coachhouser.com!  haha  This is all you have to do for me!  Well, of course, you can bring my staff to your high school to direct a STAR camp.....but I don't know if your kids are ready for that much fun!!  :)

Chat soon!
Coach Houser