Volleyball Serving Rules: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners and Pros

The serve is one of the most important skills in volleyball. It is the first contact your team has with the ball on each point, and it can set the tone for the entire rally. Knowing and following the volleyball serving rules is essential for all players, regardless of their skill level.

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A good serve can be an effective weapon that can throw your opponents off balance and give your team a scoring advantage.
This blog post will provide a comprehensive guide to volleyball serving rules, including how to serve, common serving mistakes, and tips for improving your serving skills.

What is a serve in volleyball?

A serve in volleyball is the act of putting the ball into play from behind the end line. The server must hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court without it touching the net. The serve can be hit with either hand and can be hit underhand, overhand, or from a jump.

Read More about volleyball rotation rules.

How to serve in volleyball:

There are six main types of serves in volleyball: the underhand serve, the overhand serve, the jump serve, float serve, topspin and the side spin serve. Each type of serve has its own advantages and disadvantages. We have an in depth guide on how to serve in volleyball, you may go through it and have fun while reading.

Underhand serve:

The underhand serve is the simplest type of serve and is often used by beginners. To hit an underhand serve, stand behind the end line and toss the ball slightly into the air. Then, hit the ball with the heel of your hand, keeping your arm extended.

Overhand serve:

The overhand serve is a more powerful serve than the underhand serve and is often used by more experienced players. To hit an overhand serve, stand behind the end line and toss the ball slightly into the air. Then, hit the ball with the palm of your hand, swinging your arm over your head.

Jump serve:

The jump serve is the most powerful serve in volleyball, but it is also the most difficult to master. To hit a jump serve, toss the ball into the air and jump up. Then, hit the ball with the palm of your hand, swinging your arm over your head.

Read our step-by-step guide of jump serving in volleyball.

Float serve:

The float serve is a serve that floats through the air and is difficult for opponents to read. It is a good serve to use against opponents who have a strong serve return.

Topspin serve:

The topspin serve is a variation of the overhand serve that imparts a topspin rotation on the ball. This rotation causes the ball to drop sharply after it crosses the net, making it difficult for opponents to return.
To serve a topspin serve, hit the ball with a slightly upward motion and follow through with your wrist. You can also try hitting the ball slightly off-center to the top.

Volleyball serving rules:

These are the official serving rules in volleyball with references;

The server must stand behind the end line when serving. (Reference)
The server must hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court. (FIVB)
The serve must be hit within 8 seconds of the referee’s whistle. (PakMen)
The server cannot touch the net or the ground with any part of their body while serving.
The ball cannot hit the server’s body before it goes over the net.
The ball cannot hit the server’s team before it goes over the net.

Common volleyball serving mistakes:

Serving into the net: This is the most common serving mistake. It is caused by not hitting the ball high enough over the net.
Serving out of bounds: This is another common serving mistake. It is caused by not hitting the ball into the opponent’s court.
Serving before the whistle: This is a violation of the rules and will result in a loss of the serve.
Touching the net: This is another violation of the rules and will result in a loss of the serve.
Not hitting the ball within 8 seconds: This is another violation of the rules and will result in a loss of the serve.

Practical drills and exercises:

There are a number of drills and exercises that you can do to improve your volleyball serving skills. Here are a few examples:

Target serve: Place a target on the opposite side of the net and try to serve the ball into the target.
Serve and pass: Have one player serve the ball and another player try to pass it.
Serve and volley: Have one player serve the ball and another player try to volley it over the net.
Service competition: Have two or more players compete to see who can serve the most aces in a row.

Read our in depth guide on volleyball serving drills consisting drills for beginners and advanced players

Tips for improving your volleyball serving skills:

Here are a few tips for improving your volleyball serving skills:

Practice regularly. The more you practice, the better you will become at serving.
Focus on accuracy and consistency. It is better to serve the ball consistently into the opponent’s court than to hit hard serves that go out of bounds.
Use the right type of serve for the situation. If you are playing against a team with a strong serve return, you may want to use a float serve. If you are playing against a team with a weak serve return, you may want to use a harder serve.
Be patient. It takes time and practice to develop a good serve.

Conclusion

The serve is an important skill in volleyball that can be used to score points and put pressure on your opponents. By knowing and following the volleyball serving rules, and by practicing regularly, you can improve your serving skills and become a more valuable player to your team.

Additional tips:

Make sure to toss the ball high enough so that you have time to get into position and hit it over the net.
Keep your eye on the ball throughout the entire process.
Follow through with your swing after you hit the ball.
Relax and have fun!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you step over the line in volleyball on a serve?

No, you cannot step over the line in volleyball on a serve. If you do, you will be called for a foot fault and your serve will be nullified.

What happens if you serve before the whistle in volleyball?

According to serving rules in volleyball, if you serve before the whistle in volleyball, you will be called for a premature serve and your serve will be nullified.