Serve receive to target

What you need

Players

4 to 8 players

Time

8 to 12 min

Level

Intermediate

Equipment

Balls, Ball cart

Ball fed by

The coach

Space

A full court

Setup

1. Coach behind the far end line on the right, with a cart of balls.
2. Passers in a line in the middle of the near back court, facing the coach.
3. One target player at the setter's spot, 1 m (3 ft) off the net and just right of center.

How it runs

The coach serves from the far end line to a line of passers in the middle of the back court. Each passer sends the serve to a target player at the setter's spot, who catches it. The passer then becomes the target, and the target jogs to the back of the passing line. A perfect pass reaches the target without making them move.

Time and reps: 6 balls per passer, about one minute of work to two of rest.

Coaching points

• The angle of your platform decides where the ball goes, so set it to the target early.
• Stay balanced and still at contact, with your weight a little forward.
• Track the ball in over your shoulders, then adjust your feet before it arrives.
• Aim to make the target catch it without a step: that is a three.

Ways to change it

• The coach serves to different zones so passers have to move.
• Score each pass 0 to 3 and play to a team total.
• Passers call in or out before they play the ball.

Terms on this page

Target spot

The spot by the net, just right of center, where the setter stands.

Platform

The flat surface your forearms make when you pass: arms straight, thumbs side by side, angled at the target.

Zones 1 to 6

The six court spots, numbered from your own side facing the net. Zone 1 is back right, where the serve is hit from.

        net
  4     3     2
  5     6     1
      end line

Setter

The player who usually takes the second contact and sets the ball to a hitter.