Serve to the called zone

What you need

Players

1 to 12 players

Time

8 to 10 min

Level

Beginner

Equipment

Balls, Ball cart, Target

Ball fed by

Not needed

Space

A full court

Setup

1. A line of servers behind the right end of the near end line, each holding a ball.
2. A ball cart beside the line so players can pick up a ball on the way back.
3. One floor marker in each of the six main zones on the far side: deep 5, 6 and 1, front 4, 3 and 2.
4. The coach (or the next server) changes the called zones after each full turn through the line.

How it runs

Servers take turns from behind the end line and call a zone before every serve. A serve that lands on the marker for the called zone scores, then the server jogs to the back of the line and the next player calls a new zone.

Time and reps: 5 serves per player at each target, waiting in line between turns.

Coaching points

• Choose your target before the toss, then look at it once more before you serve.
• Toss to the same spot every time.
• Finish with your hitting hand pointing at the target.
• Serve at a speed you can control. Add pace once you hit the zone.

Ways to change it

• Swap the markers for hoops to shrink the target.
• Keep a streak: three in a row moves a marker farther back.
• Serve to a moving passer instead of a marker.

Make it easier or harder

Make it easier

• Serve underhand from closer in, and aim at a big target such as a whole row.

Make it harder

• Hit two zones in a row before you rotate out of the line.

Terms on this page

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