Let’s talk about serve reception.
In my experience as a volleyball player and coach, serve reception is one of the most difficult skills to master. I think many other players would agree.
Because of its difficulty, serve reception is often dismissed as a matter of “innate talent.” However, I’ve always wondered: is it right to close off a player’s potential simply because they’ve been judged as having “bad serve reception skills”?
Of course, serve reception is a highly advanced play, but by analyzing the elements that make up the skill, we can provide more specific and effective coaching. This could help players who have given up on serve reception to find new possibilities.
If, after reading this article, you can recognize that serve reception is a skill that anyone can learn, I will be truly happy.
Now, let’s break down the elements of serve reception in chronological order.
Serve Reception Starts Before the Whistle Blows
In volleyball, a rally always begins with a whistle and a serve. Serve reception is the defensive play against that serve.
While it may seem that a match is decided by in-play moments, the truth is that the exchanges that happen during out-of-play time have a huge impact on the outcome.
The importance of out-of-play time is detailed in a previous article, which you can read here:
Serve reception itself begins during out-of-play time. The team’s preparation before the whistle blows is a key factor in the success of the reception.
Communication with Teammates
One of the biggest causes of failed serve receptions is poor team communication. Many mistakes are the result of communication breakdowns that could have been resolved before the whistle.
For example, players can confirm their physical and mental distance, as well as their defensive area, by high-fiving or touching hands with their teammates.
Sharing information about the opposing server—such as their most common serve types or target zones—allows the team to adjust their defensive formation in advance.
How to Use the 8 Seconds Between the Whistle and the Serve
The whistle is the signal that in-play is about to begin. From this moment, the tactical battle with the server truly starts. A server has 8 seconds to hit the ball after the whistle. How you use these few seconds can significantly impact your reception success.
Using a Routine to Visualize Success
Using a personal routine during the out-of-play time or in the few seconds after the whistle is extremely important for improving serve reception success.
In Japanese rugby, the public became familiar with the concept of a “routine” after watching Japan’s fullback Ayumu Goromaru’s pre-kick pose.
In volleyball, former Japan women’s national team player Saori Kimura’s serve reception routine was memorable.
In an article (In Japanese) about her routine, she said:
“I made a routine after my coach told me to. At first, it felt forced, but I was willing to try anything to help my team win a medal. Only recently did I feel confident in it. Once I started matching my breathing with the server and made the pre-serve time consistent, I wondered why I ever struggled before. I think this is a skill I can teach players who are bad at serve reception (laughs).”
“Serve reception is very mental. If you overthink while the opponent is getting ready to serve, your form will fall apart. I finally understood what it means to be ‘mindless’.”
By creating your own routine, you can get into a state of deep concentration, which helps you visualize success and improves your performance. This is a form of mental training, and it is a legitimate skill.
Gathering Information on the Server
Creating a routine is important, but you also can’t neglect the importance of gathering information on the server.
Read the server’s expression
You can infer the server’s mental state from their face. Is it an aggressive serve or a safe one? This can also be predicted more accurately by considering their previous serves and the score.
Read the server’s body language
Where are they looking? Are their feet pointed in a certain direction? How big is their wind-up? A bigger wind-up often means a more powerful serve.
By observing the server’s movements and expressions, you can make micro-adjustments to your positioning or change your formation, giving you a major advantage.
The key is to recognize that a battle of information begins in the few seconds between the whistle and the serve. In my experience, beginners and players who struggle with serve reception often believe that the play only starts when the ball is hit, which is a critical mistake.
