Target Serving Drill

In target serving, players aim each serve at a marked zone on the far court and score points for accuracy. It turns serving practice from just getting the ball over into aiming, which is what wins points in matches. It builds accuracy and a repeatable routine, and the scoring gives every serve a clear goal and makes progress easy to see. Beginners use big targets and serve from closer; stronger servers use small targets in zones 1, 5 and 6 from behind the end line.

Focus

Serving

Level

Beginner–intermediate

Players

Any number (1–12+); best with 2–4 servers per ball cart and a ball collector on the far side

Equipment

A net, many balls, and 3–6 targets (cones, towels, hoops, or floor tape squares about 1.5–2 m wide)

Space

A full court

Time

10–15 min, about 2 rounds of 10 serves per player

Print this drill

Setup

• Servers stand in the service zone behind the end line, which runs the full 9 m width of the court. Beginners may start where most serves go over the net, often mid-court on their own side.
• Place targets on the far court. Start with three: deep zone 1, deep zone 5 and zone 6 (middle back). From the server's view, far-court zone 1 is on the left and zone 5 is on the right. See court zones.
• One player on the far side collects balls and rolls them back under the net.
• Alone? Serve 10, collect the balls, and repeat.

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How to run it

1. The coach calls a target (“zone 5!”) or the server picks one and says it out loud.
2. The server does their routine, then serves at that target.
3. The server keeps score (see Scoring) and takes 10 serves.
4. The server who just finished replaces the ball collector, and the collector joins the serving line.
5. Repeat for a second round and try to beat the first-round score.

Scoring

3 points for landing in the called target, 1 point for landing in the court, 0 for a miss (net or out). Track each player's total for 10 serves (30 is a perfect round) and try to beat it next round. Serving under pressure uses the same scale with a stake added.

Safety

Only serve when the far court is clear except for the ball collector, who should stay near the sideline and watch the server. Warm up the shoulder before serving many balls (see warm-up); two or three rounds of about 10 serves keep players focused without tiring the shoulder. Stop if the shoulder hurts (see common injuries). Use flat floor markings instead of chairs, cones or raised targets whenever a defender or passer enters the target area. Keep collectors outside live play and stop to retrieve loose balls.

Health note: General information, not medical advice. Young athletes should train under a qualified coach, and anyone with pain or an injury should see a doctor or physical therapist.

Watch: a serving accuracy game with chairs as targets

Video: SIKANA English on YouTube. This version uses chairs near the attack line (10-foot line) and the end line as targets, and the first player to hit them all wins. Learn Volley is not affiliated with this channel.

Choose a serving target from observations

Hitting a marked area is useful practice; choosing when to use it is the next skill. Define a target clearly with your coach and leave a practical margin inside the lines. No court zone is always the best target.

• Observe several comparable receptions: starting positions, movement, communication and what your own server can control. Do not select a receiver simply because of appearance or height.
• Name a generous target and one serving cue. Track in-court serves, target hits and reception observations separately; a target hit is not automatically an ace or a poor pass.
• Review a short, agreed practice block. Adjust the target size or task if accuracy breaks down. Match decisions also depend on score, rotation, rules and the coach's plan.

Worked example (fictional)

In a fictional practice, Sam sends five controlled serves toward a deep-middle area with space inside the end line: four are in, three reach the target, and two of those lead to a moving reception. Five serves toward a narrower sideline target produce two in-court serves. Sam and the coach choose the larger area for the next practice block, keep the same routine and observe again. This tiny sample is a practice decision, not proof that deep middle is the best match tactic.

Blank record to copy or print

Copy these fields into your own document or print the page. Keep personal notes private; review the next decision with your coach.

• Context / reception observation / number observed: ______________________________
• Chosen target / margin / one serving cue: ______________________________
• Attempts / in court / target hits / reception notes: ______________________________
• Keep or change / why / next review: ______________________________

Keep flat markers and collectors out of landing and movement paths. Do not aim at an unready person. Record what you saw without blaming or publicly ranking teammates.

Background (English): USA Volleyball: Five Keys to Better Serving. Original Learn Volley worksheet; the publisher does not endorse this template.

Coaching this drill

What success looks like

Serves land in the called target area, not just somewhere in the court, and each one comes from the same routine, toss and step, so a good serve can be repeated rather than being a lucky one.

One cue

“Step and point.” Face the target and step toward it with your front foot (the one opposite your hitting arm).

One common error

Changing the toss for each target. The serve gets less consistent. Adjustment: keep the toss the same; aim by turning your body and stepping toward the target.

Make it easier

Serve from mid-court or the attack line, and use bigger targets.

Make it harder

Use smaller targets, or only score deep serves (within about 2 m of the end line).

When to progress

A practice suggestion: step back or shrink the target when about 7 of 10 serves land in from your current spot and your round score has gone up for two rounds running. Adjust the numbers to the server; if most serves start missing, go back to the last spot.

More cues and common mistakes

• “Same routine, every serve.” A routine you repeat makes the serve repeatable. Rushing makes serves sloppy as the round goes on. Fix: use the full routine every serve, even in practice.
• “Toss in front of your hitting shoulder.” A toss in the same spot lets you use the same swing.
• “Firm hand, follow toward the target.” The follow-through sends the ball where your hand points.
• Serving harder to reach deep targets. The serve sails long or into the net. Fix: keep the same toss and swing speed. Aim higher over the net for depth, and follow through toward the target.
• Only serving to one zone. Servers get comfortable with one spot only. Fix: rotate targets so every server can hit zones 1, 5 and 6.

More ways to make it easier or harder

• Easier: score 1 point for any serve that lands in.
• Harder: add short targets in zones 2 and 4 near the attack line.
• Harder: team game: two teams compete for the highest total; a miss subtracts 1 point.
• Harder: serve at passers instead of targets in the serve-receive triangle, or play the games in serving under pressure.
• Harder: try a new serve type at a big target (see types of serves).

Frequently asked questions