Serving Drills: Four-Square and Tic-Tac-Toe

Four-Square Serving and Tic-Tac-Toe

By: Teri Clemens and Jenny McDowell

Originally Published in The Volleyball Drill Book - Human Kinetics

Setup
Each side of the court is divided in half, using lines, tape, cones, markers, or jump ropes. Four teams of two or three players and a supply of balls are on the endline behind a zone. Extra players set up near the back of each zone to serve as shaggers. One person in each group of servers counts accurate serves as points and keeps a running total throughout the round. For each round, two minutes are on the clock.

Run the Drill

1. 1. Beginning teams may have more success serving from only one side of the net at a time. More advanced teams can serve from both ends at the same time.
   2. The coach chooses a downthe-line or crosscourt serve.
   3. Teams have two minutes to serve as many balls as possible in the assigned zone, one player per team at a time. Shaggers retrieve the balls and return them to the basket.
   4. The team that puts the most serves in the correct zone in two minutes is the winner.
   5. Teams switch zone assignments for each round.
      

Coaching Points

• • Encourage players to initiate the serve the same way every time.
    
  • As players improve, begin calling zone 1 or zone 2 to servers. This helps improve overall serve control. Players can later advance to more zones.

Variation
Have players compete only against the other players in their group. Winners advance to a special group to play for overall champion.

Setup
The coaches use cones or tape to mark out nine equal zones on each side of the court. A basket of balls is placed at each endline. The coach sets aside a group of objects to mark the zones as players score there (alternatively, extra players can sit in the zones to mark them). A team of three players sets up behind each endline. Shaggers set up at the sidelines.

Run the Drill

1. 1. At the coach's signal, the first player in each line serves, then goes to the back of the serving line.
   2. When a zone is hit, the coach marks it. A shagger retrieves the ball and places it in one of the baskets.
   3. Play continues with players in both groups serving by turns, attempting to claim more zones. The goal for each team is to claim three zones in a row in any direction to win the round.
   4. After each round, replace the groups of three so that everyone gets to play. Keep a win-loss record for each team.

Coaching Points

• • Introduce players to zone serving before running the drill; otherwise, their success will be lucky rather than being earned.
    
  • As the players improve, accept only well-hit balls. Allow no wimpy serving.

Variation
Have teams compete to win two rounds out of three.

Add passers and setters on each side as the servers continue to try for tic-tac-toe.

Require a specific type of three in a row in order to win, such as diagonal only.