The Screen for the Server - Part 1

Articles In This Section:

· The Serve

· Underhand Serve

· Overhand Serve

· Roundhouse Serve

· Comparative Value of the Three Serves

· The Screen for the Server - Part 1

· Strategy of the Serve

· Role of the Serve in National Championships

Official rules of the U.S. Volleyball Association allow players to line up anywhere in their court they wish. They must, however, be in their proper rotation order and the three front men be completely in front of the three back men. These rules provide the serving team the advantage of forming a screen for its server.

Fig. #1

FIVE-MAN SCREEN

Fig. #2

FOUR-MAN SCREEN

O—Player;-------- > Path of ball

The purpose of the screen is to hide the server from the opposing team and thus conceal the ball for a longer period of time even in its flight. When the opposing team does not know in which direction the ball will go or when the ball is hit, it is not able to get set as well for the return. "The use of a serving screen adds much to the effectiveness of the floating serve." ¹⁰ The usual formation for a five-man screen calls for the three front men to stand side by side in proper rotation order and about 15 feet from the net. The two back-line men should stand close behind, filling in the gaps between the three front men, as shown in Figure #1. Each man in the screen should raise his arms above his head. Players in the screen may also wave their arms if they desire.

It may be desirable to use only four men in the screen, leaving the fifth man to play the opposite side of the court from the screen, as shown in Figure #2. The screen may be used anywhere across the court. It may be close to one side line or the other, or it may be used in the center of the court. The Hollywood YMCA Stars employ an effective five-man screen next to the side line and closer to the net, as shown in Figure #3. This calls for accurate serves right down the side line.

See diagram of the three screens.