- Improve Your Volleyball with Coach April
- Basic Volleyball Terms For Blocking A Ball At The Net For Points
- Basic Volleyball Terminology.
Basic Volleyball Terminology For Blockers Stopping Hitters At The Net
Basic volleyball terminology like 'roof' 'stuff' and 'house' are slang terms and words that describe how blockers block a hitter before the ball crosses the net.
Basic Volleyball Terminology:
Roof
roof
To "roof" a hitter is a common slang term used when a blocker completely smothers a hitter who's about to hit a hard attack stopping the ball aggressively with strong blocking arms shaped like a roof of a house that 'press' the ball straight down on the hitter's side of the court.
A blocker presses their arm pits and shoulders so far over the net placing them in the path of the hitter's extended hitting arm where they expect them to contact the ball.
Basic Volleyball Terminology:
House
house
When a blocker builds a house around the spiker's hitting attempt it means they've completely closed them in and stuffed the ball back into the hitter's court without giving them any room to hit by or past their block.
When you have "housed" a hitter that means you put them in a place where they can't get out...
A blocker's goal is to house a hitter by reducing or eliminating the amount of court that an opposing hitter can hit to.
If they reduce the hitting area on the net that means they block "line" to force the hitter to hit cross court where the waiting player in the backcourt defends the ball or they take their cross court area away at the net and in order to avoid the block... the hitter is forced to hit the ball down the line.
If the blocker doesn't take an area away from the hitter but decides to block the ball that's the blockers attempt at eliminating any area for the hitter to hit to.
Basic Volleyball Terminology:
Stuff
stuff
A "stuff block is when a blocker stops a hitter while blocking in such a way that their arms are extended so far over the net that the hitter doesn't have time to get the ball on the other side of the net and the ball goes straight down.
Click to Download Your Tactical Serving Strategy Checklist pdf:
🎯Tactical Serving Strategy Checklist Guide - $7
Are you serving without strategic purpose while opponents easily run their offense? Why React to Opponents When You Could Be Controlling Them?
You'll Get:
Pre-game intelligence methods --Identify technical weaknesses and poor passing habits during opponent warm-ups
Strategic target selections Master seam serving and zone targeting that creates immediate passing problems
Situational serving tactics Know when to serve aggressively vs. safely based on score and game situation
Mental approach strategies Develop point-scoring mentality and force passers out of comfort zones
Coach April's tactical tips Adjust serving strategy mid-game and target front-row hitters effectively
1-page PDF checklist Convenient format you can print or keep on your device for strategic reference
Frequently Asked Questions About Proper Volleyball Serve Technique
1. How can I improve my volleyball serve?
Regular practice is key to improvement. Additionally, you can focus on elements such as having a consistent toss, utilizing your whole body for the serve, aiming for different target areas on the court, and varying the speed and spin of your serve.
2. What kind of serve gives the most control?
For beginners, the underhand serve will most likely provide the most control. As your skills improve, you might find that the overhand serve gives you a good balance of control and power.
3. How can I make my serves more powerful?
Power in serving comes from a combination of arm swing speed, timing, and body momentum.
Working on your physical strength, particularly in your core and serving arm, can also help generate more power in your serves.
Volleyball Serving Drills: Addi, Piper and Hadley Working on their Jump Float Serve To Chairs for Accuracy and Points during semiprivate training with me
4. What is the most difficult type of serve to return?
It can be subjective and depends on the skills of the receiver. Usually, many players find the float serve difficult to return due to its unpredictable trajectory. A well-executed jump serve can also be very challenging to return due to its speed and power.
Listen to what I tell Addi about being aggressive with her armswing.
Working on her floater in volleyball serve today we did 100 reps of the same serve to the same spot so we could problem solve and work on every body part movement...where things go so when its time to do everything faster...we have smoothed out and understood all the possible wrinkles.
5. Can I touch the line while serving in volleyball?
No, you cannot touch the line. While serving, you need to stay behind the end line until you have contacted the ball.
Stepping on or over the line before the ball has been hit is considered a foot fault, and results in the serve going to the other team.
6. Why is my serve going into the net/too long?
If your serves are going into the net, it may be because you could be making contact too low on the ball or you are not generating enough power with your pre-serve technique.
If your serves are too long, you may be swinging at the ball too hard, with too much follow through, too high, or leaning back too much on contact.
Making adjustments in these areas can help improve your serves. I love to help my clients identify what they need to do in order to develop a consistently tough serve.
Ariella and I spend a lot of time developing a tough jump float serve to anywhere I tell her on the court.
Remember that volleyball is about teamwork, skill, and most importantly, enjoyment! Train hard, play fair, and always enjoy the game.
Have more questions? Feel free to reach out to me at april@improveyourvolley.com. I'm here to help you become the best volleyball server you can be!
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Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience.
These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis.
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I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.
Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.
If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list.
Basic Volleyball Terminology:
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Words Used In Volleyball: Basic Terms, Slang, Phrases, Jargon, Lingo
Explore the extensive list of words used in volleyball with basic slang, lingo and vocabulary terms often used on the court by players and coaches and fans.
A List of Volleyball Terms To Know For Liberos and Backrow Players
Here's a list of volleyball terms to know on digging and defensive terminology for liberos and backcourt players who need to know about backrow defensive terms.
25 Volleyball Communication Terms for Effective On-Court Strategy
Elevate your game with volleyball communication terms for specific positions, non-verbal cues and tips for effective on-court communication in competition.
Bumps, Sets and Errors: Understanding Volleyball Mistake Slang Words
Get ready to impress your teammates with your knowledge of volleyball mistake slang, as I break down common error-related terms used by players on the court.
Two Action Words For Volleyball Digging The Six Pack and The Facial
These two action words for volleyball digging that explain what's a six pack and the facial are digging actions explain how to dig a volleyball using your face.
2 Dig Volleyball Definition Terms For Liberos and Defensive Players
The dig volleyball definition for two terms with explanations for an "up" and what "tagged" means which describe what happens in back court defense.
3 Types of Hits in Volleyball The Tool, The Wipe and Hitting The Line
There are other names for an attack or hit used in volleyball like 'tool', 'wipe' and 'hitting line' that're 3 types of hits in volleyball used to score points.
Setting In Volleyball: My Guide To The Basic Slow Offense Setter Calls
I'll teach you the volleyball setting calls and offensive plays that beginner players learn and work on in freshman practices including four, two and five sets.
The Down Ball in Volleyball Is A Hard Attack Hit With No Approach Jump
The "down ball in volleyball" is a volleyball term that hitters use for attacking the ball on the court without using a spike approach jump to score points.
What Is Set In Volleyball 3 Setting Terms For Players In Offense Plays
What is set in volleyball ? Different sets have names that both setters and hitters have to know so they can run their offensive plays in order to score. .
You Don't Know These Blocker Terms Used in Volleyball? Change That Now
These four terms used in volleyball blocking practice are words and volleyball jargon coaches use to describe blocking technique used to stop an attack hit.
Four Types of Volleyball Blocks Varsity Volleyball Players Should Know
These blocking terms describe the four types of volleyball blocks varsity players know to do: one-on-one blocking, double block, triple block and swing blocking.
What're Basic Volleyball Blocking Skills All Blockers Should Know Well
I describe blocking terms which explain common volleyball blocking skills and techniques varsity players know like "roof", "the joust" and the "kong block."
Understanding Important Court Volleyball Positions And Who Plays Them
There are 7 primary court volleyball positions are the setter, the outside hitter, the opposite, the middle blocker, DS, libero and the serving specialist.
Learn The Basic Volleyball Rules and Terminology: A Beginner's Guide
Learn more on the basic volleyball rules and terminology for the antenna, what's the volleyball net and how high is it and where's the front and back court?
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From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend
Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.
- the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
- named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
- former USA National team member
- one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist
April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match
Coach April's 2025 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training
Pre-Registration now open for 2025 Private and Semiprivate Training Sessions with Coach April . Get prepared for club tryouts or train with me during club season!
Email now for information on semiprivate or private indoor skills, individual or small group training volleyball classes and my Breakfast Club for College Players training for 2025.
Invest in your improvement while preepping for your next level and college goals while working hard and training smart.
Email me right now to register or for more information.
info@improveyourvolley.com
Serving slang is not just about individual techniques; it also relates to overall game strategy. A coach might instruct a player to serve a "short serve" or a "deep serve" to target specific areas of the opponent's court or exploit weaknesses in their serve receive formation.
Ari, my private training client and I are working specifically on serving on jump float cross court serves ...short to Zone 2
There's so much we work on to get to this point where she can contact the ball with
- the same toss height and same toss location
- the same armswing speed
- the same timing for when her serving hand contacts the ball
- the middle of the hand contacting the middle of the ball every single time
- getting use to watching her serving hand contact the ball at the highest point of her jump ...before she starts to land
- and finally contacting the ball in the precise spot on the ball so it goes where the coach wants the player to put it so in this case ..a short serve in the farthest short right corner on the court also called Zone 2.
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Read my open letter to Las Vegas Jr high/high school volleyball parents about my predictions on individual and small group volleyball training trends for 2019/2021
From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?
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Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.
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