The Volleyball Moms' Guide to Volleyball Slang For Serving Situations

Decode the language of volleyball slang for serving situations with my mom-focused list of terms like ace, floater, jump serve, foot fault and let serve.

Volleyball Slang For Serving Situations -Terminology and words that explain what the serving in volleyball definition is for the first opportunity to score points from the service line to begin a rally (Dan Morgan Photo)

Dear volleyball moms, as your child embarks on their volleyball journey, you may find yourself navigating a new world of terminology and slang.

One crucial aspect of the game is serving, and with it comes a colorful array of terms that can be confusing for both new players and their supportive parents. 

In this article, I'll break down the most common volleyball slang for serving situations, helping you understand the language of the court and become a more informed volleyball mom.

Whether your child is a beginner just starting out or has been playing for a couple of years, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to support their growth and communicate effectively with coaches and other volleyball parents.

As a volleyball mom, you'll quickly learn that an "ace" is the ultimate goal of every server.

When your child's coach or teammates shout out, "Nice ace!" they're celebrating a serve that cleared the net and landed directly in the opponent's court without being touched by anyone able to play it. 

An ace is a point won 100% completely through the server's skill and it's usually a moment of pride for both the player and their parents when its done successfully.

The serve is the one skill in volleyball that a player, by himself or by herself can use to score a point. 

Unlike other skills, that need the assistance of two or more players working together in order to score a point, no one else helps them serve, no one else helps them get the ball over the net after the referee blows the whistle to start the play. 

Volleyball Slang for Serving Situations- When your child's coach or teammates shout out, "Nice ace!" they're celebrating a serve that cleared the net and landed directly in the opponent's court without being touched by anyone able to play it. (Craig Fildes photo)

As a mom it can be nerve wracking watching your beginner player learn how to serve at first but when they learn how the serving skill works for them, then they keep practicing it at home and with their team during practices so they can handle the pressure of getting the ball over the net...completely by themselves. 

So, when you hear this term used by people and fans and family shouting it or saying it in the stands, don't be surprised to see the team starting to cheer and give out high-fives...when your son or daughter's team...scores an "ace."!

As your child progresses and hopefully improves in volleyball, you may hear their coach discussing different serving techniques, such as the "floater" and the "jump serve."

A "floater" serve is a type of serve made when the middle of your hand contacts the middle panels of the ball in a way that produces minimal to no spin on the ball, causing the ball to wobble, float and move unpredictably through the air as it makes its way across the net, making it challenging for the opposing team to pass.

Volleyball Slang for Serving Situations- A "floater" serve is a type of serve made when the middle of your hand contacts the middle panels of the ball in a way that produces minimal to no spin on the ball, causing the ball to wobble, float and move unpredictably as it crosses the courts and over the net.

Ryanwils, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

On the other hand, a jump serve involves a more advanced serving technique where the server, before they start their serve, backs up three to four steps behind the service line before taking a three-step or four step spike approach that propels them in the air before they contact the ball just before crossing the service line when they land at a higher contact point, resulting in a more powerful serve.

Understanding the various volleyball slang for serving situations should help you appreciate the variety of serves your child will be learning and why and where they will serve for the strategic decisions made by their coach.

You should learn these two important serving terms related to volleyball rules are called the "let serve" and the "foot fault."

A let serve happens when the ball touches the net while crossing over it on its way to the opposing team's side but still lands in the opponent's court, and so play is allowed to continue.

It's important to know that a "let serve" is considered legal in modern volleyball.

This rule was changed so that play would continue even if the ball hit the net when served because originally if a player served the ball and it touched the net, that was considered a foul and the referee would blow their whistle, stop play and award the ball to the opposing team so they could serve. 

So nowadays when your son or daughter learn the game they will be taught that if their ball touches the net and goes over to the opposing side on its way over, then the serve is still good and still playable and the referee will let the serve go on and play will continue. 

However, a foot fault is a serving error that happens when the server touches the end line or the court before making contact with the ball, resulting in a point for the receiving team.

As a volleyball mom, understanding these terms will help you follow the game more closely and support your child in avoiding serving errors.

As your child advances in their volleyball journey, you may notice that serving slang evolves with their skill level.

For example, volleyball moms of players aged 13-15 on freshman or junior varsity teams may hear terms like "standing float serve" or "jump float serve," which are variations of the basic floater serve.

As players reach the varsity level (ages 16-18), you might hear more advanced serving slang, such as "topspin jump serve" or "hybrid serve," indicating the increased power and complexity of their serves.

Familiarizing yourself with these terms will help you appreciate your child's progress and the nuances of the game at different levels.

Serving slang is not just about individual techniques; it also relates to overall game strategy.

For instance, 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.

As a volleyball mom, understanding these strategic terms will give you insight into the coach's game plan and help you follow the flow of the match more effectively.

Don't hesitate to ask your child's coach for clarification on any unfamiliar terms – they should be happy to explain and appreciate your interest in learning the language of the sport.

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. (photo Dan Morgan)

Volleyball moms, by taking the time to learn serving slang, you're not only expanding your own knowledge of the game but also equipping yourself to be a better support system for your child.

Whether you're cheering from the sidelines, discussing the game on the ride home, or helping your child process feedback from their coach, understanding serving terminology will enable you to communicate more effectively and provide informed encouragement.

Serving in Volleyball Definition and Words For The Volleyball Service- jump serve-when a player uses a spike approach behind the service line to contact the ball in the air to send it over the net to start the rally

As the volleyball scene continues to grow in Las Vegas and nearby states like Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Texas and California, with exciting developments like the new LOVB pro league, your dedication to learning the language of the sport will be invaluable in nurturing your child's passion for volleyball.

So, embrace the slang, enjoy the journey, and be proud of your role as a volleyball mom in supporting the next generation of players.

Serving in Volleyball Definition and Words For The Volleyball Service - floater serve-a type of serve made by contacting the middle of the flat hand to the middle of the ball which once the ball crosses the net makes the ball float and dip making it harder for an opposing player to pass the ball (photo John O'Brien)

floater serve

-a type of serve made by contacting the middle of the flat hand to the middle of the ball which once the ball crosses the net makes the ball float and dip making it harder for an opposing player to pass the ball 

jump serve

-when a player uses a spike approach behind the service line to contact the ball in the air  to send it over the net to start the rally

overhand serve

- when a player from behind the service line sends the ball over the net by tossing it and contacting it before it sinks below the level of their head

topspin

- a type of serve; when the top third of the ball is contacted so that it travels across the net at high velocity with forward rotation.

This type of serve is a high speed, high velocity serve intended to be difficult for a player to pass in serve receive.

sky ball

- a type of serve used mainly in beach volleyball when a player sends the ball 20-30 feet or more into the air before it crosses the net.

The goal is force the opposing team's passer(s) to lose sight of the ball against the light colored sky. The ball becomes difficult to track and pass accurately when it comes down into the opposing team's court.

The higher the ball, the more the chances of the wind blowing the ball around which makes it even more difficult to pass. 

friendly fire

-when a player hits a teammate with a ball or a serve by accident

foot fault

-committed by a player who touches the service line with any part of their foot when attempting to serve the ball at the beginning of a rally

let serve

- a served ball that hits the net on the way over and into the opposing team's court is now legal to play

missile

- a hard hit ball or serve

service error

-when a player serves the ball out or into the net

Hey there, volleyball mom!

I know you're always on the go, juggling a million errands and supporting your child's volleyball goals.

That's why I wanted to create a quick and fun way for you to test your knowledge of serving slang while taking a well-deserved break in your day.

So, grab a cup of coffee, find a quiet spot, and spend a few minutes challenging yourself with my Volleyball Mom's Serving Slang Quiz.

Let's see how many terms you can match with their correct definitions and impress your child with your newfound volleyball vocabulary.

You've got this, and I'm here to cheer you on every step of the way!

Keep shining, volleyball mama!– your dedication and enthusiasm are the backbone of our volleyball community!

Don't forget to share your results with your fellow volleyball mom friends and invite them to take the quiz as well that way you can celebrate your progress together.

1. What term describes a serve that lands directly in the opponent's court without being touched?
a) Floater
b) Ace
c) Let Serve
d) Jump Serve

2. A serve that hits the net but still lands in the opponent's court is called a:
a) Foot Fault
b) Ace
c) Let Serve
d) Missile

3. Which serving technique involves hitting the ball with minimal spin, causing it to wobble unpredictably?
a) Jump Serve
b) Topspin Serve
c) Floater
d) Hybrid Serve

4. When a server touches the end line or the court before making contact with the ball, it's called a:
a) Foot Fault
b) Let Serve
c) Service Error
d) Ace

5. A powerful, hard-hit serve is often referred to as a:
a) Floater
b) Jump Serve
c) Missile
d) Hybrid Serve

6. True or False: A "floater" serve is hit with a lot of topspin.

7. True or False: A "jump serve" involves hitting the ball from a standing position.

8. True or False: A "let serve" is a type of serving error.

9. True or False: A "foot fault" occurs when the server steps on the end line before making contact with the ball.

10. True or False: A "short serve" is a serve that lands just over the net in the opponent's court.

How did you do, volleyball mom?

If you got all five questions right, congratulations! You're well on your way to mastering the language of volleyball serving.

If you missed a few, don't worry – keep practicing and soon you'll be using these slang terms like a pro.

Remember, every bit of volleyball knowledge you gain is an opportunity to better support and connect with your child on their volleyball journey.

Keep up the great work, and stay tuned for more volleyball mom guides coming your way!

Answers:

1. b) Ace
2. c) Let Serve
3. c) Floater
4. a) Foot Fault
5. c) Missile

6. False
7. False
8. False
9. True
10. True

Here are three options: 

1. Learn more about the volleyball words, terms and terminology in the Related Links below.  
2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page  Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. Or visit the pages in the Information section in the drop down menu at the top of the page. 

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