| Having more hockey players on the ice, more soccer | | | | one front row player passing, which creates another |
| players on the field or more basketball players on the | | | | good target for your opponent's serve. A smart |
| court would give your team a distinct advantage. But | | | | server can aim for the front row hitter in the hopes |
| in volleyball the court is small enough that more | | | | of taking him or her out of the offense with a |
| players trying to pass the ball can often be a | | | | difficult serve. |
| disadvantage. In this case, more is not merrier. More | | | | In three-person serve receive we have only two |
| passers means more seams, more opportunities for | | | | major seams, which may cut down on potential |
| miscommunication and more serve receive errors. | | | | communication problems. Keep in mind that this type |
| Rather than smoosh everyone on your team into a | | | | of passing makes more demands on the abilities of all |
| serve receive formation, try to keep the number of | | | | three receivers, because each person is responsible |
| passing down to three. If that seems like way too | | | | for any serve within their 1/3 of the court. This |
| few give four passers a try, but your goal should be | | | | means if the ball is served short the passer must |
| using only three passers. | | | | move forward to pass it; or if the serve lands near |
| In a four-person serve receive there are at least | | | | the end line the passer needs to move backwards |
| three seams, and there may be more if any of the | | | | into position (or receive it with an overhand pass). |
| front row players start creeping back and trying to | | | | If your passers are having trouble handling a full third |
| pass. "Seams" are the lines between passers where | | | | of the court you can try using the two outside |
| either person could possibly be responsible for playing | | | | passers to take short serves while the middle passer |
| the ball. When a serve is heading for a seam both | | | | takes anything deep. This increases the need for |
| players have to communicate about which one of | | | | communicationg because it can be unclear what |
| them will pass the ball. More seams create more | | | | constitutes a "short" serve and passers need to call |
| demands on team communication. | | | | the ball early. Go with whatever your team is |
| One of the worst parts of this type of serve receive | | | | comfortable with, and don't be afraid to experiment. |
| is the huge hole in the very middle of the court. Any | | | | It can be difficult to transition to having fewer |
| of the four players in serve receive could potentially | | | | players involved in serve receive, but you'll reap |
| pass a serve heading for that spot. It's an obvious | | | | rewards when it comes to your passing accuracy and |
| target for a good server, and many players enjoy | | | | communication. And remember, no matter what |
| serving into that type of communication hot spot. | | | | formation you use you need to call the ball early and |
| With four passers in play there will also be at least | | | | often! |