Volleyball Serve Biomechanics

Teddy Parham, Griffin Hartshorn, Christine Jimenez

Coach Kramer

Period1: ASM

5 December 2017
 Table of Contents

Introduction

Starting Position

Procedure

Phases

Phase 1: Approach

Phase 2: Taking off

Phase 3: Arm cocking

Phase 4: Acceleration

Phase 5: Follow through

Muscle Analysis/Injuries

Works Cited
Introduction:

In this project we are observing the biomechanics of a volleyball serve. In a typical

volleyball serve the player goes through 5 phases to complete the action. The 5 phases are

approach, takeoff, arm cocking, arm acceleration, and follow-through.

Starting position:

The starting position includes the athlete with knees slightly bent and the arm holding

the ball at a 170 degree angle.

Procedure:

1. Take a video of a volleyball topspin serve from all four angles (right, left, front, and

back)

2. Have the athlete do multiple serves

3. Make sure there athlete does the correct movements during each of the 5 phases

(Approach, takeoff, arm cocking, arm acceleration, and follow-through)

4. On their Hudl Technique app, calculate the angle degrees of the shoulder in each phase
Phase 1:

The approach is where the athlete stands shoulder width apart holding the ball in their

non dominant hand with their elbow at a 170 degree angle ready to toss the ball. After the athlete

tosses the ball up, they take a left-right-left step approach before taking off.

Phase 2:

The takeoff happens as the player throws the ball up in the air. As the ball is in the air, and the

athlete takes the three step approach, the athlete jumps on the third step.

Phase 3:

They cock their dominant hand back slightly to gain momentum for the hit mid-air and

aim straight forward to make the ball go straight. The arm cocking is necessary to hit the ball as

it gives you more force in the hit rather then just tossing the ball.

Phase 4:

The arm acceleration comes from as far as you cock your arm back, the further your arm

is cocked back the more speed and momentum will hit the ball making the acceleration larger.

Acceleration allows the athlete to gain power in order to allow the ball to travel.
Phase 5:

The follow through begins right after hitting the ball with the dominant hand. As the

athlete begins falling to the ground, the follow through concludes. The act of hitting the ball

involves 7 key muscles which are the deltoid, rhomboid minor, rhomboid major, serratus

anterior, trapezius, pectoralis minor, subclavius, and the levator scapula. Finally the follow

through is the most important part of the serve. The follow through will determine where the ball

ends up on the other side of the net. If you hit the ball nonchalant then their will be no aim to

where it ends up but if you go through the 5 phases correctly your serve should always be

accurate to where you want it.

Muscle Analysis/Injuries:

Injuries are very common in volleyball, especially the shoulder. Many of the injuries

involve overuse of the rotator cuff. With the overuse of the rotator cuff, this can lead to

tendentious, bursitis, and possibly tears in the labrum. This will cut off range of motion and

making it more difficult to perform the volleyball serve. To prevent these injuries, the player

should warmup the muscles before practice or a game with stretching and light aerobic exercises.

The player should also cool down after practice by stretching the muscles again. The player

should do proper strength training for the shoulders and building muscles around it. Physical

Therapy is also very important in building strength back in the shoulder muscles and help

prevent their injuries again

 Works Cited

Reeser, Jonathan C. et al. Upper Limb Biomechanics During the Volleyball Serve and Spike.

Sports Health 2.5 (2010): 368374. PMC. Web. 20 Nov. 2017.

Alexander, Marion, and Adrian Honish. "An Analysis of the Volleyball Jump Serve." University

of Manitoba, umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/hlhpri/media/vb_jump_serve.pdf. Accessed

20 Nov. 2017.

Harris, Trent, and Ross Dempster. "Biomechanical Principles Involved in the Volleyball Serve."

Blogspot, Blogger, 15 June 2016, volleyballdynamics3531.blogspot.com/2016/06/major-

question.html. Accessed 20 Nov. 2017.