Volleyball which is the national game of Sri Lanka is a popular sport in all schools. All over the world both men and women play this game.

In grade 6 you learned about ball handling and footwork in volleyball and many activities connected therewith.

Serving is the sending of the ball, to the opposite side from the serving area in order to start the game.

The two main ways of serving

1. Under arm service

2. Over arm service

Let's learn the technique of the under arm service

Under arm service

This can be learnt under three stages.

i. Stage before touching the ball

• Place the ball on the palm of your free hand

• Place the foot of the same side in front

• Move the striking hand slightly behind your body

• Balance yourself giving greater weight to the back foot

• Look straight while inclining your body forward

ii. Touching stage

• Toss the ball a little

• Swiftly move the striking hand close to your body and strike the bottom of the ball

iii. Stage after touching the ball

• After striking the ball move the hand forward

• Move your back foot forward and keep your balance

Activities related to under arm service

Follow the figures and instructions given below and engage in these activities

1. Do the action for under arm service without the ball many times.

2. Get into two groups and stand 5 to 6 metres apart from each other. Practise the under arm service by serving the ball to the other team. Move to the back of your line when your chance is over (Figure 4.3).

3. The two teams stand about 4 to 5 metres away from the net on either side of it and using the under arm service serve the ball to strike the net (Figure 4.4).

4. The two teams stand on either side of the net, about 5 metres away from it and using the under arm service, serve the ball over the net to the other team and vice versa (Figure 4.5).

This means receiving the ball served by the opposing team. There are two ways of receiving the ball.

1. Under arm receive

2. Over arm receive

Under arm receive

For easy learning, the under arm receive can be learnt under three stages.

i. Stage before touching the ball

• Legs should be kept apart at or about shoulder width and relaxed

• Your body weight must be equally borne by both legs

• Bend your knees slightly inclining your body forward.

• Keep your hands on either side of your body and the eyes on the moving ball

• Keep your body relaxed

ii. Touching stage

• Fully stretch both hands keeping them together as shown in figure 4.9

• The muscle area in the lower part of the hand should be kept completely relaxed

• Lower the hands from the wrists

• Rise as you make contact with the ball with the hands

• Control your hands according to the speed of the ball and hit it upwards.

iii. Stage after touching the ball

• After attacking the ball move your hands back to the sides of your body.

• Balance yourself by placing in front either of your feet as convenient

Activities related to under arm receive practice

Engage in the following activities with the teacher's guidance.

1' One has to stay ready to receive the ball according to the under arm receive method. When the other presses the ball on his hands he gets up as shown in figure 4.10

As he/she gets up the other releases the ball (figure 4.11)

2. Get into pairs and pass the ball to each other as shown in the figure 4.12

3. Get into two groups and stand 5 meters away from each other in two lines. Using the correct underarm receiving technique, hit the ball at the player at the front of the opposite team. After your chance is over run to the back of your line. (figure 4.13)

4. Engage in the above activity in a volleyball court where the net is tied, using the correct under arm receive, lined up on either side of the net. (figure 4.14)

Volleyball is the national game in Sri Lanka. The two vital skills serving and receiving should be practised correctly.

Under arm service for serving and under arm receive for receiving can be explained under several stages.

These skills can be developed using various activities.