If your player can’t hit a float serve over the net

Can’t get float serves to float: Most often  you can attribute this problem to what the server fails to do after making contact with the ball. If a child has played other sports — tennis, for example — she naturally wants to follow through with her serving motion, which is a big no-no when you’re hitting a float serve. After contacting the ball, the player’s hand must come to a stop right away as though she were slapping a wall. Otherwise, she can’t generate the unique back-and-forth floating motion that gives the opposition fits.

Can’t clear the net with a float serve: If your player can’t hit a float serve over the net, take a look at the player’s feet first. Usually the player for- gets to transfer her weight from her back foot to her front foot when she begins the service motion. Also, check out the player’s starting position. Sometimes kids start with all their weight on their front feet, which drains a lot of the power they need to get the ball over the net. Other times you can trace the problem to the player’s toss. If it’s too low or too far out in front of the player, the serve usually winds up in the net.

Can’t contact the center of the ball during float serves: This problem is usually  related to the player’s toss. If a player tosses the ball too high or too low, she probably can’t make proper contact between the ball and the heel of her hand. Also, a player’s toss can’t have any spin on it when she releases it from her hand; if it does, the ball may shift when it gets in the air, which often throws off the accuracy of the serve.