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SURE THINGS

• Approach steps and two foot jump

• Both arms swung forward on takeoff

• Bow and arrow ready position

• Wrist snap for topspin on contact

HICCUPS

• One foot jump

• Ball hit with fist instead of open hand

• "Tennis serve" arm action; one arm is swung forward and the other is swung behind

• "Shot-put" arm action

HITTING/SPIKE

TEACHING KEYWORDS

BOW AND ARROW

• As you leave the leave the floor to jump, pull the hitting arm back with the elbow and hand at shoulder height or higher.

• The hand should be open and relaxed, with the plam facing away from the ear.

• The elbow should swing forward and raise above the head.

• Then the arm and hand swing over the top as the heal of the hand contacts the ball.

• This is followed by the palm and fingers, which then snap through the ball.

• Contact point is slightly in front of and as high as possible above the hitting shoulder.

  APPROACH

• Right - Left finish. (for right handers)

• Left - Right finish. (for left handers)

• Three step or four step approach (both o.k.)

• Important to both approaches is to make the step preceding the step close a long and explosive one.

• Also, important to both approaches is to keep the knees bent for all approach steps.

• Finally, be sure to face your range spot when you make your step close.

  JUMP

• Jump up (vertically) to meet ball.

• Contact the ball at the peak of your jump with a straight arm.

• Check landing spot, which should not be more than a distance of one foot past the contact point.

PRACTICE IDEAS

1. In pairs, one on each side of the net.
   Players toss the ball to themselves (TWO hand toss)
   and hit it across the net using the spiking action.
   Remember to have the opposite feet to the spiking hand
   forward and toss the ball with TWO hands underhanded.
   Follow by having the kids jumping before they spike

2