Serve Strategy

Volleyball is a thinking person's sport. In basketball, "we can't run what we can't run." In other words, strategy demands skill and skill is greater than strategy (technique beats tactics). 

Serving short, long, to middle seams or sidelines demands both ability and confidence. In baseball, the pitcher gets the final say on the pitch because he has to throw it. If he lacks confidence in a pitch, he shouldn't throw it. 

Serving is one of three ways to score positive points (serve, attack, blocks) which is why you practice serving every day. Coach Scott Celli won't ask you to do what you can't do. 

Conversely, the more skill you develop in serving, the better your chance to help the team and to stay on the court. Study the video which shares insight into the rationale behind targeting given zones. 

Lagniappe. Scan the court to help "cheat" to get better position. As stated in the video, if the setter is moving backward away from zone 4, don't expect a 'shoot' requiring an outside double block.