Shoulder Movement Analysis:

The Overhand Volleyball Serve

Ivanna Altamirano
Katie MacArthur
Jenna Odell
Lily Schwartz
Coach Kramer
Adv Sports Medicine; P2
1 December 2016

Introduction:
In volleyball, there are numerous ways someone can serve. The three most common types
of serves include the underhand serve (common for most beginners or injured players), the
overhand topspin serve, and overhand float serve (which are both most commonly in competitive
volleyball). In this shoulder assessment we analyzed Sophie Waltrips overhand float serve.
During a float serve contact is made in front of the right side of the body, and the high
hand hits solidly behind the middle of the ball creating little or no spin. The flight of
the ball resembles the knuckleball thrown by a baseball pitcher. The float serve is
tough to pass because the inconsistent trajectory causes the passer to misjudge the
flight of the ball making it difficult to pass (Strength and Power for Volleyball). The
overhand volleyball serve is similar to an overarm throw in biomechanical movement,
because the joints used in the kinetic chain extend in sequence one after another (Chopping). An
overhand serve uses the shoulder girdle and many of the muscles within it. The non-dominant
arm, tosses the ball into the air in a gentle underhanded manner. To the observer, there is almost
a whip like motion in the dominant arm, as the hand snakes behind the head and then the arm
moves forward and straightens to provide maximum force, accuracy, and height to the serve.
This is based on the foundational knowledge that the shoulder extends before the elbow and
wrist; the shoulder actually begins to extend while the elbow is still flexing, during the wind-up,
or cocking, phase during a serve (Blazevich, 2010, p. 186).
While there are more muscle groups involved in overhand serves than just that of the
shoulder girdle, our project focuses just on the shoulder girdle and specifically the dominant and
nondominant arms. The phases of an overhand volleyball serve are stance, preparation,

movement, and follow through (Aliotta). Even though all the phases happen consecutively and
very quickly, each phase of motion requires a different contraction, force, and muscle use. The
way the levator scapulae contracts when the arm makes contact with the ball is different than
how it contracts as the arm is loading in preparation to swing at the ball. The shoulder girdle has
a large number of muscles that causes it to contract and each of these muscles is necessary in the
proper technique of overhand serves. In order for any type of serve to be successful each phase
of the serve must be somewhat completed successfully, otherwise the next subsequent phase will
become more difficult to complete, altering and flawing the volleyball serve (Chopping). The
purpose of this project is to analyze the different muscles and movements of the shoulder that
occurs in an overhand float serve.
Video Clip:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/92o6u26bwtafjr4/Video%20Nov%2020%2C%202%2040%2054%2
0PM.mov?dl=0

Method:
1. Use camera to film front, back, side, and diagonal angles of an overhand volleyball serve
2. Review all film in slow motion
3. Observe and record the serve and its phases; then add the research observations
4. Compare the findings of the analysis of the video to the research
5. Enumerate the muscles and movements used with each phase of the overhand serve
6. Observe any wrong technique displayed during the serve
7. Analyze the demonstrated technique to find any possible potential of injuries.

Description of Starting Position:

In the starting position Sophie has her left arm extended while her shoulder is flexed and
her right arm retracted and flexed behind her head, creating shoulder girdle adduction. Her feet
are diagonally spaced, the left foot placed slightly farther in front of the right; the right knee and
hip are in flexion while the left knee and hip is straight up. In anatomical position, her back leg
holding most of her weight. The shoulder girdle retracts and experiences flexion, the rhomboids,
trapezius muscles -middle and lower fibers- all retract. The ball is then thrown and there is a mix
of elbow and shoulder flexion to accomplish throwing the ball high enough to strike with the
right hand.

Starting Position

Description of the Activity :

Sophie then throws the ball straight up with her left arm, to a height where she can hit the
ball with her right hand, elevating her trapezius, levator scapulae, and serratus anterior.
Simultaneously she contracts her right arm forward to hit the ball. During the acceleration phase,
the right shoulder girdle undergoes upward rotation and her left shoulder girdle is in downward
rotation. The follow-through phase has the athletes right shoulder girdle in downward
rotation.In the shoulder girdle, there was protraction of the pectoralis minor and the serratus

anterior; the left shoulder is flexed as well as her right. She makes contact with the ball with the
palm of her hand, like a high five, causing full contact with the ball, and following through with
her movement. The elbow starts off flexed to full extensions because of the contact made with
her hand and the ball.

Muscular Analysis:
Stance Phase- with the body facing forward and the right arm up by the head with the elbow bent
at 90 degrees. The right shoulder girdle is abducted; using the upper and middle trapezius. The
muscles are being contracted isometrically.

Stance Phase

Preparation Phase- the right arm is brought behind your head and your hand should be next to
your ear; there should be a concentric contraction in the muscles; and the elbow joint, the
brachialis, brachioradialis, are pronated eccentrically. The left arm should extend in front of
body; the shoulder flexors are isometrically contracted; and the arm is supinated slightly.

Preparation Phase Picture 1

Preparation Phase Picture 2

Preparation Phase Picture 3

Movement Phase- The volleyball player's right shoulder girdle is in upward rotation while
concentrically contracted. The athlete uses the trapezius, serratus anterior, and the rhomboid
major. The left shoulder girdle has rotated upward, concentrically contracted in the rhomboids
and pectoralis minor. The supraspinatus, rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, and levator scapulae
move the right shoulder behind the head as the pectoralis major and minor move it forward to
strike the ball. The left shoulder joint is flexed with eccentric contraction of the latissimus dorsi
and levator scapulae.

Movement Phase Picture 1

Movement Phase Picture 2

Movement Phase Picture 3

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Follow-Through Phase- The trapezius and levator scapulae move the right shoulder into a
downward rotation in an eccentric contraction. The joint is flexed with eccentric contraction of
the trapezius and teres minor. The left arm is somewhat neutral and in an isometric contraction.

Follow-Through Phase Picture 1

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Follow-Through Phase Picture 2

Follow-Through Phase Picture 3

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Conclusion:
Despite volleyball being noncontact, it is still a highly physical sport and therefore
injuries are prone to occur. Many volleyball players suffer from ACL injuries, but that is not
pertinent to the shoulder girdle. The probability of a shoulder injury in an athlete increases when
an athlete uses any improper technique, in a practice or a game situation. Volleyball players can
experience strains, tears, and dislocations in the shoulder girdle. Common injuries to the shoulder
girdle among volleyball players include: rotator cuff tendinitis, strains in the muscles of the
upper back, and shoulder instability. The athletes arm often goes into extreme positions to
execute a hit, which is why shoulder injuries are so frequent among these players. Our subject,
Sophie, risks injury in her extension. Sometimes she goes to hit the ball late and compensates by
extending her arm quicker, as seen in Movement Phase Picture #1. This could cause tears
between her humerus and the clavicle, or in the upper back.
There are certain exercises that can be performed to prevent these injuries. For
strengthening the acromioclavicular joint region, an athlete could use the decline dumbbell press
and wide-grip lat pull-over. The decline dumbbell press has palms facing each other as the arms
push down and is resisted against by weights. The wide-grip lat pull-over is used between 10 and
30 pound weights, the athlete would keep their forearms vertical and pull the bar all the way
down to their chest. Exercises that would help with strains in the upper back, include
strengthening the deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor.Stretching and
strengthening through lifting, all these muscles and joint reduces the chances of injury.
Our paper analyzed the actions and parts each muscle plays in a volleyball serve.
Through our research and observation of Sophie Waltrips overhand serve, we were able to

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understand the importance of proper technique and training. Proper technique and training
prevent injuries that are common, especially among adolescents, in volleyball players.
Preventing injury allows players to exercise to their full potential without recklessly damaging
the muscular system of the shoulder girdle.