Introductory Volleyball Skills Grades 6-8
Mrs. Kerry Wiebe ( [email protected])
Warm-up: Hornet Tag; stretching on volleyball court lines ( as the line name is called out)
Materials: 3 swimming noodles, pylons
-make a circle with pylons for the “Bee Hive” . Once “stung” the student is to go to the bee hive to do
an activity of your choice ( ie. 10 jumping jacks) in order to be free again. 3 students are chosen to be
the hornets. They play tag trying to sting one person below the knee ( only one tap)with the noodle. If
delivering a successful sting, that hornet loses their stinger ( tosses it away) for another random student
to take a turn being the hornet. First student to the free stinger becomes the next hornet. **Ensure
that student only sting once per person, not multiple stings, and it is below the knee.
Skill #1: Serving:
a. Underhand Technique:
-hold the ball in the non-hitting hand, in line with the hitting shoulder.
-step with the opposite foot, drop the ball ( not toss it up), hit the ball with either a fist or open hand.
Younger players may need to use a fist for added power, but encourage older students to use an open
hand for more control on the ball.
Practice:
1. Have each student with their own ball, to stand about 5 metres facing a wall. Have them serve
towards the wall, gradually moving farther away from the wall.
*Remind them of the sequence: “step, drop, hit”.
2. Have the class partner up, facing each other across the net from attack line to attack line. Have them
serve to each other over the net. Gradually have the students step backwards to full court.
b. Overhand serving: ( float serve/ bow and arrow technique)
-set up: place feet in a “T” position with weight on the right foot if right handed. Left foot is leading
forward to the court. Ball is in non-hitting hand shoulder height, in front of hitting shoulder. Right
hand/arm is drawn back, like that of drawing a bow and arrow. Palm of the hand faces outward with
the back of the hand roughly at the right ear.
-sequence is “toss, step, serve”; of course stepping with the opposite foot.
Practice:
1. warm-up shoulder by throwing the ball against the wall. Have kids focus on stepping with the
opposite foot, keeping the elbow high, leading the throw with the elbow.
2. Throw the ball to a partner across the net. Both students begin from the attack line, gradually
backing up towards the endline.
3. practice the toss. Often in the overhand serve, the error occurs in the toss ( it is too high, too far
back, too far forward, not in line with the hitting shoulder). A good, consistent toss will lead to a
consistent serve.
a. hold the ball in the non-hitting hand, shoulder height, in line with the hitting shoulder
b. toss the ball up in line with the hitting shoulder, only slightly higher than the outstretched
hitting arm; it should land in front of the server ( still in line with the hitting shoulder), after the step has
been taken. Repeat practicing the toss and letting the ball land several times, so the toss is done
consistently correct.
c. have partners face each other across the net from attack line to attack line. Serve the ball to
each other. Focus on the sequence: toss, step, serve. Serve should be done with an open hand.
Remind students about the correct technique of the toss. Gradually have servers step back from the net
to increase the serving distance, making their way to full court.
Culminating Game: Serving Relay
-Divide class evenly into 4 groups. Have two groups serving from the service line, each with their own
ball. Have the other two groups kneeling on the floor, each on either side of the net. Those on the floor
are holding each their own hula hoop.
-The objective of the game is for the serving team to serve into the hula hoop held by the team on the
other side of the net. Those on the floor are trying to allow the serve to pass through the hula hoop, by
holding it up.
-As a serve passes through the hula hoop, that server trades places with the person kneeling. The
person kneeling now becomes a server. The first team to have all servers and hula hoop holders trade
places, wins.
* For more challenge, rather than using hula hoops, have the kneeling students catch the serve in the air
without standing.
Skill #2: Setting
a. Hand Placement: -clarify that hands are in a cupped shape not flat, as the ball is spherical not
flat
Index fingers and thumbs should make the shape of a diamond
- Contact with ball is made with finger pads, not tips
- The set occurs above the forehead, looking through the diamond
- Thumbs should actually point towards the inner eyes
- Wrists and fingers are flexible yet firm
Practice:
1.One partner lies on the floor, with hands in good setting position; other partner stands near
their partner’s head or to the side with a ball. Standing partner drops the ball, at forehead.
Partner lying down catches, then gradually sets the ball up, focussing on a soft, quiet contact,
with no spin on the ball. Standing partner catches ball and repeats. * Warn standing partner to
be aware of the ball coming back up to their face quickly.
2. Partner work: one partner two hand underhand tosses the ball to their partner. Try to
always have the setting partner face the net. Partner not tossing will move under the ball and
catch it above their head, in good setting form. Gradually move from a catch to a set. If more
challenge is needed, the setting partner can swipe the floor with their hand before making
contact on the ball. Trade roles.
3. Individual work: a) each with their own ball, students set to themselves repeatedly. Sets are
not very high to start, then height can increase.
b) find a spot on a wall and set to themselves against the wall. Remind them of
setting in good form, and getting under the ball squarely.
c) move into open floor space; bounce the ball, then move under the ball to
have good position and set the ball up. Catch the set, bounce, move, and set. Repeat.
d) set to self continuously while at the same time lowering their body to drop
the knee(s) to the floor, then back to stand. For more challenge, try to lower the back on the
floor, then back to stand.
4. Partner work: set back and forth with a partner in continuous rally. Strive for control, clean
contact, and height.
Skill #3: Hitting
a)
Footwork: clarify a two-foot jump; steps are left….right,left (two foot jump)
: remind kids to move from horizontal to vertical to avoid jumping forward into
the net.
b)
Arm action: two arms back ( batman); two arms up ( superman); draw the hitting hand
back ( robin hood); hit, extend and follow through ( ninja turtle).
c) Both: put footwork and arm action together from the attack line. Avoid the net touch.
Practice:
1. Small rhino ball throw: from the attack line; have rhino ball in hitting hand. Using proper
footwork and arm action, throw the ball over the net to opposite court. Have kids aim to
the floor, focussing on the follow through. Remind them to jump with two hands above
their head.
2. Have coaches or students stand on the coaching blocks. Class forms lines for each coach.
Toss the ball to the coach who then holds the ball above the height of the net. Kids use
proper approach to hit the stationary ball out of the coach’s hands. This way the attacker
does not have to yet worry about timing. Students shag their own ball and join the line
again.
-once the approach is solid, remove blocks and have coaches toss the ball. Students should
first catch the ball with two hands above their head ( using their approach). Ball should be
caught above height of net at the highest point in their jump. Timing may have to be
adjusted for this to happen.
-once timing is better, try the complete skill
- for added challenge place hula hoops on the floor in ideal locations for targets to hit to.