Volleyball

Ages 6–8

1st–2nd grade practice plans

Introduction to movement, ball control, underhand serve

From the Season Curriculum & Practice Plan Guide by Stephanie Abdalla, Volleyball Director

Net
6′ 0″
Ball
Soft Touch or Volley-Lite
Serve
Underhand only, from 10 ft

Foundation Weeks 1–3

Individual ball control, passing platform mechanics, underhand serve, and basic rotation. Establish team culture and communication habits from Day 1.

  1. 1First contactIntroductions · Platform mechanics · Underhand serve
  2. 2Platform passingPassing accuracy · Serve consistency · Communication
  3. 3Serve receive basicsReading the serve · Serve receive positioning · Rotation review

Development Weeks 4–6

Overhand serve progression, introduction of setting, team communication, and the Pass–Set–Hit concept. Players begin connecting individual skills into team sequences.

  1. 4Overhand serve & setting introOverhand serve mechanics · What is a set? · Setting hand position
  2. 5Pass, set, hitConnecting the three contacts · Downball hitting · Court awareness
  3. 6Serve receive & team defenseW formation · Base defense · Free ball transition

Application Weeks 7–9

Applying all skills in game-like situations. Tournament preparation. Competitive drills. Building team identity and confidence heading into the end-of-season tournament.

  1. 7Game-like drillsCompetitive drills · Pressure situations · Serve & receive under pressure
  2. 8Tournament prepTournament rules review · Rotations under pressure · Mental preparation
  3. 9Tournament weekLight practice · Mental readiness · Team unity

By the end of the season, players should be able to

  • Make a proper passing platform (arms together, thumbs parallel)
  • Underhand serve from the 10-foot line with reasonable consistency
  • Call “mine” before playing the ball
  • Rotate clockwise when their team earns the serve
  • Demonstrate basic sportsmanship (handshake line, cheering for teammates)

From the Master Handbook, section 12.