Volleyball

Week 1 · Foundation phase · 1st–2nd grade · 60 minutes

First contact

Introductions · Platform mechanics · 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

  1. Warm-up & ball control 15 min

    • Name game: each player says their name and does a movement (others copy).
    • Self-toss and catch: toss ball above head, let it bounce once, catch — get comfortable with the ball.
    • Partner toss and catch: 10 feet apart, underhand toss, two-hand catch.
    • Introduce the platform: arms together, thumbs parallel, elbows locked, contact between wrists and elbows.

  2. Serving 10 min

    • Teach underhand serve mechanics: step with opposite foot, swing arm like a pendulum, contact the bottom of the ball.
    • Serve into the net from close range first, then back up to the grade-appropriate line.
    • Goal: every player gets 8–10 serve attempts.

    Swap in from her drill library: Serve and Shag (all grades)

  3. Skill focus: passing 15 min

    • Coach tosses ball to each player; player passes back to coach using platform.
    • Key cues: “Thumbs down, elbows locked, platform to the target.”
    • Focus on platform formation — accuracy is secondary this week.

  4. Team play 20 min

    • Introduce court positions (1–6) and clockwise rotation.
    • Play a modified game: coach tosses ball over net to start each rally; teams play it out.
    • Emphasize calling “mine” before every contact.
    Rotation

    Six players move one spot clockwise when their team wins the serve back, and the player in spot 1 serves.

    1. Six spots. Front row at the net: 4, 3 and 2. Back row: 5, 6 and 1.
    2. The player in spot 1, right back, serves from behind the end line.
    3. Side-out: the team wins the serve back.
    4. Everyone moves one spot clockwise.
    5. The player now in spot 1 serves. Know where you are. Know who serves next.

The rule for every drill: Every player should touch the ball as many times as possible in every practice. Maximize repetitions. Minimize lines. If players are standing still for more than 60 seconds, restructure the drill.

Week 1 is about culture, not perfection. Learn every player’s name. Celebrate every attempt. Set the tone that this is a safe place to try and fail.

Coaching tip from Stephanie Abdalla

Recap for parents

Copy this into your team chat after practice.

Week 1 at CSA Volleyball practice (1st–2nd grade): we learned names, the passing platform and the underhand serve, and our court positions 1 to 6.

Ask her to show you her platform: “Thumbs down, elbows locked, platform to the target.”

Week 1 for 3rd grade · 4th grade · 5th–6th grade