Volleyball

Week 2 · Foundation phase · 3rd grade · 60 minutes

Platform passing

Passing accuracy · Serve consistency · Communication

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

Net
6′ 6″
Ball
Volley-Lite
Serve
Underhand from 15 ft, or overhand from 10 ft

  1. Warm-up & ball control 15 min

    • Individual: self-bump (bump the ball to yourself, keep it going) — count consecutive contacts.
    • Partner passing: 10 feet apart, pass back and forth — goal is 5 consecutive without the ball hitting the floor.
    • Introduce “belly button to the ball” — always face the incoming ball before passing.

  2. Serving 10 min

    • Underhand serve from the grade-appropriate line — focus on consistency over power.
    • 3rd grade: introduce overhand serve mechanics (toss, reach, snap wrist) from close range.
    • Goal: 10 serve attempts per player; track how many clear the net.

  3. Skill focus: passing to a target 15 min

    • Place a hula hoop or cone at the setter position (right front, position 2/3).
    • Coach tosses; player passes to the target zone.
    • Progression: increase toss distance and vary angles as players improve.

    Swap in from her drill library: Down the Line Passing (all grades)

    Passing to a target

    The coach tosses from across the net and the player passes to a hoop at the setter's spot.

    1. A hula hoop or cone marks the setter's spot, right front.
    2. The coach tosses from the other side of the net. She faces the ball: belly button to the ball.
    3. She passes with her platform to the target.
    4. As players improve, the tosses get longer and wider.
    5. Thumbs down, elbows locked, platform to the target.

  4. Team play 20 min

    • Modified game with rotation: each time the serve changes, the new serving team rotates.
    • Players serve to start each rally (3rd grade and up).
    • Reinforce “mine” calls and rotation movement.

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.

Passing to a target is a big jump. Don’t expect accuracy yet — reward the attempt and the correct platform form. Accuracy comes with repetition.

Coaching tip from Stephanie Abdalla

Recap for parents

Copy this into your team chat after practice.

Week 2 at CSA Volleyball practice (3rd grade): we passed to a target, served for consistency, and kept calling “mine”.

Ask her what “belly button to the ball” means.

Week 2 for 1st–2nd grade · 4th grade · 5th–6th grade