Volleyball

Week 5 · Development phase · 3rd grade · 60 minutes

Pass, set, hit

Connecting the three contacts · Downball hitting · Court awareness

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

    • 3-person groups: player 1 passes to player 2 (setter), player 2 sets to player 3, player 3 catches — rotate positions.
    • Focus: passer calls “mine,” setter calls “set,” hitter calls “hit” — build communication habits.

    Swap in from her drill library: Toss–Pass–Set–Catch (3rd grade and up)

    Pass, set, hit

    The passer calls mine and passes to the setter at position 2, the setter calls set and sets the hitter, and the hitter calls hit and sends it over.

    1. The ball comes over. The passer calls “mine.”
    2. Pass to the setter at position 2, right front. She calls “set.”
    3. The setter sets the hitter, who calls “hit.”
    4. Over the net: pass, set, hit. Three contacts.

  2. Serving 10 min

    • Serve from the grade-appropriate line; focus on serving to specific zones (deep corners, short).

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

  3. Skill focus: downball & hitting 15 min

    • Introduce downball: standing behind the 10-foot line, toss to self, contact ball with open hand driving it over the net.
    • Downball only (no jump required).
    • Key cue: “Reach high, contact the top of the ball, follow through.”

  4. Team play 20 min

    • Game with a rule: every team must attempt at least two contacts before sending the ball over.
    • Award a bonus point for any successful 3-contact sequence.
    • Coach narrates: “That was a pass — now set it — now hit it!” to reinforce the sequence.

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.

The bonus point for 3-contact sequences is a powerful motivator. Players will start to understand WHY the sequence matters — not just that they’re supposed to do it.

Coaching tip from Stephanie Abdalla

Recap for parents

Copy this into your team chat after practice.

Week 5 at CSA Volleyball practice (3rd grade): we linked pass, set and hit, and learned the downball.

Ask her what the passer, setter and hitter each call out: “mine,” “set,” “hit.”

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