Volleyball

Ages 9–10

4th grade practice plans

Passing, setting, serving progression, team concepts

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

Net
6′ 6″
Ball
Volley-Lite
Serve
Underhand or overhand, from 20 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

  • Pass with a consistent, locked platform, directing the ball toward the setter
  • Underhand serve from 20 feet; attempt overhand serve from 20 feet
  • Understand and attempt the Pass–Set–Hit sequence
  • Rotate correctly and understand their court position number
  • Open up and face the passer (“belly button to the ball”)
  • Hit a downball over the net from behind the 10-foot line
  • Communicate with teammates during play

From the Master Handbook, section 12.