MANSFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL

SKILL AND ACTIVITY PROGRESSION

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VOLLEYBALL
 

GRADE
SKILLS
5
6
7
8
ACTIVITY PROGRESSION
Overhead pass
I
R
M
A
Juggle / Partner Toss and Catch 
Forearm pass
I
R
M
A
Partner Pass Over Net / Partner Baskets
Ready position
I
R
M
A
Partner Quickness / Team Circle / Beach Ball Volleyball
Underhand serve
I
R
M
A
Partner Serve and Catch / Partner Serve 
Overhand serve
O
I
R
R
Forearm Pass and Catch / Modified Volleyball
Set
O
I
R
R
Individual Set and Spike
Spike
O
I
R
R
Partner Set and Spike
Block
O
I
R
R
Partner Toss and Block
Dig
O
I
R
R
Partner Toss Dig and Catch
Back set
O
O
I
R
Partner Toss Back Set and Catch
I = INTRODUCE / R = REVIEW / M = MASTER / A = APPLY / O = OPTIONAL

ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICING THE OVERHEAD PASS, FOREARM PASS, AND READY POSITION:

JUGGLE: Students work independently, each with a ball. Each student tosses the ball and passes it 6-10’ in the air as many consecutive times as possible while remaining in personal space.

PARTNER TOSS AND CATCH: Player A tosses the ball to Player B. Player B passes the ball 6-10’ in the air to Player A who catches the ball. The process is repeated 5 times. Player A and Player B switch roles and repeat the same activity.

 

 

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VOLLEYBALL

PARTNER PASS OVER THE NET: Player A tosses and overhead passes the ball over the net to Player B. Player B uses the appropriate pass (overhead or forearm) to return the ball over the net to Player A. Player A volleys the ball back to Player B. Partners continue to volley using appropriate passes until they fail to return the ball over the net. The activity is then repeated.

PARTNER BASKETS: Player A tosses the ball and makes an appropriate pass in an attempt to score a basket. Player B (A’s partner) rebounds the ball and returns it to A. A makes 3 scoring attempts and then switches roles with B. (See Volleyball Skills Circuit Challenge in the Activity Booklet).

ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICING THE READY POSITION:

PARTNER QUICKNESS: Partners A and B face each other, 6-8’ apart. A maintains a good ready position. B tosses a ball to A challenging him/her to make an appropriate pass. A passes the ball back to B. B taps the ball back to A, again challenging A to make the best possible return pass. The activity continues until A is unable to execute a good return pass to B. The partners then switch roles and the activity continues in this manner. (See Volleyball Skills Circuit Challenge in the Activity Booklet).

TEAM CIRCLE: Teams are made up of 3-6 players. Each team forms a circle within the dimensions of their side of the volleyball court. Player A moves to the center of the circle. A tosses the ball in the air and makes an appropriate pass to another teammate in the circle. B makes an appropriate pass to any other teammate. The activity continues with players volleying continuously until a player fails to return a pass. A new person can be placed in the center and the activity is repeated.

BEACHBALL VOLLEYBALL: This game is played essentially like regular volleyball, but with a beach ball.

ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICING THE UNDERHAND AND OVERHAND SERVE:

PARTNER SERVE AND CATCH: Partners A and B face each other standing on opposite sides of the net in the middle of their court. A serves the ball to B. B catches the ball and then serves to A who catches the ball. The activity continues in this manner. A and B may choose to increase the distance between them by backing up toward the serving lines as they become more skilled in serving the ball.

PARTNER SERVE, FOREARM PASS AND CATCH: Partners A and B face each other standing on opposite sides of the net. A serves the ball to B. B tries to forearm pass the ball straight up in the air so that he/she can catch the ball. B then serves the

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VOLLEYBALL

ball to A who tries to execute a forearm pass and catch in a similar manner. The activity continues in this manner.

MODIFIED VOLLEYBALL: This game is essentially the same as regular volleyball with the following exceptions. The server has two tries on the first serve to make a legal serve. The server can earn a maximum of 5 points for the team in each service turn. If the server makes 5 points, then the serve is given to the other team.

ACTIVITIES FOR SETTING AND SPIKING:

INDIVIDUAL SET AND SPIKE: Player A tosses and sets the ball to himself/herself. A then spikes the ball over the net. A retrieves the ball and repeats the activity in this manner.

PARTNER SET AND SPIKE: Player A sets the ball to B. B spikes the ball. B retrieves the ball and sets it for A in a similar manner. The activity continues in this manner.

PARTNER TOSS AND BLOCK: Partners A and B face each other standing on opposite sides of the net. They should each be approximately 3-5’ away from the net. Player A uses a two hand, overhand pass to pass the ball just above the net in the direction of B. B tries to block the ball with both hands. A passes 3 balls in this manner to B to be blocked. A and B then switch roles with B passing and A blocking. The activity continues in this manner.

PARTNER TOSS, DIG AND CATCH: Player A tosses the ball low to Player B challenging B to save the ball using the dig. B attempts to dig the ball 5-10’ in the air so that A can catch the ball. The process is repeated 5 times. A and B then switch roles and the activity continues in this manner.

PARTNER TOSS, BACK SET AND CATCH: A and B are partners. A stands 5’ in front of B. A and B are facing the same direction. A tosses the ball to himself/herself and back sets it 6-10’ in the air so that B can catch it. A and B then switch roles. B tosses and backsets to A who catches the ball. The activity continues in this manner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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