4 Fun Volleyball Drills
Spring is in the air and so is the opportunity to experiment with Volleyball drills that can help children in various ways. These drills can be practiced at school or even at a local playground with a group of friends. All you need to do is move and learn . Whether you are a teacher or a parent, encouraging students/children to participate in physical activities along with these drills is easy.
Why Volleyball? (You must be thinking). The simple answer is that it among the most played sports in the United States and it allows children to move all parts of their body. Volleyball drills can therefore be labeled as Volleyball exercises as well. Being a highly versatile sport it can be modified accordingly for children, young adults and even old players. This is the reason it can easily be accommodated as a sports activity with an educational purpose like fostering team work, collaboration and at the same time teaching the significance of developing a healthy body. In a nutshell, the formula is simple:
“Learn the joy of sports through training and playing.
It’s not about winning it’s about moving.”
One should always keep in mind that these fun drills are more about providing children with valuable experiences that they need for their future life. Moreover, one doesn’t need to be a skilled Volleyball coach to do perform these fun drills along with children. Depending upon the skill level, age and aptitude of the child. You can use balls of different sizes and weights either beach volleyballs or the one’s for indoor play to develop child’s hand to eye coordination along with ball control ability.
1. Bumping
Start with the lightest and the biggest ball for this drill. Volleyball Max Trainer can be an option to be considered for ‘bumping’. Stand 6 to 8 feet away from your child without a net in between. Guide your child to start with one leg stretched out in front of the other leg, arms straight out and wrists together. Toss the ball to him/her and let him/her bump it back to you. Do this for a few minutes till your child is comfortable with the entire cycle and can control the ball at every toss, from different places. Make the child change his/her position forwards and backwards, let him/her move in rallies from left to right. Don’t be worried of he/she does double-bumping, fun drills are always about playing without any defined rules.
2. Catch and pass
Make your child keep him/her arms straight up, then toss the ball underhand to him/her, aiming at the raised hands. Ask him/her to toss the ball back to you as soon as they catch it. This will help the kids to develop the rhythm for setting a ball. Move them to left and right for different toss angles, ask them to move backwards and forwards, and then finish by making them toss the ball back to you.
3. Set and Pass
If your child is confident enough to play in a set. Toss the ball to him/her just like you did in the Catch and Pass drill. Ask him/her to toss the ball back without catching it. You can use a slightly heavier ball for set and pass if you are sure that the child is getting comfortable with tossing without a catch. Volleyball 3 Step Court Trainer Series B are a good option for this drill.
4. Serve and bump
You can use the net for this drill and practice lightly serving the ball with an overhand motion to your child. Now him/her bump and then catch the ball. Try your best to serve the balls with an upwards arc instead of a downward angle to make it easier for kids. Start on the same side of the net gradually move to the opposite side of the net when you think that the child can easily bump up your serve and toss it back to you as he/she did in the bumping drill.
Moving ahead:
Once a young athlete is comfortable with all of the above drills, you can get a regulation-size Volleyball for him/her or go for a competition Volleyball Keep on practice bumping and passing over till the child gets comfortable with a regulation-size Volleyball along with a net in between.
