Year 3-5 - Lesson 1 - Passing

PASSING TECHNIQUE: 
Dig/low pass
1) body facing the ball, slight bend in knees and shuffle when moving to the volleyball
2) one hand stacked on top of the other, thumbs in middle - "close the bowl" 
3) arms straight and pointing down along with thumbs toward the ground
4) arms rise from hips to tummy and strike the ball with forearm/flat platform toward target

Students will pair up and practise this technique. To begin with one student will be the "passer"  whilse the other student will be the "hitter". The passer will throw the volleyball up into the air, the hitter will get into position, let the ball bounce then execute the dig/low pass. The hitter will perform 10, the students will swap roles. As a PROGRESSION, the hitter can attempt to perform a dig/low pass without the volleyball bouncing. 

Set/high pass
1) body facing the ball, slight bend in knees and shuffle when moving to the volleyball
2) hands placed on hips (elbows bent) - remove hands from hips but maintain shape and place above head - "moose ears" or hands create "ball"
3) soft elbows/wrists to absorb impact of volleyball contact
4) legs and elbows extend into superman position when striking volleyball toward target

Students will move back with their partner and practise the set/high pass by letting the volleyball bounce for starters then progress into no bounce at all.

Pair Passing + Technique

PASSING TECHNIQUE: 
Dig/low pass
1) body facing the ball, slight bend in knees and shuffle when moving to the volleyball
2) one hand stacked on top of the other, thumbs in middle - "close the bowl" 
3) arms straight and pointing down along with thumbs toward the ground
4) arms rise from hips to tummy and strike the ball with forearm/flat platform toward target

Students will pair up and practise this technique. To begin with one student will be the "passer"  whilse the other student will be the "hitter". The passer will throw the volleyball up into the air, the hitter will get into position, let the ball bounce then execute the dig/low pass. The hitter will perform 10, the students will swap roles. As a PROGRESSION, the hitter can attempt to perform a dig/low pass without the volleyball bouncing. 

Set/high pass
1) body facing the ball, slight bend in knees and shuffle when moving to the volleyball
2) hands placed on hips (elbows bent) - remove hands from hips but maintain shape and place above head - "moose ears" or hands create "ball"
3) soft elbows/wrists to absorb impact of volleyball contact
4) legs and elbows extend into superman position when striking volleyball toward target

Students will move back with their partner and practise the set/high pass by letting the volleyball bounce for starters then progress into no bounce at all.

Students will continue working with their partner from the previous activity. One student in the pair will be stood on one side of the riverbank (marked with a spot) while the other student will be stood on the opposite side (10metre wide space between pairs). Cones (tall or short) will be placed in the river and act as battleships. The aim of the game is for students to sink the ships by using any kind of pass taught so far (dig/low pass would be preferable - much easier). To begin with, students on one side of the riverbank will have the volleyball. The coach will count down from three and callout "hit"! Once all students have completed their pass, students that did not have their turn from the otherside of the riverbank must wait for the sound of the whistle before retrieving their volleyball. If a ship was hit by a student that had their turn, that player will move off their spot, collect it and take it back to their spot. Once all battle ships have been sunk, pairs count up how many they have to see if they are the winners by having the most. 

Battle Ships

Students will continue working with their partner from the previous activity. One student in the pair will be stood on one side of the riverbank (marked with a spot) while the other student will be stood on the opposite side (10metre wide space between pairs). Cones (tall or short) will be placed in the river and act as battleships. The aim of the game is for students to sink the ships by using any kind of pass taught so far (dig/low pass would be preferable - much easier). To begin with, students on one side of the riverbank will have the volleyball. The coach will count down from three and callout "hit"! Once all students have completed their pass, students that did not have their turn from the otherside of the riverbank must wait for the sound of the whistle before retrieving their volleyball. If a ship was hit by a student that had their turn, that player will move off their spot, collect it and take it back to their spot. Once all battle ships have been sunk, pairs count up how many they have to see if they are the winners by having the most. 

Connect Five

Students will work in a group of five and find an area of space to themselves. Each student must be spaced evenly apart and not be stood too close to one another. The objective of the game is to pass the volleyball five times amongst your group without it touching the ground, if this is completed successfully the group will get one point. High and low passes are both allowed to be used in this activity. The class will be timed (1-2 mins at the end of session if there is enough time) to see how many times each group can connect five passes. 

ADAPTATION: depending on the year level/class you are presenting this game to, if the students are a group of years 3-4, the ball WILL BE ALLOWED to bounce after a pass is made. Start with two bounces and whilst viewing the games when underway - make a judgement whether some or all groups after a period of time will now only be allowed one bounce. If the ball is dropped or bounces too many times then that group must start again and trying to connect five passes.