Okay, here’s my blog post about trying out some volleyball games with middle schoolers:
So, I volunteered to help out with my niece’s middle school volleyball practice the other day. I figured, how hard could it be? Turns out, keeping a bunch of 12-14 year olds engaged and having fun while also working on skills is a bit of a challenge! I went in with a few ideas, some worked better than others, so I’ll share what I did and how it went.
Warm-up Mayhem
First, I started with a super simple warm-up. I just had them pair up and pepper (you know, bump, set, hit back and forth). It’s basic, but I figured it was a good way to get them moving and touching the ball. Honestly, it was a little chaotic at first. Balls flying everywhere, some kids being way too intense, others just kind of standing around. I had to do some quick adjustments, reminding them to focus on control, not power.
Game #1: Newcomb Ball (with a Twist)
- I divided the kids into two teams.
- Instead of regular volleyball, I had them play “Newcomb Ball” where they catch and throw the ball instead of bumping and setting. The “twist” part is I would shout the skill before the throw.
- BUT – and this is key – I told them they could only catch and throw with an overhead motion, like a set.
- This was sneaky skill-building! They were practicing the setting motion without even realizing it.
This worked pretty well! They got really into it, and it was definitely easier for them to keep the ball in play than with regular volleyball. I saw some improvement in their setting form too, which was the goal.
Game #2: Target Practice
- I set up some cones in different spots on the court.
- I split the kids into smaller groups of 3-4.
- One person was the server, the others were trying to get the ball to land near a cone.
- They got points for how close they got to the target.
This one was… okay. Some kids were really into trying to hit the targets, others got bored quickly. I think next time, I’d make it more of a competition, maybe with teams competing against each other for the most points. Or add some sort of silly consequence for missing the target completely (like jumping jacks or something).
Game #3: One-Bounce Volleyball
- Regular volleyball rules, BUT…
- The ball is allowed to bounce once on each side.
I was getting tired so I needed something for them. This was the winner of the day! It made the game so much more accessible. They were diving for balls, getting longer rallies, and generally having a blast. It also forced them to really move their feet and anticipate where the ball was going to go. I highly recommend this one for middle schoolers, especially if they’re still learning the basics.
Cool-down and Wrap-up
I finished with some simple stretches and had them do a little self-reflection, asking them what they learned and what they enjoyed. Overall, it was a fun and exhausting experience! I definitely learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t with this age group. My biggest takeaway? Keep it fun, keep it moving, and sneak in the skill-building whenever you can!
