Okay, so the other day, I wanted to get my volleyball team warmed up, but I was so bored with the usual drills. You know, the same old jogging, stretching, and pepper. It’s all necessary, but, man, can it get dull. I wanted something fun, something to get the team energized and laughing before we got into the serious stuff. So, I did a little digging and tried out a few things. Here’s what happened:
The Experiment Begins!
First, I ditched the regular jogging. Instead, we started with something I called “Crazy Eights”.
- I set up some cones in a figure-eight pattern on the court.
- The team had to run the pattern, but with different movements: skipping, side-shuffling, high knees, butt kicks – the works!
- It was hilarious to watch, and everyone was immediately more awake and engaged. Some people (ahem, Sarah) are naturally clumsy, so that added to the fun.
Adding Some Chaos
Next, I wanted to incorporate the ball, but still keep it light. We tried a game of “One-Bounce Volleyball”.
- It’s exactly what it sounds like: regular volleyball rules, but the ball has to bounce once on your side before you hit it over.
- This forced everyone to be super alert and move quickly, but the bounce added an element of unpredictability that was really fun.
- We had some crazy dives and unexpected bounces. The team was really getting into it!
The Grand Finale
Finally, I decided to end with a game called “Team Target Practice”.
- I placed a few hula hoops on the other side of the net.
- The team was split into groups, and each group had to try to serve the ball into the hoops.
- We made it a competition, with the winning team getting bragging rights (and maybe I hinted at extra dessert at the team dinner… maybe).
- This got their competitive spirits going and helped them work on their serving accuracy, all while having a good time.
The Results?
By the end of these games, the team was pumped! They were laughing, sweating, and ready to go. It was a much better start to practice than our usual routine. Plus, I think it helped with team bonding. It’s hard not to get along when you’re all flailing around trying to hit a bouncing volleyball! I’m definitely going to keep these warm-up games in the rotation. It turns something that can feel like a chore into a fun, energetic start to practice. Anyone else got some fun warm-up ideas? I’m always looking to try new things!
