Volleyball: Volley and Follow

One partner catches and throws or volleys the ball moving the other partner side-side so as to be able to volley using good footwork and rhythm to play the ball back to the partner.

Working in pairs, one player sets the ball to the their partner who moves to meet the ball using good footwork to bump the ball back to their partner who catches the ball.

Ensure the player bumping the ball lets the ball bounce on their wrists and only makes minor adjustments to give direction to the ball (back to the setter).

You start the game with a throw over the net. The two on the other side of the net communicate and one catches the ball, the other moves to the net and faces their partner who passes the ball to them with a high pass from a volley position with the ball above their forehead.

The person at the net volleys the ball for their partner who is about 2 metres away from the net facing them with the hand up nearest the net pointing where they want the next high pass to be placed. Pass the ball high to the area pointed at and that player moves in, and volleys the ball over the net.

Then both players return to a side by side playing position ready to play defence. This sequence is repeated without trying to score points but in a more cooperative way so that the format of the game can be learned. When both teams play this well you can make it competitive.

In pairs half a metre from the net players volley the ball cooperatively over the net moving side-ways until they reach the end of the net.

Players then move back to the 3 metre line and volley the ball high to each other moving the opposite way until they reach the other end of the net where they move back close to the net and repeat.