Beach Volleyball Sky Ball Serve and Pass
Students practice the very high underhand serve typical of beach volleyball, which rises above the basketball hoops and drops almost straight down, and how to pass it. They work on contacting under the ball, judging high flight paths, and passing a ball that falls vertically.
How to play
- Groups of 4 per half court: two servers at the end line and two passers on the other side, 12–20 ft from the net (2 min).
- Explain the technique: feet apart, contact the ball low with a fist or the heel of the hand, and follow through upward (2 min).
- Each server does sets of 5 serves, trying to send the ball higher than the hoop and land it in the court (4 min).
- Passers get under the ball, call "Mine!", and bump it to a target cone by the net; 1 point for each pass within a step of the cone (4 min).
- Switch roles and play a final scoring round: the group with the most good high serves plus good passes wins (3 min).
Rules
- Serve only when the passers are watching and ready.
- Passers never stare straight into the sun: if it's a problem, turn the court.
- Nobody walks under a high ball that isn't theirs.
- If a serve flies off the court, shout "Ball!"
Variations
Easier
Toss the high ball with two hands and allow a bounce before the pass.
Standard
Very high underhand serve and a forearm pass to the target.
Harder
The passer passes and then sets the next ball to a teammate.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student serves from any distance needed or receives by catching the ball.
- Visual impairment: use a bright ball and a medium-height serve with a voice cue.
- Lower fitness level: shorten the serving distance to midcourt.
Learning goals
- Contact under the ball to create a very high flight path.
- Judge where a vertically falling ball will land.
- Pass a ball falling almost straight down with control.
Equipment for a class of 25
- volleyballs: 12
- net: 1
- cones: 6
Teacher tip
This serve usually gets laughs and hooks students; use it to talk about how sun and wind affect beach volleyball. Do it outside and avoid low ceilings.
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