Footvolley 2v2 with One Bounce Allowed

A school version of footvolley, a beach sport that blends soccer and volleyball: players send the ball over a low net using feet, thighs, chest and head, with one bounce allowed. It builds ball control with different body parts and cooperation with a partner.

How to play

1. Set up 6 courts of 9 x 4.5 m (30 x 15 ft) with cones and a net or rope at 1.20 m (4 ft); pair students up and assign 2 pairs per court (one pair rests and referees in rotation).
2. Warm up for 4 minutes: each pair juggles cooperatively without a net using foot, thigh and head, counting their best streak.
3. Explain the rules in 2 minutes: serve with the foot from the baseline, max 3 touches per pair, one bounce allowed on each side and no arms or hands.
4. Play rally-scoring games to 9; the losing pair steps off and the refereeing pair comes on (about 15 minutes).
5. Halfway through, add a rule: if the third touch is a header or a thigh, the point counts double.
6. Close with 2 minutes discussing which contact surface gives the most control when passing to a partner.

Rules

• No touching the ball with arms or hands.
• Each pair gets a maximum of 3 touches, and the same player can't touch it twice in a row.
• No high kicks near the net when an opponent is within 2 m (6 ft).
• Use a soft or lightweight volleyball to avoid painful headers.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: allow catching with the hands and returning with a foot or header, or play seated with a balloon.
• Visual impairment: use a large, high-contrast ball or one with bells and add an extra bounce.
• Lower skill level: play cooperatively, scoring a point for every pass that crosses the net.

Learning goals

• Control and pass the ball with different body parts without using hands.
• Cooperate with a partner to build a three-touch attack.
• Learn a beach sport and its modified rules.

Equipment for a class of 25

• volleyballs: 6
• low nets: 6
• cones: 24

Teacher tip

Headers with a soccer ball hurt and kill motivation; use a soft volleyball. It plays best on sand or grass, where the bounce is lower and more predictable.

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