Giant Ball Volleyball
Two large teams send a giant ball back and forth over a high rope, pushing it up with their hands as a group. Students practice teamwork, coordinating a group push and using space well in a divided-court game with no elimination.
How to play
- String a long rope about 7 ft high across the gym and mark a court on each side with cones. Split the class into two teams of 12–13 (2 min).
- 2-minute team practice: keep the giant ball in the air with two-hand hits without letting it touch the floor.
- Game: one team serves by pushing the ball over the rope. The other team can touch it up to 5 times, each by a different player, before sending it back.
- Score when the ball touches the floor on the other side or goes out. Games to 5; after every point, the team rotates positions so nobody is always in the back (8 min).
- Final game: the ball must touch five players before going back over. Wrap up with a discussion about how teams organized themselves (3 min).
Rules
- Hit with open hands above the shoulders; no catching.
- The same player can't touch it twice in a row.
- Safety: nobody dives under the ball, and hits go upward, never toward teammates.
Variations
Easier
Allow the ball to bounce once on the floor before it's hit.
Standard
Up to 5 touches by different players before sending it back.
Harder
Play with two giant balls at once or raise the rope.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student stands in the front row by the rope, where the ball arrives slow and high.
- Autism: explain beforehand that the ball is big but soft, and let the student touch it before starting.
- Fitness level: 1-minute rest rotations as the "captain" who calls out the touches.
Learning goals
- Coordinate with many teammates to hit the ball.
- Spread out evenly across the court.
- Enjoy a group game where everyone takes part.
Equipment for a class of 25
- giant ball: 1
- long rope: 1
- cones: 8
Teacher tip
Make sure the giant ball isn't overinflated so it moves slower and safer. It's a great way to introduce the divided-court idea to younger grades.
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