Seam Ball Passing: Call It
Two passers standing side by side receive serves and tosses aimed right at the gap between them. Students practice calling "Mine!", forearm passing, and deciding quickly who takes the ball.
How to play
- Make groups of 5: a tosser or server across the net, two passers, a setter target by the net, and a shagger (2 min).
- The two passers stand 6–10 ft apart in the back court, with a cone in the gap marking the seam (1 min).
- The tosser sends high two-hand tosses into the seam; the passer going for the ball shouts "Mine!" before it crosses the net and bumps it to the target (5 min).
- Every pass that reaches the target without a collision or hesitation scores 1 point; if nobody calls or both call, it scores 0.
- After 8 balls, rotate: tosser to passer, passer to target, target to shagger, and shagger to tosser (4 min).
- In the second half, the tosser switches to underhand serves from 20 ft, and the group tries to beat its point record (6 min).
Rules
- Only a call made before the ball crosses the net counts.
- The player who does not call steps away and turns toward the partner to cover a possible deflection.
- Never go for a ball your partner has already called, to avoid collisions.
- Loose balls are collected only after the tosser stops.
Variations
Easier
The tosser throws from 12 ft and the ball may bounce once.
Standard
High toss into the seam and a forearm pass to the target.
Harder
Underhand serve from the end line, with the passers spread farther apart to widen the seam.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student acts as tosser or target and rates the quality of the calls.
- Hearing impairment: replace the verbal call with a clear raised-arm signal.
- Higher skill level: the passer who doesn't take the ball must touch a side cone and get back before the next toss.
Learning goals
- Communicate early who takes the ball with a clear call.
- Perform a forearm pass directed to the target.
- Decide quickly based on the ball's flight path.
Equipment for a class of 25
- volleyballs: 10
- net: 1
- cones: 10
Teacher tip
The most common mistake is calling late, when the ball is already on top of them; use the net as the latest moment to call. Agree on a default rule: if in doubt, the player with the ball in front of their body takes it.
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