Shuffle and Bump Partner Drill
A partner drill where the tosser sends the ball to the left and right, and the passer shuffles sideways to beat the ball there and bump it back. It works on the ready position, footwork, and angling the platform.
How to play
- Partners share a lightweight volleyball; the passer stands between two cones 10 feet apart, and the tosser faces them 13 feet away (2 min).
- Round 1 (3 min): the tosser throws underhand with two hands, alternating toward each cone; the passer shuffles without crossing feet, stops, and bumps it back.
- Switch roles every 10 tosses; the tosser counts the passes that come back to their hands without moving more than one step.
- Round 2 (4 min): the tosser doesn't call the side; the passer starts in the ready position (knees bent, arms loose in front) and reacts.
- Round 3 (4 min): after passing, the passer touches the nearest cone with a hand before getting ready for the next ball.
- Final challenge (2 min): each pair adds up good passes from 10 tries each and tries to beat that on a second attempt.
Rules
- Toss underhand at waist height, never hard or at the face.
- The passer must be stopped with the platform ready before contact.
- Pairs line up all facing the same direction, so loose balls don't cross other pairs.
- A pass only counts if the tosser catches it with no more than one step.
Variations
Easier
Move the cones to 6 feet apart, and the tosser calls "Right" or "Left."
Standard
Cones 10 feet apart, alternating tosses and then no call, adding a cone touch in the last round.
Harder
The tosser mixes short and deep tosses, and the passer must direct the ball to a teammate standing off to one side.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: in a wheelchair, cones are 3 feet apart, and the tosser throws at mid-height to each side.
- Autism: keep the same toss pattern (right, left) and give a heads-up before each round change.
- Lower fitness: rest 30 seconds between role switches and skip the cone touch.
Learning goals
- Shuffle sideways without crossing the feet.
- Get there before the ball and make contact with a balanced body.
- Angle the forearm platform toward the partner.
Equipment for a class of 25
- lightweight volleyballs: 13
- cones: 26
Teacher tip
The typical mistake is passing on the run; cue "get there, stop, pass." A good toss is half the drill, so teach tossing too.
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