Sitting Volleyball: Blocking the Serve Changes Everything

Small-court sitting volleyball games with a rule unique to this Paralympic sport: front-row players may block the serve. Students work on anticipation and compare the rules with standing volleyball.

How to play

1. Setup: two courts about 10 × 6 m with the net at 1.05–1.15 m, the official heights for women and men; review seated movement (5 min).
2. In threes, one serves from the back while two at the net try to block it, hands up, seat on the floor (7 min).
3. 4v4 games with serve blocking allowed; the serving team has to look for deep or wide serves (15 min).
4. Talk it through: what would change in standing volleyball if you could block the serve? Why is it allowed here? (4 min).
5. One last short set to 7 with mandatory rotation (4 min).

Rules

• When you play the ball, your seat must touch the floor or it's a fault.
• Your legs may cross under the net into the other court as long as you don't interfere with opponents.
• Mandatory serving rotation: everyone serves.
• No diving: you move seated.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with a leg amputation or injury: play exactly the same way; this sport was made for them.
• Low vision: brightly colored ball, and a teammate calls "yours" before the pass.
• Students nervous about the ball: start in the back row and may catch and pass on their first touch.

Learning goals

• Anticipate the path of the serve.
• Coordinate seated movement with striking the ball.
• Compare rulebooks and understand why they're adapted.

Equipment for a class of 25

• volleyball nets: 2
• soft volleyballs: 6
• cones: 16

Teacher tip

If you don't have low posts, tie the net to two weighted chairs or use a rope with ribbons. Soft balls take away the fear of blocking. Common mistake: lifting the seat while stretching; call the fault from the first minute.

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