Three-Zone Passing Game

The field is split into three zones and each player may only move inside their own, so the ball has to travel through every zone to reach the goal. Students practice organized spacing, passing between lines, and team communication.

How to play

1. Split a 100 x 50 ft field into three equal zones with cones and place two hoops on each end line as targets; form teams of 6 in pinnies and put two players from each team in every zone (3 min).
2. Start from the defensive zone; the ball is passed by hand, and the ball carrier can't move and has 5 seconds to pass.
3. To score, the ball must touch all three zones and a player in the attacking zone must bounce it inside a target hoop.
4. Defenders may only intercept inside their own zone; if the ball drops or goes out, possession switches.
5. After each point, the whole team rotates forward one zone so everyone plays offense and defense (16 min).
6. During the final break, ask what happened when both players in a zone stood next to each other (3 min).

Rules

• Nobody leaves their zone; if they do, the ball goes to the other team.
• You can't skip a zone with a long pass.
• No ripping the ball out of anyone's hands.
• Safety: use chest or bounce passes, never throws at the face.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: play in the middle zone with a support partner and an 8-second count.
• Autism: draw the zones on a whiteboard and keep the same starting zone.
• Fitness level: zones control how much running happens; assign smaller zones to students who need it.

Learning goals

• Space out in an organized way within your zone.
• Pass between lines to an open teammate.
• Communicate to call for and deliver the ball.

Equipment for a class of 25

• volleyball: 2
• cones: 16
• pinnies: 12
• hoops: 4

Teacher tip

This game is great for teaching "not everyone goes to the ball." If a zone gets jammed, remind students that bounce passes are harder to intercept.

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