Touches Count: 3v3 Mini-Volleyball

A 3v3 mini-volleyball game where a winning rally is worth as many points as the touches the team used before sending it over: 1, 2, or 3. It rewards building the play with a pass, a set, and a send instead of sending the ball back on the first touch.

How to play

1. Courts about 30×15 feet with a low net or rope at 6.5 feet; teams of 3 in pinnies, with one ball per court (2 min).
2. Serve underhand from the back; the receiving team may use 1, 2, or 3 touches, and each player calls out the touch number ("One!", "Two!", "Three!").
3. If the ball lands on the other side, the team that sent it wins as many points as touches it used; if they miss, the other team gets 1 point.
4. The first touch may be caught if the ball comes in very low, but then that touch doesn't count toward points.
5. Games go to 15 points or 6 min; play 3 games, switching opponents and rotating the server after each point won (18 min).
6. At the end, each team explains its best 3-touch play and who made each touch (2 min).

Rules

• Each touch is by a different player: no one touches twice in a row.
• Call out the touch number so everyone knows the count.
• Don't touch the net, and no one dives on the floor.
• If teams disagree on the touch count, replay the point.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: plays near the net with the rope at 5 feet on their side, and their touch always counts double.
• Hearing impairment: teams hold up fingers to show the touch number instead of calling it.
• Highly skilled students: must always take the second touch, and it must be a set.

Learning goals

• Build the play with a pass, a set, and a send.
• Decide when to use 3 touches and when to send it back sooner.
• Communicate with the team by calling out the touch number.

Equipment for a class of 25

• lightweight volleyballs: 4
• low nets: 4
• pinnies: 24

Teacher tip

At first many teams send it back on the first touch out of nerves; the scoring helps them figure it out themselves. Praise every 3-touch play out loud, even if it doesn't win the point.

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