Volleyball Golf for Partners
Partners play a six-hole golf course by moving the ball with sets and bumps, without letting it drop, until it lands in a hoop on the floor. Students practice ball control on the move, accuracy on the last touch, and cooperation to finish with the fewest strokes.
How to play
- Set up six holes around the gym: a tee cone and, 20–40 ft away, a hoop on the floor as the hole; number each tee with a card (3 min).
- Each pair starts at a different hole and gets a scorecard; the ball moves forward with alternating passes between partners (2 min).
- Every touch is a stroke; if the ball drops, add 1 penalty stroke and continue from that spot with a self-pass (1 min).
- The hole is finished when a high pass lands inside the hoop; record the strokes and move to the next hole (12 min).
- After all six holes, each pair totals its card and picks its toughest hole to replay once (2 min).
Rules
- The ball moves only by sets or bumps, never by catching.
- Wait until the pair ahead leaves the hole before starting.
- The partner who is not touching the ball walks outside its path to avoid collisions.
- Every pair records its strokes honestly.
Variations
Easier
Holes 15 ft long, and one catch per hole allowed with no penalty.
Standard
Six holes 20 to 40 ft long with alternating passes and a penalty for drops.
Harder
Holes with an obstacle, such as going over a net or bench, and alternating sets and bumps required.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: shorter holes and a bigger hoop, with catch-and-toss allowed.
- Visual impairment: the partner gives voice cues, and the hoops are bright colors.
- Higher skill level: each player must self-pass before passing to the partner.
Learning goals
- Control the ball while the pair is moving.
- Adjust the power and height of the last touch to land it in the hoop.
- Cooperate with a partner to finish the course in few strokes.
Equipment for a class of 25
- volleyballs: 13
- hoops: 6
- cones: 6
- cardstock scorecards: 19
Teacher tip
Keep holes away from walls and make sure the routes don't cross. You can give each hole a par (for example, 6 strokes) so students set realistic goals.
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