Volleyball Pepper in Threes
A volleyball warm-up in groups of three that strings together forearm passes, overhead sets, and soft attacks while players rotate positions. It prepares shoulders, wrists, and legs and sharpens footwork under the ball before game play.
How to play
- Make groups of three with one ball; two students stand side by side and the third faces them about 13 feet away.
- Minutes 0-2: mobility with the ball, arm circles, wrist bends, and squats passing the ball under the legs.
- Minutes 2-4: the single player tosses underhand and the other two take turns returning with a forearm pass; switch tossers every 10 tosses.
- Minutes 4-7: continuous pepper sequence, pass, set, and soft down-ball attack; whoever receives the attack digs it up and the sequence starts again.
- Minutes 7-9: after each contact the hitter runs to the other side, like a rotating wheel of three; groups count consecutive contacts.
- Minutes 9-10: each group reports its best streak and they stretch shoulders and wrists.
Rules
- Attacks are always soft and aimed at the floor in front of the partner, never at the face.
- Loose balls are retrieved without running through another group; call out "ball!" as a warning.
- Stay in a low ready position and call the ball with "mine."
- The group decides together when to make the drill harder.
Variations
Easier
Students may catch the ball and toss it between contacts.
Standard
Continuous pass, set, and soft attack with rotating roles.
Harder
Increase the distance to 20 feet and require each group to reach 20 contacts without a drop.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student plays seated with a foam ball or a balloon, and partners adjust the height of their passes.
- Hearing impairment: the group uses a visual signal (raised hand) instead of calling for the ball.
- Lower skill level: use a softer trainer ball and allow a self-set before returning it.
Learning goals
- Warm up shoulders, wrists, and knees using volleyball movements.
- Move the feet to get under the ball for forearm passes and sets.
- Cooperate in groups of three to keep the ball in play.
Equipment for a class of 25
- volleyball: 9
Teacher tip
Coach students to beat the ball to the spot: if the arms are swinging wildly, the feet didn't move. Space groups at least 10 feet apart so stray balls don't run into other groups.
PatioLab has "Volleyball Pepper in Threes" and 1299 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More warm-ups for Middle School
4v1 Warm-up Rondo
4v1 rondo in an 8×8-meter square: four players keep possession with passes along the ground while one player in the middle tries to win the ball.
5v2 Technical Warm-up Rondo
A 5v2 rondo (keep-away) to warm up with the ball: five players around the outside of a square keep possession while two in the middle try to win it.
Activation Ball Relays
Team relays in which each runner completes a 12-meter course dribbling with the hand, dribbling with the feet or passing, depending on the round.
Activation with Agility Ladder
Agility ladder warm-up using four footwork patterns of increasing difficulty.
Active Chain Stretching
Linked active stretches from feet to head, holding each position for about 5 seconds and flowing smoothly into the next.
Active Corners
Each corner of the space is marked with a cone and an exercise; the teacher calls a corner and students run to it to complete the exercise.