Volleyball Skills Station Circuit
A five-station volleyball circuit in groups of 5, with one skill task and a measurable challenge at each station. Students work independently on setting, forearm passing, serving, spiking, and defense while tracking their own progress.
How to play
- Set up five stations with a task card at each and make five groups of 5; each group starts at one station and records results on the card.
- Station 1: sets against the wall above a line at 10 ft; station 2: forearm passes in pairs to a hoop 10 ft from the passer.
- Station 3: underhand serves to the back half of the court; station 4: standing spikes over a low net off a teammate's toss.
- Station 5: defense: from a low stance, dig balls tossed to either side and practice a controlled roll onto the mats.
- Each station lasts 4 minutes and groups rotate on the whistle with 30 seconds to switch; each group records its best score and compares it with the previous lesson.
- Finish with 4 minutes: each group picks the station where it improved most and explains it to the class.
Rules
- Follow the turn order shown on each station's task card.
- At the defense station, roll onto the mat; never catch yourself on stiff arms.
- At the spiking station, the tosser steps away after tossing and nobody crosses under the net.
Variations
Easier
Shorten distances and allow one bounce at stations 1 and 2.
Standard
Five 4-minute stations with a measurable challenge at each.
Harder
Add required movement between contacts and raise each station's target by 50%.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: task cards include a seated version of each task, and a foam ball is used.
- Autism: task cards use picture symbols and the station order is shown at the start.
- Lower fitness: at each station a student may spend 1 minute observing and recording instead of practicing.
Learning goals
- Improve basic volleyball skills independently.
- Record personal progress and compare it across lessons.
- Practice a safe defensive roll.
Equipment for a class of 25
- volleyball: 10
- net: 1
- hoops: 3
- cones: 10
- task cards: 5
- mats: 3
Teacher tip
Set up stations before class and leave laminated task cards on the floor under a cone. Place the spiking station at the end of the gym with the most open space behind the net.
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