Volley technique

Organisation 

• Children work in pairs with a ball or between two or more if fewer balls
• Start simply – ball in bag, or one touch and try to catch it
• Each player’s target is to beat their previous high score
• Encourage children to use both feet
• Encourage children to use other parts of the body
• Have a competition? Highest individual score or highest score in pairs
• Use your best jugglers to demonstrate to the rest of the group

 Ways to make the exercise easier

• One kick and catch, two kicks and catch, etc. – build up slowly

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Use alternate feet
• Try using just thighs/head

Great questions to ask the children

• What part of the foot do you find it easiest to juggle with?
• Can you juggle three times using only your forehead?
• How can you help each other when you juggle as a pair?

 Safety tips

• Make sure players have their own space and remain aware of others around them

Organisation

• Two equal teams with goalkeepers
• Players cannot run with the ball, so team-mates need to support them
• Start with throwing the ball, then try volleys, headers, passes, etc.
• Encourage players to move off the ball
• When near to goal – can they score? 

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Throwing, catching and walking only

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Make passing the ball more difficult

Great questions to ask the children

• Can you try to intercept a pass?
• Can you think of ways to disguise your pass?
• Can you make clever movements off the ball?

Safety tips

• Create a safe zone between pitches

Organisation

• Two equal teams plus goalkeepers – 6v6 maximum
• Impose conditions on the game
• When the player has the ball, see if he/she can touch it at least three times before passing
• See if the player can stay on the ball for at least three seconds
• The ball can only be passed forwards
• Ask players to make runs ahead of the ball to receive it

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Play a normal game with no conditions
• Only impose conditions on some players – not all

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Limit the number of touches
• Ask the players to stay on the ball for five seconds
• They can only score with a one-touch finish

 Great questions to ask the children

• Can you show me how to protect the ball when in possession?
• Can you show me how to make runs ahead of the ball?
• How can you make the pitch as big as possible?

Safety tips

• Create safe zones between pitches