Volleyball Lesson Plans for PE

Volleyball lesson plans that work in a real gym class

These volleyball lesson plans give PE teachers a complete 4-lesson unit, timed minute by minute, that works with 25 to 30 students, one or two courts and not always enough balls.

Volleyball is hard to teach in PE: the ball moves fast, rallies break down after one touch and half the class ends up waiting. The lessons below fix that with small groups, lots of touches and modified games where every student keeps playing. You do not need a volleyball background to teach them.

How to structure a volleyball PE lesson

Every lesson in this unit follows the same five blocks, so students know what to expect and you spend less time explaining.

  1. Warm-up (5–8 min): a moving game with a ball, so students are active from the first minute. See our volleyball warm-up drills.
  2. Skill demo (3 min): show one skill with three simple cues. Keep it short; students learn by doing.
  3. Practice in small groups (10–15 min): pairs or groups of three, one ball per group if you can.
  4. Modified game (12–15 min): a small-sided game that rewards the skill of the day.
  5. Cool-down and check (3–5 min): one question to the class and a quick thumbs-up check on the cues.

The golden rule for PE volleyball: maximise touches. A student who touches the ball 50 times in a lesson learns more than one who waits in line for a full-court game.

A 4-lesson volleyball unit at a glance

The unit builds from catching and passing to playing real (modified) games in four lessons of 45 minutes. Run each lesson twice if you have eight sessions.

LessonFocusMain gameEquipment
1Forearm pass (bump)Catch Volley 2 vs 21 ball per pair, cones or a low net
2Overhead pass (set)Set Volley: from catch to bounce 2 vs 21 ball per group of 3, net or rope
3Underhand serve and rotationServe and catch, then serve-and-rally 4 vs 41 ball per pair, nets
4Putting it togetherUltimate Volley tournament 3 vs 31 ball per court, nets, bibs

Older or more experienced classes can replace lesson 1 with a review and add a lesson on attacking.

Lesson 1: the forearm pass (45 minutes)

Learning goal: students can pass a tossed ball with a stable platform to a partner. Cues: “flat platform”, “feet to the ball”, “lift, don’t swing”.

TimeActivityHow it works
0:00–0:07Warm-up: Ball FriendsEvery student has a ball and does short ball-handling tasks: throw, catch, bounce and turn. Make it harder once a task goes well.
0:07–0:10DemoShow the platform: hands together, thumbs side by side, arms straight. Hit the ball with the forearms, not the hands.
0:10–0:18Toss and passIn pairs, one tosses underhand, the other passes back to the tosser’s hands. Switch every 10 tosses.
0:18–0:25Sticky forearm passPairs keep the ball on their platform while moving sideways. The ball may not drop, so students must control it with their arms.
0:25–0:40Game: Catch Volley 2 vs 2, then Pass VolleyBadminton-sized court, net at about 1.70 m. Catch Volley: catch the ball and throw it straight back over. When that goes well, switch to Pass Volley: pass to a teammate, who catches, tosses and plays the ball over.
0:40–0:45Cool-down and checkAsk: “Where should the ball hit your arms?” Thumbs up if you passed 5 in a row.

Drills from this lesson in VolleyballXL

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u12, u18, u6
Ball Friends part 1
Watch drill

Goal: Improving the handling of the ball, a better feel for the ball, better coordination and estimating the trajectory of the ball.

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u12, u18
Sticky forearm pass
Watch drill

Passing drill – Goal: Lateral movement in excavator position

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u12
Catch Volley
Watch drill

Passing drill – Goal: Developing basic ball feeling through throwing and catching

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u12
Pass Volley
Watch drill

Passing drill – Goal: Laying the foundation for passing and simple attacks.

More passing ideas: volleyball passing drills.

Lesson 2: the overhead pass (45 minutes)

Learning goal: students can set a high ball to a partner with both hands above the forehead. Cues: “window above your forehead”, “soft fingers”, “push up with your legs”.

TimeActivityHow it works
0:00–0:07Warm-up: forearm pass reviewPairs pass with the forearms; count the longest streak.
0:07–0:10DemoMake a window with thumbs and index fingers above the forehead. Catch the ball in the window, then push it up.
0:10–0:16Catch and pushPartner tosses; catch the ball in the window and push it straight back up to yourself, then to your partner.
0:16–0:25Set to a targetGroups of three in a line: tosser, setter, catcher. The setter sends a high ball to the catcher. Rotate every 8 balls.
0:25–0:40Game: Set Volley, then Bounce Volley (2 vs 2)Set Volley: the first and second ball are caught and tossed with an overhead motion; the third ball is played over the net overhead. Next step, Bounce Volley: catch the ball and give a bounce set to your teammate, who plays it over.
0:40–0:45Cool-down and checkAsk: “Why do we use three touches?” Show the window once more together.

Drills from this lesson in VolleyballXL

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u12
Set volley: from catch to bounce
Watch drill

Setting drill – Goal: Laying the foundation for overhead play. A good transition from catch volley to bounce volley.

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u12
Bounce Volley
Watch drill

Setting drill – Goal: Learning to cooperate through a bounce set (a setup with a bounce) and simple attacks.

Lesson 3: the underhand serve and rotation (45 minutes)

Learning goal: students can serve underhand over the net from a distance that suits them and know how a team rotates. Cues: “step with the opposite foot”, “hold the ball low”, “swing like a pendulum”.

TimeActivityHow it works
0:00–0:07Warm-up: pass and set relayGroups of three pass and set while walking to the other side of the gym.
0:07–0:10DemoShow the underhand serve: ball in the non-hitting hand at waist height, step, swing from the shoulder, hit with the heel of the hand.
0:10–0:20Serve and catchPairs on opposite sides of the net: one serves, the other catches and serves back. Start at the attack line and take one step back after two good serves.
0:20–0:25Rotation walk-throughTeams of four or six stand on court and rotate clockwise after each “side-out” call. Explain: you rotate when your team wins the serve back.
0:25–0:40Game: serve-and-rally 4 vs 4Every rally starts with a serve. Servers may move closer to the net. The receiving team may catch the first ball. Rotate when you win the serve. Students who wait can play Serving into hoops on the side.
0:40–0:45Cool-down and checkAsk: “When does your team rotate?” Count how many students served over the net.

Drills from this lesson in VolleyballXL

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u12, u6
Serve and catch
Watch drill

Passing drill – Goal: Improve the assessment of the ball trajectory and the environment

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u12, u18, u6
Serving into hoops
Watch drill

Passing drill – Goal: Improvement of the service technique and estimation of the ball trajectory.

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u12, u18
Serve ditto
Watch drill

Service drill – Goal: Improve the targeted impact on a specific position in the field

Need a refresher on the rules? See volleyball rules and how volleyball scoring works.

Lesson 4: modified games and a mini tournament (45 minutes)

Learning goal: students use the pass, set and serve in a game and keep the rally going as a team. Cues: “call the ball”, “three touches”, “move to the ball”.

TimeActivityHow it works
0:00–0:07Warm-up: Chaos EasyCatch the ball and throw it straight back over the net, then run to touch the wall and return. It starts easy and quickly turns into a lively competition.
0:07–0:12Team talkForm teams of 3 and pick a team name. Agree on one rule: call “mine” before you play the ball.
0:12–0:40Ultimate Volley tournament 3 vs 3Games of 5 minutes on small courts (about 6 x 6 m). No catching; three good team contacts earn a bonus point. Winners move up a court, others move down. Beginners play Smash Volley instead, where the second ball may be caught.
0:40–0:45Cool-down and reflectionAsk each team what helped them win rallies. Hand out the skills check (see below).

Drills from this lesson in VolleyballXL

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u12, u18, Seniors
Chaos Easy
Watch drill

Passing drill – Goal: Focus, communicate, manage task and execute.

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u12
Ultimate Volley
Watch drill

Passing drill – Goal: Fully game-focused play without catching, with lots of dynamics.

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u12
Smash Volley
Watch drill

Passing drill – Goal: Learning to set and perform attacks (smashes).

Volleyball PE games without a net

No nets set up? These games still teach the same skills:

  • Over the line: two teams on either side of a line of cones or a rope on the floor. The ball must go over the line and higher than the head of a student standing on it.
  • Keep it up: groups of four count how many touches they can keep the ball in the air. Beat your record each round.
  • Target pass: pass or set the ball into a hoop or onto a mat for points.

More ideas: volleyball drills without a net.

How to adapt the lessons to your class

Every class is different, so use these quick fixes for the most common problems.

  • Large class, one court: run three stations and rotate every 8 minutes: one group plays a game on court, one practises along the wall, one does a no-net game. See our volleyball drills for large groups.
  • Not enough balls: use groups of three or four with one ball, and give the waiting student a job, such as counting touches or catching.
  • Beginners and younger students: use beach balls, balloons or soft volleyballs, lower the net and allow a catch on the second touch.
  • Mixed abilities: let strong students serve from further back and beginners from closer; in games, give a bonus point for a rally with three touches.
  • Safety: clear the space around the courts, teach students to call “mine” and keep waiting groups away from serving lines.

A simple volleyball skills check

Use this three-level check at the end of the unit to grade or give feedback in a few minutes per group.

SkillGetting thereGot itExcellent
Forearm passBall hits hands or bounces off at randomFlat platform, ball goes upBall goes to a partner on most passes
Overhead passBall is slapped or caughtWindow above the forehead, ball goes upHigh, accurate set to a target
Underhand serveRarely reaches the netServes over from a short distanceServes over from the end line consistently
Game playWaits for the ballMoves to the ball and calls itUses three touches and helps teammates

Plan your next volleyball lessons in minutes

Want more variety than four lessons? VolleyballXL has 1000+ video drills you can filter by age group and level, including beginner drills, games and drills for large groups. Drag them into a lesson, set the minutes and show the video on a screen or tablet in the gym.

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FAQ about volleyball lesson plans

Teach one skill per lesson, keep demos under three minutes and let students practise in pairs or small groups with lots of touches. End every lesson with a small-sided game that rewards the skill of the day.

A learning goal, two or three teaching cues, a warm-up, a skill practice, a modified game and a short check at the end. The four lessons above follow that structure.

Four lessons cover the forearm pass, overhead pass, underhand serve and game play. With eight sessions, repeat each lesson once with harder variations.

Over the line (a rope or cones as the net), keep it up in groups of four, and target passing into hoops or onto mats all work without a net.

Soft training volleyballs, beach balls or even balloons make the first lessons easier and less painful for beginners.
Volleyball drills by position
Volleyball drills by level