Martin Bathke

Youth Sports Supervisor

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Volleyball Lesson Plans

Elementary (4th-5th)

• Perform controlled passes and overhead sets while moving
• Serve consistently with an overhand serve and develop float-serve mechanics
• Use a three-contact offense: pass, set and attack
• Approach and attach with safe, repeatable footwork and arm swing
• Read hitters, move into defensive base positions and practice blocking footwork
• Understand rotations, serve-receive responsibilities, coverage and transition
• Communicate early, make tactical decisions and demonstrate leadership and sportsmanship qualities

Seasonal Goals

• Practice
• Warm-up (10 Minutes)
• Jog and dynamic movement
• Shuffle, backpedal, and crossover footwork
• Partner reaction and movement warm-up
• Skill 1: Ready Position & Movement (15 Minutes)
• Teaching Points:
• Balanced athletic stance; stay low and move before the ball arrives
• Move, stop, and recover to base position after each contact
• Drills:
• Coach-directed movement to zones; mirror shuffle; drop step and recover
• Skill 2: First Contact & Control (15 Minutes)
• Teaching points:
• Create a stable platform and angle shoulders toward the target
• Drills:
• Partner passing to target; pass after lateral movement; three-ball control sequence
• Competitive Drill (10 minutes)
• 3-player pass-and-move challenge; score accurate passes to a target
• Pass balls to knock over cones
• Cool Down (5 Minutes)
• Game Focus
• Call the ball early and recover to base after each play

Week 1 - Advanced Ball Control and Court Movement

• Practice
• Warm-up (10 Minutes)
• Dynamic stretching and volleyball movement
• Partner pepper: controlled pass and set
• Skill 3: Passing & Setting Under Movement (20 Minutes)
• Teaching Points:
• Pass high and toward the setter target; set with hands above forehead and finish to target
• Adjust feet to the ball rather than reaching with the arms
• Drills:
• Pass to target after a shuffle; pass-set sequences; setter movement and release drill
• Transition & Attack Preparation (15 Minutes)
• Move from defense to approach position after the pass
• Drills:
• Pass-set-approach footwork without a ball; controlled toss, approach and standing attack
• Small-sided Game (10 minutes)
• 3v3 with a bonus point for three controlled contacts
• Cool Down (5 Minutes)
• Game Focus
• Build a playable second contact and transition quickly to offense

Week 2 - Passing, Setting & Transition

• Practice
• Warm-up (10 Minutes)
• Dynamic stretching and shoulder warm-up
• Partner passing and serving progression
• Skill 4: Overhand Serving & Serve Receive (20 Minutes)
• Teaching Points:
• Consistent toss in front of hitting shoulder; firm hand contact and balanced finish
• Aim to seams and deep zones rather than simply hitting hard
• Drills:
• Standing overhand serve progression; serve to zones; target serving under a time limit
• Serve-Receive Patterns (15 Minutes)
• Read the server, communicate seam responsibility and pass toward the target
• Drills:
• Two and three person serve-receive; serve, pass, and rotate roles
• Competitive Drill (10 minutes)
• Serve-and-score: earn points for a legal serve and a controlled first pass
• Cool Down (5 Minutes)
• Game Focus
• Every player contributes to serving and organized first contact

Week 3 - Serving & Serve Receive

• Practice
• Warm-up (10 Minutes)
• Dynamic movement and shoulder activation
• Approach footwork review
• Skill 5: Attacking & Blocking Fundamentals (20 Minutes)
• Teaching Points:
• Use a controlled multi-step approach, jump safely, and contact the ball high
• Land balanced on two feet; block with hands high and eyes on the hitter
• Drills:
• Approach footwork without a ball; coach-toss attack; block footwork along the net
• Back Court Defense (15 Minutes)
• Start in defensive base, read the attacker, and move behind the block
• Drills:
• Coach-directed defensive reads; dig controlled attacks; dig-to-target and recover
• Small-Sided Game (10 minutes)
• 3v3 or 4v4: point for a controlled attack or defensive dig
• Cool Down (5 Minutes)
• Game Focus
• Use safe attacking mechanics and recover quickly after contact

Week 4 - Attack, Blocking & Defense

• Practice
• Warm-up (10 Minutes)
• Dynamic stretching and court movement
• Partner pepper progressing to controlled attack
• Team Communication & Systems (15 Minutes)
• Calls:
• Mine, Help, Free, Short, Deep, Out, and seam responsibilities
• Review rotational order, serving order and base positions
• Three Contact Offense (20 Minutes)
• Pass - Set - Over
• Drills:
• Serve receive into a three-contact sequence; setter decision to left, middle, or right target; hitter coverage after attack
• Team Defense and Transition (10 minutes)
• Move from base to ball, then transition into attack coverage
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• Game Focus
• Communicate before the ball crosses the net and support the hitter

Week 5 - Team Systems

• Practice
• Warm-up (10 Minutes)
• Dynamic stretching and volleyball movement
• Serving and passing touch sequence
• Skill Stations (20 Minutes)
• Stations:
• Overhand serving to zones
• Serve receive and passing targets
• Setting to an outside and middle target
• Approach and controlled attack
• Defensive base, digging, and block footwork
• Team Strategy Review (10 Minutes)
• Review rotation, serve-receive formation, attack coverage and defensive base
• Scrimmage (15 minutes)
• Use rally scoring; coach pauses briefly to reinforce tactical choices
• Cool Down (5 minutes)
• Game Focus
• Bring skills together, make decisions, and prepare to build on fundamentals in high school

Week 6 - Game Strategy & Season Review