Volleyball Games for PE: 6 Fun Lead-Up Games for Elementary and Middle School
Updated: 21 hours ago
Volleyball lead-up games are a great way to get students excited about volleyball. Adding small group and large group games to your lessons keeps students on task and motivated, and it builds real volleyball skills while keeping the fun front and center. Lead-up games also break up skill practice and get students thinking and moving in game-like situations.
Quick Answer: Fun volleyball games for PE include Small Court Volleyball, Beach Ball Volleyball, Volley Bounce, Cooperative Volleyball, Four Court Volleyball, and Surprise Volleyball. These lead-up games use smaller teams, softer balls, lower nets, and modified rules so every student gets more touches and builds serving, bumping, and setting skills.
Pics by Jared Carder @jcarder87
In this post, I'll share the benefits of volleyball lead-up games, tips for using them in your PE lessons, and 6 net games that work great in PE classes. Let's get volleying!
Need some large group games for your PE classes? Check out my post: PE Games for Large Groups: 10 Tips for Success
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Why Use Volleyball Games in PE?
Volleyball games bring a lot to your PE program. They build teamwork, improve coordination, and give students a fun way to practice important skills. Here's why volleyball is a great fit for PE:
Teamwork: Volleyball is an interactive game that gets students working together.
Coordination and Agility: It builds coordination and agility, two important skills for every student.
Pics by Lines PE Teachers @LINES_PE
Engagement: Students practice skills in a fun, competitive setting, which keeps them engaged.
Problem Solving: Games challenge students to work together, solve problems, and react quickly.
Strategy: Students learn to think about offense, defense, positioning, reading opponents, and good form on the serve.
Pic by Middleton Physical Education @DMcWherterPE
Fresh Air: Volleyball works great outdoors, so it's a nice chance to get students outside.
Fun: With quick play and exciting rallies, volleyball is just plain fun!
The volleyball games in this post line up with SHAPE America's Standard 1: Develops a variety of motor skills.* They also support Standard 2: Applies knowledge related to movement and fitness concepts.*
*National Physical Education Standards are used under license from SHAPE America. © 2024, SHAPE America, https://www.shapeamerica.org/. All rights reserved.
Need some small group games for your PE classes? My PE Small Group Games: 25 Fun Activities are perfect for taking your classes to the next level, and my small group games post has even more ideas.
Tips for Teaching Volleyball Lead-Up Games in PE
Volleyball lead-up games are a great way to build students' skills and excitement for the sport. Here are some practical tips to help your lessons run smoothly:
1. Set Up the Space: Mark the court or playing area clearly and leave enough room for every player to move freely.
2. Adjust the Rules: Change the rules as needed to fit different group sizes and class sizes.
3. Build the Skills First: Before you start the lead-up games, teach and practice the basic skills of setting, bumping, and serving. My volleyball stations post has 10 great ideas.
4. Demonstrate: Have a few students show the class how to play before the game officially starts.
5. Encourage Teamwork: Have students work in pairs or small groups during some games. It brings out different strengths in every student!
Pic by Jared Carder @jcarder87
6. Set Clear Goals and Rules: Go over the objectives and rules before each game so everyone stays organized and focused. It's also a great time to talk about good sportsmanship.
7. Teach the Vocabulary: Introduce key volleyball terms early in the unit. My Volleyball Terms poster and Volleyball Skills poster are great visuals for your gym. For a full list with simple definitions, see my Volleyball Terms for Kids post.
For elementary volleyball, I used beach balls instead of volleyballs. Students had more time to get under the ball, and mistakes mattered a lot less.
With these tips, you'll be ready to bring fun volleyball games into your classes. So grab a volleyball or a beach ball and let the games begin!
6 Volleyball Games to Use in Your PE Class
Here are six fun volleyball lead-up games you can use in your PE lessons. Each one includes an overview, skill focus, equipment list, diagram, and rules.
1. Small Court Volleyball
Overview
Small teams of 3 or 4 students play over a net on a small court, trying to make the ball land inside their opponent's boundaries.
Skill Focus: bumping, setting, and serving
Equipment
1 volleyball, volleyball trainer, or beach ball per group
2 poles or small standards per group
1 small net per court (or 2 students can hold it)
Lines or cones to mark court boundaries
Game Instructions and Rules
Set up a tennis or badminton style net, or a string, across a line in the gym, on a field, or on the blacktop. Divide students into teams of 3 or 4. Set the net at a height that fits the age of your students, and use cones or lines to mark small courts.
Serve: Start with an overhand throw or underhand serve from the back of the serving team's court. The ball must go all the way over the net.
Volleys: Each team has up to 5 hits to return the ball over the net using sets and bumps.
Scoring: If the ball lands on your side or your team hits it out, the other team scores a point or wins the serve.
Lines: Balls that land on a boundary line are in.
No Doubles: Players may not hit the ball twice in a row or touch the net.
Extra Players: Extra players can hold the net and rotate in from the side.
Winning: Play to 5 to 11 points (win by 2). The winning team stays, and a new team rotates in.
2. Beach Ball Volleyball
Overview
Great for beginners! Students play a modified volleyball game over a net using one or more large beach balls. My beach ball games post has even more ideas.
Skill Focus: serving, bumping, tracking, coordination, and agility
Equipment
1 or more 16 or 20 inch beach balls per net
2 standards and 1 large net per group, set at a height that fits your students
Lines or cones to mark court boundaries
Game Instructions and Rules
Teams of 6 to 9 players play on each side, and extra players can rotate in from the side. Set up 2 standards, 1 net, and a court on each side of the net, just like a regular game. Set the net at a height that fits the age of your students. You can run several games at once around the gym, blacktop, or field.
Serve: Start with an underhand serve from a line near mid-court. Students who struggle can throw the ball over the net.
Helping Hands: Teammates can help the serve over the net with a set or bump.
Unlimited Hits: A team can hit the ball as many times as it takes to get it over, but no player can hit it twice in a row.
Scoring: If a team hits the ball out or doesn't return it over the net, the other team gets 1 point.
Rotate: Students stay in their area and rotate by rows or with a scramble so everyone gets lots of touches.
3. Volley Bounce
Overview
Students follow regular volleyball rules and rotations as they volley a ball back and forth over a lowered net. The ball is allowed to bounce once on the floor between hits.
Skill Focus: serving, bumping, setting, tracking, and agility
Equipment
1 volleyball, volleyball trainer, or large foam ball per net
2 standards and 1 large net per group, set about 4 feet high
Lines or cones to mark court boundaries
Game Instructions and Rules
Teams of up to 9 players play on each side, and extra players can rotate in from the side. Set up 2 standards, 1 net, and a court on each side of the net. Lower the net to about 4 feet high. You can run several games at once around the gym, blacktop, or field.
Serve: Start with an underhand serve from the back right corner. The ball must clear the net without touching it. Students who struggle can throw the ball.
One Bounce: The ball can bounce once on the floor before a player bumps, sets, digs, or saves it back over the net.
Three Hits: Each team has up to 3 hits to get the ball back over the net.
Scoring: If the ball bounces twice on your side or goes out of bounds, the other team scores a point or wins the serve.
Move and Rotate: Students move freely in their area and switch positions often to build their skills.
4. Cooperative Volleyball
Overview
Two teams work together to pass a volleyball or beach ball back and forth over the net, keeping it in the air as long as possible. It's great for building ball control.
Skill Focus: serving, bumping, setting, teamwork, and coordination
Equipment
1 volleyball, volleyball trainer, or beach ball per net
2 standards and 1 large net per group, set at a height that fits your students
Lines or cones to mark court boundaries
Game Instructions and Rules
Teams of 6 to 9 players play on each side, and extra players can rotate in from the side. Set up 2 standards, 1 net, and a court on each side of the net. Set the net at a height that fits the age of your students. You can run several games at once in your learning area.
Work Together: Both teams work together toward the same goal.
Serve: Start with an underhand serve from a line at mid-court. Students who struggle can throw the ball.
Helping Hands: Teammates can help the serve over the net.
Unlimited Hits: Players can hit the ball as many times as needed on their side, but no player can hit it twice in a row.
Count Out Loud: Each time the ball goes over the net, everyone shouts out the count.
Start Over: When either side makes a mistake, the count starts over.
Beat Your Record: Try to beat your best score every round!
5. Four Court Volleyball
Overview
Teams serve, pass, set, and dig the ball to send it over the net into one of the other three courts in a four-way volleyball setup.
Skill Focus: serving, bumping, setting, spiking, blocking, tracking, and agility
Equipment
1 volleyball, volleyball trainer, or beach ball per group
Standards and nets set up to make four courts, at a height that fits your students
Lines or cones to mark court boundaries
Game Instructions and Rules
Groups of 6 to 9 players play in each court, and extra players can rotate in from the side. Set up nets to create four courts in different spots in the gym or outside. Set the net height to fit your students. With this setup, you can run several games at once.
Serve: Start with a throw or underhand serve from the back of a court. The ball must go all the way over the net into any of the other 3 courts.
Keep It Up: Hit the ball before it touches the floor in your court and send it into another team's court.
Reverse Scoring: If your team hits the ball out or fails to return it, your team gets 1 point.
Winning: The team with the lowest score at the end of the time wins. Teams can rotate courts after a set time or after each game.
Video by Mrs. Hochman (& Mr. Ramlow) @CopelandD70PE
6. Surprise Volleyball
Overview
Teams serve, bump, and set the ball over a covered net, trying to keep it from touching the floor on their side.
Skill Focus: serving, bumping, setting, blocking, tracking, and agility
Equipment
1 volleyball, volleyball trainer, or beach ball per net
2 standards and 1 large net per group, set at a height that fits your students
1 to 3 sheets or parachutes to drape over the net
Game Instructions and Rules
Up to 9 players play on each side, and extra players can rotate in from the side. Set up 2 standards and a net in different spots in the gym or outside, and set the net height to fit your students. Cover the net with parachutes, bed sheets, or blankets so players can't see through it.
Serve: Start with a throw or underhand serve into the other team's court.
Unlimited Hits: Each team can use as many sets, bumps, digs, and saves as needed to return the ball.
Surprise: The covered net hides the ball until it pops up over the top, so players have to react quickly.
Scoring: If the ball lands on your side or your team hits it out, the other team scores a point or wins the serve.
No Doubles: Players may not hit the ball twice in a row or touch the net.
Winning: Play to 15 points (win by 2). Teams switch courts after each game.
Pics by Stephanie Weber @MrsWeber_PE
Need some volleyball skill stations for your program? Check out my post: 10 Fun Volleyball Stations for PE Classes
Final Thoughts
Volleyball games are a great way to keep students engaged while they build a wide range of skills. The games in this post are fun, and they give students practice with serving, bumping, setting, blocking, spiking, tracking, agility, hand-eye coordination, and teamwork.
There are lots of other ways to play, too. Don't be afraid to mix up these games, add your own twist, and try new strategies to build your students' skills and confidence. If you'd like a ready-to-go plan, my Volleyball Skills and Games Unit includes 10 K-5 lesson plans, and my Volleyball PE Bundle adds stations, games, task cards, and signs. My Bump Pass Rubrics and Volleyball Set Rubrics make assessment simple. For more game ideas, check out my posts on basketball lead-up games and striking and fielding games.
Which of these volleyball games will you try first? Let me know in the comments below. Happy volleying!
Need more volleyball games for your PE classes? My PE Volleyball and Net Games: 25 High Flying Volleyball and Net Activities are perfect for taking your classes to the next level. You can find the game set here on TPT.
Need FREE Physical Education Games?
Do you need fun games for your physical education program with clear instructions and play diagrams? Here's a free set to help!
Fill in the form below to download the FREE Physical Education Games Packet: 18 Game Set to use in your PE program! Inside are 18 fun and exciting PE games for a wide range of ages.
This PDF digital download includes 3 games from each of these sets in my PE Games Super Bundle:
1. PE Base Games, 2. PE Basketball Games, 3. PE Soccer Games, 4. PE Volleyball and Net Games, 5. PE Disc Games, and 6. PE Small Group Multi-Skill Games
150 PE Games
If you're looking for lots of PE games for large, medium, or small groups, check out my PE Games Super Bundle: Basketball, Soccer, Net, Disc, Base, and Small Group Games.
This Super Bundle includes 150 games from 6 PE game sets: PE Base Games, PE Basketball Games, PE Soccer Games, PE Volleyball and Net Games, PE Disc Games, and PE Small Group Multi-Skill Games. Each set has 25 top-rated games that PE and classroom teachers can use to teach skills and keep students happy and active!
You can find this bundle in my TPT store: PE Games for Team Sports: Super Bundle of Large Group and Small Group Activities
About Pete Charrette
Pete Charrette is a National Board Certified physical education teacher and former Georgia PE Teacher of the Year with more than 30 years of experience teaching elementary PE. He is the creator of Cap'n Pete's Power PE and has developed more than 1,000 PE and health resources used by teachers around the world. Pete loves helping PE teachers build programs their students enjoy.
