Volleyball PE Unit: 6 Lesson Plans (Ages 11–14)

This free volleyball unit gives PE teachers six 45-minute lessons for students ages 11–14, building from forearm passing to a modified 4-versus-4 game. Each lesson has clear objectives, a warm-up, skill activities, a small-sided game and a quick check for understanding. Use lighter balls, lower nets and small courts so every student gets lots of touches.

Lessons

6 × 45 minutes

Ages

11–14

Main game

4 v 4 on a small court

Students per ball

2 is ideal

Skills

Pass, set, serve, attack, rally

Unit overview

Unit goals: By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

1. Pass a ball with a forearm platform to a target.
2. Set a ball using an overhead “window” hand shape.
3. Serve underhand over the net from a shortened distance.
4. Play a cooperative and then competitive rally using three contacts.
5. Explain basic rules (rotation, scoring, in/out) and show good sportsmanship.

These goals fit the aims of most school PE curricula: motor skills, movement concepts, social skills and personal responsibility. In the US, they map to SHAPE America's four national PE standards (Standards 1–4).

Equipment list (class of ~30)

• 15 volleyballs or more (lightweight trainer balls or soft volleyballs work best for this age)
• 2–4 nets or ropes (badminton nets or a rope between posts work for small courts)
• 20–30 cones or poly spots
• Bibs (pinnies) in 4–6 colors
• Hula hoops or floor tape for targets
• Whistle, timer, clipboard or tablet for assessment
• Optional: beach balls for the first lesson, wall space for wall passing

Net height: Lower nets for this age so students can succeed. For recommended youth heights, see Court Dimensions. Many national federations publish youth net heights and ball recommendations — for example USA Volleyball, Volleyball England and Volleyball Canada. Check your own national federation.

Safety (read before Lesson 1)

• Clear the floor of loose balls between activities — rolling balls cause most ankle injuries in class.
• Set a “ball stop” rule: when a ball rolls into another court, call “ball!” and play stops.
• Space courts so students don't back into each other.
• Teach a safe “ready” stance and how to fall and roll before any diving or lunging; no diving required in this unit.
• Warm up every lesson (see Warm-Up). Any jumping: land on two feet with knees bent.
• Students with injuries or medical restrictions get modified roles (scorekeeper, coach, line judge). See Common Injuries for general information.

Health note: General information, not medical advice. Young athletes should train under a qualified coach, and anyone with pain or an injury should see a doctor or physical therapist.

Lesson 1: Ball control and the forearm pass

Objectives: Students show a ready position and a flat forearm platform; pass to themselves and to a partner.

• Warm-up (8 min): Jog and dynamic stretches; “ready position” freeze tag — when tagged, freeze in a low ready stance.
• Skill intro (7 min): Demonstrate the platform: hands together, thumbs side by side, arms straight, angle the arms to the target, move feet first.
• Activities (15 min):
  • Self-toss and catch on the platform (no bouncing yet), then 1 bump and catch, then continuous bumps.
  • Partner toss-and-pass: one tosses underhand from 3 m, the other passes back. Switch after 10.
• Modified game (10 min): “Keep it up” — groups of 4 in a circle count how many passes they can make without the ball hitting the floor. Beat your record.
• Closure (5 min): Ask: “Where should your arms point when you pass?” Thumbs-up check.

Lesson 2: The overhead set

Objectives: Students form a “window” with their hands, contact the ball above the forehead and push with legs and arms.

• Warm-up (8 min): Partner mirror footwork (shuffle, crossover); quick review of the forearm pass.
• Skill intro (7 min): Hands up early, thumbs and index fingers making a triangle “window,” look through it, extend arms and legs up toward the target.
• Activities (15 min):
  • Self-toss and catch in the window (feel the shape), then self-set 1, 2, 3 in a row.
  • Partner toss-and-set from 3 m.
  • Set to a hoop target.
• Modified game (10 min): “Pass-set-catch” in groups of 3: one tosses, one passes to the setter, setter sets to the tosser who catches. Rotate jobs.
• Closure (5 min): Exit question: “What's the difference between a pass and a set?”

Lesson 3: Underhand serve and serve receive

Objectives: Students serve underhand over the net from a shortened line; receivers pass the serve to a target.

• Warm-up (8 min): Shoulder circles, arm swings; partner passing review.
• Skill intro (7 min): Opposite foot forward, hold the ball low in front, swing the hitting arm like a pendulum, contact with the heel of the hand.
• Activities (15 min):
  • Partner serves across a gym line (no net) from about 4.5 m.
  • Serve over the net from a cone line inside the court. Students who succeed 3 times step back.
  • Serve-and-pass: server serves, a receiver passes to a hoop.
• Modified game (10 min): “Serve targets” — teams score 1 point for an in-court serve and 3 for landing in a hoop.
• Closure (5 min): Ask students to explain how the server knows when to move back a cone.

Lesson 4: Three contacts and the rally

Objectives: Students use pass–set–send over the net and call “mine!” to communicate.

• Warm-up (8 min): Dynamic stretches; “Keep it up” circles from Lesson 1.
• Skill intro (5 min): Show the pattern: first contact passes to the middle, second contact sets high, third contact sends it over. Teach the “mine!” call.
• Activities (17 min):
  • Cooperative rally 2 v 2 over a low net: count how many times the ball crosses the net. Bonus if a team uses all three touches.
  • Toss-in 3 v 3: teacher tosses in, team must use 2 or 3 contacts before sending over.
• Modified game (10 min): 3 v 3 “catch volleyball”: the first contact may be caught and tossed to yourself to pass, so rallies last longer.
• Closure (5 min): Discuss: “Why do teams use three touches instead of one?”

Lesson 5: The attack and simple rules

Objectives: Students show a basic 3-step approach (or a standing attack) and learn rotation and rally scoring.

• Warm-up (8 min): Skips, high knees, low two-foot jumps with soft landings (land on both feet, knees bent).
• Skill intro (7 min): Approach “left-right-left” (for right-handers), arm back like drawing a bow, contact high in front of the hitting shoulder. Students not ready to jump can do a standing “down ball.”
• Activities (15 min):
  • Toss-and-hit against a wall or into an open court.
  • Set-to-hit: partner tosses or sets, hitter attacks a down ball over a low net.
• Rules mini-lesson (5 min): Rally scoring (a point every rally), rotate clockwise when you win the serve back, lines are in. See Volleyball Rules for Beginners and Court Zones.
• Modified game (5 min): Short 4 v 4 games to 7 points, rotating every time the team wins the serve back.
• Safety: Limit jumping volume; land on two feet; keep nets well clear of walls.

Lesson 6: Modified tournament and assessment

Objectives: Students apply skills and rules in a 4 v 4 game and show respectful play.

• Warm-up (8 min): Student-led warm-up in teams (use Warm-Up ideas).
• Tournament (30 min): 4 v 4 round robin on small courts. Games to 11 (rally scoring) or 6 minutes. Rules: underhand serve from a shortened line, one re-serve allowed, every player serves in order, teams rotate when they win back the serve. Teacher and student “coaches” use the rubric.
• Closure (7 min): Self-assessment card and a team “shout-out” for good sportsmanship.

Assessment rubric (score each skill 1–4)

Watch it

Video: Prime Coaching Sport on YouTube. Learn Volley is not affiliated with this channel.

Deep dive: make it work in a crowded gym

With 30 or more students, give each pair a ball and use the walls: wall passing and wall setting keep everyone busy while you coach small groups. Run small courts side by side across the gym width. Rotate in pairs instead of lines so no one waits more than a minute. Changing the ball (lighter), the net (lower) and the court (smaller) is the fastest way to raise success rates for beginners.

Frequently asked questions