Sitting Volleyball gala day
Equipment
Suitable indoor playing area, a volleyball court is ideal
Markers or cones
Mini volleyballs
Balloons or beach balls
Net or rope
Download the Sitting Volleyball - Gala day activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.
Sitting Volleyball gala day
Organisation
In the week prior to the gala day, organise students into teams.
Students may be given time to create signs to support their team at the gala day.
Select a student from each team to be the team captain for the gala day.
Set-up Sitting Volleyball games as a circuit for teams to rotate around.
Games for the gala day include:
Sitting Volleyball
No-Go
Keep it Up
Goalball games
Keep it Up
A lead up game to Sitting Volleyball that develops basic volleyball skills.
Equipment Suitable indoor or outdoor playing area, balloon, beach ball, or lightweight volleyball
How to play
Players sit in a circle, close together on the ground or in chairs.
Using fingers and hands (but no feet or legs), players must keep a balloon or slow-moving ball off the ground.
As players’ skills and reactions improve, introduce different density or faster-moving balls.
Safety
Play sensibly. Don’t hit the ball directly at another player.
Be aware of other players.
Modifying Keep it Up using TREE
Teaching style
Keep everyone involved by ensuring groups are not too large.
Encourage players to cooperate with each other to keep the balloon floating. Where should they direct the balloon?
Introduce simple technique first e.g. keep your palms up.
Encourage students to call for the ball if it is going near another player
Rules
Allow players to play the ball off one bounce initially.
Introduce some volleyball-based rules, e.g. no double hits.
Try playing the ball in a specific order. Give everyone a number to make this easier.
Equipment
As skill level develops, add more balloons. This encourages players to cooperate to keep them all ‘afloat’.
Gradually move towards faster-moving balls, e.g. balloon > beach ball > lightweight volleyball
Environment
Introduce a specific playing area. Mark this with markers or lines on the ground.
Divide the group into two equal teams who face each other. Continue to play cooperatively without point scoring.
Introduce a barrier. Begin with a line on the ground.
Introduce volleyball rules and play for points.
If appropriate, introduce movement by standing to play.
No-Go
Players are divided into two teams separated by a no-go barrier. The ball is served across the barrier. The opposing team has to catch the ball and serve it back.
Equipment: Suitable indoor or outdoor playing area, mini volleyball (or similar), marker cones
How to play
Set up the playing area as shown. The ‘barrier’ between the 2 teams is the no-go area.
Divide the players into 2 teams.
Players sit down either side of the no-go area.
Players must serve the ball underarm or overarm across the no-go barrier.
The opposing team must catch the ball on the full or after one bounce and send it back.
Players must catch and throw in one movement.
Safety
Make sure players are aware of the capabilities of others in the group.
Encourage players to call ‘mine!’ when taking a catch.
Modifying No-Go using TREE
Teaching style
Players should visually track the ball as early as possible.
Players try different formations to cover their side of the court.
Increase the number of players per team.
Have players move closer to the no-go zone when serving.
Rules
Remove the ‘one bounce allowed’ rule – as players’ reactions improve.
Allow the receiving team to let the ball bounce twice.
Identify specific target areas where points are scored, or count double.
Equipment
Easier – use slower balls, e.g beach balls or even large balloons.
Harder – use smaller/faster balls
Environment
Vary the size of the court according to the number and ability of players – a small court makes it easier to get to a ball but needs more player communication.
Change the size of the ‘no-go’ area – a larger ‘no-go’ area makes it harder, a smaller ‘no-go’ area requires greater accuracy.
Sitting Volleyball
An alternative version to traditional standing Volleyball using a smaller court and lower net. Sitting Volleyball is a Paralympic sport.
Equipment: Suitable indoor or outdoor playing area, net or rope (with ribbons), beach ball, light plastic ball or lightweight volleyball
How to play
Divide into 2 teams of 6 players (or a suitable number).
Players must be seated (see Rules).
Players try to send the ball over the net so that it touches the ground on their opponents’ side
‘Rallies’ continue until a point is scored by:
- the ball touching the ground
- the ball goes ‘out’
- the opponents fail to return it.
Normally a maximum of three hits per team before the ball must cross the net.
Safety
Ensure players have personal space.
Players who are sensitive to rough surfaces should sit on a mat or soft area.
Modifying Sitting Volleyball using TREE
Teaching style
Introduce the rules gradually:
- do not penalise ‘double’ hits in the beginning
- allow more than three team hits before the ball crosses the net.
Rules
Change the height of the net to suit the age or ability of the players, or play without a net.
Allow the players to play the ball off one bounce initially.
In competitive sitting volleyball the net should be 1.15m for men, and 1.05m for women.
Equipment
Balloons are good to use initially.
As skills progress, try using different types of balls e.g. lightweight and slower-moving.
Experiment with different types of nets or barrier e.g. chairs or a wooden bench.
Environment
Vary the court size to suit the number of players, e.g. if there are more players, use a bigger space or divide the group into two games for higher involvement.
Sitting Volleyball awards
Teachers may choose to award students with certificates for their involvement in the Sitting Volleyball unit.
Certificates available for download include:
Reflection
2 stars and a wish
Ask students - what are 2 things you feel you did well today?
What are you going to try and improve on next week?
Students can answer reflection questions as a whole class, small group or in pairs.
