Coaching elementary school students in volleyball requires patience and persistence. Volleyball is a sport that requires getting the ball over the net, and elementary students are typically shorter than the net. Focus the drills on the developmental abilities of the students you are teaching to ensure that the drills make the sport fun, not frustrating.
Catch and Throw
To introduce the idea of getting the ball from one side to the other and not letting it bounce, which is one of the key elements of the game, start with a simple catch and throw. The goal here is to first get the ball over the net and, second, to have the opposing team catch the ball before it hits the ground.
To complete the drill, divide the students into two groups of nine and have one group stand on each side of the net. Line the players up in rows of three -- a front row, middle row and back row. Give the ball to the player at the farthest right on the back row. Have the player toss the ball over the net. Coach the opposing team to catch the ball. If it bounces, the serving team gets a point. If the ball is caught, the catching team gets a chance to serve.
Watch and Play
Serving is one of the fundamental skills in volleyball. A 2002 study published in "Perceptual and Motor Skills" studied how elementary students best learned and improved their serving. The study found that providing an expert model accompanied by clear instruction aided students more than simply critiquing the student's serve.
Set up a monitor to play an expert video and talk the students through the process of serving, pausing the video or slowing to emphasize critical points, such as stepping forward with the opposite foot or tossing the ball too high. Then have the students practice their serves. At the end of practice, have the students watch the video again to help memorize the proper method.
Learn the Bump
Bumping is the most common means of starting a return of serve. The two-armed bump requires finesse to hit properly and control the ball. Older elementary students may learn this, but younger elementary students -- third grade and younger -- may be frustrated by attempting this difficult combination of skill and hand/eye coordination.
To start teaching the bump, toss a ball to a student and have her catch it. Once she is comfortable and easily catches the ball, move on to explaining the bump. Show the student the proper configuration -- hands together, flexed back, straight arms and bumping the ball off the forearms, not the knuckles or the wrist.
Once a group of students has the correct form, break them into teams of two. Have the students toss the ball and bump it back, taking turns with tossing and bumping. Keep an eye out for kids who receive the ball with arms apart, have bent elbows or are hitting the ball with their hands.
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