Flipping the Script on Teaching Volleyball

Abstract When teaching volleyball to neophytes and relative beginners, it is crucial to make modifications to ensure success, to maximize touches, to lengthen rallies and to foster structured play. Two such modifications described in this article, Instant Volleyball and Flips, help the instructor meet all four of these goals. Eliminating the serve from beginner play and modifying the scoring system to reward multiple team contacts are also key elements in creating structured, engaging play that builds player confidence, leaving students eager to return to the court, both inside and outside of school. Instructors should “flip the script” on teaching volleyball by doing what seems counterintuitive at first – eliminating aspects of a standard six-on-six volleyball game during learning activities to develop a higher quality of game play in the long run.