Vanguard Volleyball Slides
Vanguard Athletics
PE Lesson 1
VOLLEYBALL
PLAYBOOK
Master the court: Court dimensions, game rules, tactical rotations, and core physical skills.
Court Rules
Rotations
Core Skills
High School PE • Grades 9-12 Slide 1 of 8
The Court Arena
Layout & Dimensions
VOLLEYBALL COURT DIAGRAM
NET
Endline (9m) Back Zone
Attack Line (3m) Front Zone
Attack Line (3m) Front Zone
Endline (9m) Back Zone
Total Length: 18 Meters (59 Feet) Width: 9 Meters (29'6")
Key Highlights
- The Attack Line separates the front zone from the back zone. Back-row players cannot spike inside this line.
- Net Height: 2.43m (7'11.6") for boys, 2.24m (7'4.1") for girls in standard high school competition.
- Boundary Lines: All lines are considered IN. If the ball touches even a fraction of the line, it is a point.
High School PE • Grades 9-12 Slide 2 of 8
Code of the Court
The Vital Rules
Squad & Play
Each team has 6 players on the court. Max of 3 touches to return the ball across the net.
*Blocks do not count as a team touch!
Rally Scoring
A point is scored on every single rally, regardless of who served. Games are played to 25 points.
*Must win by a 2-point margin!
Faults & Nets
A player cannot touch any part of the net. No lifting, catching, or carrying the ball is allowed.
*No consecutive double hits!
High School PE • Grades 9-12 Slide 3 of 8
Rotation Tactics
Positions & Flow
THE 6 ZONES OF PLAY
NET POSITION (FRONT)
4 Left Front
3 Middle Front
2 Right Front
5 Left Back
6 Middle Back
1 Right Back
(Server)
01
Clockwise Movement
Teams rotate in a clockwise direction after winning back the serve (a side-out).
02
Zone 1 Serves
The player rotating into the Right Back (Zone 1) position serves the ball.
03
Rotation Faults
Players must stand in correct rotational order until the server contacts the ball. Doing otherwise yields a penalty point!
High School PE • Grades 9-12 Slide 4 of 8
Forearm Passing (The Bump)
The Defensive Shield
Technical Execution Cues
The forearm pass is your team's first touch. It is used to receive serves and hard attacks, delivering the ball accurately to the setter.
01. WRISTS & THUMBS
Hold hands together, matching thumbs side-by-side. Never cross fingers.
02. LOCK PLATFORM
Lock elbows out completely to create a flat, solid wood-like surface.
03. LEG POWER
Do not swing arms! Push up with your legs to lift and direct the ball.
✓
Do This:
Contact the ball on the soft inner flat parts of your forearms, 2-4 inches above the wrists.
✗
Avoid This:
Do not swing arms above your shoulders or hit the ball off your wrists or hands.
High School PE • Grades 9-12 Slide 5 of 8
Overhead Setting (The Set)
The Game Architect
Technical Execution Cues
The overhead set is the secondary touch, designed to deliver high-precision placements for an attacker to hit. Focus on soft hands and dynamic extension.
01. DIAMOND HANDS
Form a loose diamond with thumbs and index fingers directly above the forehead.
02. FINGERPADS
Contact the ball purely with your finger pads. Avoid palms for absolute control.
03. THE EXPLOSION
Extend arms and legs in one fluid motion to deliver a soft high trajectory.
Look through the Window
Keep your hands high. If you look straight up, you should be able to peer through your hands like a window directly at the approaching ball.
No "Double-Contact" Faults
Both hands must make and break contact at exactly the precise split second. If hands touch at separate moments, the referee signals a double fault.
High School PE • Grades 9-12 Slide 6 of 8
Underhand Serving
The Offensive Launcher
Technical Execution Cues
The underhand serve is highly reliable and puts the ball immediately into play. Perfect this basic sequence to build a foundation.
01. THE OPPOSITION
Hold ball in non-dominant hand. Step forward with opposite foot like a pitcher.
02. CUPCAKE HOLD
Hold ball still in palm of non-dominant hand directly in front of hitting hip. Do not toss!
03. HEEL STRIKE
Swing hitting arm straight back. Strike the ball cleanly off your hold with a closed fist's solid heel.
The "No-Toss" Secret
Tossing the ball up before hitting is the number one cause of serve errors. Hold the ball perfectly still and strike it straight out of your palm like hitting a golf ball off a tee.
Follow Through
Ensure your hitting arm moves forward and straight toward the net target in a smooth pendulum-like strike. Keep eyes locked on the ball.
High School PE • Grades 9-12 Slide 7 of 8
Playbook Drill: The Big Three
Application Practice
The Active Sequence
1 UNDERHAND SERVE Launches from baseline
2 FOREARM PASS Directs cleanly to zone 3
3 OVERHEAD SET Presents a high free-ball target
Goal: Achieve a consecutive flow of Serve → Pass → Set across 10 trials. Focus on correct form over winning points!
Court Communication
Call out "Mine" or "Got it" before contact to avoid collisions!
Stay in a low base athletic ready stance with knees bent.
Square shoulders to target before hitting or passing.
High School PE • Grades 9-12 Slide 8 of 8
Volleyball Playbook Handout
Vanguard Athletics • High School PE
Volleyball Playbook Handout
Unit Assessment
Name:
Date:
Period:
PART A
Court Arena Mapping
Using the word bank below, write the correct letters (A through E) into the boxes on the diagram that point to that boundary or zone.
A. Attack Line (3m)
B. Center Net Line
C. End Line (9m)
D. Front Court Zone
E. Sideline (18m)
[ ] Net Centerline
[ ] End boundary line [ ] Outer court line
[ ] Front Court Area
[ ] Back Court Area
[ ] Front attack line marker [ ] Service zone edge
PART B
Rotation Tactics & Flow
Study the 6-player court map below. Answer the questions on the right regarding serving order and court rotation rules.
THE COURT (6 POSITIONS)
LF
(Pos. 4)
MF
(Pos. 3)
RF
(Pos. 2)
LB
(Pos. 5)
MB
(Pos. 6)
RB
(Pos. 1)
Net sits above LF / MF / RF
1. When winning service back, in which direction do teams rotate?
2. Which numbered court position is responsible for serving?
3. What is the penalty for serving out of rotation order?
Vanguard Athletics PE Curriculums Page 1 of 2
Vanguard Athletics • High School PE
Volleyball Playbook Handout
Unit Assessment
PART C
Mechanical Focus Matching
Draw lines to match each of the three core skills to its most critical physical cue and tactical application.
01. Skill
Forearm Pass (Bump)
Overhead Set (Set)
Underhand Serve
02. Primary Cue
"Look through the window of diamond-shaped fingers."
"No-toss cupcake hold; strike off hand with solid heel."
"Lock elbows; lock thumbs together; push up with legs."
03. Tactical Goal
Launches the initial point. High control to guarantee play.
Secondary control contact; precision delivery for attacking.
First point of defense. Neutralizes serve energy.
PART D
Game Scenarios & Analysis
