- Check the space and the kit.
- Get your child's attention first.
- Show it from two sides.
- Say one thing only.
- End on one that works.
Put the phone down where you can see it. Tap Next with your thumb, or use the arrow keys.
Is the space marked?
- A net or rope line
- A serving line
- A target square on the wall or the floor
A net; a mat or a bucket target for spikes.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Standing, raise the hitting arm high, elbow back, and swing down over a tossed ball, hitting it with the heel of the hand.
- Three steps (for a right-hander: right, left, then both feet together) into a two-foot jump, then the swing.
- Tip: a soft push of the ball over with the fingers. Block: jump with the hands close together and reach over the net.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- The arm: hitting arm high, swing down over the ball, strike with the heel of the hand.
- The three-step approach with a two-foot take-off from a high set.
- The dink: a soft push over the hands.
- The block: jump with the hands close together, elbows extending, reach over without touching the net.
How much: 10 of each
Elbow back, hit with the body
Spiker and blocker
The rules
One player spikes a tossed ball; the other blocks.
- The tosser sets a high ball near the net
- The spiker attacks it; the blocker jumps to block
- 10 tries, then rotate
Fair play: A grown-up blocks with one hand only.
- Points
- The spiker scores 1 point for a spike that lands in court; the blocker scores 1 point for a block that sends it back.
- Fouls
- The other player gets the point: touching the net; landing over the centre line; catching or throwing the ball
- Win
- The most points after everyone has been spiker and blocker.
- 4
- 7
- 10
6 of 10 spikes land in the court from a toss.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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