Receiving (Controlling Balls in the Air)

Soccer Volley | Soccer Volley Doubles | Settlers

New players first become comfortable controlling balls on the ground. When a ball comes to them through the air, they're at a complete loss.

This section explains how to practice those situations. While the one-word title Receiving was convenient, it doesn't quite cover what we're after. We want our players to be able to receive the ball through the air, control it with different body surfaces, and then send it on its way.

Soccer Volley is the ideal activity for these skills. For newer players, including U-Littles, Settlers is the ideal stepping stone.

Soccer Volley

This soccer version of volleyball gets the ball moving through the air. Players must use different body surfaces, like the chest, thigh, and head. And special bounce and touch rules allow newer players to play.

Set up a Soccer Volley court on any grassy or smooth surface. The ideal court looks like a miniature volleyball court, with boundary lines and a waist-high net.

When lines and a net aren’t available, create the boundaries with cones. The dividing line down the middle takes the place of a net.

Soccer Volley, Official Rules

Court and Starting Positions. The court is divided by a net or line into two halves. Each half is eight paces long in all four directions. A player is on each side, near the back line. One player holds a ball and will serve, as the other receives.
How a Point Proceeds. The server drops the ball, lets it bounce once, and kicks it over to the other side. The returner must let the serve bounce at least once, and is allowed up to three bounces and three touches before sending the ball back. Players continue sending the ball back and forth, using up to three bounces and three touches each time. The point ends when a shot goes out, when too many bounces or touches are used, or when the ball begins rolling
Scoring. Only the server may register a score, as in volleyball. After winning a point, the returner takes over the serve but does not register a score. Games are played to ten, or until the time runs out.
Leaving the Court to Retrieve the Ball. While the kick over the net must land in bounds, the ball may leave the court at other times. Players may run far off the court, and even to the other side of the net, to retrieve the ball. However, the kick over the net must be made from one’s own side of the dividing line.
Receiving the Ball in the Air. After the serve, players may make the first touch in the air, enabling players to charge the net.

Soccer Volley Doubles

The doubles version allows four players to compete on a court, and adds a teamwork dimension.

The game can also be played with two players against one, a real plus when you have an odd number of players. Here are the rules for the different variations.

Rules for Doubles, Other Variations

Basic Rules. The rules are the same as for singles unless otherwise noted.
How a Point Works. One team serves while the other team returns. A team of two may use up to four bounces and four touches before sending the ball over the net. The players may divide up these touches and bounces in any way they like. However, each player must touch the ball at least once.
The Heading Exception. There is one exception to the rule that each player must touch the ball at least once. As the ball comes over the net, a player may head it directly back, without passing to a teammate.
2 v 1 Game. The team of two is allowed four bounces and four touches. The lone player is allowed three bounces and three touches.
3 v 3 Game. Each team is allowed four bounces and four touches, as in doubles. At least two of the three players must touch the ball before it is sent over.

Settlers

For players who aren’t quite ready for Soccer Volley, Settlers provides a stepping stone. Players pair off and work together on different Soccer Volley skills.

No boundaries are required. A serve-like maneuver is practiced first. One player drops the ball, lets it bounce, and kicks it through the air with the inside of the foot. The partner catches the ball, and serves it back. Each successful catch earns a point, and someone on the team must call out the point total. When the coach yells “Time!” the team with the most points wins.

More challenging maneuvers come next. One player tosses the ball through the air (see diagram). The other lets the ball bounce once, cushions it with the chest, lets it bounce again, and passes it back through the air. A catch in the air again earns a point. Players who can perform this maneuver are soon ready for big-time Soccer Volley!

A similar maneuver can be practiced using the thigh or foot for the first touch. Next, players can pass the ball back and forth, rather than catching it; the team with the most successive passes wins. Be sure to make each maneuver a competition!