Volley Circle

This fun group drill helps kids under 10 develop volley consistency, coordination, and teamwork. By standing in a circle and volleying a foam ball to different players, children practice keeping the rally alive while improving their reaction time and positioning. The challenge of breaking the group’s previous volley record adds excitement and motivation.

Setup

• 6–10 players
• Foam ball (progress to low-compression or regular balls)
• Players arranged in a circle, racquets in volley-ready position

Rules & Objectives

• One player starts by gently volleying the foam ball to another player in the circle
• That player volleys the ball to someone else (not back to the previous hitter)
• Players cannot hit two volleys in a row
• The group counts how many volleys they complete in succession without the ball bouncing
• After each round, the group tries to beat their previous high score

Repetition

• Make the circle larger as players improve control
• Replace the foam ball with a low-compression or standard ball
• Add variations: alternate forehand/backhand volleys, or require target volleys to specific players
• Introduce light movement by having players shuffle one step between volleys

Coaching Points

• Builds volley consistency and control
• Reinforces proper volley technique (racquet out front, bent knees, ready position)
• Improves reflexes, hand–eye coordination, and teamwork
• Keeps young players engaged with a fun, cooperative challenge

Drill Tutorial