Are you one of those cool parents who have a sand volleyball court in your backyard? Or do you just love to play volleyball and happen to have a net set up for a quick game after supper?
Who said you have to use a backyard volleyball court for volleyball? If your child is too young to play volleyball, or is missing the hand-eye-coordination to enjoy a good game, you can still put that net and ball to use.
The ball is the perfect size to play many popular backyard kicking games. The net is a great “base” for tag. Below are eight games you can play. You may be familiar with some of these games. Feel free to change the rules to fit the number of players you have and the skill levels of those players.
1. KICK BALL
The volleyball is the perfect size for a game of kickball. In this version, the volleyball net is used as home base. Three other bases need to be determined by the two team leaders. This game is similar to baseball, except instead of pitching a baseball, the pitcher rolls the ball to the hitter, who kicks it. They then run the bases until the ball is thrown home or to a base. If the kicker is touched with the ball before he is safe on a base, he is out.
2. BALL TAG
In this game, all the players begin at a predetermined location. It may be on the other side of the yard or house. The volleyball net is “home.” Any of the players who are touching the net are safe. The person chosen as “It” rolls the ball to another player, who in turn kicks the ball. “It” needs to grab the ball and reach home while trying to tag others. The players are allowed to kick the ball as they run past it. However, once “It” has the ball, the ball is no longer in play. If a person is tagged, they join the “It” team, and can help tag players in the next round. The last person standing wins. If the ball is dropped by “It” after he picks it up, anyone who was tagged during this round is back in the game and will need to be tagged again.
3. OVER THE NET
The goal is to throw the ball over the net. Take chalk paint and draw lines 1 foot from each other, parallel to the volleyball net. If you do not want to use paint, take 2 stakes and draw the lines by tying a piece of string or rope to them. The players stand at the first line and throw the volleyball over the net. If they succeed, they then move back to the next line. The goal is to be the person who throws the ball the furthest while making it over the net. If you run out of lines, find a marker like a stick to keep track of where the ball was thrown from.
4. BACK & FORTH
This team is played with 2 teams. One person from each team is chosen as the “score keeper”. Each team picks a side of the net. The “score keepers” touch the volleyball net, turn around and take 10 steps back. They then turn around and face the net.
One team puts the ball into play. The teams play back and forth, hitting or throwing the ball over the net. When the ball drops, the marker from the opposing team gets to take one step forward. The game is over when a “score keeper” takes enough steps and touches the net.
5. HANG TIME
For this game you will need a stop watch and a volleyball. The “timer” will keep time. Each player will throw the ball up as soon as the “timer “says “go”. The timer will start the watch at that time. He stops timing when the ball hits the ground. The goal is to keep the ball in the air for the longest amount of time.
6. HOT POTATO, OVER THE NET
You may be familiar with hot potato where you take a ball or object and throw it to the person next to you. When the timer goes off, or the music stops, whoever has the ball is out. With this version, you play over the volleyball net. Someone is designated as the “music keeper” and turns on the radio. When they turn off the radio, whoever has the ball is out. To start the game, an equal number of players need to be on both sides of the net. The ball needs to go over the net between each throw. If the ball is dropped, that person is out. The goal is to be the last person standing. It is OK to shift net position between songs if necessary.
7. BALLOON BALL
In this game, all the rules of volleyball apply, except you replace the volleyball with a balloon.
8. UNDER THE NET
In this game, you can use a balloon or a volleyball. Everybody begins on one side of the net. They are all given a number. The goal is to hit the ball when it is your turn. If you hit the ball without letting it drop, you must then run under the net to the other side. If you drop the ball or do not hit it, you are out. Each player calls out their number when they hit the ball. The winner is the last one standing. If someone is out and it comes to their number, the next person in line must call out both numbers, but only needs to hit the ball once.
The above mentioned games are just some ways you can have fun with a volleyball court. Feel free to make up your own games and rules.
