Unit: Volleyball
Lesson: Underhand Serve
Grade: 5/6
Essential Understanding:
Students will know the proper skills and techniques to correctly complete an underhand serve,
as well as understand why we use underhand instead of overhand serves in middle years
physical education.
Essential Questions:
- How do I underhand serve?
- What does a correct underhand serve look like?
Curricular Outcomes/Achievement Indicators
The student will be able to:
K.1.6.B.2
Identify biomechanical concepts (i.e., application and amount of force, range of motion,
number of body segments) related to applying force in sending and receiving activities (e.g.,
overhead throwing with preparatory steps, full backswing, full trunk rotation, follow-
through...).
S.3.6.A.1
Follow simple rules and routines for safe, active participation and use of equipment (e.g., follow
instructions, stop on signal, cooperate with others, care for and share equipment…) in selected
activities.
Performance Indicators:
Underhand Serve:
- Player stands with their hips and shoulders squared to the net
- The ball is held at about hip/belly button height
- The opposite foot of the swinging arm comes forward
- The swinging arm remains straight during the pendulum motion
- The ball is not tossed up to make contact, rather it sits on a steady hand (like a tee in
golf/baseball)
- Contact with the ball occurs on the heel of the wrist (the hard part of the wrist)
- The ball goes over the net and lands in the court
Materials:
- Volleyballs (1 per student)
- 2-3 volleyball courts
- 2-3 volleyball nets
- Phone for music
- Speaker
References/Sources for Lesson:
How to underhand serve:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl2RzPTjRDU
Cross-Curricular Integration:
N/A
Differentiation Strategies:
Accommodations/modifications
- For exceptional learners: additional time to practice skills, further
explanations/demonstrations of skills, one-on-one work, extra personal space,
motivations, encouragement, and confirmation of correct execution.
- Use a slower moving ball, like a beachball, for students having problems using a
volleyball.
- For more advanced players: instead of simply aiming the serve for the middle of the
court to get the ball in, have them begin to choose whether they want the ball to land
deep or short and left or right.
Multiple Intelligences:
1. Verbal/Linguistic: listening, reading, speaking, viewing, and representing.
2. Mathematical/Logical: patterns (consecutive serves).
3. Visual/Spatial: visual demonstration, individual assessment.
4. Bodily/Kinesthetic: movement during serves.
5. Musical/Rhythmical: rhythm for serves, music may be played in background.
6. Interpersonal: teamwork.
7. Intrapersonal: individual work, self-assessment.
Key Words/Vocabulary:
- Home base: the circle in the middle of the gym.
- Underhand Serve: a type of serve in which the player holds the ball in one hand, swings
the other in an arc motion below the waist and strikes the ball from the bottom with a
fist to put it in play.
Assessment Evidence (Assessment for AS/FOR/OF Learning):
FOR: Observations of underhand serves (see performance indicators).
AS: Students will self-assess based on serving criteria.
OF: N/A
Consideration of Assessments for IEP Students (if any):
Additional time to practice skills, further explanations/demonstrations of skills, one-on-one
work, extra personal space, observation in quiet area, extra time for assessment, motivation,
encouragement and confirmation of correct execution.
Activating Strategies: Preparing for Learning: (how will students activate and extend prior
knowledge and make connections with what they know and what they will learn?)
- Instant activity: Have a list of 8-10 exercises listed on the whiteboard ready for when the
students enter the gym (ex. 3 Laps, 20 jumping jacks, 25 arm circles, 15 mountain
climbers, 25 squats,10 push-ups, 10 lunges, 1 minute wall sit).
- Have the students grab a volleyball and allow them to use their prior knowledge to
manipulate the ball while they wait for other students to complete the warm-up.
Acquiring Strategies: Integrating and Processing Learning: (how will students acquire new
information or processes?)
- Students will gather at home base and explain underhand serves proper criteria:
o Player stands with their hips and shoulders squared to the net
o The ball is held at about hip/belly button height
o The opposite foot of the swinging arm comes forward
o The swinging arm remains straight during the pendulum motion
o The ball is not tossed up to make contact, rather it sits on a steady hand (like a
tee in golf/baseball)
o Contact with the ball occurs on the heel of the wrist (the hard part of the wrist)
o The ball goes over the net and lands in the court
- Reminder- do not serve towards the roof, aim for just over the net.
- Teacher will demonstrate body positioning during each step.
Applying Strategies: Consolidating Learning: (how will students apply, consolidate, or
extend the information or processes?)
- Students will practice serves against the wall (serve, catch and serve again)
- Students will choose a partner and serve to one another over the net
Closure: (why are we doing this?)
One of the most challenging parts to beginning volleyball is to master the serve. For most
beginners, especially young children, the underhand serve is the only way they will generate
enough power to send the ball to the other side.
