Pepper with a grown-up

What you need

Players

A child and a grown-up

Time

4 to 8 min

Level

Intermediate

Equipment

Ball, Partner (parent)

Ball fed by

The players

Space

A yard or driveway

Ages

10+

Setup

1. Stand about 3 to 4 m (10 to 13 ft) apart, facing each other, outside.
2. One ball. The grown-up starts with an easy toss.
3. Pass, set, soft hit, dig, set, catch, and go again.

How it runs

A parent-and-child pepper: the grown-up tosses, the child passes, the grown-up sets, and the child sends a soft, controlled hit straight back. The grown-up digs it up, the child sets, and the grown-up catches to restart. Grown-ups who do not play can catch every ball and throw it back instead.

Time and reps: 3 rounds of 2 minutes, count the touches in a row.

Coaching points

• Keep every ball low and easy to play.
• Hit it softly, right at your partner.
• Move your feet to every ball.
• Quiet hands on the set, a still platform on the pass.

Ways to change it

• Easier: toss, pass, catch, then toss, set, catch.
• Next step: toss, pass, set, catch.
• Harder: no catch: keep the pass, set, hit rhythm going.

Terms on this page

Pepper

A warm-up for two players who keep one ball up by passing, setting and hitting it softly back and forth.

Platform

The flat surface your forearms make when you pass: arms straight, thumbs side by side, angled at the target.

Dig

Playing a hard-hit ball up off the floor, usually with a platform.

Safety at home