Queen (or King) of the Court
Small teams challenge the team holding the “winner’s side”. Win the rally to stay on, lose and go to the back of the line. Fast, competitive and great for game sense.
- Focus
- Game play, communication and competing
- Level
- Beginner
- Players
- 9–15 (teams of 2 or 3)
- Equipment
- Balls, a net
- Time
- 15–20 min
Bird’s-eye view
Bird’s-eye view: two teams rally while the next challengers wait their turn at the side.
📍 Setup
Split into teams of 2 or 3. One team starts on the winner’s side; the others wait in line behind the challenger’s side.
🪜 How to run it
- The challenging team serves (or the coach throws in a ball) to the winner’s side.
- Play the rally out.
- If the challengers win, they run to the winner’s side; the old winners go to the back of the line.
- If the winners win, they stay and score a point. The next team comes in to challenge.
- First team to 7 points on the winner’s side wins the round.
🏆 Scoring
Points are only scored on the winner’s side. First team to 7 wins.
🧑🏫 Coaching this drill
What success looks like
Teams talk on every ball and use all three contacts rather than sending free balls over.
Coaching cues
“Call every ball”“Use three contacts”“Run on — no slow switches”
Common mistakes
- Sending the ball over on the first contact. Fix: Add a rule: a point only counts if the team used three contacts.
- Long waits in line. Fix: Use teams of 2 on a smaller court, or two courts at once.
➖ Make it easier
Allow a catch on the first contact, or play on a smaller court.
➕ Make it harder
Only attacks that are hit (not tipped) can score, or the winner’s side must win two rallies in a row.
When to move on
Move from 2 v 2 to 3 v 3, then 4 v 4 as skills improve.