In Switzerland, May is the season for club events, fun tournaments and youth days. And this year, the World Cup follows in June. Anyone wanting to offer their guests something special besides sausages and drinks should organise a volley challenge. It is easy to set up, fun for children and adults alike, and creates a great atmosphere. Here is our guide.
What you need
- A goal, ideally a small-sided or junior goal
- A few balls to keep things moving quickly
- A device that holds the ball ready, for example the VOLLEYCHAMP®
- Markers for the shooting position
- A board or poster for the leaderboard
- Small prizes for the best players
The basic rules
Keep the rules simple so that everyone understands what it's about immediately:
- Every participant gets five attempts.
- The ball is ready at a fixed height and is struck on the volley.
- A goal counts as one point; a shot into a marked corner counts as three points.
- In the event of a tie, there is a shoot-off with one attempt each.
Categories for everyone
To ensure no one is disadvantaged, it is worth creating different categories. For example, children up to 10 years old, teenagers, women, men, and a "fun" category for those who don't play football regularly. For children, the ball can be placed at the lowest level and the distance can be shorter. For experienced players, the height can be increased and the distance lengthened.
Planning the running order
To avoid long queues, one person should be responsible for setting up the balls and another for the leaderboard. With many participants, it is worth setting time slots, for example, one category per hour. A final at the end of the event, where the best from each category compete against each other, makes for a highlight.
Creating atmosphere
- Host: A person with a microphone announces the shooters and comments on the attempts.
- Music: A goal jingle for every successful shot adds to the atmosphere.
- Goalkeeper: If you want to make it harder, place a goalkeeper in the goal, for example a youth-team goalkeeper who is happy to be in the spotlight.
Why a stationary ball is ideal
In a competition, everyone should have the same chances. If a helper throws the ball, every throw is different, and the result also depends on the person throwing. If, on the other hand, the ball is ready at a fixed height, only the player's own technique decides the outcome. This is fairer and easier for spectators to follow.
A highlight for World Cup screenings
The World Cup starts in June, and many clubs organise big-screen screenings. A volley challenge at half-time or before kick-off is a wonderful addition. Fans arrive earlier, stay longer, and for children, there is an activity if the match is not so exciting at times.
Bonus: extra money for the club
With a small fee per entry, you can boost club funds, for example for the youth section. Many participants are happy to have another go if it didn't work out the first time.
Checklist for the big day
- Choose a location with sufficient distance from spectators and catering areas
- Hang the leaderboard in a clearly visible place
- Create a helper schedule so that no one has to look after the challenge all day
- Announce prizes and the award ceremony for a set time
Have fun organising it and enjoy plenty of goals at your event!
