When you start practices have a set agenda. Definitely make up an agenda for each practice, and make sure you switch things up so practice doesn't get repetitive and boring. When you make up your agenda have every minute accounted for like so:

2:00 Stretching 5mins
2:05 Warm up bounce circle or some other game 5-10 min
2:15 Pass instruction 10 min
2:25 Partner pass drill 10 min
2:35 Passing game like getting them to pass the ball into a basket ball hoop
2:45 Break 5 min
2:50 Setting instruction 10 min
3:00 Partner set drill 10min
3:10 Setting game: have a player try to set to every position then rotate 10 min
3:20 Serve instruction 5min
3:25 Serve practice 5min
3:30 done

and so on, at this age you don't want them to have down time because they will clown around. And you don't want them to see you trying to figure out what to do next. That just gives them time to start their clowning. So the agenda prevents this. Don't worry about scheduling too much, you can always skip a drill if one runs too long. And each day you can change how long you spend on one skill so that each skill will get equal attention. At the next practice just change the 10 min drills to 5 min and vice versa.

You'll notice that I places instruction into the schedule as if you'll be doing it at every practice, you should. At this age they need repetitive instruction and reenforcement.

Definitely enforce discipline. Do not let them clown around during practice time. Before and after or during a break is up to you, but never during practice time. Jump on this from the first practice or they will eat you alive.

Good luck, and have fun!

Coach Balasco's advice and agenda look about right to me. Try to remember that research pretty much shows that third graders aren't going to tolerate more than 10 minutes of instruction at a time, so don't spend too much time talking and demonstrating. Keep them playing.

Use games (Like Queen's Court or Survivor) as much as possible when running practice, but constantly reinforce the technique you're teaching. I simply swap the player out of the drill or game and send them to the back of the line when they don't execute the technique as instructed. Tell them what they need to do, swap them out, and keep going. Don't focus on the mistake, just reinforce what you need to see and keep going. Keep the pace really quick to get lots of touches. Kids will quickly respond by focusing on their technique to stay on the floor.

At this age, passing and serving are 99% of the game. They just don't have the height or skills to execute hitting. That doesn't mean you don't teach them to set and hit, but it does mean you need to focus on passing and serving, if you want to win. Find lots of games and drills that focus on those two skills, so you can keep some variety, but really focus on the skills that will give the kids some success.

Give your drills and games names that the kids will remember, so you can re-use them without re-introducing them. I try to keep practices mostly repetitive, so you can introduce new techniques and drills one at a time without disrupting flow. It keeps things fresh when you introduce something new, but it builds confidence to be repetitive and kids know what's coming when you re-use skills and drills they're familiar with.

You want to build an atmosphere that the kids look forward to coming into. I love to see kids walk into a gym like they own the place, because they're comfortable there. It shows confidence and a sense of ownership. Use your 5-10 minutes of warm-up time to explain the goals of that day's practice and do 5 minutes of cool-down time to recap what you saw and the progress that was made. You'll be rewarded with attentive players who know their place and own their own successes and challenges.

Good luck!

passing drills, setting drills, diving drills, getting back up quickly, touch ten is a good game to get the team moving their feet, hit random balls over the net any where and they have to make every effort they have to get to touch it dive, run, jump, they have to touch it some way doesnt matter where it goes as long as they touch it, do line drills make them gallop side ways under the net to keep a good low stance.

this is what my team does...

have the girls run some laps around the gym
strech
pass and set with them
pass and set with partners
pepper (bump set spike)
serving
play the circle game (get everyone into a circle with you in the middle, pass the ball around the circle)
line your girls up as in a game and throw balls to them

good luck! xxx