Shuffle Handicaps

Social and silly handicaps to break the ice, plus a few boosters that give your team a little help.

• 1-1

  First serve each rotation: guess an opponent's hidden talent - they confirm or deny.

  Icebreaker
• 1-2

  First serve each rotation: share a fun fact about yourself.

  Icebreaker
• 1-3

  First serve each rotation: compliment an opponent.

  Banter
• 1-4

  First serve each rotation: ask an opponent a get-to-know-you question.

  Icebreaker
• 1-5

  First serve each rotation: share an embarrassing fact about yourself.

  Icebreaker
• 1-6

  First serve each rotation: reveal a guilty pleasure TV show or song.

  Icebreaker
• 1-7

  First serve each rotation: ask an opponent a 'would you rather' question.

  Icebreaker
• 1-8

  First serve each rotation: share your hottest food take.

  Icebreaker
• 1-9

  Everyone must yell their own name before playing the ball.

  Icebreaker
• 1-10

  First serve each rotation: tell an opponent what they'd be famous for.

  Icebreaker
• 1-11

  First serve each rotation: offer an opponent unsolicited coaching advice.

  Banter
• 1-12

  First serve each rotation: do your best impression of someone on the court.

  Silly
• 1-13

  First serve each rotation: insult an opponent.

  Banter
• 1-14

  First serve each rotation: dramatic slow-motion wind-up.

  Silly
• 1-15

  For each of your subsequent serves, yell the score in a higher tone than the last.

  Silly
• 1-16

  For each of your subsequent serves, yell the score in a lower tone than the last.

  Silly
• 1-17

  Royal Court: Players must address their teammates as 'Your Majesty' for the entire game.

  Silly
• 1-18

  First serve each rotation: make a sound effect as you serve.

  Silly
• 1-19

  First serve each rotation: tell your worst joke. If anyone laughs, earn a point.

  Silly
• 1-20

  First serve each rotation: deliver a movie quote before serving.

  Silly
• 1-21

  First serve each rotation: give the ball a pep talk before serving.

  Silly
• 1-22

  First serve each rotation: sing a line from a song.

  Silly
• 1-23

  All players must talk in an accent for the entire game.

  Silly
• 1-24

  Your server is not allowed to talk until they are out of the server position.

  Communication
• 1-25

  Your setter is not allowed to talk until they are out of the setter position.

  Communication
• 1-26

  Everyone must announce what they're about to do before they do it.

  Communication
• 1-27

  Pick a team catchphrase and yell it before your serve.

  Team Spirit
• 1-28

  Publicist: After a teammate makes a great play, another teammate must announce why everyone should be impressed.

  Team Spirit
• 1-29

  Server gets a free re-serve if the serve lands out.

  Booster
• 1-30

  Free re-serve if the serve hits the net (let rule).

  Booster
• 1-31

  Serve errors don't count. Side-out but no point awarded to opponent.

  Booster
• 1-32

  A player may yell 'Corona' before a 4th touch to keep the ball alive.

  Booster
• 1-33

  Your team gets 4 touches instead of 3 for the entire game.

  Booster
• 1-34

  Start with a 5-point head start.

  Booster
• 1-35

  Confusion Replay: if the ball drops untouched or two players collide going for it, call a replay.

  Booster

Light gameplay restrictions. Many are Fundamentals: habits good teams already have, like calling the ball and talking through the score.

• 2-1

  Every ball crossing the net must be called 'in' or 'out' by your team.

  Fundamentals
• 2-2

  Server must call the score loudly before each serve.

  Fundamentals
• 2-3

  Everyone on your team must repeat the score back after the server calls it.

  Fundamentals
• 2-4

  Customer Support: When the setter needs help, they must yell, 'Your call is very important to us!'

• 2-5

  All passes require an audible "mine" or "got it."

  Fundamentals
• 2-6

  Seam Negotiation: Before serve receive, adjacent passers must loudly and politely negotiate who owns the seam.

  Fundamentals
• 2-7

  Your team must count your touches out loud. "ONE. TWO. THREE."

• 2-8

  GPS Setter: The setter must announce their location before every serve, such as 'Setter front-left!'

  Fundamentals
• 2-9

  The server cannot serve to the same player twice in a row.

• 2-10

  All players on the team must rotate positions after each side-out.

  Fundamentals
• 2-11

  EVERY serve, the server must call out the name of the player they are serving to before making contact.

  Fundamentals
• 2-12

  Setter must call their target's name before setting.

  Fundamentals
• 2-13

  Up to 3x per game, your opponent can call for an extra rotation before their serve.

• 2-14

  Server must call which side of the court (left or right) they are serving to before serving.

  Fundamentals
• 2-15

  Your team must rotate every point, not just on side-out.

• 2-28

  Uno: At game point, your server must yell 'UNO!' before serving. Forget, and your team loses 2 points.

• 2-29

  Jeopardy: Every call must be phrased as a question, like 'Is it mine?' or 'What is out?'

  Fundamentals
• 2-16

  All serves must land in the BACK half of the opponent's court.

• 2-17

  All sets must be bump sets - no hand setting allowed.

• 2-18

  Up to 3x per game, your opponent can arrange your team in beer pong formation (play button, straight line, etc.) before their serve.

• 2-19

  Only your setter is allowed to talk until they are out of the setter position.

  3v3-6v6 only
• 2-30

  Sardines: Up to 3x per game, opponents pick a corner. Your whole team must start the rally squeezed into it.

• 2-20

  Up to 3x per game, your opponent can freeze one of your players before their serve. That player cannot move until a teammate touches the ball.

• 2-21

  All blocks must be performed by female players only.

• 2-22

  Committee Decision: Your team votes on which opponent to serve to. The server must call out that player's name and serve to them.

• 2-23

  Server must call which third (left, right, middle) of the court they are serving to before serving.

• 2-24

  Up to 2x per game, your opponent can name two of your players who must stay within arm's reach of each other for the whole rally.

• 2-25

  Mandatory Approach: A player sending over an attack must begin behind the attack line before approaching.

• 2-26

  One player (chosen by your team) must play the entire game in the back row only.

  3v3-4v4 only
• 2-27

  First serve each rotation must be a sky ball.

Tighter gameplay restrictions that change who does what on your team.

• 3-1

  All attacks (overhand hits) must go cross-court - no line shots allowed.

• 3-2

  All serves must land in the FRONT half of the opponent's court.

• 3-3

  The tallest player on your team cannot jump for blocks or attacks.

• 3-4

  Opposing team picks which half your serves must land in: front/back OR left/right.

• 3-5

  Cry Wolf: The designated setter must yell 'HELP!' every time the ball comes toward them, whether they intend to take first contact or not.

• 3-6

  The opposing team chooses one of your players to be the server the entire game.

• 3-7

  Your team must designate one player who is not your primary setter to set every ball for the entire game.

• 3-8

  All attacks (hard overhand hits) must be performed by a female player.

• 3-9

  One of your male players, chosen by the opposing team, is not allowed to jump for the entire game.

• 3-10

  The opposing team designates your strongest hitter, who must then play defense for the entire game.

• 3-11

  Secret Setter: The designated setter must change every rotation, but the team cannot announce who it is.

• 3-24

  Hut, Hut, Hike: First serve each rotation, your setter hikes the ball between their legs to the server, who must hit it over - no catching.

• 3-25

  Freeze Frame: After you touch the ball, freeze in place until someone else touches it.

• 3-12

  No Return to Sender: The player who makes first contact cannot send the ball over the net during that rally.

• 3-13

  All serves from your team must be underhand.

• 3-14

  Players cannot use the same type of serve twice in a row (must alternate underhand, overhand, jump serve, etc.).

• 3-15

  The second touch must always be made by your designated setter.

• 3-16

  All attacks (overhand swings) must go to the BACK half of the opponent's court - no short shots.

• 3-17

  Your team must alternate which side of the court attacks come from (left side attack, then right side attack, etc.).

• 3-26

  Red Rover: Up to 3x per game, opponents chant 'Red Rover, send [name] right over!' and that player plays one rally for them.

• 3-27

  Secret Service: Opponents pick your President, who can't touch the ball. If the ball hits the President, you lose the point.

  4v4-6v6 only
• 3-28

  Hide and Seek: Up to 3x per game, opponents pick a seeker, who must face the back of the court and count to 10 out loud before playing.

• 3-18

  Your team cannot block at the net. All players must stay behind the attack line on defense.

• 3-19

  All attacks must go to the FRONT half of the opponent's court - no long shots.

• 3-20

  Serve with your non-dominant hand.

• 3-21

  Receiver Must Finish: The player who makes first contact must also make the third contact that sends the ball over.

• 3-22

  No attack may travel in a straight line. Everything must be an off-speed shot with visible arc.

• 3-23

  Every serve, serve backwards or with eyes closed.

• 3-29

  Penalty Kick: First serve each rotation must be kicked over the net.

• 3-30

  T-Rex: Opponents pick one of your players, who must keep their elbows tucked to their sides all game.

• 3-31

  Tag, You're It: Opponents pick who's It. It must touch the ball every possession, and tags a new It each time you score.

  4v4-6v6 only

The top level. Tough restrictions that take away your best weapons or flip how volleyball works.

• 4-1

  Your team is not allowed to have any front-row players attack the ball.

  4v4-6v6 only
• 4-2

  Male players cannot attack balls above the height of the net.

• 4-3

  All of your team's hits over the net must be with a closed fist (a 'dink' or 'knuckles').

• 4-4

  Only one of your players can play the ball in the FRONT half of the court.

• 4-5

  Only one of your players can play the ball in the BACK half of the court.

• 4-6

  ALL serves must be a sky ball.

• 4-7

  All attacks must be pokes or roll shots - no hard spikes.

• 4-8

  No player on your team is allowed to jump.

• 4-9

  Your team's designated setter is not allowed to cross in front of the 10-foot line.

• 4-10

  All serves must be underhand jump serves.

• 4-11

  No overhand contact at all. Bumps and body only.

• 4-12

  Your team is only allowed two touches to get the ball back over the net.

• 4-13

  Same-Player Ban: No player may contact the ball twice during the same possession.

• 4-23

  Hut, Hut, Hike: Every serve, your setter hikes the ball between their legs to the server, who must hit it over - no catching.

• 4-14

  All attacks must land within 3 feet of the sidelines - no middle shots.

• 4-15

  Your team must set every ball backwards (setter facing away from target).

• 4-16

  All sets must be with one hand.

• 4-17

  All attacks must be one-handed and off your non-dominant hand.

• 4-18

  All overhand sets must be directed to the antenna (extreme angle sets only).

• 4-19

  Opponent's Playbook: Before each rally, the opposing team chooses the required contact sequence, such as Player A → Player B → Player C.

• 4-20

  One of your three hits must be without using your hands.

• 4-21

  All players on your team must jump when contacting the ball.

• 4-22

  No Repeat Contact Type: The team cannot use the same contact type twice during one possession - for example, two forearm passes.

• 4-24

  Penalty Kick: Every serve must be kicked over the net.