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Volleyball Maths

Maths in volleyball: personal bests

Compare old and new results.

Quick answer

Maths in volleyball: personal bests helps you compare your old and new scores to see how much you've improved. You can use subtraction to find the difference between your old and new results, and you can use this to track your progress.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to compare your old and new volleyball scores using subtraction to find how much you've improved. Success signs:
  • You can subtract two numbers to find the difference
  • You can compare your old score with your new score
  • You can explain how much you've improved
  • You can use maths to track your personal bests

Why this matters

Maths helps you understand how much you’ve improved in volleyball. When you play again and beat your old score, you can use maths to show just how much better you’ve become. This helps you see your progress and feel proud of your achievements. It also helps you set new goals and keep working hard to get even better.

How it works

To compare your old and new volleyball scores:
  1. Write down your old score
  2. Write down your new score
  3. Subtract the old score from the new score
  4. Find out how much you've improved

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you’re playing volleyball and keeping track of your scores. Here are some examples: Example 1: You scored 15 points in your last game. This time you scored 20 points. How much did you improve? To find the difference: 20 – 15 = 5 You improved by 5 points. Example 2: Your friend scored 10 points in their last game. Now they scored 18 points. How much did they improve? To find the difference: 18 – 10 = 8 They improved by 8 points. Example 3: You scored 25 points last time. This time you scored 30 points. How much did you improve? To find the difference: 30 – 25 = 5 You improved by 5 points. These examples show how you can use subtraction to see how much you’ve improved in volleyball.

Try it as a mini adventure

Let’s go on a volleyball adventure to track your personal bests! Adventure: The Volleyball Challenge You are a volleyball player and you want to track your progress. Here’s your challenge: 1st time: You scored 12 points in your first game. 2nd time: You scored 16 points in your second game. 3rd time: You scored 19 points in your third game. 4th time: You scored 22 points in your fourth game. 5th time: You scored 25 points in your fifth game. Your task is to find how much you improved each time. Step 1: Compare your first and second game. 16 – 12 = 4 points You improved by 4 points. Step 2: Compare your second and third game. 19 – 16 = 3 points You improved by 3 points. Step 3: Compare your third and fourth game. 22 – 19 = 3 points You improved by 3 points. Step 4: Compare your fourth and fifth game. 25 – 22 = 3 points You improved by 3 points. Step 5: What was your biggest improvement? You improved by 4 points in your first game, and by 3 points in the rest. So your biggest improvement was 4 points. You’ve done a great job tracking your progress!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Subtracting the new score from the old score instead of the other way around.
    Why it happens: Sometimes children forget which number to subtract from which.
    Fix: Always subtract the old score from the new score to find how much you've improved.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to write down the scores before subtracting.
    Why it happens: Children can get confused when they try to remember numbers in their head.
    Fix: Always write down your old and new scores before subtracting.
  • Mistake: Thinking that a smaller number means you improved more.
    Why it happens: Children may confuse the idea of "improvement" with "getting smaller".
    Fix: Remember that if your new score is higher than your old score, you’ve improved.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child understand how to track their personal bests in volleyball by:
  • Playing volleyball together and keeping score
  • Using subtraction to find the difference between old and new scores
  • Encouraging your child to write down their scores
  • Practising subtraction with simple numbers
  • Helping them understand that improving means getting a higher score
You can also ask your child to show you how they found the difference between scores. This helps reinforce the learning and makes it more fun.

Practice questions

  1. Tom scored 10 points in his last game. He scored 14 points this time. How much did he improve?
  2. Jessica scored 15 points last time. She scored 18 points this time. How much did she improve?
  3. Ben scored 8 points in his first game. He scored 12 points in his second game. How much did he improve?
  4. Emma scored 20 points last time. She scored 24 points this time. How much did she improve?
  5. Liam scored 17 points last time. He scored 21 points this time. How much did he improve?
Answers:
  1. 14 – 10 = 4 points
  2. 18 – 15 = 3 points
  3. 12 – 8 = 4 points
  4. 24 – 20 = 4 points
  5. 21 – 17 = 4 points

FAQ

What is a personal best in volleyball?

A personal best is the highest score you’ve ever achieved in volleyball. It's your own record that you try to beat.

How do I track my personal bests?

You can write down your scores each time you play. Then, compare your old score with your new score to see how much you've improved.

Why is it important to track personal bests?

Tracking your personal bests helps you see how much you’ve improved. It makes you feel proud and encourages you to keep trying to get better.

Can I use maths to track my personal bests in other sports?

Yes! You can use maths to track your personal bests in any sport. Just write down your scores and subtract to see how much you've improved.

What if I don’t beat my old score?

That’s okay! Sometimes you don’t improve, but it’s still good to keep trying. You can still learn from your games and work on getting better next time.