Here is a simplified example of a possible breakdown of the volley ball serve.

You could ask the learner to demonstrate and take note of how well each part is accomplished. This will give you a baseline for that learner and help you decide where tag points my be required.

Of course you would not tell the learner what they did wrong or right during their demonstration. Just make no comments.

Many times you will find that your original breakdown required even further refinement before you can create a tag point.

In this example the learner needs more help with preparing to toss the ball. As you watch or practice the preparation yourself you realize that what seemed like one piece of the original puzzle is actually made up of several components as shown in the diagram below. Each of these four pieces may be candidates for separate tag points.

Maybe the learner needs additional instruction for “prepare to toss ball”.

Volleyball serve tasks

Look at the tasks that make up “prepare to toss ball” and decide which piece would be most valuable.

Prepare to toss ball tasks

You decide to start with the task, foot placement.

With that decision made, a Tag Point can be created.

Tag points may go through a rapid evolution as you think them through and present them to the learner. The end product is clear and focused because of the four tag point rules:

1. What you want to happen (positive phrasing)

2. One single criterion

3. Observable

4. Five words or less