Volleyball is a team sport played with a ball and a net. There are teams on each side of the net.

One team hits the ball over the net and into the other team's court, the other team must then hit
the ball back over the net and in bounds within three tries without letting the ball touch the
ground.
History of Volleyball
Volleyball was originally invented by William Morgan in 1985. He was an athletic director at the
YMCA and was trying to come up with a game that would be fun, like basketball, but less taxing.
Of course the rules have changed some since then, but it quickly became a popular sport at the
YMCA. The name volleyball came about when a man named Alfred Halstead noticed how the
game had a volleying nature. People started calling it volley ball and the name stuck.
Volleyball was first played as an official Olympic sport in the 1964 Olympics. Japan won the first
gold medal in women's volleyball and the USSR won the first gold for men's volleyball.

Volleyball: Rules and Regulations

General Volleyball Gameplay
A point or rally is started when one team serves the ball. The player serving the ball
must stand behind the end line or restraining line at the back of the court until after they
have contacted the volleyball. To serve a player hits the ball with their hand over the net
and into the opposing team's side. If the ball doesn't go over the net or hits the ground,
the point is over. The opposing team must now return the ball without letting it hit the
ground. They can hit the ball up to three times. No single player can hit the ball twice in
a row (blocks don't count). Typically a team will try to set up an attack. They use the first
two hits to set the ball for a spike or hard hit over the net. The two teams continue hitting
the ball back and forth until the point ends. A point can end by one team hitting a
winning shot that hits the ground within the opponent's court or by one team causing a
fault and losing the point.
Which volleyball team serves the ball is determined by the previous point. Whoever won
the previous point, gets to serve next. At the start of a match, the first serve is
determined by a volley.
Team Rotation
Although players play certain roles on a volleyball team, they all must play all positions.
There are three players on the front line and three in the back. Each time a team gains
the serve they must rotate. The entire team rotates in a clockwise manner with one
player moving to the front line and another player moving to the back line. This way
each player plays each spot.
Scoring

Scoring in volleyball is pretty simple, but it also has changed over time. Most matches
are divided up into sets. A typical match may be a best of 5 sets where the first team to
win 5 sets wins the match. In each set, the first team to 25 points wins as long as they
are 2 points ahead. A point is scored on every rally, regardless of which team serves.
It used to be that only the volleyball team serving could score a point on a won rally.
Also, sets were typically played to 15 points. This was changed in 1999.
Volleyball Faults
There are several ways to fault and lose the point. Here are some examples:
Hitting the volleyball illegally - you must strike the ball in a manner such that you
don't hold the ball or palm, carry, or throw it.
Stepping over or on the line while serving

Not hitting the ball over the net

Touching the net

Reaching under the net and interfering with a player or the ball

Not serving in the correct order

Hitting the volleyball out of bounds

Double hitting - when the same player hits the ball twice in a row

Hitting the ball more than 3 times

Volleyball Equipment and Court

An indoor volleyball is typically white, but may have some other colors as well. It's round with 8
or 16 panels and is usually made of leather. The official indoor volleyball is 25.5 -26.5 inches in
circumference, weighs 9.2 - 9.9 ounces, and has 4.3-4.6 psi air pressure. A youth volley ball is
slightly smaller. Beach volleyballs are slightly bigger, weigh the same, but have much less air
pressure.
The volleyball court is 18 meters long and 9 meters wide. It's divided in sides in the middle by
the net. The net is 1 meter wide and is set up so that the top of the net is 7 feet 11 5/8 inches
above the ground (right around 8 feet). The only other key feature is a line that is drawn on each
side 3 meters from the net and parallel to the net. This line is called the attack line. It defines the
front row and back row areas.

Volleyball Rules
A Volleyball team is composed of between 6-8 players on a team, and a match is played
between two teams with an equal number of players. A volleyball court is 60 feet long and
30 feet wide, divided into two 30 30 ft halves, by a 40-inch wide net, placed so that the top
of the net is about eight feet above the center of the court. The first team to score 25 points
(and be two points ahead) is awarded the set. Matches are best-of-five sets or best-of-three
sets.
The goal of the game is to score points by grounding the ball on the opponent's court, or by
having the other team commit a fault. A fault occurs if a team:
1.

Hits the ball out of bounds

2.

Hits the ball over three times during one series on their side of the court

3.

One player hits the ball two times in a row

4.

A player catches the ball

5.

A player touches the net while attempting to play a ball

6.

A player takes more than eight seconds to serve

Play begins by one player serving the ball over the net to the other team by throwing it up in
the air and hitting it. The receiving team must not let the ball touch their court; they may
touch the ball as many as three times, typically using the first two touches to set up for an
attack. Players may hit the ball by:
1.

Hitting the ball with a closed fist

2.

Bumping the ball with two hands clasped together

3.

Setting the ball, making a triangle with their fingertips and hitting the ball above their
heads

4.

Spiking or blocking the ball with open hands

The team that wins the point serves for the next point. If the team that won the point served
the previous point, the same player serves again. If the team that won the point did not

serve the previous point, the players of the serving team rotate their position on the court in
a clockwise manner bringing up a new server.

Court
Today, courts must meet the specifications set forth by USA Volleyball and the international governing body, FIVB.
Indoor courts must measure 18 meters long by 9 meters wide and have an attack area demarcated 3 meters back
from the centerline. The lines used on the court should not be any wider than 5 cm. A free space measuring 2 meters
in any direction is recommended around the playing area of the court to prevent any accidental obstructions of play.
Above the highest point of the net, there should be at least 7 meters of space to allow the ball free travel, though 12
meters is recommended.

Ball
The ball used for volleyball is smaller than the basketball bladder that was used originally. For indoor volleyball, it
should have a circumference between 65 and 67 cm when fully inflated to an inner pressure between 4.3 and 4.6 lbs.
psi. Once inflated, the ball must weigh between 260 and 280 g. During FIVB competitions and world events, three
balls are used and must meet the same standards as the other balls before being approved for play.

Net
Net height can vary depending on the age of the players and the class of volleyball being played. The standard
height used for men over the age of 15 is 2.43 meters measured from the lowest point of the net to the court floor.
For women over the age of 13, the standard measurement is 2.24 meters. The net extends to each of the sidelines on
the court and should be the same height at both sidelines. The net itself is 1 meter wide. At either end of the net, an
antenna is attached that is 10 mm in diameter and extends 1.8 meters above the net. These antennae are considered
part of the net and are used to delineate the vertical crossing space.

1. Volleyball Marilia Arent Michels 10/10/2011

2. Two teams of six players separated by a net;
Players may touch the ball three times;
Matches are best-of-five;
3. Skills
There are six basics skills:
4. Serve - A player stands behind the baseline and serves the ball;
5. Pass - A player try to handle the opponent's serve or another form of attack;
Underarm pass;
Overhand pass.
6. Set - Usually is the second contact that a team makes;
Generally overhand set;
7. Attack - Usually is the third contact a team makes;
Ideally the contact with the ball is made at the apex of the hitter's jump;
Block - Technique that the players standing at the net made to stop or alter an attack;
Single, double and triple block;
8. Dig - The ability to prevent the ball from touch the court after an attack;

Overhand dig and underarm dig;

9. 11. Player Specialization <ul><li>There are five positions: </li></ul><ul><li>Setter
</li></ul><ul><li>Opposite Hitter/ Right Side Hitter </li></ul><ul><li>Outside Hitter/ Left Side
Hitter </li></ul><ul><li>Middle Hitter </li></ul><ul><li>Libero </li></ul>

1. 1. Volleyball <ul><li>HISTORY </li></ul><ul><li>Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William

C. Morgan, who was physical education director of the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He
developed the game to provide an indoor game for the winter months in which relatively large
groups of men could participate in a small gym. The principal features of tennis were
employed, but the net was raised and the players struck the bladder of a basketball with their
hands in stead of racquets. </li></ul>
2. 2. Volleyball <ul><li>PLAYING AREA </li></ul><ul><li> Volleyball for men and women is
played on rectangular court divided by a tightly stretched net. The court is 9 meters wide by
18 meters in length. (Approximately 30x 60). The net height for boys is 2.43 m ( 711 5/8)
and girls is 2.24 m (74 1/8) </li></ul><ul><li>PLAYING GAME </li></ul><ul><li>A player
may not touch the net but they may cross the center line as long as they do not interfere,
pose a safety hazard, or go a considerable distance. </li></ul>
3. 3. <ul><li>Six players constitute a team: three frontline players and three backline players.
</li></ul><ul><li>The ball may contact any part of the body. During the first contact, some
successive contacts (2 hits) are permitted as long as it is a single attempt to play the ball.
</li></ul><ul><li>The ball must be cleanly handled and not held in a prolonged manner such
as carrying or throwing the ball. </li></ul>
4. 4. BALL The official size of a volleyball is between 25.6 and 26.4 inches in circumference and
between 9.1 and 9.8 ounces in weight. the circumference should be 65-67 cm and weight
should be 260-280 gms
5. 7. SERVER
6. 8. Volleyball <ul><li>Scoring </li></ul><ul><li>The failure of the receiving team to return the
ball legally over the net into the opponents court scores one point for the serving team. A
game is won when a team scores a 2-point lead with 15 or more points. The score for a
forfeited game is 15-0. A match is won by the team that first scores two of three games. Rally
scoring eliminates side-out and thus a point is scored on every serve. </li></ul>
7. 9. Volleyball <ul><li>Fundamental Skills and Techniques. </li></ul><ul><li>The most
fundamental skill to be learned is the ability to pass the ball to a teammate, which is required
on almost all plays. A forearm pass should be used to receive serves, low balls, and spikes.
The forearm pass is used to recover the opponents attack called a dig. A set is a high pass
that is generally the second play by a team to relay the ball for the spiker. A spike is a ball hit
forcibly from a height above the net. A kill is a spike that is impossible to return. Blocking is a
defensive play that attempts to stop the returning of the ball over the net. </li></ul>
8. 10. SKILLS IN VOLLEYBALL <ul><li>Serving. This is what always starts the game and helps
to keep the game. There are two basic types of serves. One is overhand; where the player

will throw the ball in the air first, then hit it. The second is underhand, where the server will
hold the ball and swing their other arm underneath the ball to hit it. There are a variety of
other serves beyond these basics, all which help to get the ball over the net, and get the
game going. </li></ul><ul><li>Pass or reception. This is usually set up by the setter of the
game. It is used in order to take the ball and give it to the other players on your own team.
They will then have the ability to put the ball to the other side like they want to. You can either
pass by the forearm or by hitting the ball overhead. </li></ul>
9. 11. Players in the Team: <ul><li>Team has 6 players on the court.3 players are front row
players and 3 of them are back row players. Libero has a different color jersey and is only
allowed to play in the back row. </li></ul><ul><li>Team is allowed to use a libero player (back
row player, defensive specialist) who wears different color shirt. </li></ul>
10. 12. Volleyball Equipment & Facilities <ul><li>Volleyball Court Dimensions
</li></ul><ul><li>The Volleyball court is 60 feet by 30 feet in total. The net in placed in the
center of the court, making each side of the net 30 feet by 30 feet. </li></ul><ul><li>Center
Line </li></ul><ul><li>A center line is marked at the center of the court dividing it equally into
30 feet squares, above which the net is placed. </li></ul><ul><li>Attack Line
</li></ul><ul><li>An attack line is marked 10 feet of each side of the center line.
</li></ul><ul><li>Service Line </li></ul><ul><li>A service line, the area from which the
server may serve the volleyball, is marked 10 feet inside the right sideline on each back line.
</li></ul>
11. 13. <ul><li>The Net </li></ul><ul><li>The net is placed directly above the center line, 7 feet 4
inches above the ground for women and 8 feet above the ground for men.
</li></ul><ul><li>Poles </li></ul><ul><li>Volleyball poles should be set at 36 feet apart, 3
feet further out from the sidelines. </li></ul><ul><li>Ceiling Height </li></ul><ul><li>The
minimum ceiling height should be 23 feet, though they should preferably be higher. </li></ul>
12. 14. Contacts <ul><li>Each team is allowed to have maximum of three touches before hitting
the ball over the net. (EXCEPTION: block does not count as a touch) </li></ul><ul><li>Same
player can not hit the ball twice in a row (EXCEPTION I: block doesnt count a touch.)
</li></ul>
13. 15. Back Row Attack: <ul><li>Back row players can not attack the ball front row. If they
attack, they have to perform the jump behind the attack line (10 feet line, 3 meter line).
</li></ul><ul><ul><li>IMPORTANT! The ball has to be completely above the net for it to be
an illegal attack </li></ul></ul>
14. 16. Antennas: <ul><li>It is ALLOWED to play the ball off the net. It is a fault, if the ball
contacts net outside antennas. </li></ul><ul><li>The ball has to travel between the antennas
(or the imagined extensions of them) when flying to the other side of the net. </li></ul>
15. 17. In or Out? <ul><li>Referee calls the ball IN, if any part of it hits the lines. (Imagine the
ball is painted. If the ball left a mark that touches the lines, the ball is judged IN)
</li></ul><ul><li>Referee calls the ball in if any part of it hits the lines. </li></ul>
16. 18. Ball is ruled OUT, if <ul><li>the ball lands outside the boundary lines (without touching
the opponent) </li></ul><ul><li>The ball hits the antenna any of the net or cables outside the
antennas, a referee stand or poles or the ceiling </li></ul>

17. 19. Contacting the Ball: <ul><li>Players are NOT allowed to catch, hold or throw the ball.
</li></ul><ul><li>Players are NOT allowed to hit or block the opponents serve.
</li></ul><ul><li>Attacking ball which is coming over the net is ILLEGAL, if it has NOT
broken the plane of the net. In other words the player is ALLOWED to swing the ball when it
breaks the plane of the net. </li></ul>
18. 20. CHANGES IN VOLLEYBALL
19. 21. <ul><li>Let Serve: Let serve is allowed. In other words the ball can touch the net on the
serve. Players CAN double hit the ball when digging it. Kicking is allowed.
</li></ul><ul><li>Points: A point is followed after each serve. (Earlier you had a chance to
get a point only after your own serve). </li></ul><ul><li>Libero: One of the back row players
can be substituted to a libero who is a back row specialist with unlimited subs. The libero can
enter and exit the game between each serve without coach requesting a sub.
</li></ul><ul><li>Serve: Server is allowed to serve the ball any place behind the backline.
(Earlier there was a serving area in the corner of the court) </li></ul>
20. 22. <ul><li>Contacting the Ball: Players are ALLOWED to double hit the ball on the first
contact, for example when they 1) serve receive, or 2) dig the ball (Since this rule change
passing overhead has become commonly used method to pass the ball. Earlier it was often
called a false hit, double hit) </li></ul><ul><li>Kicking: It is LEGAL to hit the ball with any part
of the body, the foot and leg included. (Earlier it was a mistake to kick the ball.) </li></ul>
21. 23. Rules Violations <ul><li>The back row player performs the attack front row. (It is
ILLEGAL for the back row player to step on the attack line when hitting.)
</li></ul><ul><li>The back row player blocks the ball (the player having any part of the body
above the net and touching the ball) This referee just called a touch on the block or
defender. </li></ul><ul><li>The player double contacts the ball when setting the ball (you
CAN NOT double hit the ball when setting it layer touches the net while the ball is in the play
(EXCEPTION: if the ball is hit the net and it pushes the net to the opposing player) Stepping
on the back line when serving the ball. </li></ul><ul><li>Reaching over the net to block the
ball is ALLOWED, if the other side as used all the three touches. It is a FALSE, if opposing
team has not used all the touches (and there is somebody trying to make a play there.)
</li></ul>