History of Volleyball

The game of volleyball, originally called mintonette, was invented in 1895 by William G.
Morgan after the invention of basketball only four years before. Morgan, a graduate of the
Springfield College of the YMCA, designed the game to be a combination of basketball,
baseball, tennis, and handball.
The first volleyball net, borrowed from tennis, was only 66 high (though you need to remember
that the average American was shorter in the nineteenth century).
The offensive style of setting and spiking was first demonstrated in the Philippines in 1916. Over
the years that followed, it became clear that standard rules were needed for tournament play,
and thus the USVBA (United States Volleyball Association) was formed in 1928.

Measurement of the playing area

The game is played on a volleyball court 18 meters (59 feet) long and 9 meters (29.5 feet) wide,
divided into two 9 m 9 m halves by a one-meter (40-inch) wide net placed so that the top of
the net is 2.43 meters (7 feet 11 5/8 inches) above the center of the court for men's competition,
and 2.24 meters (7 feet 4 1/8 inches) for women's competition (these heights are varied for
veterans and junior competitions).

Equipment
The Ball
The standard volleyball is made of leather or synthetic leather, weighs between 9 and 10
ounces and has a circumference of 25.6 to 26.4 inches. The ball has a rubber bladder and can
be one color or a combination of colors. Synthetic leather is lighter and is fine for beginner
players. Junior volleyballs for children 12 years old and younger weigh between 7 and 8 ounces.

The Net and Court

The outdoor volleyball court measures 18 x 9 m, surrounded by a free zone that is 2 meters
wide on all sides. The minimum playing space for U.S. volleyball competitions is 7 meters. The
volleyball net is 32 feet long by 3 feet wide. For women, the net should be 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches
high. For men, the net should be 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches high. U.S. regulation volleyball playing
surfaces must be flat and not present any hazards to the players.

Lines

The playing court is marked by two sidelines and two end lines. All lines must be 2 inches wide
and must be created with a light color that is easy to discern from the playing court. An attack
line should be placed three meters from the center line. The center line divides the court into
two 9 x 9 meter courts.

Posts and Cables

The volleyball net structure is held together with metal cables and posts. Posts are placed 0.5 to
1.0 meter outside the sidelines and 2.55 meters high. Posts should be round, smooth and
padded, to prevent injury to the players should they dive or crash into them. Metal wires and
cables may need to be covered if it is determined that they present a danger to the players.

Antenna and Side Bands

Antenna are flexible rods that are 1.8 meters long made of fiberglass, fastened at the outer
edge of each side band. Side bands are two white bands attached vertically to the net and
placed above each sideline.

Knee pads
Knee pads should be sturdy enough to protect your knees from falls, slides and dives, but
flexible enough to allow you to bend comfortably. Your volleyball knee pads must be made of
fabric that breathes and manages moisture. Good quality pads have a gel or foam shockabsorbing material that will cover and protect your patella. It is best to purchase your pads from
a reliable sporting goods store that will allow you to try them on. If you have difficulty finding the
right fit, have the store professional measure you and order custom-fit pads. Popular volleyball
knee pad brands include Asics, Mizuno, adidas, Nike and Mikasa.

Shoes
Arch and ankle support is key when choosing a volleyball shoe. Mizuno, Asics and Nike are just
a few of the popular brands of volleyball shoes, which are lightweight, allowing you to be faster
on your feet, as well as bearing good shock absorption on your toes. Volleyball shoes also
provide for better lateral movement than typical running or cross-training shoes.

Clothing and Jewelry

All clothing should be lightweight to allow maximum flexibility and breath-ability, as well as made
of a material that absorbs sweat and keeps skin dry. Spandex shorts are a good option, as they
are flexible, light and absorb odor. Socks, while not required, absorb sweat and prevent blisters.
Jewelry is not permitted in volleyball, with the exception of smooth wedding bands. Glasses
must be worn with a strap to keep them secure.

Basic rules and regulations

Basic Principles of the Game

Knowing and understanding the basic tenets of volleyball can be helpful for volleyball newbies and
veterans alike. That being said, here is an outline of fundamental rules of the game:

Dont Let the Ball Hit the Floor on Your Side of the Net
The primary objective in volleyball is make the ball hit the floor on the opponents side of the court, while
simultaneously preventing it from dropping on your side. Volleyball players go to great lengths to keep the
ball from hitting the courtand they have the scrapes and bruises to prove it.

Three Contacts/Hits per Side

Each team is allowed a maximum of three contacts before it must send the ball back over the net. The
preferred sequence is a dig (an underarm pass made with the forearms), followed by a set (an overhead
pass with the hands), and then an attack (overhead one-handed hit directed over the net and towards the
opponent).
Teams are also permitted to block the ball as it comes over the net. The resulting contact does not count
towards the three contacts per side. In theory, this means that a team could technically contact the ball
four times (with the first contact being a block) without penalty.

Players Must Rotate Clockwise

In volleyball, six players rotate clockwise through six different positions on their side of the net. There are
three front row positions (left front, middle front, and right front) and three back row positions (left back,
middle back, and right back). Teams rotate with each new server, and no person can serve more than
once in succession.

No Player Can Hit the Ball Twice in Succession

The rules state that no player is allowed to hit the ball multiple times in row. While this principle appears to
be straightforward, it can get a little confusing: If the double contact occurs on a teams initial hit it is a
legal play. However, the double becomes illegal if a player makes two separate attempts to hit the ball. In
other words, you may double the ball (volleyball slang for hitting the ball twice) as long as it is on your
teams first contact and you made a single motion to contact the ball.
If you want to know more about the ramifications and applications of this rule, click here to check out the
guide on ball handing.

A Player May Not Cause the Ball to Come to a Rest During

Contact
Volleyball can be categorized as a rebound sport because the rules prevent participants from contacting
the ball for a prolonged amount of time. Players are not allowed to carry, palm or throw the ball.

The Net is Off-Limits

No part of a players body or uniform is allowed to touch the net, but, participants are permitted to play the
ball out of the net during a volley and a serve.

Game Play
Like tennis, volleyball matches are broken up into individual sets (also called games); a team must win a
majority of the games in the series in order to win the match. Most matches are made up of either three or
five games. Before the start of a match, the referee will conduct a captains meeting and a coin toss. The
winner of the coin toss has the option of choosing to serve or to receive the serve. The privilege of the
first serve will then alternate between teams in subsequent games.
The first team to 25 points wins the game, but play continues until one team wins by at least two points.
For example, if the score is tied at 24-24 and team A scores point 25, the game is not yet done because
neither team has gained a two point advantage.

Court & Equipment

Volleyball is played on a rectangular court measuring 18 x 9 meters. The court is divided into two equal
parts by a center line and a net. The net resides over the center line and stands at a height of 2.43 m for
men and 2.24 m for women.
For more information on court and equipment specifications, click here to check out the volleyball court
dimensions guide on Isport.

Scoring
A point is awarded when play stops at the end of each rally. A team does not need to be serving to score
points. This scoring method is called the rally point system.
Some common scoring tactic include: Setting up hits to aim at the weaker players on the team; aiming for
vacant areas on the court; or spiking the ball close-in to the opponent''''s side of the net. Any rule
infraction will also results in a point for the other team.

Substitutions
There are a set number of substitutions allotted per game (the specific amount differs according to league
and/or level of play). A player may substitute into the game only during dead ball situations. To enter the
game, a coach or player must request a substitution from the official, after which the substitute must enter
the substitution zone and wait for the referees approval.

The Skills
There are five fundamental skills in the sport of volleyball: serving, passing, setting, blocking, and hitting.
While it is natural to have a greater inclination towards certain skills and not others, a player should have
a general grasp of all the basic skills.
Below is a brief description of the skills and the rules that pertain to each.

Serving
The serve initiates play. While there are several different serving techniquesthe underhand serve, float
serve, jump serve, and top spin serve to name a fewthe objective is always the same: send the ball
over the net and into the opponents court.
To complete a legal serve, and thus begin the rally, the server must contact the ball behind the end line
and between the sidelines. Most governing bodies restrict the amount of time a server has to hit the ball.
Once the server makes contact, he/she can then continue past the end line and onto the main court.
The serve may touch the net as long as it passes over to the opponents side. If the server misses the
serve and the ball does not go over the net, a sideout is called and a point is awarded to the other team.

Passing
The pass is a method of receiving an opponents serve and/or overhand attack. There are two popular
forms of this skill: the forearm pass and the overhand pass. Proper technique for the forearm pass
requires the passer to join the forearms together at waist level to form a platform with which to direct the
ball to the desired target. When executing an overhand pass, the player users the hands to direct the ball.
The rules that most affect this skill are those regarding legal contact of the ball. Because it is illegal to
catch, palm, or throw the ball, the passer receiving a hard driven ball must be sure to keep contact brief
and precise.

Setting
When setting the ball, the goal is to position the ball in the air so that a teammate is able to easily
complete an overhand attack/hit. The overhand technique contacting the ball above the head with two
hands simultaneouslyis the most common method of setting. A team generally executes the set during
its second contact.

Blocking
A block is an attempt to halt an opponents attack by jumping with the hands overhead to create a barrier
at the net. The most common blocking violation is touching the net. Good technique can help prevent
mishaps, but sometimes, net violations are inevitable.

Hitting
The attack usually takes place on a teams third and final contact. Because an attackers goal is to down
the ball on the other teams side of the court, players often jump when striking the ball to increase the
difficulty of receiving the hit. While any player is allowed to jump and attack a ball, only front row players
may do so in the front row zone (the area between the center line and the three meter line).
Hitters must also be conscious of the rules regulating prolonged contact with the ball.

Hand signals

1. Move the hand to indicate the direction of

service

2. Extend the arm to the side of the team that

will serve

3. Raise the forearms front and back and

4. Place the palm of one hand over the

twist them around the body

fingers of the other,

held vertically (forming a "T") and then
indicate the requesting team

5. Circular motion of the forearms around

each other

6. Show a yellow card for warning. Show a

red card for penalty

7. Show both cards jointly for expulsion

8. Show red and yellow cards separately for

disqualification

9. Cross the forearms in front of the chest,

hands open

10. Life the extended arm, the palm of the

hand facing upwards

11. Raise eight fingers, spread open

12. Raise both arms vertically, palms forward

13. Make a circular motion with the forefinger 14. Point the arm and fingers toward the floor

15. Raise the forearms vertically, hands

open, palms toward the body

16. Slowly lift the forearm, palm of the hand

facing upwards

17. Raise two fingers, spread open

18. Raise four fingers, spread open

19. Indicate the respective side of the net

20. Place a hand above the net, palm facing

downwards

21. Make a downward motion with the

forearm, hand open

22. Point to the center line or to the

respective line

23. Raise both thumbs vertically

24. Brush with the palm of one hand the

fingers of the other, held
vertically. USAV: Brush fingers of opposite
hand once over palm of
vertical hand

25. Cover the wrist with a yellow card

(warning) and with a red
card (penalty)

26. Place hands together (palms facing each

other) overhead

Lines 1. Point down with flag

Lines 2. Raise flag vertically

Lines 4. Wave flag over the head and point to

Lines 3. Raise flag and touch the top with the
the antenna or the
palm of the free hand
respective line

Lines 5. Raise and cross both arms and

hands in front of the chest
BEACH HAND SIGNALS | Back to Top

1. Move the hand to indicate the direction of

service

2. Extend the arm to the side of the team that

will serve

3. Raise the forearms front and back and

twist them around the body

4. Place the palm of one hand over the

fingers of the other,
held vertically (forming a "T") and then
indicate the requesting team

5. Show a yellow card for warning

6. Show a red card for penalty

7. Show both cards jointly for expulsion

8. Show red and yellow cards separately for

disqualification

9. Cross the forearms in front of the chest,

hands open

10. Life the extended arm, the palm of the

hand facing upwards

11. Raise five fingers, spread open

12. Raise both arms vertically, palms forward

13. Make a circular motion with the forefinger 14. Point the arm and fingers toward the floor

15. Raise the forearms vertically, hands

open, palms toward the body

16. Slowly lift the forearm, palm of the hand

facing upwards

17. Raise two fingers, spread open

18. Raise four fingers, spread open

19. Indicate the relevant side of the net with

the corresponding hand

20. Place a hand above the net, palm facing

downwards

21. Make a downward motion with the

forearm, hand open

22. Point to the court under the net or to the

respective line

23. Raise both thumbs vertically

24. Brush with the palm of one hand the

fingers of the other, held
vertically

25. Cover the wrist with a yellow card

(warning) or with a red card
(penalty)

26. USAV: Make a circular motion of the

forearms with closed fists
around each other. Subs will only be used in
Triples, Quads and
Six-Person play

Lines 1. Point down with the flag

Lines 2. Raise the flag vertically

Lines 3. Raise the flag and touch the top with Lines 4. Wave flag over the head and point to
the palm of the
the antenna or the
free hand
respective line

Lines 5. Raise and cross both arms and

hands in front of the chest