Volleyball

VOLLEYBALLVolleyball is an Olympic and NCAA sport, as well as a game played by people on indoor courts and outdoors at playgrounds and beaches, and in backyards. Volleyball was invented in 1895, just four years after the invention of basketball. 

WHAT IS VOLLEYBALL?

Field of volleyballOverall DimensionsThe overall measurements for a Volleyball court is 60 feet by 30 feet. Each side of the court is therefore 30 feet by 30 feet in size.Center LineA center line is marked at the center of the court dividing it equally into 30 feet squares.Attack LineThe attack line is marked 10 feet on each side of the center line of the court. Some rules show the attack line at 9' 10" however that includes the width of the line itself (2").Service LineA service line is marked 10 feet inside the right sideline on each back line. This is the area from which the server may serve the volleyball.The NetThe net is hung directly above the center line at 7 feet 4 inches for women and 8 feet for men.

StandardsVolleyball standards should be set at 36 feet apart, 3 feet on either side of the sidelines.Ceiling HeightThe minimum ceiling height should be 23 feet. Preferably the ceilings should be higher.

Some basics rulesThe rules of volleyball are simple, but they’re constantly changing, and they can differ depending on the level of competition. I started playing volleyball in middle school, in 2000, and since then, several changes have affected high school and collegiate rulesRotation Positions are numbered, one through six, starting with the server in the back right corner. Then going in a counter-clockwise direction, the rest of the positions are numbered. The actual direction of the rotation is clockwise, however. After the server finishes, the other team gets the ball, and you get the ball back, everyone just shifts to the right one spot. Rotation, if not fully understood, can be a very confusing part of the game. In basic volleyball there are three players in the front row and three in the back, and each player just rotates to the next position as the plays go along. Any time a player is in the back row, he or she cannot “attack” the ball in front of the 10-foot line on the court. Attacks

are also known as “hits” or “spikes”—usually the third hit of a possession. This rule is in effect to make sure that the strong hitters aren’t always able to dominate the game. When the strong hitters are in the back row, they can still attack the ball on the third hit, but they cannot jump in front of the 10-foot line.ScoringAs for scoring, this has also changed. When I first started playing, points could only be scored by the serving team, and games went to 15 points. Matches consisted of the best two out of three games. Now volleyball has changed to rally scoring. Essentially, teams score points whenever the other team messes up, and a point is awarded on every serve. Depending on the level of competition, most matches are now played as the best three out of five games to 25 points. Teams must win by at least two points for games to end. Points keep going until one team wins with a margin of victory of two points even if the score is greater than 25.

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Types of volleyball• Beach: Beach volleyball is set up on a sand court, and volleyball players

often play without shoes. It’s a fast-paced outdoor sport that involves volleying a ball back and forth over the net and scoring points by grounding the ball in the opponent's court. Beach volleyball is competitively played in teams of two, but recreational beach volleyball can be played with as many players as desired.

Indoor: Volleyball played inside a gymnasium is a fast, non-contact sport between teams of six players on each side. Competitive volleyball players must be willing to work as a team to exact offensive and defensive strategies against their opponents. Competitive volleyball games require muscle strength, stamina and endurance, and can burn several hundred calories per hour. 

Water: Water volleyball is an entertaining sport than can be enjoyed by all age groups and every member of your family! Played in the shallow end of a

swimming pool, water volleyball is patterned after beach volleyball but uses a slightly lower net. Even though it’s considered a recreational activity, it requires aerobic fitness, muscular strength, endurance, and great timing. Water volleyball is one of the most fun and entertaining games you can play at your next pool party!

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Different Types of Volleyball Hits

ServeThe first hit in a volleyball game is the serve. Depending on the league or the level of those playing, a serve can be underhand, overhand, or a jump serve. Underhand serves use a closed fist or open palm to hit the ball over the net using an underhand motion. This type of hit provides more loft than other serves. Overhand serves involve throwing the ball up into the air first and hitting the ball using an overhand motion without your feet leaving the ground. At the professional level, the jump serve is used to get more height on the net and power behind the hit, and involves the same arm and hand motion of the overhand serve, but the feet briefly leave the surface of the court as you jump to hit the ball.BumpOne of the most essential and basic hits in volleyball is the "bump". The bump is a type of "forearm passing," and typically used as the first hit as the ball comes over the net to pass the ball to a teammate. This allows the team to set up for a more planned attack back over the net. Bumps are broken down into two types, regular and digs. A regular bump is used when the ball is landing above the waist and does not require a significant change in stance to hit. A dig is a bump that occurs below the waist and requires getting in a lower position to the ground to save a ball from hitting the court. This is more used after a spike from the other team, and helps absorb the impact of the hit to allow better control of the ball.

SetAccording to Volleyball Worldwide, the set typically is the second hit following the initial forearm pass. It elevates the ball so it can be spiked over the net to try to score a point. To prepare for a set, the player should face her target, bend her knees slightly, raise her arms so her hands are close to the forehead and open the fingers in the shape of the ball. As the ball approaches, the player should use the surface of her fingers on both hands to lightly but forcefully hit the ball high in the air, then extend her arms and legs in the follow through. During a set, the ball cannot touch the palms of the hands as this called carrying, a violation of the rules.

Spike

In volleyball, each team is allowed three hits before they must return the ball to the other side of the net. The spike (also known as the hit or the attack) is typically the final hit of the three. After the ball is set high and close to the net, the attacker approaches the ball with quick steps. Then she jumps and strikes the ball in an overhand, downward motion, driving it over the net in an attempt to score by preventing a return by the opponent. Her hand should remain open during the hit. If she snaps her wrist on the hit, she can put top-spin on the ball, making it harder for the other team to block her hit.

BlockVolleyball players use a technique referred to as a block to stop an attack, usually a spike, from the opposing team.

DigPut one hand in a fist and dive on the ground and pop the ball up by moving your arm in an upward motion.

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