What is Volleyball?
Volleyball was developed in 1895 by William G. Morgan, a YMCA physical education instructor in Massachusetts. It was intended as an activity for older players seeking a less strenuous sport than basketball. American missionaries took the game to the Far East; U.S. troops help to internationalize the game during World Wars I and II. The key to volleyball’s popularity is that it is based on a simple concept, does not require expensive equipment, and can be played indoors or out by men and women of all ages and skills.
Volleyball is a game, like handball or tennis, where striking skills are used. Volleyball uses primarily the fingertips, hands, and arms to strike the ball. While other parts of the body are not illegal, a player has better control using his or her fingertips, hands, and arms.
A regulation game is played by two teams of six, although many advanced players enjoy playing doubles (2 on 2) or triples (3 on 3). The object of the game is to score 25 points by causing the ball to be unreturned over the net by the opposing team. The ball is put into play by the serve.
The serving team puts the ball in play and may score a point if the receiving team cannot return the ball properly. If the serving team fails to keep the ball in play, they fail to score and they lose the serve. This is called “side-out”. Upon receiving the serve, the new serving team must rotate positions.
Player Positions
All of the players must be in proper position before the serve. These positions are the outside hitter, middle hitter, right-side hitter, setter, libero, defensive specialist. The back row players need to be ready to forearm pass the ball to the front. The front row players may try to block the ball when the opposing team hits it over the net.
Glossary of Volleyball Terms
Block: A way to defend your side of the net by jumping and raising both arms to stop the ball from crossing the net.
Forearm Pass: A 2-arm forearm volley used to pass the ball up to the front row.
Carry: Handling the ball in other than a momentary fashion using the fingers or forearms.
Court: The court consists of two 30’ by 30’ playing areas divided by a net and centerline.
Dig: A two handed pass, generally used to get a hard hit up.
Foul: An infraction of the rules or failure to play the ball properly.
Point: The serving team scores a point if the non-serving team fails to keep the ball in play. The non-serving team scores a point when they cause a side out.
Replay: A point can be replayed under certain circumstances, especially in disputes.
Serve: The way the ball is put into play at the start of each point.
Set: A 2-handed overhead volley used to set the ball to the hitter.
Side-out: The non-serving team earns the right to serve because the serving team failed to keep the ball in play. Players must rotate positions in a clockwise manner.
Spike/Hit: An advanced skill that resembles the overhand serve making the ball difficult to play.
Team: It consists of six players, 3 in the front row and 3 in the back row.
Punting: A kick used only by the goalkeeper. The ball is held in the hands and is kicked by the foot before it hits the ground. The punt must be kicked within the penalty area.
Basic Rules of Volleyball
The object of the game is for two teams of six players to try to score points by hitting a ball over a net so that the opposing team cannot return the ball or stop it from hitting the ground in its court. The game (set) winner is decided by the point total; a match is won by the team that wins the most sets.
· Six players per team: Three in the front row, three in the back row.
· At the time of the serve all must be in their proper position on the court.
· After the serve, all players may move to play the ball or cover the court area. However, a back row player may not block at the net or play the ball over the net from above the height of the net if their body is in front of the 10’ line.
· The server must serve the ball within the serve area which is behind the endline. The server cannot step on the line or a foot fault occurs and side-out results.
· On the serve, the ball must be hit or batted with the hand, fist or forearm, and it must cross over the net. The ball must be playable within the lines of the receiving team’s court.
· A ball landing on a line is considered in-bounds.
· After the serve, the receiving team must clearly hit the ball with any part of the body. Each team may hit the ball three times on their side of the net. No player may hit the ball two times in a row.
· A player may go outside the court’s boundary lines to play a ball. A ball that is hit over the net from out of bounds must cross the net between or over the sidelines.
· Fouls occur when the ball is not played properly or rules are not followed. Fouls result in a point for the serving team or side-out and point for the non-serving team.
A foul occurs if:
· The server is not in proper service area or the foot touches end line when serving.
· Any player on the court is out of position when the ball is served.
· The server hits it out of bounds or fails to get it over the net without touching the net.
· A player makes the ball land out-of-bounds.
· A player lets the ball come to rest on the playing surface and it is not clearly hit.
· A player hits the ball two times in a row. However, there are two exceptions to this rule. A blocker may block and play the ball again and any simultaneous contact of the ball with another player allows either person to play the ball again.
· More than three hits are taken before the ball crosses the net.
· A player touches the net or crosses the centerline when the ball is in play.
· A replay can occur under certain circumstances.
· When side-out occurs, the new serving team rotates clockwise: the right front player goes to serve at right back position.
· When a point is scored, same server keeps serving. No rotation occurs.
· Game is played to 25 points. Winner must be ahead by two points.
