Invention and History of Volleyball
Invention and History of Volleyball
, Massachusetts, YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) where he served as Director of Physical Education. Morgan originally called his new game of Volleyball, Mintonette. The name Volleyball came about after a demonstration game of the sport, when a spectator commented that the game involved much "volleying" and game was renamed Volleyball. William Morgan was born in the state of New York and studied at Springfield College, Massachusetts. Ironically at Springfield, Morgan met James Naismith who invented basketball in 1891. Morgan was motivated by Naismith's game of basketball designed for younger students to invent a game suitable for the older members of the YMCA. William Morgan's basis for the new game of Volleyball was the then popular and similar German game of Faustball and a few other sports including: tennis (the net), basketball, baseball and handball. The Morgan Trophy Award is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female collegiate volleyball player in the United States. Established by the William G. Morgan Foundation in 1995 during the centennial year of volleyball, the trophy is named in honor of William Morgan. TIMELINE In 1995, the sport of Volleyball was 100 years old! The sport originated in the United States, and is now just achieving the type of popularity in the U.S. that it has received on a global basis, where it ranks behind only soccer among participation sports. Today there are more than 46 million Americans who play volleyball. There are 800 million players worldwide who play Volleyball at least once a week. 1895, William G. Morgan, an instructor at the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke, Mass., decided to blend elements of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball to create a game for his classes of businessmen which would demand less physical contact than basketball. He created the game of Volleyball (at that time called mintonette). Morgan borrowed the net from tennis, and raised it 6 feet 6 inches above the floor, just above the average man's head. During a demonstration game, someone remarked to Morgan that the players seemed to be volleying the ball back and forth over the net, and perhaps "volleyball" would be a more descriptive name for the sport. 1896, July 7th - at Springfield College the first game of "volleyball" was played. 1900, a special ball was designed for the sport.
1900 - YMCA spread volleyball to Canada, the Orient, and the Southern Hemisphere. 1905 - YMCA spread volleyball to Cuba 1907 Volleyball was presented at the Playground of America convention as one of the most popular sports 1909 - YMCA spread volleyball to Puerto Rico 1912 - YMCA spread volleyball to Uruguay 1913 - Volleyball competition held in Far Eastern Games 1916, in the Philippines, an offensive style of passing the ball in a high trajectory to be struck by another player (the set and spike) were introduced. The Filipinos developed the "bomba" or kill, and called the hitter a "bomberino". 1916 - The NCAA was invited by the YMCA to aid in editing the rules and in promoting the sport. Volleyball was added to school and college physical education and intramural programs. 1917 - YMCA spread volleyball to Brazil 1917, the game was changed from 21 to 15 points. 1919 American Expeditionary Forces distributed 16,000 volleyballs to it's troops and allies. This provided a stimulus for the growth of volleyball in foreign lands. 1920, three hits per side and back row attack rules were instituted. 1922, the first YMCA national championships were held in Brooklyn, NY. 27 teams from 11 states were represented. 1928, it became clear that tournaments and rules were needed, the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA, now USA Volleyball) was formed. The first U.S. Open was staged, as the field was open to non-YMCA squads. 1930's Recreational sports programs became an important part of American life 1930, the first two-man beach game was played. 1934, the approval and recognition of national volleyball referees. 1937, at the AAU convention in Boston, action was taken to recognize the U.S. Volleyball Association as the official national governing body in the U.S. Late 1940s Forearm pass introduced to the game (as a desperation play). Most balls were played with overhand pass. 1946 A study of recreation in the United States showed that volleyball ranked fifth among team sports being promoted and organized 1947, the Federation Internationale De VolleyBall (FIVB) was founded in Paris. 1948, the first two-man beach tournament was held. 1949, the first World Championships were held in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
1949 USVBA added a collegiate division, for competitive college teams. For the first ten years collegiate competition was sparse. Teams formed only through the efforts of interested students and instructors. Many teams dissolved when the interested individuals left the college. Competitive teams were scattered, with no collegiate governing bodies providing leadership in the sport. 1951 - Volleyball was played by over 50 million people each year in over 60 countries 1955 - Pan American Games included volleyball 1957 - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) designated volleyball as an Olympic team sport, to be included in the 1964 Olympic Games. 1959 - International University Sports Federation (FISU) held the first University Games in Turin, Italy. Volleyball was one of the eight competitions held. 1960 Seven midwestern institutions formed the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) 1964 Southern California Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (SCVIA) was formed in California 1960's new techniques added to the game included - the soft spike (dink), forearm pass (bump), blocking across the net, and defensive diving and rolling. In 1964, Volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The Japanese volleyball used in the 1964 Olympics, consisted of a rubber carcass with leather panelling. A similarly constructed ball is used in most modern competition. In 1965, the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) was formed. 1968 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) made volleyball their fifteenth competitive sport. 1969 The Executive Committee of the NCAA proposed addition of volleyball to its program. 1974, the World Championships in Mexico were telecast in Japan. 1975, the US National Women's team began a year-round training regime in Pasadena, Texas (moved to Colorado Springs in 1979, Coto de Caza and Fountain Valley, CA in 1980, and San Diego, CA in 1985). 1977, the US National Men's team began a yearround training regime in Dayton, Ohio (moved to San Diego, CA in 1981). 1983, the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was formed. 1984, the US won their first medals at the Olympics in Los Angeles. The Men won the Gold, and the Women the Silver.
1986, the Women's Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was formed. 1987, the FIVB added a Beach Volleyball World Championship Series. 1988, the US Men repeated the Gold in the Olympics in Korea. 1989, the FIVB Sports Aid Program was created. 1990, the World League was created. 1992, the Four Person Pro Beach League was started in the United States. 1994, Volleyball World Wide, the first internet site on the sport of volleyball, was created. 1995, the sport of Volleyball was 100 years old! 1996, 2-person beach volleyball was added to the Olympics VOLLEYBALL HISTORY Volleyball has come a long way from the dusty-old YMCA gymnasium of Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA, where the visionary William G. Morgan invented the sport back in 1895. It has seen the start of two centuries and the dawn of a new millennium. Volleyball is now one of the big five international sports, and the FIVB, with its 220 affiliated national federations, is the largest international sporting federation in the world. Volleyball has witnessed unprecedented growth over the last decade. With the great success of world competitions such as the FIVB World Championships, the FIVB World League, the FIVB World Grand Prix, the FIVB World Cup, and the FIVB Grand Champions Cup as well as the Olympic Games, the level of participation at all levels internationally continues to grow exponentially. The beach volleyball phenomenon also continues to amaze. The overwhelming spectator and television success of beach volleyball since its introduction to the Olympic Games at Atlanta 1996 and the stunning success of the FIVB World Tour and World Championships has opened up volleyball to a completely new market. The origins William G. Morgan (1870-1942), who was born in the State of New York, has gone down in history as the inventor of the game of volleyball, to which he originally gave the name "Mintonette". The young Morgan carried out his undergraduate studies at the Springfield College of the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) where he met James Naismith who, in 1891, had invented basketball. After graduating, Morgan spent his first year at the Auburn (Maine) YMCA after which, during the summer of 1895, he moved to the YMCA at Holyoke (Massachusetts) where he became director of physical education. In this role he had the opportunity to establish, develop and direct a vast programme of exercises and sport classes for male adults.
His leadership was enthusiastically accepted, and his classes grew in numbers. He came to realise that he needed a certain type of competitive recreational game in order to vary his programme. Basketball, a sport that was beginning to develop, seemed to suit young people, but it was necessary to find a less violent and less intense alternative for the older members. At that time Morgan knew of no similar game to volleyball which could guide him; he developed it from his own sports training methods and his practical experience in the YMCA gymnasium. Describing his first experiments he said, "In search of an appropriate game, tennis occurred to me, but this required rackets, balls, a net and other equipment, so it was eliminated, but the idea of a net seemed a good one. We raised it to a height of about 6 feet, 6 inches (1.98 metres) from the ground, just above the head of an average man. We needed a ball and among those we tried was a basketball bladder, but this was too light and too slow. We therefore tried the basketball itself, which was too big and too heavy." In the end, Morgan asked the firm of A.G. Spalding & Bros. to make a ball, which they did at their factory near Chicopee, in Massachusetts. The result was satisfactory: the ball was leather-covered, with a rubber inner tube, its circumference was not less than 25 and not more than 27 inches (63.5 cm and 68.6 cm, respectively), and its weight not less than 9 and not more than 12 ounces (252 gr and 336 gr, respectively). Morgan asked two of his friends from Holyoke, Dr. Frank Wood and John Lynch, to draw up (based on his suggestions) the basic concepts of the game together with the first 10 rules. Early in 1896 a conference was organized at the YMCA College in Springfield, bringing together all the YMCA Directors of Physical Education. Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick, director of the professional physical education training school (and also executive director of the department of physical education of the International Committee of YMCA's) invited Morgan to make a demonstration of his game in the new college stadium. Morgan took two teams, each made up of five men (and some loyal fans) to Springfield, where the demonstration was made before the conference delegates in the east gymnasium. The captain of one of the teams was J.J. Curran and of the other John Lynch who were respectively, mayor and chief of the fire brigade of Holyoke. Morgan explained that the new game was designed for gymnasia or exercise halls, but could also be played in open air. An unlimited number of players could participate, the object of the game being to keep the ball in movement over a high net, from one side to the other. After seeing the demonstration, and hearing the explanation of Morgan, Professor Alfred T. Halstead
called attention to the action, or the act phase, of the ball's flight, and proposed that the name "Mintonette" be replaced by "Volley Ball." This name was accepted by Morgan and the conference. (It is interesting to note that the same name has survived over the years, with one slight alteration: in 1952, the Administrative Committee of the USVBA voted to spell the name with one word, "Volleyball", but continued to use USVBA to signify United States Volleyball Association). Morgan explained the rules and worked on them, then gave a hand-written copy to the conference of YMCA directors of physical education, as a guide for the use and development of the game. A committee was appointed to study the rules and produce suggestions for the game's promotion and teaching. A brief report on the new game and its rules was published in the July 1896 edition of "Physical Education" and the rules were included in the 1897 edition of the first official handbook of the North American YMCA Athletic League. Worldwide Growth The physical education directors of the YMCA, encouraged particularly by two professional schools of physical education, Springfield college in Massachusetts and George Williams College in Chicago (now at Downers Grove, Illinois), adopted volleyball in all its societies throughout the United States, Canada (in 1900 Canada became the first foreign country to adopt the game), and also in many other countries: Elwood S. Brown in the Philippines (1910), J. Howard Crocker in China, Franklin H. Brown in Japan (1908), Dr. J.H. Gray in Burma, in China and in India, and others in Mexico and South American, European and African countries. By 1913 the development of volleyball on the Asian continent was assured as, in that year, the game was included in the programme of the first Far-Eastern Games, organized in Manila. It should be noted that, for a long time, Volleyball was played in Asia according to the "Brown" rules which, among other things, used 16 players (to enable a greater participation in matches). An indication of the growth of volleyball in the United States is given in an article published in 1916 in the Spalding Volleyball Guide and written by Robert C. Cubbon. In that article Cubbon estimated that the number of players had reached a total of 200,000 people subdivided in the following way: in the YMCA (boys, young men, and older men) 70,000, in the YWCA (girls and women) 50,000, in schools (boys and girls) 25,000 and in colleges (young men) 10,000. In 1916, the YMCA managed to induce the powerful National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to publish its rules and a series of articles, contributing to the rapid growth of volleyball among young college students. In 1918 the number of players per team was
limited to six, and in 1922 the maximum number of authorized contacts with the ball was fixed at three. Until the early 1930s volleyball was for the most part a game of leisure and recreation, and there were only a few international activities and competitions. There were different rules of the game in the various parts of the world; however, national championships were played in many countries (for instance, in Eastern Europe where the level of play had reached a remarkable standard). Volleyball thus became more and more a competitive sport with high physical and technical performance. Olympic History of volleyball Today, men's and women's volleyball is a fixture at the Olympic Games. That wasn't always the case, however. Indoor volleyball was first included in the1964 Olympic Games, and for a while, it appeared that men's volleyball would be the only version contested. Volleyball in the Olympic Games: The IOC Votes to Include the Sport In 1957, the International Olympic Committee voted to include volleyball in the 1964 Olympic Games. Four years later, though, the IOC voted not to include women's volleyball in the competition. It wasn't until one year later that a new vote was held. After the new vote in 1962, the IOC changed its mind and decided that there would, in fact, be a women's tournament at the 1964 Olympic Games. Volleyball in the 1964 Olympic Games When the volleyball tournaments opened at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, there were 16 total teams entered into the tournament. Ten of those teams competed in the men's tournament, and the remaining six teams competed in the women's tournament. In the first ever Olympic volleyball tournament, the Soviet Union won the men's gold medal, while Japan won the women's gold medal. Olympic Volleyball: The Changing Number of Teams in the Tournament Throughout the next 32 years, the number of teams participating in the men's and women's tournaments fluctuated. In 1968, for example, 10 men's teams and eight women's teams competed in the tournament. Four years later, in 1972, 12 men's teams and 10 women's teams were included. The 1976 Olympic Games saw only nine men's teams and eight women's teams. The fluctuations continued until the 1996 Olympic Games, when 12 men's teams and 12 women's teams
were included in the tournament. Since then, 24 teams -12 men's and 12 women's -- have become the standard for each Olympic Games. Advent of the Olympic Volleyball MVP Award: 1988 Olympic Games The Most Valuable Player awards were handed out for the first time at the 1988 Olympic Games. There, American Karch Kiraly won the men's MVP while Canadian Cecelia Tait won the women's award. The MVP Award has been handed out at each Olympic Games since. Most recently, American Clayton Stanley won the men's award, while Brazilian Paula Pequeno won the women's award. History of Volleyball Dominance at the Olympic Games Though no country has been particularly dominant in volleyball at the Olympic Games, there are a few countries with multiple gold medals. On the men's side, the United States and Soviet Union have each won three gold medals, while Brazil has won two. On the women's side, the Soviet Union has won four gold medals and Cuba has won three, while Japan and China each have won two gold medals. The U.S. women's team has never won gold. When the London 2012 Summer Olympics begin in late July, 24 volleyball teams (12 men's, 12 women's) will descend on Earls Court to fight to bring the gold home. High-flying hitters, floor-sliding defenders and jumpserving bombers will once again fill every match with a thrill a minute, as the ball travels close to 100 mph and the action is nonstop. As the 12 teams begin play in two pools of six, following a round-robin tournament format in which every team plays every other team in their pool, you might want to know the history of volleyball in the Olympics. Here's everything you need to know before the first serve whistle blows in the 2012 Summer Olympics: Volleyball Debuts at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games: Volleyball was invented in Massachusetts in 1895, but did not become an Olympic sport until 1964, when it debuted at the Tokyo games. The Japanese women won the first gold, as did the men from the Soviet Union. Men's Domination: In the almost 50 years since volleyball has been contested in the Olympics, the men's game was initially dominated by the Soviet Union, which took the gold three times. In more recent years, Brazil and the United States have been perennial men's powerhouses, with two golds going to Brazil and three to
the U.S. The U.S. men are the defending champions and will be in London to try to repeat their Beijing victory. Women's Domination: Until the Beijing Games, four countries held a stranglehold on women's Olympic volleyball. Japan, the Soviet Union, China and Cuba have been the perennial powerhouses. Nowadays, Brazil has moved to the front of the pack, and will be defending its Beijing gold medal at the London games. The American women have never won a gold, but have qualified to go and will be gunning for one in London. Changing the scoring rules: When Olympic volleyball began, each set (game) of a five-set match was played to 15 points, with points only scored by the team with the serve. But in order to speed up the game, those rules were changed in 1998. Now each set is played to 25 points (15 in the fifth game tiebreaker), with a point scored on each serve, regardless of which team served. Changing the player rules: In 1998, Olympic volleyball joined the international FIVB governing body in adding the libero position to the game. That is a specialized defensive player, who is allowed to play only in the backcourt and may be substituted repeatedly for any player on the team. He/she wears a different color shirt for easy identification. Changing the basic rules: Other rule changes that have occurred over the years include the let serve and inadvertent net contact. Originally, a serve that ticked the net was a missed serve. Nowadays, it is legal for a serve to hit the net, as long as the ball falls within the opponent's court. Previously, it was illegal for a player to touch the net at any time; today, a net violation is only called when it interferes with the play. History of Volleyball in the Philippines The Philippines had more influence over the style of modern volleyball than you might think. In fact, Philippine volleyball players invented the set and spike. More than 800 million people in the world play volleyball at least once a week, according to information from the Westlake High School physical education department. This competitive sport burns 364 calories per hour for a 200pound person. ORIGINS The history of volleyball in the Philippines dates back to 1910. The Physical Director of the YMCA, Elwood S. Brown, first introduced volleyball to the Philippines that year. Philippine people began to play volleyball as a backyard sport and games of beach volleyball soon followed, according to information from the Philippine Volleyball Federation, or PVF. Players hung the net between two trees. They made up their own rules regarding how many players on each side and how many times you could hit the ball before sending it over the net.
THREE-HIT LIMIT The Philippine style of volleyball inspired the Americans to create the three-hit limit, according to information on the PVF website. Before the rule, Philippine volleyball teams would sometimes let every player hit the ball before sending it over to the opposing side. This took too much time and snuffed out the challenge and competitive nature of the game. SET AND SPIKE With the new three-hit rule in place, Philippine players experimented with new volleyball techniques and came up with the set and spike, a.k.a. the Filipino Bomb. In this offensive passing style, one player hits the volleyball and sends it high in the air to set it up for another player on her team. A second player then strikes the ball sending it over the net at a downward angle. This is called spiking the ball. PHILIPPINE AMATEUR VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION The date July 4, 1961 marks the birth of the Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association. The director for the Playground and Recreation Bureau, members of the business community and others gathered to create an organized volleyball association in the Philippines. The Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association was later named the Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association and is currently called the Philippine Volleyball Federation. It is affiliated with and accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Asian Volleyball Confederation and the Federation International de Volleyball. THE FEDERATION THE PVF The Philippine Volleyball Federation (formerly known as PAVA) is the ONLY national governing body of volleyball in the country. Affiliated and accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB). THE VOLLEYBALL HISTORY In 1910, Elwood S. Brown, Physical Director of YMCA, introduced volleyball in the country. It started as a backyard sport then played along the island beaches. They have to find coconut trees opposite each other where they can hang their net. The game was made through agreement like: one against one; one against five or against ten (10). There was no restriction yet as to the number each team can hit the ball before they send it over to the opponents court. Any manner of sending the ball over the opponents court can be done. At one time, one team tried to hit and pass the ball among its other
following each member to hit it before they sane the ball over the net to the opponents court. The opposing team has no choice but to wait for the ball to reach their court. The same thing was done. With this manner of playing, as the Americans noticed that it was no longer challenging and recreational so they tried to limit the hits into three. With this development, Filipino players tried again to explore another manner of playing and tried to observe what effect would there be if one tries to jump high and hit the ball hard above the net onto the opponents court. There was no complaint against the act, hence, hitting the ball hard above the net continued until the Americans called it a Filipino bomb. The game became popular throughout the country. The sports officials then through that it was about time to promote and develop volleyball. In July 4, 1961, the then Supt. Tomas de Castro called for a meeting with Justice Roman Nolasco, Jose N. Reyes, Director for Playground and Recreation Bureau and Tommy Teng, a businessman. The objective was to organize a Volleyball Association in the Philippines under the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF). This gave birth to the Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association (PAVA). THE PIONEERING OFFICERS OF PAVA: Supt. Tomas de Castro- President Justice Roman Nolasco Vice President -Mr. Bernardino T. Montes Secretary GeneralMr. Tommy Teng TreasurerMayor Macario Asistio Auditor Mr. Jose N. Reyes Commissioner Col. Romulo P. Constantino Director Mr. Fernando Bautista Director -Twenty (20) charter members were organized then: Bureau of Public Schools (BPS) Bureau of Private Schools (BPRS) Mindanao Athletic Association (MAA) Cultural Luzon Athletic Association (CLAA) Northern Luzon Association (NLAA) Southern Tagalog Association-(STAA) Western Visayas Association (WVAA) East Visayas Athletic Association-(EVAA) Bicol Athletic Association(BAA) Marikina Valley(MV) Manila, Pasay, Quezon Cities Association (MPQCCAA) State Colleges Association-(SCAA) Siliman University-(SU) National University-(NU) University of the Philippines-(UP) Philippine Airforce-(PAF) West Visayas Athletic Association-(WVAA) Yellow Taxi Club-(YTC) City Schools-(CS) Other athletic clubs were then formed one of which was registered with PAVA was the Rizal Provincial Athletic Club.
To there credit, these associations have developed lot of players who represented the country in international competitions: Far East Olympic Games, Asian Games, Ganefo Games, Universiade Games and other International Invitational. Among those who became famous were Ruben Labay, Julius Baldesimo, Agapito Custodio, Gorgonio Simple, Paternito Calo, Domingo Cuenca, Elvira Candelaria, Lilia Decena, Brigetter NicolGabuco, Emma Reynoso, Camilia Pasicolan, Salome Adan, Minerva Dulce Ortiz, Frediswinda Labay, followed by the next generation: Alberto Bacani, Henry Bonotan, Mamerto Ogama, Robert Milton A. Calo, Augusto Santamaria, etc. Violeta Tobias-Rastrullo, Noraida La Rosa, Alma Mlapote-Jocson, Virginia de Jesus, Josefina Malate, Josefina Paulite, Ma. Lourdes Jao, Ma Chona Jao, Thelma Barina, Arlene Apostol, Elena, Grace Antigua, Maribel Russiana, Rose Gonzaga, etc. Lot of volunteers joined the association year after year. It is noteworthy then to mention the Presidents from 1961 to present: Supt. Tomas de Castro 1961-64 Justice Roman Nolasco 1965-68 Supt. Tomas de Castro 1968-71 Supt. Tomas de Castro 1972-75 Mayor Nemesio I. Yabut 1976-79 Mr. Godofredo Camacho 1979-82 Col. Mariano Santiago 1982-85 Cong. Victoric Chavez 1986-89 One term One term 2nd term 3rd term One term One term One term 1st term
(Elected President after the EDSA Revolution) Cong. Victorico Chavez 1990-94 2nd term Mr. Benigno Gopez 1995-1998 One Term Mr. Luis Gepuela 1999-2002 One Term PVF Mr. Roger Banzuela 2003-2006 One Term Mr. Pedro Mendoza Jr. 2007-2010 Present It was during the term of Congressman Victorino Chavez who became a Member of the Board of Administration (FIVB) with the able assistance of Mr. Ramon Suzara, member of the Management Committee (FIVB) that brought the World Grand Prix here in Manila (1994). In 1995, PAVA held their Congress and at the same elected the Officers with official observers from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in the persons of Governor Jose Almeda, Secretary General of POC and Mr. Elizalde, Philippine representative to the international Olympic Committee. PAVA as mandated by its charter is continuously searching, training and developing potential athletes, coaches, and referees with knowledge and skills to equate the level of national and international standards.
If you go up to block and the ball comes back down on your side of the net, your team is still allowed three Serve-Used to put the ball in play. The action is done with arm swing that sends the ball over the must net into opponent's contacts before the ball bethe sent over the court. net. Forearm Pass-Used to receive the ball from your opponents, as in service, or as a technique to accurately control the ball in a way that elimina the ball. the fundamental action of passing is to rebound the ball off of Tipping/Dinking the forearms (which are held together tightly with the palms and thum together) from a slightly squatted and balanced position. Setting- Used to receive a teammate's pass in order that the play may continue by passingskill the ball to an attacker. the fundamental This defensive is overhead used primarily by setters who contact the ball with the finger pads momentarily at the forehead and following through with arms fully extended to the hitting cannot make an effective set or front-row playerstarget. who Kill or Attack-Used to put the ball into the opponent's court in order to cannot earn a point or side out. the fundamental action ofto attacking incorpora execute a solid hit (or hitters who want confuse followed by a strong, full arm swing, and follow-thru. the other team). Block-Used to stop the ball from crossing the net as a result of an opponent's attack. A block is effective if it immediately places the ball back i court or if it temporarily slows down the ball in order for a defender to make a dig. The fundamental action of blocking is to stand use facing the n When the ball comes close to the net, you simply width apart, arms nearly extended above the head, ready to jump above the net to deflect the ball back into the opponent's court. your finger pads to "shoot" the ball back onto the other of and the sprawling. court. This isdig most effective when pass a power Floor Defense-used to receive the opponent's attack. The key skills are side digging The resembles a forearm from a low re hitter has had several strong hits; the other team isfrom ready used more for balls that are hit near the defender. The sprawl is a result of an attempted dig for a ball that is hit further away the defen for it, so they back up, which leaves huge holes in the dive. defense perfect for tipped or dinked balls. Six Basic Skills of Volleyball Advanced Skills Keith Sewell describes some difficult techniques. A player making a jump serve. The main skills you need to know are the pass, set and hit, but there are many other important aspects to volleyball skills, especially for defensive plays. Rolling This is a defensive skill used to help players get up quickly from passing a low ball. The libero or defensive specialist is primarily the player who uses this skill the most. Extend one arm out and sprawl for the ball then roll over the shoulder of your extended arm and get back in ready position to play. Roll body over extended shoulder It takes a lot of practice to master this skill! You have to be confident and not afraid to hit the floor hard. Blocking Another defensive skill, this comes into play when the opposing team is hitting. The arms extend straight up as the opposing teams hitter contacts the ball, and you jump as high and close to the net as possible to attempt to make the ball land back on the opposing teams side. Start with your knees bent and your hands next to your face, palms facing outward. You have to turn your hands accordingly to make the ball stay in the court, i.e. if you're on the right side of the court blocking a right-handed hitter in left-front of the opposite side of the court, turn your right hand in toward the court so the ball doesn't go out of bounds. Hands ready to block A player stands behind the inline and serves the ball, in an attempt to drive it into the opponent's court. His or her main objective is to make it land inside the court; it is also desirable to set the ball's direction, speed and acceleration so that it becomes difficult for the receiver to handle it properly. A serve is called an "ace" when the ball lands directly onto the court or travels outside the court after being touched by an opponent. In contemporary volleyball, many types of serves are employed: Underhand: a serve in which the player strikes the ball below the waist instead of tossing it up and striking it with an overhand throwing motion. Underhand serves are considered very easy to receive and are rarely employed in high-level competitions. Sky ball serve: a specific type of underhand serve occasionally used in beach volleyball, where the ball is hit so high it comes down almost in a straight line. This serve was invented and employed almost exclusively by the Brazilian team in the early 1980s and is now considered outdated. In Brazil, this serve is called Jornada nas Estrelas (Star Trek). Topspin: an overhand serve where the player tosses the ball high and hits it with a wrist span, giving it topspin which causes it to drop faster than it would otherwise and helps maintain a straight flight path. Topspin serves are generally hit hard and aimed at a specific returner or part of the court. Standing topspin serves are rarely used above the high school level of play. Float: an overhand serve where the ball is hit with no spin so that its path becomes unpredictable, akin to a knuckleball in baseball. Serve Setting up for an overhand serve.
Jump serve: an overhand serve where the ball is first tossed high in the air, then the player makes a timed approach and jumps to make contact with the ball, hitting it with much pace and topspin. This is the most popular serve amongst college and professional teams. Jump float: an overhand serve where the ball is tossed high enough that the player may jump before hitting it similarly to a standing float serve. The ball is tossed lower than a topspin jump serve, but contact is still made while in the air. This serve is becoming more popular amongst college and professional players because it has a certain unpredictability in its flight pattern. Pass A woman making a forearm pass or bump. Also called reception, the pass is the attempt by a team to properly handle the opponent's serve, or any form of attack. Proper handling includes not only preventing the ball from touching the court, but also making it reach the position where the setter is standing quickly and precisely. The skill of passing involves fundamentally two specific techniques: underarm pass, or bump, where the ball touches the inside part of the joined forearms or platform, at waist line; and overhand pass, where it is handled with the fingertips, like a set, above the head. Either are acceptable in professional and beach volleyball, however there are much tighter regulations on the overhand pass in beach volleyball. Set Jump set The set is usually the second contact that a team makes with the ball. The main goal of setting is to put the ball in the air in such a way that it can be driven by an attack into the opponent's court. The setter coordinates the offensive movements of a team, and is the player who ultimately decides which player will actually attack the ball. As with passing, one may distinguish between an overhand and a bump set. Since the former allows for more control over the speed and direction of the ball, the bump is used only when the ball is so low it cannot be properly handled with fingertips, or in beach volleyball where rules regulating overhand setting are more stringent. In the case of a set, one also speaks of a front or back set, meaning whether the ball is passed in the direction the setter is facing or behind the setter. There is also a jump set that is used when the ball is too close to the net. In this case the setter usually jumps off his or her right foot straight up to avoid going into the net. The setter usually stands about of the way from the left to the right of the net and faces the left (the larger portion of net that he or she can see). Sometimes a setter refrains from raising the ball for a teammate to perform an attack and tries to play it directly onto the opponent's court. This movement is called a
"dump". This can only be performed when the setter is in the front row, otherwise it constitutes an illegal back court attack. The most common dumps are to 'throw' the ball behind the setter or in front of the setter to zones 2 and 4. More experienced setters toss the ball into the deep corners or spike the ball on the second hit. Attack The attack, also known as the spike, is usually the third contact a team makes with the ball. The object of attacking is to handle the ball so that it lands on the opponent's court and cannot be defended. A player makes a series of steps (the "approach"), jumps, and swings at the ball. Ideally the contact with the ball is made at the apex of the hitter's jump. At the moment of contact, the hitter's arm is fully extended above his or her head and slightly forward, making the highest possible contact while maintaining the ability to deliver a powerful hit. The hitter uses arm swing, wrist snap, and a rapid forward contraction of the entire body to drive the ball. A 'bounce' is a slang term for a very hard/loud spike that follows an almost straight trajectory steeply downward into the opponent's court and bounces very high into the air. A "kill" is the slang term for an attack that is not returned by the other team thus resulting in a point. Contemporary volleyball comprises a number of attacking techniques: Backcourt (or backrow)/pipe attack: an attack performed by a back row player. The player must jump from behind the 3-meter line before making contact with the ball, but may land in front of the 3meter line. Line and Cross-court Shot: refers to whether the ball flies in a straight trajectory parallel to the side lines, or crosses through the court in an angle. A crosscourt shot with a very pronounced angle, resulting in the ball landing near the 3-meter line, is called a cut shot. Dip/Dink/Tip/Cheat/Dump: the player does not try to make a hit, but touches the ball lightly, so that it lands on an area of the opponent's court that is not being covered by the defense. Tool/Wipe/Block-abuse: the player does not try to make a hard spike, but hits the ball so that it touches the opponent's block and then bounces off-court. Off-speed hit: the player does not hit the ball hard, reducing its speed and thus confusing the opponent's defense. Quick hit/"One": an attack (usually by the middle blocker) where the approach and jump begin before the setter contacts the ball. The set (called a "quick set") is placed only slightly above the net and the ball is struck by the hitter almost immediately after leaving the setter's hands. Quick attacks are often effective because they isolate the middle blocker to be the only blocker on the hit.
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Slide: a variation of the quick hit that uses a low back set. The middle hitter steps around the setter and hits from behind him or her. Double quick hit/"Stack"/"Tandem": a variation of quick hit where two hitters, one in front and one behind the setter or both in front of the setter, jump to perform a quick hit at the same time. It can be used to deceive opposite blockers and free a fourth hitter attacking from backcourt, maybe without block at all. Block 3 players performing a block Blocking refers to the actions taken by players standing at the net to stop or alter an opponent's attack. A block that is aimed at completely stopping an attack, thus making the ball remain in the opponent's court, is called offensive. A well-executed offensive block is performed by jumping and reaching to penetrate with one's arms and hands over the net and into the opponent's area. It requires anticipating the direction the ball will go once the attack takes place. It may also require calculating the best foot work to executing the "perfect" block. The jump should be timed so as to intercept the ball's trajectory prior to it crossing over the net. Palms are held deflected downward about 4560 degrees toward the interior of the opponents court. A "roof" is a spectacular offensive block that redirects the power and speed of the attack straight down to the attacker's floor, as if the attacker hit the ball into the underside of a peaked house roof. By contrast, it is called a defensive, or "soft" block if the goal is to control and deflect the hard-driven ball up so that it slows down and becomes more easy to be defended. A well-executed soft-block is performed by jumping and placing one's hands above the net with no penetration into the opponent's court and with the palms up and fingers pointing backward. Blocking is also classified according to the number of players involved. Thus, one may speak of single (or solo), double, or triple block. Successful blocking does not always result in a "roof" and many times does not even touch the ball. While it's obvious that a block was a success when the attacker is roofed, a block that consistently forces the attacker away from his or her 'power' or preferred attack into a more easily controlled shot by the defense is also a highly successful block. At the same time, the block position influences the positions where other defenders place themselves while opponent hitters are spiking.
Digging is the ability to prevent the ball from touching one's court after a spike or attack, particularly a ball that is nearly touching the ground. In many aspects, this skill is similar to passing, or bumping: overhand dig and bump are also used to distinguish between defensive actions taken with fingertips or with joined arms. It varies from passing however in that is it a much more reflex based skill, especially at the higher levels. It is especially important while digging for players to stay on their toes; several players choose to employ a split step to make sure they're ready to move in any direction. Some specific techniques are more common in digging than in passing. A player may sometimes perform a "dive", i.e., throw his or her body in the air with a forward movement in an attempt to save the ball, and land on his or her chest. When the player also slides his or her hand under a ball that is almost touching the court, this is called a "pancake". The pancake is frequently used in indoor volleyball, but rarely if ever in beach volleyball because the uneven and infirm nature of the sand court limits the chances that the ball will make a good, clean contact with the hand. When used correctly, it is one of the more spectacular defensive volleyball plays. Sometimes a player may also be forced to drop his or her body quickly to the floor to save the ball. In this situation, the player makes use of a specific rolling technique to minimize the chances of injuries. Volleyball Positions Terms of the Volleyball Court Volleyball positions on a team consist of 3 front row players and 3 back row players. Players in the front row are attackers, blockers, and maybe a setter. Players in the back row are passers, diggers and also maybe a player setting. On a sideout, the players on the team that won the rally rotate positions clockwise around the court. Advanced volleyball teams may run an offense where the same setter sets in every rotation. Also, advanced teams may have back row players attack from the backcourt. Player Positions Setter The setter is the player on the volleyball team that sets the teams attackers. A setter position is similar to a quarterback in football or a point guard in basketball in the sense that the setter runs the teams offense. Some teams may choose to have multiple setters run the team offense.
Outside Hitter Teams outside hitters are usually the primary attackers on the team. These hitters attack balls that are set to the left side of the court. Outside hitters may also be referred to asoutside blockers. Weakside Hitter Team s weak side hitters hit from the right side of the court and are usually not the primary attackers on the team. Weakside hitters may also be referred to as weakside blockers. Middle Hitter Team s middle hitters hit balls set at the net in the middle of the court. Middle hitters are sometimes the primary attackers on the team. Middle hitters are commonly used as a decoy to freeze or confuse the opposing teams blockers. A middle hitter is also referred to as a middle blocker or just middle. Middle blockers are often in charge of front row players to coordinate team blocking strategy. Libero The libero plays a special roll in team defense and passing. The libero is the player on the volleyball team that can come into the game and replace any player on the back row. The libero is sometimes called a defensive specialist or DS. The libero may be put in the game to pass for a weaker passer or to help cover the court by making great defensive plays. The libero may also serve in one rotation. Court Positions Right Back The player that is right back is in the rotation position in the backcourt on right side of the court. At the start of the rally, this is the player that starts in Zone 1. When a team rotates, it's the player rotating to the right back position that goes back to serve. Right Front The player that is right front is in the rotation position at the net on right side of the court. At the start of the rally, this is the player that starts in Zone 2. Middle Front The player that is middle front is in the rotation position at the net in the center. At the start of the rally, this is the player that starts in Zone 3.
Volleyball Court Positions Left Front The player that is left front is in the rotation position at the net on left side of the court. At the start of the rally, this is the player that starts in Zone 4. Left Back The player that is left back is in the rotation position in the backcourt on the left side of the court. At the start of the rally, this is the player that starts in Zone 5. Middle Back The player that is middle back is in the rotation position in the backcourt in the middle. At the start of the rally, this is the player that starts in Zone 6. Volleyball Equipment & Facilities Volleyball Court Dimensions 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. Center Line A center line is marked at the center of the court dividing it equally into 30 feet squares, above which the net is placed. Attack Line An attack line is marked 10 feet of each side of the center line. Service Line 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. The Net
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. Poles Volleyball poles should be set at 36 feet apart, 3 feet further out from the sidelines. Ceiling Height The minimum ceiling height should be 23 feet, though they should preferably be higher. Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan as a less-strenuous alternative to basketball for middle-aged men. The sport began as a loose conglomeration of several other sports, incorporating equipment and ideas from badminton, tennis and basketball. As the game developed, the court and equipment used became uniquely refined to meet the specific needs of the sport. HISTORY Morgan's original game used the rubber bladder out of a basketball as the first volleyball, which was hit over a badminton net that was suspended 6 feet off of the ground. The court was divided into two 25-foot square halves, and each team was allowed to have as many players as could fit on the court. Roughly one year after the sport was created, Spalding designed the first official volleyball, and by 1900 the ball used became more or less standardized. By 1928, the United States Volleyball Association was established to oversee the sport and ensure that standards were established for all court and equipment usage. 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. BEACH The beach variant of volleyball began in the 1940s. While many of the rules and specifications of this format are the same as indoor volleyball, there are some differences. The court used in beach volleyball is slightly smaller, measuring 16 meters by 8 meters. The ball also is increased in size to a circumference between 66 and 68 cm. The average net height for men and women stays the same. 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 shock-absorbing 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. OFFICIALS First Referee (R1) The first referee carries out his or her responsibilities from a position standing located at the opposite end of the net from the scorekeeper's table. It's recommended that the first referee remain on the stand during the entire match except for a protest, for personal reasons, or to handle a scorekeeping difficulty that the second referee is unable to resolve. The first referee directs the match from the first moment arriving to the court until the end of the match. First referee duties include... Having authority over all team members. Having final authority over all decisions including those that don't specifically address the rules. Having authority over other officials of volleyball and overruling other officials if certain they made an incorrect decision. Replacing an official that isn't performing functions properly. responsibilities before the match
Examine the ball that will be used for the match. Inspect the net, playing area, and other equipment to ensure they meet specifications. Conduct the coin toss and meeting of referees and team representatives. Control the warm up conduct of teams. Establish ground rules as needed.
Second Referee (R2) The second referee takes position facing the first referee on the opposite side of the court. Should the first referee be indisposed, the second referee assumes the responsibilities and duties of the first referee. Second referee responsibilities before the match include... Ensure the names of the officials of volleyball appear on the first set score sheet. Ensure the coaches have line up sheets at least 10 minutes before the end of each team's timed warm up periods. The second referee collects the line up sheets from each team at the 3 minute mark on the clock timing the pre-match warm ups and submits them to the scorekeeper.
Official Scorer (Scorekeeper) The scorekeeper and assistant scorekeeper are seated at the scorekeeper's table, positioned on the side of the court opposite the first referee and behind the second referee. Scorekeeper responsibilities... The scorekeeper is in charge of the score sheet throughout the match, in cooperation with the second referee. The assistant scorekeeper is responsible for tracking the libero player's entries and aiding the scorekeeper. Assistant Scorer - Volleyball officials The assistant scorer (or libero tracker) sits at the scorer s table next to the scorekeeper. The assistant scorer s main function is to record libero replacements on to a libero tracking sheet. THE ASSISTANT SCORER Notifies any fault with libero replacements
Checks the score on the scoreboard with the score on the scoresheet Line Judges During play, the line judges are positioned as follows... When using two line judges, they stand diagonally opposite each other at the ends of the court. One line judge is positioned at the intersection of the sideline and end line to the first referee's right. The other line judge is at the intersection of the sideline and end line to the second referee's right. Each line judge controls an end line and entire side line. The line judges should move from the above positions to avoid interference with players playing the ball or to better observe a ball crossing the net clearing the antenna. During timeouts, line judges stand near the intersection of the sideline and attack line on the side of the first referee.
advanced before their first defeat. On the losers' side, teams suffering a second loss are out. Play continues until only two teams remain. One of those teams is undefeated, while the other has one loss. They face off to decide a winner. If the unbeaten teams wins the first match, the tournament is over. If the one-loss team is victorious, the teams play a second time for the championship. Divisional Play For larger volleyball tournaments, such as the world championships or the Olympics, qualifying teams begin play in two divisions. For the Olympic Games competition, 12 teams begin the tournament in two groups of six, with each team facing a divisional opponent in the preliminary round. The top four teams from each division advance to the quarterfinal round, with the fourth-place team in Division A matched up against the top team in Division B, the third-place team in Division A playing the second-place team in Division B and so on. From that point, each match is a single elimination, meaning the winning team advances while the losing team is finished. The final two teams play for the championship. The four non-playoff teams play to decide placings from ninth through 12th. Round-Robin Round-robin events are similar to divisional competitions. Teams are divided into multiple pools the square of two, with each pool competing in a round-robin format (each team plays every other pool opponent once.) The top two teams in each pool advance to the championship bracket, while the bottom finishers are knocked down to the consolation round. From that point, it's single elimination. The top two teams of the championship bracket play for the championship, while the top two teams of the lower bracket play for the consolation title. This format is popular in high-school, club and some college competitions. RULES Volleyball is a complex game of simple skills. The ball is spiked from up to 60 cm above the height of a basketball hoop (about 3.65 metres) and takes fractions of a second to travel from the spiker to the receiver. That means the receiver must assess incoming angle, decide where to pass the ball and then control their pass in the blink of an eye. A purely rebound sport (you can't hold the ball), volleyball is a game of constant motion. A team can touch the ball three times on its side of the net. The usual pattern is a dig (an underarm pass made with the forearms), a set (an overhead pass made with the hands) and a spike (the overhead attacking shot). The ball is served into play. Teams can also try to block the opponent's spike as it crosses the net. A block into your own court counts as one of your three touches in beach volleyball, but not in volleyball.
Ball Crew Some teams will have a ball crew (ball shaggers) that manage the game balls during play. The purpose of the ball crew is to help keep the game flowing smoothly. Not having to wait for players to retrieve volleyballs can help speed up the game. Also, sometimes the ball will get wet. The ball crew dries off the balls with a towel, providing a dry ball for the next play. Single Elimination The single elimination volleyball tournament is the easiest to organize and run. These tournaments pair teams up in groups of two, with the winning team advancing and the losing team eliminated from the competition. The tournament continues until just two teams remain, and then they square off for the championship. Single elimination tournaments work best when the number of teams is a power of two (four, eight, 16, 32 and so on), but can be accomplished with any number of entries. In cases in which the number of teams is not a power of two, higher-ranked teams are given first-round byes as a reward for strong pre-tournament play. Double Elimination In a double elimination format, a team is removed from the tournament only after two losses. Teams that win their first-round matches advance to the second round of the winners' bracket, while the losing teams drop into the losers' bracket. Any team suffering its first loss from that point forward are relegated to the losers' bracket, with their round placement depending on how far they have
Power and height have become vital components of international teams, but the ability of teams and coaches to devise new strategies, tactics and skills has been crucial for continued success. There are six players on court in a volleyball team, who each must rotate one position clockwise every time their team wins back service from the opposition. Only the three players at the net positions can jump and spike or block near the net. The backcourt players can only hit the ball over the net if they jump from behind the attack line, also known as the threemetre line, which separates the front and back part of the court. Volleyball has developed into a very specialised sport. Most teams will include in their starting line-up a setter, two centre blockers, two receiver-hitters and a universal spiker. Only certain players will be involved with service reception. Players will also have specialist positions for attack and defence. Substitutions are allowed during the game. Since 1998, volleyball bas been using a new scoring system. Teams scored a point on every rally (Rally Point System), regardless of which team served. Formerly, a team could only win a point if it served the ball. Winning the serve back from the opposition was known as a side-out. Matches are played best of five sets. The first four sets are played to 25 points, with the final set being played to 15 points. A team must win a set by two points. There is no ceiling, so a set continues until one of the teams gains a twopoint advantage. Previously, all sets were to 15 points, with the first four sets having a ceiling of 17 and the final set requiring at least a two-point winning advantage. In 1998, the FIVB introduced a new specialist role: the libero. This player wears a different coloured uniform from the rest of the team and can be substituted in backcourt for any player on the team. The libero cannot serve, spike the ball over the net or rotate into the front-line positions, but plays a vital role for the team in serve reception and backcourt defence. There must be at least one point played between a libero substituting off for a player and going back on the court for another player hence he/she cannot be on the court for the whole game. The libero has added an extra dimension to backcourt defence, improving the reception of teams, lengthening the rallies and giving a vital role to shorter players.
net, but to kill the rally by putting the ball down on your opponents side of the net. You can score points in the game of volleyball in one of two ways: 1. Putting the ball on the floor in-bounds on your opponent's side of the net. 2. An error (forced or unforced) by your opponent which renders them unable to return the ball over the net and in-bounds on your side in their allotted three contacts. The sport of volleyball is one of the most malleable sports around because it is played in many variations and on many different surfaces. Add to that the frequent rule changes, and it is increasingly difficult to keep track of it all. But here is a brief overview. Teams You can play volleyball in teams with anywhere between two and six players. Indoor volleyball is usually played with six players on each team. Beach volleyball is often played with two players. Four-person volleyball is often seen in grass tournaments and on the beach. Variations You can play on hardwood, grass, sand or asphalt. You can use rally or side-out scoring. You can play one game or the best of three or best of five sets. You can play to 15, 25, 30 or whatever number of points you so desire. Play Play begins with one team serving the ball to the other. Each time the ball crosses over the net, a team gets three contacts before they must send the ball back to the opponent's side. Ideally, the three contacts will be a pass, set and hit, but it can be three passes or any other combination of contacts as long as they are legal contacts. The rally (or volley) continues until the ball hits the ground or one of the rules is broken. A Few Volleyball No-No's You cannot: 1. Touch the net while making a play on the ball 2. Step on the back line while serving (foot fault) 3. Contact the ball more than three times on a side (A block doesn't count as a contact) 4. Lift or push the ball 5. Play the ball over the net outside of the antennas 6. Contact the ball twice in a row (unless the first contact was a block.) Winning the Match The first team to score the agreed upon number of points wins the game. You must win by at least two points. The teams switch sides, the next game starts with a score of 0-0 and play starts again. In a best-of-five match, the team who wins three sets wins the match.
Volleyball Rules Volleyball rules are hard to keep up with because they often change, but here is a brief overview of the sport. To put it in simple terms, volleyball is a team sport in which goal is to keep the ball alive while it is on your side of the