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William G. Morgan (18701942),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 of "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, which sport 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 (lm.98) from the ground, just ab ove 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 quite
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 ten rules.

c
 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 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 acti on, 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 in one word,
"Volleyball", but continued to use USVBA to signify United States Volleyball
Association).

Mr Morgan explained the rules and worked on them, then gave a handwritten copy to
the conference 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.

    

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 it s 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
other precursors in Mexico, the SouthAmerican,European and African countries.

À
By 1913 the development of Volleyball on the Asian continent was assured as, in that
year, the game was included on the p rogramme of the first FarEastern Games,
organized in Manila. It should be noted that, for a long time, volleyball was played in
Asia according to the "Brown" rules which, amongst other things, used sixteen
players (to enable a greater participation in matc hes). 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 o f 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 powe rful 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 maxi mum number
of authorized contacts with the ball was fixed at three.

Until the early thirties volleyball was for the most part a game of leisure and
recreation, and there were only 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.

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The surface must be flat, horizontal and uniform. It must not present any danger of
injury to the players. It is forbidden to play on rough or slippery surfaces.

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Indoor courts the surface of the playing court must be of a light colour.

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On outdoor courts a slope of 5 mm per metre is allowed for drainage. Court lines
made of solid materials are forbidden.

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All lines are 5 cm wide. They must be of a light colour which is different from the
colour of the floor and from any other lines.

Boundary lines

Two sidelines and two end lines mark the playing cour t. Both sidelines and end lines
are drawn inside the dimensions of the playing court.

Centre line

The axis of the centre line divides the playing court into two equal courts measuring
9 x 9 m each; however the entire width of the line is considered to belong to both
courts equally. This line extends beneath the net from sideline to sideline.

Attack line

On each court, an attack line, whose rear edge is drawn 3 m back from the axis of
the centre line, marks the front zone.

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Îront zone

On each court the front zone is limited by the axis of the centre line and the rear
edge of the attack line. The front zone is considered to extend beyond the sidelinesto
the end of the free zone.

Service zone

The service zone is a 9 m wide area behind each end line.It is laterally limited by two
short lines, each 15 cm long, drawn 20 cm behind the end line as an extension of the
sidelines. Both short lines are included in the width of the service zone. In depth, the
service zone extends to the end of the free zone.

Substitution zone

The substitution zone is limited by the extension of both attack lines up to the
scorer¶s table.

Warm-up area

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Ñenalty area

A penalty area, sized approximately 1 x 1 m and equipped with two chairs, is located
in the control area, outside the prolongation of each end line. They may be limited by
a 5 cm wide red line.

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The minimum temperature shall not be below 10° C (50° F).

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Placed vertically over the centre line there is a net whose top is set at the height of
2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women.

Its height is measured from the centre of the playing court. The net height (over the
two sidelines) must be exactly the same and must not exceed the official height by
more than 2 cm.

33   

The net is 1 m wide and 9.50 to 10 metres long (with 25 to 50 cm on each side of the
side bands), made of 10 cm square black mesh.

At its top a horizontal band, 7 cm wide, made of two -fold white canvas, is sewn along
its full length. Each extreme end of the band has a hole, through which passes a
cord, fastening the band to the posts for keeping its top taut.

Within the band, a flexible cable fastens the net to the posts and keeps its top taut.
At the bottom of the net there is another horizontal band, 5cm wide, similar to the top
band, through which is threaded a rope. This rope fastens the net to the posts and
keeps its lower part taut.

34  

Two white bands are fastened vertically to the net and placed directly above each
sideline.

They are 5 cm wide and 1 m long, and are considered as part of the net.

38 Ê  

An antenna is a flexible rod, 1.80 m long and 10 mm in diameter, made of fiberglass

or similar material.

An antenna is fastened at the outer edge of each side band. The antennae are
placed on opposite sides of the net.

The top 80 cm of each antenna extends above the net and is marked with 10 cm
stripes of contrasting colour, preferably red and white.

The antennae are considered as part of the net and laterally delimit the crossing
space.

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The posts supporting the net are placed at a distance of 0.50 -1.00 m outside the
sidelines. They are 2.55 m high and preferably adjustable.

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The posts are rounded and smooth, fixed to the ground without wires. There shall be
no dangerous or obstructing devices.

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All additional equipment is determined by FIVB regulations.

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4   

The ball shall be spherical, made of a flexible leather or synthetic leather case with a
bladder inside made of rubber or a similar material.

Its colour may be a uniform light colour, or a combination of colours.

Synthetic leather material and colour combinations of balls used in Inter national
Official competitions should comply with FIVB standards.

Its circumference is 65-67 cm and its weight is 260 -280 g.

Its inside pressure shall be 0.30 to 0.325 kg/cm 2 (4.26 to 4.61 psi) (294.3 to 318.82
mbar or hPa).

43  )   

All balls used in a match must have the same standards regarding circumference,
weight, pressure, type, colour, etc.

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A team may consist of a maximum of 12 players, one coach, one assistant coach,
one trainer and one medical doctor.

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One of the players, other than th e Libero, is the team captain, who shall be indicated
on the scoresheet.

Only the players recorded on the scoresheet may enter the court and play in the
match. Once the coach and the team captain have signed the scoresheet, the
recorded players cannot be changed.

83  
   )

The players not in play should either sit on their team bench or be in their warm -up
area. The coach and other team members sit on the bench, but may temporarily
leave it.

The benches for the teams are located beside the scorer¶s table, outside the free
zone.

Only the team members are permitted to sit on the bench during the match and to
participate in the warm-up session.

Players not in play may warm-up without balls as follows:

- During play: in the warm-up areas;
- During time-outs and technical time-outs: in the free zone behind their court.
- During set intervals, players may warm-up using balls in the free zone.

84   )


A player¶s equipment consists of a jersey, shorts, socks (the uniform) and sport
shoes.

The colour and the design for the jerseys, shorts and socks must be uni form for the
team (except for the Libero). The uniforms must be clean.

The shoes must be light and pliable with rubber or leather soles without heels.

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Players¶ jerseys must be numbered from 1 to 18.

The number must be placed on the jersey at the centre of the front and of the back.

The colour and brightness of the numbers must contrast with the colour and
brightness of the jerseys.

The number must be a minimum of 15 cm in height on the chest and a minimum of

20 cm in height on the back. The stripe forming the numbers shall be a minimum of 2
cm in width.

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The team captain must have on his/her jersey a stripe of 8 x 2 cm under lining the
number on the chest.

It is forbidden to wear uniforms of a colour different from that of the other players
(except for the Libero), and/or without official numbers .

88 
    )


The first referee may authorize one or more players:

- to play barefoot,
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- to change wet or damaged uniforms between sets or after substitution, provided

that the colour, design and number of the new uniform(s) are the same,

- to play in training suits in cold weather, provided that they are of the same colour
and design for the whole team (except for the Libero) and num bered according to
Rule 4.3.3.

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It is forbidden to wear objects which may cause injury, or give an artificial advantage
to the player.

Players may wear glasses or lenses at their own ri sk.

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Both the team captain and the coach are responsible for the conduct and discipline of
their team members.

The Libero cannot be the team captain.

c

  

PRIOR TO THE MATCH, the team captain signs the scoresheet and repre sents
his/her team in the toss.

DURING THE MATCH and while on the court, the team captain is the game
captain. When the team captain is not on the court, the coach or the team captain
must assign another player on the court, but not the Libero, to ass ume the role of
game captain. This game captain maintains his/her re sponsibilities until he/she is
substituted, or the team captain returns to play, or the set ends.

When the ball is out of play, only the game captain is authorized to speak to the
referees:

- To ask for an explanation on the application or interpretation of the Rules, and also
to submit the requests or questions of his/her team -mates. If the game captain does
not agree with the explanation of the first referee, he/she may choos e to protest
against such decision and immediately indi cates to the first referee that he/she
reserves the right to record an of ficial protest on the scoresheet at the end of the
match;

- To ask authorization:
a) to change all or part of the equipment,
b) to verify the positions of the teams,
c) to check the floor, the net, the ball, etc.;

- To request time-outs and substitutions.

AT THE END OF THE MATCH, the team captain:

- thanks the referees and signs the scoresheet to ratify the outcome;

- when it has been notified in due time to the first referee, may confirm and record on
the scoresheet an official protest regarding the referee¶s appli cation or interpretation
of the Rules.

3  

Throughout the match, the coach conducts the play of his/her team from outside the
playing court. He/she selects the starting line -ups, their substitutes, and takes time-
outs. In these functions his/her contacting official is the second referee.

PRIOR TO THE MATCH, the coach records or checks the names and numbers of
his/her players on the scoresheet, and then signs it.

DURING THE MATCH, the coach:

- prior to each set, gives the second referee or the scorer the line -up sheet(s) duly
filled in and signed;

cc
- sits on the team bench nearest to the scorer, but may leave it;

- requests time-outs and substitutions;

- may, as well as other team members, give instructions to the players on the court.

The coach may give these instructions while standing or walking within the free zone
in front of his/her team¶s bench from the extension of the attack line up to the warm -
up area, without disturbing or delaying the match.

4 Ê
  

The assistant coach sits on the team bench, but has no right to intervene in the
match.

Should the coach have to leave his/her team, the assistant coach may, at the request
of the game captain and with the authorization of the first referee, assume the
coach¶s functions.

d) Playing Format

6. TO SCORE A POINT, TO WIN A SET AND THE MATCH

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Ñoint
A team scores a point:

- by successfully grounding the ball on the opponent¶s court;

- when the opponent team commits a fault;

- when the opponent team receives a penalty.

Îault

A team commits a fault by making a playing action contrary to the rules (or by
violating them in some other way). The referees judge the faults and determine the
consequences according to the Rules:

- If two or more faults are committed successively, only the first one is counted.

- If two or more faults are committed by opponents simultaneously, a DOUBLE

FAULT is called and the rally is replayed.

Consequences of winning a rally

A rally is the sequence of playing actions from the moment of the service hit by the
server until the ball is out of play.

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- if the serving team wins a rally, it scores a point and continues to serve;

- if the receiving team wins a rally, it scores a point and it must serve next.

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A set (except the deciding, 5th set) is won by the team which first scores 25 points
with a minimum lead of two points. In the case of a 24 -24 tie, play is continued until a
two-point lead is achieved (26 -24; 27-25; «).

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The match is won by the team that wins three sets.

In the case of a 2-2 tie, the deciding set (the 5th) is played to 15 points with a
minimum lead of 2 points.

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If a team refuses to play after being summoned to do so, it is declared in default and
forfeits the match with the result 0-3 for the match and 0-25 for each set.

A team that, without justifiable reason, does not appear on the playing court on time
is declared in default with t he same result.

A team that is declared INCOMPLETE for the set or for the match, loses the set or
the match. The opponent team is given the points, or the points and the sets, needed
to win the set or the match. The incomplete team keeps its points and sets.

7    Î  Ê

7  

Before the match, the first referee carries out a toss to decide upon the first service
and the sides of the court in the first set.

If a deciding set is to be played, a new toss will be carried out.

- The toss is taken in the presence of the two team captains.

- The winner of the toss chooses:

EITHER

- the right to serve or to receive the service,

c·
OR

- the side of the court.

The loser takes the remaining choice.

In the case of consecutive warm-ups, the team that has the first service takes the first
turn at the net.

73 )  

Prior to the match, if the teams have previously had a playing court at their disposal,
they are entitled to a 6-minute warm-up period together at the net; if not, they may
have 10 minutes

If either captain requests separate (consecutive) warm-ups at the net, the teams may
do so for 3 minutes each or 5 minute s each, according to the last rule.

74  )  
 
 

There must always be six players per team in play.

The team¶s starting line-up indicates the rotational order of the players on the court.

This order must be maintained throughout the set.

Before the start of each set, the coach has to present the starting line -up of his/her
team on a line-up sheet. The sheet is submitted, duly filled in and signed, to the
second referee or the scorer.

The players who are not in the starting line -up of a set are the substitutes for that set
(except for the Libero).

Once the line-up sheet has been delivered to the second referee or scorer, no
change in line-up may be authorized withou t a regular substitution.

Discrepancies between players¶ position on court and on the line -up sheet are dealt
with as follows:

- when such a discrepancy is discovered before the start of the set, players¶ positions
must be rectified according to that o n the line-up sheet - there will be no sanction;

- when, before the start of the set, a player on court is found not to be registered on
the line-up sheet of that set, this player must be changed to conform to the line -up
sheet - there will be no sanction;

- however, if the coach wishes to keep such non -recorded player(s) on the court,
he/she has to request regular substitution(s), which will then be re corded on the
scoresheet.

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78 


At the moment the ball is hit by the server, each team must be positioned within its
own court in the rotational order (except the server).

The positions of the players are numbered as follows:

- the three players along the net are front -row players and occupy positions 4 (front -
left), 3 (front-centre) and 2 (front-right);

- the other three are back-row players occupying positions 5 (back-left), 6 (back-
centre) and 1 (back-right).

Relative positions between players:

- each back-row player must be positioned further back from the cen tre line than the
corresponding front-row player;

- the front-row players and the back-row players, respectively, must be positioned
laterally in the order indicated in Rule 7.4.1.

The positions of players are determined and controlled according to the positions of
their feet contacting the ground as follows:

- each front-row player must have at least a part of his/her foot closer to the centre
line than the feet of the corresponding back -row player;

- each right (left) side player must have at least a part of his/her foot closer to the
right (left) sideline than the feet of the centre player in that row.

After the service hit, the players may move around and occupy any posi tion on their
court, and the free zone.

7 
 Î 

The team commits a positional fault, if any player is not in his/her correct position at
the moment the ball is hit by the server.

If the server commits a serving fault at the moment of the service hit, the server¶s
fault is counted before a positional fault.

If the service becomes faulty after the service hit, it is the positional fault that will be
counted.

A positional fault leads to the following consequences:

- the team is sanctioned with loss of rally;

- players¶ positions are rectified.

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Rotational order is determined by the team¶s starting line -up, and controlled with the
service order, and players¶ positions, throughout the set.

When the receiving team has gained the right to serve, its players rotate one position
clock-wise: the player in position 2 rotates to position 1 to serve, the player in position
1 rotates to position 6, etc.

77  
 Î 

A rotational fault is committed when the SERVICE is not made according to the
rotational order. It leads to the followi ng consequences:

- the team is sanctioned with a loss of rally;

- the players¶ rotational order is rectified.

Additionally, the scorer should determine the exact moment when the fault was
committed and all points scored subsequently by the team at fault must be cancelled.
The opponent¶s points remain valid.

If that moment cannot be determined, no point(s) cancellation takes place, and loss
of rally is the only sanction.


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The ball is in play from the moment of the hit of the service authorized by the first
referee.

3     
The ball is out of play at the moment of the fault which is whistled by one of the
referees; in the absence of a fault, at the moment of the whistle.

4  A

The ball is ³in´ when it touches the floor of the playing court including the boundary
lines.

8  A

The ball is ³out´ when:

- the part of the ball which contacts the floor is completely outside the boundary lines;

- it touches an object outside the court, the ceiling or a person out of play;

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- it touches the antennae, ropes, p osts or the net itself outside the side bands;

- it crosses the vertical plane of the net either partially or totally outside the crossing
space, except in the certain case.

- it crosses completely the lower space under the net.

B  Ê
  Ê

Each team must play within its own playing area and space (except Rule 10.1.2). The
ball may, however, be retrieved from beyond the free zone.

B  ) 

A hit is any contact with the ball by a player in play.

The team is entitled to a maximum of three hits (in addition to blocking, Rule 14.4.1),
for returning the ball. If more are used, the team commits the fault of: ´FOUR HITS´.

B 
  
 

A player may not hit the ball two times consecutively

(except Rules 9.2.3, 14.2 and 14.4.2).

B3 )
 
 

Two or three players may touch the ball at the same moment.

When two (three) team-mates touch the ball simultaneously, it is counted as two
(three) hits (with the exception of blocking). If they reach for the ball, but only one of
them touches it, one hit is counted. A collision of play ers does not constitute a fault.

When two opponents touch the ball simultaneously over the net and the ball remains
in play, the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball goes
³out´, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side.

If simultaneous hits by two opponents over the net lead to a ³CATCH´, it is a

³DOUBLE FAULT´ and the rally is replayed.

B4 Ê 

Within the playing area, a player is not permitted to take support from a team -mate or
any structure/object in order to reach the ball.

However, a player who is about to commit a fault (touch the net or cross the centre
line, etc.) may be stopped or held back by a team-mate.

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B3      

The ball may touch any part of the body.

The ball must not be caught and/or thrown. It can rebound in any direc tion.

The ball may touch various parts of the body, provided that the contacts take place
simultaneously.

Exceptions:
- at blocking, consecutive contacts may be made by one or more blocker(s) provided
that the contacts occur during one action;

- at the first hit of the team, the ball may contact various parts of the body
consecutively provided that the contacts occur during one action.

B4 Î  
 
  

Î
 HITS: a team hits the ball four times before returning it.

ASSISTED HIT: a player takes support from a team-mate or any structure/object in

order to reach the ball within the playing area.

CATCH: the ball is caught and/or thrown; it does not rebound from the hit

D
BLE C TACT: a player hits the ball twice in succession or the ball contacts
various parts of his/her body in succession.

6 Ê Ê  

6  
  

The ball sent to the opponent¶s court must go over the net within the crossing space.

The crossing space is the part of the vertical plane of the net limited as follows:

- below, by the top of the net;

- at the sides, by the antennae, and their imaginary extension;

- above, by the ceiling.

The ball that has crossed the net plane to the opponent¶s free zone totally or partly
through the external space, may be played back within the team hits, provided th at:

- the opponent¶s court is not touched by the player;

- the ball, when played back, crosses the net plane again totally or partly through the
external space on the same side of the court.

cM
The opponent team may not prevent such action.

63  
  

While crossing the net, the ball may touch it.

64  
 

A ball driven into the net may be recovered within the limits of the three team hits.

If the ball rips the mesh of the net or tears it down, the rally is cancelled and replayed.

  Ê
 Ê  

  
 
  

In blocking, a blocker may touch the ball beyond the net, provided that he/she does
not interfere with the opponents¶ play before or during the latter¶s attack hit.

After an attack hit, a player is permitted to pass his/her hand beyond the net,
provided that the contact has been made within his/her own playing space.

3 
 

  

It is permitted to penetrate into the opponents¶ space under the net, pro vided that this
does not interfere with the opponents¶ play.

Penetration into the opponent¶s court, beyond the centre line:

- To touch the opponent¶s court with a foot (feet) or hand(s) is permitted, provided
that some part of the penetrating foot (feet) or hand(s) remains either in contact
with or directly above the centre line.
- To contact the opponent¶s court with any other part of the body is forbid den.

A player may enter the opponent¶s court after t he ball goes out of play.

Players may penetrate into the opponent¶s free zone provided that they do not
interfere with the opponents¶ play.

4 
    

Contact with the net by a player is not a fault, unless it is made during the action o f
playing the ball, or it interferes with the play.

Some actions of playing the ball may include actions in which the players do not
actually touch the ball.

Once the player has hit the ball, he/she may touch the post, rope or any other object
outside the total length of the net provided that it does not interfere with play.

c’
When the ball is driven into the net and causes it to touch an opponent, no fault is
committed.

8  ? Î  Ê  

A player touches the ball or an opponent in the oppo nents¶ space before or during
the opponents¶ attack hit.

A player penetrates into the opponents¶ space under the net, interfering with the
latter¶s play.

A player penetrates into the opponents¶ court.

A player touches the net or the antenna during his/h er action of playing the ball or
interferes with the play.

3  + 

The service is the act of putting the ball into play, by the back right player, placed in
the service zone.

3 Î   
Ê 

The first service of the first set, as well as that of the deciding set (the 5th) is
executed by the team determined by the toss.

The other sets will be started with the service of the team that did not serve first in the
previous set.

33   

The players must follow the service order recorded on the line -up sheet.

After the first service in a set, the player to serve is determined as fol lows:

- when the serving team wins the rally, the player (or his/her substitute) who served
before, serves again;

- when the receiving team wins the rally, it gains the right to serve and ro tates before
actually serving. The player who moves from the front right position to the back -right
position will serve.

34 Ê 
   

The first referee authorizes the service, after having checked that the two teams are
ready to play and that the server is in possession of the ball.

À

38  
   

The ball shall be hit with one hand or any part of the arm after being tossed or
released from the hand(s).

Only one toss or release of the ball is allowed. Dribbling or moving the ball in the
hands is permitted.

At the moment of the service hit or take-off for a jump service, the server must not
touch the court (the end line included) or the floor outsid e the service zone.

After the hit, he/she may step or land outside the service zone, or inside the court.

The server must hit the ball within 8 seconds after the first referee whis tles for
service.

A service executed before the referee¶s whistle is cancelled and repeated.

3 



The players of the serving team must not prevent their opponent, through individual
or collective screening, from seeing the server or the flight path of the ball.

A player, or group of players, of the serving team makes a screen by waving arms,
jumping or moving sideways, during the execution of the service, or by standing
grouped to hide the flight path of the ball.

3< Î  =  
   

Serving faults

The following faults lead to a change of service even if the opponent is out of
position. The server:

- violates the service order,

- does not execute the service properly.

Îaults after the service hit

After the ball has been correctly hit, the service becomes a fault (unless a player is
out of position) if the ball:

- touches a player of the serving team or fails to cross the vertical plane of the net
completely through the crossing space;

- goes ³out´;

- passes over a screen.

Àc
37 Î  =  Ê     Ê
 
 Î 

If the server makes a fault at the moment of the service hit (improper execution,
wrong rotational order, etc.) and the opponent is out of position, it is the serving fault
which is sanctioned.

Instead, if the execution of the service has been correct, but the service subsequently
becomes faulty (goes out, goes over a screen, etc.), the positional fault has taken
place first and is sanctioned.

4 ÊÊ C 

4 Ê 5 

All actions which direct the ball towards the opponents, with the exception of service
and block, are considered as attack hits.

During an attack hit, tipping is permitted only if the ball is cleanly hit, and not caught
or thrown.

An attack hit is completed at the moment the ball completely crosses the vertical
plane of the net or is touched by an opponent.

43 
   Ê 5 

A front-row player may complete an attack hit at any height, provided that the contact
with the ball has been made within the player¶s own pl aying space .

A back-row player may complete an attack hit at any height from behind the front
zone:

- at his/her take-off, the player¶s foot (feet) must neither have touched nor crossed
over the attack line;

- after his/her hit, the player may land within the front zone.

A back-row player may also complete an attack hit from the front zone, if at the
moment of the contact the ball is not entirely higher than the top of the net.

No player is permitted to complete an attack hit on the opponents¶ service, when the
ball is in the front zone and entirely higher than the top of the net.

44 Î    Ê 5 

A player hits the ball within the playing space of the opposing team.

A player hits the ball ³out´.

A back-row player completes an attack hit from the front zone, if at the moment of the
hit the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net.

ÀÀ
A player completes an attack hit on the opponent¶s service, when the ball is in the
front zone and entirely higher than the top of the net.

A Libero completes an attack hit if at the moment of the hit the ball is entirely higher
than the top of the net.

A player completes an attack hit from higher than the top of the net when the ball is
coming from an overhand finger pass by a Libero in his/her front zone.

8  C

8 5


Blocking is the action of players close to the net to intercept the ball com ing from the
opponents by reaching higher than the top of the net. Only front -row players are
permitted to complete a block.

Block Attempt

A block attempt is the action of blocking without touching the ball.

Completed Block

A block is completed whenever the ball is touched by a blocker.

Collective Block

A collective block is executed by two or three players close to each other and is
completed when one of them touches the ball.

83 5 
 

Consecutive (quick and continuous) contacts with the ball may occur by one or more
blockers provided that the contacts are made during one ac tion.

84 5
 
 

? Î 

In blocking, the player may place his/her hands and arms beyond the net provided
that this action does not interfere with the opponents¶ play. Thus, it is not permitted to
touch the ball beyond the net until an opponent has executed an attack hit.

88 5 Ê
  ) 

A block contact is not counted as a team hit. Consequently, after a block contact, a
team is entitled to three hits to return the ball.

The first hit after the block may be executed by any player, including the one who has
touched the ball during the block.

À·
8 5
   

To block an opponent¶s service is forbidden.

8< 5
 Î 

The blocker touches the ball in the opponents¶ space either before or si multaneously
with the opponents¶ attack hit.

A back-row player or a Libero completes a block or participates in a com pleted block.

Blocking the opponents¶ service.

The ball is sent ³out´ off the block.

Blocking the ball in the opponents¶ space from outside the antenna.

A Libero attempts an individual or collective block.

    Ê  Ê


  Ê Ê=    

Regular game interruptions are TIME -OUTS and PLAYER SUBSTITUTIONS.

 )     



Each team is entitled to request a maximum of two time -outs and six player
substitutions per set.

3   Î   



Interruptions may be requested by the coach or the game captain, and only by them.

The request is made by showing the corresponding hand signal, when the ball is out
of play and before the whistle for service.

Î Î+ 
    )
         




 
 
    ) 

Substitution before the start of a set is permitted, and should be recorded as a

regular substitution in that set.

4  
  

 D   Î    

Request for one or two time-outs, and one request for player substitu tion by either
team may follow one another, with no need to resume the game.

À©
However, a team is not authorized to make consecutive requests for player
substitution during the same game interruption. Two or more players may be
substituted during the same interruption.

8 ) Ê
 
  ) 

All time-outs that are requested last for 30 seconds.

Î Î+ 
    )
/ 
  8/   
 <6

A
  )   )   
   
  )
   
 < 



 
 ;
/  
 A
  )   
   )

  46 
  
)         )

During all time-outs, the players in play must go to the free zone near their bench.

 
  

A substitution is the act by which a player, other than the Libero or his/her
replacement player, after being recorded by the scorer, enters the game to occupy
the position of another player, who must leave the court at that mome nt. Substitution
requires the referee¶s authorization.

< ) 
 


Six substitutions is the maximum permitted per team per set. One or more players
may be substituted at the same time.

A player of the starting line -up, may leave the game, but only once in a set, and re -
enter, but only once in a set, and only to his/her previous position in the line -up.

A substitute player may enter the game in place of a player of the starting line -up, but
only once per set, and he/she can only be s ubstituted by the same starting player.

7  
 

An injured player (except the Libero), who cannot continue playing should be
substituted legally. If this is not possible, the team is entitled to make an
EXCEPTIONAL substitution, beyond the limits of Rule 15.6.

An exceptional substitution means that any player who is not on the court at the time
of the injury, except the Libero or his/her replacement player, may substitute into the
game for the injured player. The substituted in jured player is not allowed to re -enter
the match.

An exceptional substitution cannot be counted in any case as a regular substitution.

À£
  
Î  
     

An EXPELLED or DISQUALIFIED player must be substituted through a legal

substitution. If this is not possible, the team is declared INCOMPLETE.

B   

A substitution is illegal, if it exceeds the limitations indicated in Rule 15.6 (except the
case of Rule 15.7).

When a team has made an illegal substitution and the play has been re sumed the
following procedure shall apply:

- the team is penalized with loss of rally,

- the substitution is rectified,

- the points scored by the team at fault since the fault was committed are cancelled.

The opponents¶ points remain valid.

6 


Substitution must be carried out within the substitution zone.

A substitution shall only last the time needed for recording the substitu tion on the
scoresheet, and allowing entry and exit of th e players.

At the moment of the substitution request, the substitute player(s) must be ready to
enter the court, standing close to the substitution zone.

If that is not the case, the substitution is not granted and the team is sanc tioned for a
delay.

Î Î+ 
    )
/
)     

   


If a team intends to make simultaneously more than one substitution, the number of
substitutions must be indicated at the time of the request. In this ca se, substitutions
must be made in succession, one pair of players after another.

 )  

It is improper to request an interruption:

- during a rally or at the moment of, or after the whistle to serve,

- by a non-authorized team member,

Àr
- for player substitution before the game has been resumed from a previous
substitution by the same team,

- after having exhausted the authorized number of time -outs and player substitutions.

The first improper request in the match that does not affect or delay the game shall
be rejected without any other consequences.

Repeated improper request in the match constitutes a delay.

< Ê=  Ê


<    

An improper action of a team that defers resumption of the game is a delay and
includes, among others:

- delaying a substitution,

- prolonging other interruptions, after having been instructed to resume the game

- requesting an illegal substitution,

- repeating an improper request,

- delaying the game by a team member.

<3    


³Delay warning´ and ³delay penalty´ are team sanctions.

- Delay sanctions remain in force for the entire match

- All delay sanctions are recorded on the scoresheet.

The first delay in the match by a team member is sanctioned with a ³DELAY
WARNING´.

The second and subsequent delays of any type by any member of the same team in
the same match constitute a fault and are sanctioned with a ³DELAY PENALTY´: loss
of rally.

Delay sanctions imposed before or between sets are applied in t he following set.

Àd
7 E  Ê Ê=    

7 
@

Should a serious accident occur while the ball is in play, the referee must stop the
game immediately and permit medical assistance to enter the court.

The rally is then replayed.

If an injured player cannot be substituted, legally or exceptionally, the player is given

a 3-minute recovery time, but not more than once for the same player in the match.
If the player does not recover, his/her team is declared incomplete.

73  
 
 


If there is any external interference during the game, play has to be stopped and the
rally is replayed.

74 
 



If unforeseen circumstances interrupt the match, the first referee, the organizer and
the Control Committee, if there is one, shall decide the mea sures to be taken to re-
establish normal conditions.

Should one or several interruptions occur, not exceeding 4 hours in total:

- if the match is resumed on the same playing court, the interrupted set shall
continue normally with the same score, players and positions. The sets already
played will keep their scores;

- if the match is resumed on another playing court, the interrupted set is cancelled
and replayed with the same team member s and the same starting line-ups. The sets
already played will keep their scores.

Should one or several interruptions occur, exceeding 4 hours in total, the whole
match shall be replayed.

    +Ê  Ê Ê  Î  

  
 

All intervals between sets last three minutes.

During this period of time, the change of courts and line -up registrations of the teams
on the scoresheet are made.

The interval between the second and the third sets can be extended up to 10 minutes
by the competent body at the request of the organizer.

ÀM
 3 
  

After each set, the teams change courts, with the exception
of the deciding set.

In the deciding set, once the leading team reaches 8 points, the teams change courts
without delay and the player positions remain the same.

If the change is not made once the leading team reaches 8 points, it will take place
as soon as the error is noti ced. The score at the time that the change is made
remains the same.


     Ê


B      Ê


B 

 

Each team has the right to designate among the list of 12 players one (1) specialised
defensive player ³Libero´.

The Libero must be recorded on the scoresheet before the match in the special line
reserved for this.

The Libero can be neither team captain nor game captain.

B3  )


The Libero player must wear a uniform (or jacket/bib for the re -designated Libero)
whose jersey at least must contrast in colour with that of the other members of the
team. The Libero uniform may have a different design, but it must be numbered like
the rest of the team members.

B4 Ê
 

  

‘
The playing actions

- The Libero is allowed to replace any player in a back row position.

- He/she is restricted to perform as a back row player and is not allowed to complete
an attack hit from anywhere (including playing court and free zone) if at the moment
of the contact, the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net.

- He/she may not serve, block or attempt to block.

- A player may not complete an attack hit from higher than the top of the net, if the
ball is coming from an overhand finger pass by a Libero in his/her front zone or its
extension. The ball may be freely attacked if the Libero makes the same action from
outside his/her front zone or its extension.

À’
eplacements of players

- Replacements involving the Libero are not counted as regular substitutions.

They are unlimited, but there must be a rally between two Libero replacements.

The Libero can only be replaced by the player whom he/she replaced.

- Replacements must only take place while the ball is out of play and before the
whistle for service.

At the start of each set, the Libero cannot enter the court until the second referee
has checked the starting line -up.

- A replacement made after the whistle for service but before the service hit should
not be rejected but must be the object of a verbal caution after the end of the rally.

Subsequent late replacements must be subject to a delay sanction.

The Libero and the replacing player m ay only enter or leave the court by the sideline
in front of their team bench between the attack line and the end line.

e-designation of a new Libero:

- In case of injury of the designated Libero, and with the previous approval of the first
referee, the coach or game captain can re -designate as new Libero one of the
players not on the court at the moment of the re -designation.

The injured Libero may not re -enter to play for the remainder of the match.

The player thus re-designated as Libero must remain as Libero for the remainder of
the match.

In the case of a re-designated Libero, this player¶s number must be recorded on the
scoresheet remarks box.


Ê  Ê ?  

36 D  =  Î  

36 )
5 


Participants must know the ³Official Volleyball Rules´ and abide by them.

Participants must accept referees¶ decisions with sportsmanlike conduct, without

disputing them.

In case of doubt, clarification may be requested only through the game captain.

·

Participants must refrain from actions or attitudes aimed at influencing the decisions
of the referees or covering up faults committed by their team.

363 Î   

Participants must behave respectfully and courteously in the spirit of FAIR PLAY, not
only towards the referees, but also towards other officials, the opponents, team -
mates and spectators.

Communication between team members during the match is permitted.

3 =  Ê  Ê  

3 =
 =


Minor misconduct offences are not subject to sanctions. It is the first ref eree¶s duty to
prevent the teams from approaching the sanctioning level by issuing a verbal or hand
signal warning to a team member or to the team through the game captain.

This warning is not a sanction and has no immediate consequences. It should not be
recorded on the scoresheet.

33 =
  
  



Incorrect conduct by a team member towards officials, opponents, team-mates or

spectators is classified in three categories according to the seriousness of the
offence.

Rude conduct: action contrary to good manners or moral principles, or expressing

contempt.

Offensive conduct: defamatory or insulting words or gestures.

Aggression: physical attack or intended aggression.

34 

 

According to the judgment of the first referee and depending on the seriousness of
the offence, the sanctions to be applied and recorded on the scoresheet are:

Ñenalty

The first rude conduct in the match by any team member is penalized with the loss of
rally.

Expulsion

A team member who is sanctioned by expulsion shall not play for the rest of the set
and must remain seated in the penalty area with no other conse quences.

·c
An expelled coach loses his/her right to intervene in the set and m ust remain seated
in the penalty area.

The first offensive conduct by a team member is sanctioned by expulsion with no

other consequences.

The second rude conduct in the same match, by the same team member is
sanctioned by expulsion with no other conseq uences.

Disqualification

A team member who is sanctioned by disqualification must leave the Compe tition
Control Area for the rest of the match with no other consequences.

The first aggression is sanctioned by disqualification with no other conse quences.

The second offensive conduct in the same match by the same team mem ber is
sanctioned by disqualification with no other consequences.

The third rude conduct in the same match by the same team member is sanctioned
by disqualification with no other consequences.

38 Ê 
 =
 



All misconduct sanctions are individual sanctions, remain in force for the entire match
and are recorded on the scoresheet.

The repetition of misconduct by the same team member in the same match is
sanctioned progressively (the team member receives a heavier sanction for each
successive offence).

Expulsion or disqualification due to offensive conduct or aggression does not require

a previous sanction.

3 =
   Ê
  


Any misconduct occurring before or between sets is sanctioned according to Rule

21.3 and sanctions apply in the following set.

3< 



Warning : verbal or hand signal, no card

Ñenalty : yellow card

Expulsion: red card

Disqualification: yellow + red card (jointly)

·À

 Î 

33 Î    Ê    

33 )

The refereeing corps for a match is composed of the following officials:

- the first referee

- the second referee

- the scorer

- four (two) line judges

Their location is shown in Diagram 10.

Î Î+ 
    )
/

   )

333 

Only the first and second referees may blow a whistle during the match:

- the first referee gives the signal for the service that begins the rally;

- the first and second referees signal the end of the rally, provided that they are sure
that a fault has been committed and they have identified its nature.

They may blow the whistle when the ball is out of play to indicate that they authorize
or reject a team request.

Immediately after the referee¶s whistle to signal the end of rally, they have to indicate
with the official hand signals:

If the fault is whistled by the first referee, he/she will indicate:

a) the team to serve,
b) the nature of the fault,
c) the player(s) at fault (if necessary).

The second referee will follow the first referee¶s hand signals by repeating them.

If the fault is whistled by the second refe ree, he/she will indicate:
a) the nature of the fault
b) the player at fault (if necessary)
c) the team to serve following the hand signal of the first referee.

··
In this case, the first referee does not show at all the fault and the player at fault, but
only the team to serve.

In the case of a double fault, both referees indicate:

a) the nature of the fault
b) the players at fault (if necessary)
c) the team to serve as directed by the first referee.

34 Î  Î 

34  

The first referee carries out his/her functions seated or standing on a referee¶s stand
located at one end of the net. His/her view must be ap proximately 50 cm above the
net.

343 Ê

The first referee directs the match from the start until the end. He/she has authority
over all members of the refereeing corps and the members of the teams.

During the match the first referee¶s decisions are final. He/she is autho rized to
overrule the decisions of other members of the refereeing corps, if it is noticed tha t
they are mistaken.

The first referee may even replace a member of the refereeing corps who is not
performing his/her functions properly.

The first referee also controls the work of the ball retrievers, floor wipers and
moppers.

The first referee has the power to decide any matter involving the game including
those not provided for in the Rules.

The first referee shall not permit any discussion about his/her decisions.

However, at the request of the game captain, the first referee will give an expla nation
on the application or interpretation of the Rules upon which he/she has based the
decision.

If the game captain does not agree with the explanation of the first referee and
chooses to protest against such decision, he/she must immediately reserve the right
to file and record this protest at the conclusion of the match. The first referee must
authorize this right of the game captain.

The first referee is responsible for determining before and during the match whether
the playing area equipment and the conditions meet playing requirements.

·©
344 


Prior to the match, the first referee:

- inspects the conditions of the playing area, the balls and other equipment,

- performs the toss with the team captains,

- controls the teams¶ warming-up.

During the match, only the first referee is authorized:

- to issue warnings to the teams,

- to sanction misconduct and delays,

To decide upon:
a) the faults of the server and of the positions of the serving team, including the
screen,
b) the faults in playing the ball,
c) the faults above the net and at its upper part,
d) the attack hit faults of the Libero and the back -row players,
e) a completed attack hit made by a player on a ball coming from an over hand pass
with fingers by the Libero in his/her front zone, or its extension,
f) the ball crossing the lower space under the net.

At the end of the match, he/she checks the scoresheet and signs it.

38   Î 

38  

The second referee performs his/her functions standing outside the play ing court
near the post, on the opposite side facing the first referee.

383 Ê

The second referee is the assistant of the first referee, but has also his/her own
range of jurisdiction.

Should the first referee become unable to continue his/her work, the sec ond referee
may replace the first referee.
The second referee may, without whistling, also signal faults outside his/her range of
jurisdiction, but may not insist on them to the first referee.

The second referee controls the work of the scorer(s).

The second referee supervises the team members on the team bench and reports
their misconduct to the first referee.

·£
The second referee controls the players in the warm -up areas.

The second referee authorizes the interruptions, controls their duration and rejects
improper requests.

The second referee controls the number of time -outs and substitutions used by each
team and reports the 2nd time-out and 5th and 6th substitutions to the first referee
and the coach concerned.

In the case of an injury of a player, the second referee authorizes an ex ceptional

substitution or grants a 3 minute recovery time.

The second referee checks the floor condition, mainly in the front zone. He/she al so
checks, during the match, that the balls still fulfil the regula tions.

The second referee supervises the team members in the penalty areas and reports
their misconduct to the first referee.

384 


At the start of each set, at the change of courts in the deciding set and whenever
necessary, he/she checks that the actual positions of the play ers on the court
correspond to those on the line -up sheets.

During the match, the second referee decides, whistles and signals:

- penetration into the opponent¶s court, and the space under the net,

- positional faults of the receiving team,

- the faulty contact of the player with the net at its lower part or with the antenna on
his/her side of the court,

- any completed block by a back-row player or an attempt to block by the Libero

- the contact of the ball with an outside object;

- the contact of the ball with the floor when the first referee is not in position to see
the contact.

- the ball that crosses the net totall y or partly outside of the crossing space to the
opponent court or contacts the antenna on his/her side of the court
At the end of the match, he/ she signs the scoresheet.

3   

3  

The scorer performs his/her functions seated at the scorer¶s table on the opposite
side of the court facing the first referee.

·r
33 


He/she keeps the scoresheet according to the Rules, co-operating with the second
referee.

He/she uses a buzzer or other sound device to give signals to the referees on the
basis of his/her responsibilities.

Prior to the match and set, the scorer:

- registers the data of the match and teams, including the name and number of the
Libero player, according to the procedures in force, and obtains the si gnatures of
the captains and the coaches ;

- records the starting line-up of each team from the line -up sheet;

If he/she fails to receive the line -up sheets on time, he/she immediately notifies this
fact to the second referee.

During the match, the scorer:

- records the points scored

- controls the serving order of each team and indicates any error to the referees
immediately after the service hit;

-records the time-outs and player substitutions, controlling their number, and informs
the second referee;

- notifies the referees of a request for interruption that is out of order;

- announces to the referees the ends of the sets, and the scoring of the 8th point in
the deciding set;

- records any sanctions;

- records all other events as instructed by the second referee, i.e. excep tional
substitutions, recovery time, prolonged interruptions, external in terference, etc.

At the end of the match, the scorer:

- records the final result;

- in the case of protest, with the previous authorization of the first referee, writes or
permits the team/game captain to write on the scoresheet a statement on the
incident protested.

- after signing the scoresheet him/herself, obtains the signatures of the team captains
and then the referees.

·d
3< ÊÊ    

3<  

The assistant scorer performs his/her functions seated beside the scorer at the
scorer¶s table

3<3 


He/she records the replacements involving the Libero.

He/she assists with the administrative duties of the scorer¶s work.

Should the scorer become unable to continue his/her work, the assistant scorer
substitutes for the scorer.

Prior to the match and set, the assistant scorer:

- prepares the Libero control sheet,

- prepares the reserve scoresheet.

During the match, the assistant scorer:

- records the details of the Libero replacements,

- notifies the referees of any fault of the Libero replacement,

- starts and ends the timing of Technical Time -out,

- operates the manual scoreboard on the scorer¶s table,

- checks that the scoreboards agree

- if necessary, updates the reserve scoresheet and gives it to the scorer.

At the end of the match, the assistant scorer:

- signs the Libero control sheet and submits it for checking;

- signs the scoresheet.

·M
37   > 

37  

If only two line judges are used, they stand at the corners of the court clos est to the
right hand of each referee, diagonally at 1 to 2 m from the cor ner.

Each one of them controls both the end line and sideline on his/her side.

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/   ) 

   
 @

 
 
 

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) 
  

  
    


373 


The line judges perform their functions by using flags (40 x 40 cm), as shown in
Diagram 12, to signal:

- the ball ³in´ and ³out´ whenever the ball lands near their line(s),

- the touches of ³out´ balls by the team receiving the ball,

- the ball touching the antenna, the served ball crossing the net outside the crossing
space, etc.,

- any player (except the server) stepping outside of his/her court at the moment of the
service hit,

- the foot faults of the server,

- any contact with the antenna on their side of the court by any player during his/her
action of playing the ball or interfering with the play,

- ball crossing the net outside the crossing space into opponent¶s court or touching
the antenna on his/her side of the court.

At the first referee¶s request, a line judge must repeat his/her signal.

3  ÎÎ Ê  Ê 

3   ? 
 


The referees must indicate with the official hand signal the reason for their whistle
(nature of the fault whistled or the purpose of the interrup tion authorized). The signal
has to be maintained for a moment and, if it is indicated with one hand, the h and
corresponds to the side of the team which has made the fault or the request.

·’
3 3 
 >? Î  


The line judges must indicate with the official flag signal the nature of the fault called,
and maintain the signal for a moment.

3   Ê Ê

  

  )



The Volleyball court dimensions for indoor and outdoor volleyball courts are different.

In competitive volleyball, the court measurements, net requirements and ball

particulars are strictly followed and must be the same for all games and teams.

The game of Indoor Volleyball is played on a rectangular court that is divided in half
by a high net.

The court measurements for regulation pl ay are 18 meters (59 feet) long by 9 meters
(29 feet 6 inches) wide.

3  
 Ê
 9


The Centerline divides the volleyball court into two equal halves that measure a
perfect square, 9 meters by 9 meters. The volleyball net is hung at the Centerline.

The Attack Line, or Center Line, is 3 meters (9 feet 10 inches) from the net on each
side of the court. The Attack Line runs parallel to the net and divides the playing area
into the back row (or back court) and front row (or front court).

The rows are further divided into zones, with three zones and positions per row. Fro m
left to right, the back row has Zone 5 - Left Back Position, Zone 6 - Middle Back
Position, and Zone 1 - Right Back Position, where the server is stationed during
service. The front row has Zone 4 - Left Front Position, Zone 3 - Middle Front
Position, and Zone 2 - Right Front Position, also in order from left to right.

The Free Zone is the area surrounding the volleyball court. It measures 3 meters
wide, and players are allowed to enter the Free Zone during game play.

The court boundary lines are genera lly 2 inches wide, and they are part of the actual
court measurements. So the ball remains in play if it lands directly on the line.
Volleyball Court Dimensions - The Net

The volleyball net is hung at the exact center of the volleyball court between the t wo
sidelines. It is 1 meter wide and the height is different for men and women.

For men-s games, the volleyball net is 2.43 meters from the floor (7 feet, 11 5/8
inches).

©

 For women-s games, the volleyball net hangs 2.24 meters off of the floor (7 feet, 4
inches).

An antenna is placed on each side of the net, lining up with the sidelines or court
boundaries. The two antennae are a guideline for when the ball is in or out of play.

The ball must pass completely over the net and inside both of these ante nnae in
order to remain in play.

If the ball hits the antenna, it is out of play. If the ball wanders outside the antenna or
crosses the net directly above the antenna, it is out of play. The ball is also out of
play if it hits the cables, netting or pole s.

Keeping volleyball court dimensions consistent helps to keep game play fair. Uniform
volleyball court dimensions also make it easier for players to comply with the rules of
the game, since they are already familiar with the court, the net and the zones .

3 Ê

A volleyball is a ball used to play indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, or other less
common variations of the sport. Volleyballs are roun d and traditionally consist of
eighteen nearly rectangular panels of synthetic or genuine leather, arranged in six
identical sections of three panels each, wrapped around a bladder. However, in
2008, the FIVB adopted as its official indoor ball a new Mikasa with dimples and only
eight panels for a softer touch and truer flight. A valve permits the internal air
pressure to be adjusted.

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3   

Indoor volleyballs are designed for the indoor version of the sport, and beach
volleyballs for the beach game.

Indoor volleyballs may be solid white or a combination of two or three different easily
distinguishable colors. They are made in two versions: the youth version is slightly
smaller and weighs much less than an adult volleyball and than the standard version
to accommodate children's use.

 ) 
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; 

; 

5 F)G ; 


  
 65-67 (25.5-26.5) 260-280 (9.2-9.9) 0.3-0.325 (4.3-4.6)

 
 63-65 (25-26) 240-260 (8.5-9.2 0.3 (4.3)

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  D 

  +

Every volleyball player should have volleyball skills for effective serving.

The following serving techniques are for a right handed server. Use opposite feet and
hand positions for serving left handed.

 +  
 Î 

A float serve is serving the ball in a way that makes it move so that it is harder to tell
where it¶s going. The ball is harder to track and passers must focus harder to
volleyball pass the ball.

Typical characteristics of a float serve are:

- Server contacting the ball in a way that the ball doesn¶t spin.

- The ball floats in the air (similar to a knuckle ball in baseball) which makes it harder
to tell were the ball is headed.
A float serve may be effective because :

1. Passers may become lazy and lose focus on p assing well.

2. If passers aren¶t used to seeing floaters they may not have developed the
volleyball skills they need to pass them.

3. Since passing floaters takes more concentration, having a good floater can be
effective against players that be come tired and worn out from long matches.

Basic mechanics of the float serve :

1. Left foot in front with the feet turned slightly to the right

2. Draw your arm up and back

3. Take a small step as you toss the ball

4. Contact the center of the ball with your palm

5. Drag your back foot while serving

The basic volleyball skills of serving :

- Stand with your upper body facing the direction you are going to serve.

- Toss the ball out of your left hand and take a step with your left foot as you
contact the ball.

©·
^
 
   

You want to contact the ball in a way that makes it not spin for it to have a chance of
floating. However, just because the ball doesn¶t spin doesn¶t mean that the ball will
float.

By contacting the ball when it¶s not moving in the air (rising up or coming down) is
when you have the best chance of making a firm contact to make the ball float.

So, after tossing, make contact with the ball at its highest point, hitting the ball firmly
with the palm of the hand.

Contacting the ball so that it doesn¶t have spin as it travels over the net also allows it
to get there sooner.

This makes it more difficult to pass because your opposition has less time to react to
pass the ball.

 

Obviously, hitting the ball at its highest point will be influenced by your toss, and your
toss is highly influenced by your armswing.

When thinking of volleyball skills for the serve, an important skill often overlooked is
the toss.

Consistent serving may be easier to develop because of good tosses.

    5 

Drag your back foot by sliding your toes on the ground as you¶re serving. Dragging it
allows you to keep your body in the right position during the serve.

3 +  
 >) 

Many jump serves are successful just because players aren¶t used to passing a serve
with topspin.

A ball served with topspin may drop quickly and if players aren¶t paying attention,
they are caught off guard and aren¶t ready to move forward to pass the ball.

On the other hand, jump serves can be easier to pass than floaters. The ball typically
comes in more of straight line to passers and players can develop confidence
passing topspin serves that come right to them.

©©
Basic mechanics of the jump serve :

1. Stand with the appropriate distance behind the endline.

2. Hold and toss the ball with the hitting hand.

3. Take a three step approach.

4. Contact the ball at your jumps highest point.

4 +  
  

Serving spots may be the easiest and most effective way to serve passers that have
good passing skills.

+  5   


Sometimes it can be difficult getting floaters to go where you want them to. Often it is
easier and more effective to serve particular spots on the court without floating.

Spot serves are different from float serves in that it isn¶t as important to get the ball to
float. You can make it difficult for the other team just by making them move and pass
a ball from a spot they don't want to.

You will have a big advantage serving if you can serve the ball wherever you want.

There may not be an easier way to frustrate good setters than to make them run
around the court chasing bad passes.

Knowing your opponents strengths and weaknesses and offensive strategy wi ll help
the execution of effective serving.

Î 
 3  


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3   Ê ^+

3  

Teams with volleyball skills for playing great defense often develop great ball control
which leads to frustrating their opponents into making hitting errors.

º 


When preparing to dig, keep your feet wide enough apart so you are able to react
and move quickly in any direction. Bend your knees and bend at the waist to a
leaning forward position.

Preparing to dig :

1. Feet are wide with the knees bent and out over your toes

2. Shoulders are forward and relaxed

3. Arms are bent and out in front of your body

º
   

It¶s best to contact the ball between your knees in front of your body. Ideally, you
want to get your hips under the ball so that you have better ball control.

Playing the ball :

1. Anticipate and move to the ball

2. Get your forearms under the ball

3. Lean into the ball as you make contact

4.Dig the ball at the midline of your body if you can

5.If you have to reach outside your body, extend and angle your arms in the direction
of the target

))    
   
   .

Hard driven balls are dug often just by getting in good body position. If you are
continually able to get into good position for digging (angling your arms to the target
every time), you will often dig balls that will stay in play just by them reb ounding off of
you in the right direction.

 

   º

Diving is more popular in the men¶s volleyball because it takes greater upper body
strength to safely execute a dive.

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To execute a dive, run towards the ball, push off your back foot and get airborne.

When first learning volleyball skills for diving :

1. Start by standing on a gym mat. At first, just lower yourself down to the mat with
your hands.

2. Next, lower down to the ground and then pull yourself forward with your hands
sliding on the ground

3. And finally, bend your knees and get really low to the ground. Extend your body
forward, get airborne and slide through on your chest. Practice pullin g your body
forward with your hands to slide even more.

4.Once you've built confidence, practice by adding a ball.

Most good attackers have developed an array of tough shots to defend. Volleyball
skills for keeping the ball off the floor are important to any team¶s defense.

  

Îorward Sprawls

- Extend your arms underneath the ball and drive the body forward to the floor.

- If the ball is below knee height, you must adjust your arms so they are parallel to the
floor in order to dig the ball. This is done by bend the elbows or curling the wrists.
You may also take a step forward and lean to get into a lower position.

Side Sprawls

 Sprawl to the side while changing the position of your arms by dropping your inside
shoulder. manipulating the position of your arms is important to directing the ball to
the target area

 º

Diving consists of staying low to the ground, and gliding through the air to make a
play on the ball.

- eep your shoulders low

As you are about to dive you want to keep your body low to the ground.

- eep your body parallel to the floor

You shouldn¶t push up off the ground, but push forward. By pushing forward, you
will be better at keeping your body parallel to the ground allowing yourself to slide
for a better landing.

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- eep your chin up
As you are diving, keep your head and chin up

- Îollow through
After you play the ball, place your hands on the ground and pull yourself through by
sliding forward.

 
 5

- take a few steps and dive as far as you can through the air

- slide your hand firmly on the ground

   

Learning to play the ball overhead with your fingers when passing the first contact is
much different than how you handle the ball for setting attackers. When first learning
volleyball skills for overhead digging, practice playing the ball with your hands by
keeping your fingers and wrists firm and taut. When digging a hard driven ball, make
sure you are initiating contact with the ball. If you let the ball play you, there¶s a better
chance of injuring your fingers.

- Keep your weight on the balls of the feet ready to push the ball forward

- Keep your shoulders behind the ball

- Keep fingers and wrists tensed for better ball control

Player's should be exposed to as many different volleyball skills for playing defensive
as possible. There are times when a defensive player can't get in correct position and
must react to just keep the ball in play. Therefore, player's should be given the
opportunity to develop their own unique techniques and volleyball strategies for
digging.

Î 3 º


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33 ^+ F Ê

The key to good volleyball skills for effective passing is being in an athletic posture
ready to react and move every second the ball is in play.

  


Players should start in an athletic position relaxed and ready to move. Stand with
your knees flexed comfortably with your weight on the balls of your feet.

  Ê
 =

Footwork must be quick and aggressive to allow time to get in front of the ball to
pass.

Your first step should be with the foot that is closest to the ball. When moving, your
head should not bounce. It is to your advantage to arrive early to play the ba ll.

The earlier you are, the more time you have to make quick adjustments to your foot
positions.

 5   

As a passer, it¶s best to track the ball from the time it leaves the servers hand to the
time it reaches your arms.

Pay attention to how the server contacts the ball and how the ball moves as it comes
to your side of the court.

Look to see if the ball is spinning or floating to help get a read on where the ball is
going to end up.

º Ê ) Ê
 Î   


Develop the habit of reacting as soon as you know where the ball is going.
A lot of players wait too long and end up struggling to get into position to pas s|

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+  5  Î )  


Three techniques for forearm passing :

 =

It is best to get your body directly behind the ball and pass the ball from the
midline of your body. Your body should be facing your target while taking a small
step with either foot while passing.

3 Ê
 
The angle right technique is used when a player gets behind the ball and passes
to the target that¶s to t heir right. This ball is taken outside the frame of the body
while dropping the right shoulder.

4 Ê
  
The angle left technique is used when a player gets behind the ball and passes to
the target that¶s to their left. This ball is tak en outside the frame of the body while
dropping the left shoulder.


   


The best passers in the world have developed volleyball skills for taking the ball near
the center of their bodies with their feet slightly staggered.

Passing linear refers to passing the ball between the knees where you can get
directly in front of the ball and move through it.

Correct body position when playin g the ball with the forearms :

1. Feet shoulder width apart

2. One foot slightly in front of the other
3. Knees flexed
4. Body weight on the balls of the feet
Tips to good forearm passing :

- Use the hips, legs, and

shoulders to pass the ball.

- Pass the ball with your

shoulders, not by swinging your
arms

- Don¶t move your head when

following the ball to your arms, just move your eyes

- When playing the ball away from your body, extend your passing platform away
from your body as you bend at the waist and shrug your shoulders.

- Shoulders should be over the knees with your eyes following the ball to your arms.

£

+  5  
  


When playing the ball with the hands overhand to pass a deep, hard, flat serve keep
your hands firm and hold them closer together than you would when setting or
passing an easy free ball.

Feet should be spread with the hips, shoulders, and knees square facing your target.

The fingers and hands should push straight through when playing the ball. Having
the hands firm and close together helps you control the ball.

Players being served deep can use this technique by starting midcourt and then
taking a step back as they take the ball.

Front row players can use the overhand technique to take short serves with their
hands rather than being force to pass with their forearms.

Î  /  
 

Since it is legal to have multiple contacts in a single attempt to play the ball on a
teams first contact, coaches are utilizing volleyball skills for overhand passing more
than ever. Some coaches even teach players to pass this ball with their fingers
quickly to avoid being called for a lift.

Deciding whether to teach passing overhead or with the forearms is often difficult. By
teaching multiple passing techniques players are given the opportunity to develop
their own unique passing strategies and techniques.

4 

No matter how your body and hands are positioned, your volleyball skills for setting
should be consistent. That is, your hand technique for playing the ball should be the
same every time you attempt to set.

4 +  5   

  
 

Learning hand position for setting :

1. With your hands down in front of you, put all ten fin gertips together (thumbs
touching each other, index fingers touching each other, etc) with the fingers spread
wide.

2. Raise your hands up above your head with your fingers still touching.

3. Pull your elbows out to your sides.

4. Pull your hands apart just far enough so that a ball fits between them.

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^
 
   

The fingers are the only part of your hand that touches the ball, never the palms.
Your thumbs, index fingers, and middle fingers are what you use with your wrists to
catch and push the ball.

The little fingers and ring finger just give you extra control when setting.

Volleyball skills progressions for developing clean hands :

 ^ 
Toss the ball to yourself, then just catch the ball with your hands in the correct
position.

3 ^  Ê
 
Catch a ball in the correct position. Afte r a pause, continue through a setting
motion.

4  Ê
   

Concentrate on catching the ball with correct hand positions and gradually make
the pauses shorter. As you're setting, focus on taking spin off the ball.

+  5 Î 
 

 

The best setter's move in a direct line to the ball and deliver the set efficiently to the
hitter.

Setters should explode to the ball; arrive early with the hands up.

Correct volleyball skills footwork for moving from the target position...

      
When you¶re at the target waiting for the pass, have your bodyweight on your right
foot ready to take a step with your left in the direction of the passed ball.

3  / 
 
If you have accurate passers, a setter can get into position quicker by taking a big
right step to the spot the ball is being passed. After that big ste p, pivot squaring up to
the left antennae.

Even if you are slow, you can still develop good footwork to get to the ball faster than
other setters with poor technique.

£À
43 +  5 Î 
   

Setters should emphasize getting to the ball first before focusing on setting
technique.

If you can¶t run and get to the ball quickly and efficiently, setting the ball is going to be
much more difficult. A common mistake beginning setter¶s make is running after a
ball with their hands up in the air.

Although I agree you should get your hands up early ready to set, you should use
your arms first to move to the ball.

44 +  5 Î   
 

The best way to develop consistent sets is facing your target every time. A good rule
of thumb is to always face the left antennae when setting.

Use both your arms and legs to guide the ball and follow through with both hands
pointing towards the target.

48 +  5  


Good setter's often make attackers look good just from being able to deliver
consistent sets.


  

Setters need to really concentrate on contacting a ball cleanly when setting high
outside. The farther the ball needs to travel, the more likely you are to double contact
with your hands.

With sets that travel a greater distance, referees have more time to decide on calling
hands because :

1. There is a longer hand contact on the ball.

2. The ball is in the air a longer time, allowing for the referee see the rotation of the
ball and think about possibly call the set.

If you¶re having trouble setting the ball far enough outside, really focus on powerfully
extending your arms and hands through to the target.


 Ê D5  

Setting a short quicker set can be done by just using a quick wrist action. This is best
done with a less follow through (or no body extension).

These sets can be easier because there is less body movement. The set is
performed mainly by the wrists.

£·
C +  5   

¬    

1. Get to the ball as quick as you can

2. Square your body up to the target


 

1. Have your right foot slightly in front with your bodyweight balanced

2. Your shoulders, hips, and feet face the target

3. Knees are bent and your back is straight

4. Hands are above your forehead

5. Hands are in the shape of the ball


 

1. Contact the ball above the forehead

2. Keep elbows comfortably bent

3. Use your legs to generate power through your body up to your hands

4. Fully extend your arms and then your entire body

It's important to note that no two setter's set the same way. Regardless of your
volleyball skills, what's important is that you get the job do ne.

Therefore, it may be best for player's to experiment with different volleyball strategies
for setting to develop their own unique setting technique.

Î 4 


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8 C ¬

There are a various types of spikes or hitting techniques in volleyball. For instance,
outside hit, middle hit, quick balls, backcourt spike etc. In its most basic form, spiking
is simply the action of jumping into the air and hitting the ball downwards into your
opponent¶s side of the court, which hopefully results in a µkill¶.

To execute a spike you need to make an approach, jump into the air with a good arm
swing and then hit the ball with force as you bring your arm back from the swing. It
takes a lot of practice to get all three actions to flow together smoothly and to develop
an effective spike so be patient and put in the hard work.

Lets breakdown the action of a spike into easy to follow instructions. In this example,
we will describe the actions for a right -handed hitter.

8  Ê 

Start with your left foot well back from your right foot and take your first step with your
left foot. The aim of the first step is to build speed and cover distance, so be sure to
make this first step powerful and strong.

The second steps is with your right foot and so continue to build speed and cover
distance. It should take you to the ball. You can vary the distance of this step to
adjust for the position of the ball from the net. So if the ball is off the net and closer to
you, take a shorter second step or conversely take a greater second step is the ball is
further away from you and closer to the net.

Î 8 4  Ê 

As you take this step, start to swing your arms back behind you. Your arms swing will
help you gain extra inches in your jump so make sure your timing is spot on.

The final step is with your left foot and it should follow quickly after your second step.
Keep both feet about shoulder width apart to maintain maximum balance. Before
your last step lands, continue to swing your arms back as far as you can and
simultaneously bend your knees to lower your body in preparation for the jump.

££
Through out the whole process, keep your head up and continue to track the
trajectory of the set.

83 >)

As your last step lands (often referred to as planting) keep your body turned at about
30 degrees from net with your right shoulder (your hitting shoulder) further away from
the net. This will give you room to execute the spike but more importantly, keeps your
body open so that you can see the approaching ball.

The jump consists of quickly swinging both arms forward and upwards while pushing
explosively with both legs to lift your body into the air. The quicker you can execute
these combine actions and the more explosive your leg push, the higher you will
jump. If you need to increase your vert ical jump, there are programs specifically
designed to help you achieve this. You can read about plyometrics techniques here.

Aim to jump vertically as much as possible because your natural momentum will give
you the horizontal motion. The higher you can jump the more effective your spike will
be.

84  Ê)  

 

As your jump progresses and your arms will reach above your head, pull your right
elbow back and bend it to about 90 degrees. Keep you right hand relaxed but opened
and curved to the shape of the ball. To hit effectively you need both power and
control. Keeping the hand open to make maximum contact with the ball will deliver
both control and power.

Rotate your right arm around the shoulder joint and quickly move your elbow forward.

Your forearm should whip forward as your hand accelerates towards the ball. Your
hand should ³snap´ forward as you make contact with the ball.

Be sure to hit at your highest reach for maximum power and chance of success. At
the point of contact, your hitting arm will be straight but has you follow through with
the whipping action of the arm; your arm will bend at the elbow. Bending the elbow
and bringing your arm back towards your body will help avoid a net touch.

On descent, bend you legs slightly and u se your leg muscles to absorb the force of
the landing and to regain your balance. Often, your body will be slightly off balance
following a powerful hit.

Keeping your distance away from the net as you land will help avoid landing on your
opponent¶s foot, which is a common cause of ankle injury.

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 Î 83 5


  ^C ¬

The keys to good blocking volleyball skills are positioning, timing, and movement.

To be an effective blocker, you need to stay in a balance position ready to anticipate.

Good blocking volleyball skills consists of moving into good position to jump up and
penetrate the net with your hands and arms to deflect or block your opponents
attack.

 +  5   Î 5

Ready position for blocking :

1. Stand at a comfortable distance off the net. You should be standing with enough
leverage to push off and move sideways if you need to.

2. Place your arms up in front of you. You want your arms up ready to react to the
other teams offense.

C 
 
     )

You want your hands up rather than at your sides so that you can quickly get them
above the net to block. Also, by having your hands up you are less likely to brush
your hands with the net as you jump up.

     

To perform this move, you basically start by jumping laterally off of one foot. To move
to the left, take a big step (or jump) to your left foot . Follow with your right foot, land,
and jump straight up.

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Two important point :

1. You want to jump lined up in front of where the hitter will be contacting the ball.

2. You want to make sure you are balanced before you jump.

  

This is to travel a greater distance sideways at the net. To move left, take a step with
your left foot, then cross your right foot over in front of your body (your body is now
sideways). After you have planted the right foot, turn and face the net. Jump str aight
up to block.

3 +  5  =  5


Practicing blocking is often left out of practice. Players often are left with great
potential for improvement. Teams can take over a match with good blocking much
like a good server can with their serving.

^ 

Know both the setters and hitters tendencies ahead of time. Watch the setter and
hitters for clues as to where the setter is going to set and how the attackers are going
to approach to hit.

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When raising your hands above the net, don¶t swing your arms towards the net. This
will make timing the block even harder. It is also more likely the ball will be hit off of
you because your arms may not be in the right place. 


 

Your fingers should be spread as wide as possible when blocking. By spreading them
wide you cover more area and help tense them up which makes them stronger for
blocking.

Strong tense fingers prevents jamming or injuring your fingers during blocking.

Ê  
  


Don¶t try reaching high to block. Instead, make your opponents hit over you. If they
try to hit over you they won¶t do it consistently. The more you penetrate the less
of an angle hitters will have to hit around you. Also, the more you block the ball on
your opponent¶s side of the net, the more likely the ball will come down on their side.

4 +  5   ^))
 

Teams that have good volleyball passing skills will often try to execute a quick
offense.

It¶s important for blockers to communicate their blocking responsibilities before the
serve.

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As a blocker, you need to know who the possible hitters are. You also need to know if
the setter is front row or back row.

A good setter can often draw blockers to them, making the blockers think they need
to defend the setter's attack. If you know ahead of time where the setter is on the
court (front row or back row) you will know when you need to be prepared to defend a
setter attack, and when to ignore the setter and stay with the attackers.

Often a team designates one of the front players as the blocking captain (usually the
middle blocker) to facilitate communication.

^    

Blockers should develop volleyball skills for identify the opposing setter as front row
or back row and also identify the opposing hitters by making calls before the serve.

Examples of call outs by blockers before the serve are :

1. 3 hitters, setter down

2. 2 hitters, setter up

3. 3 hitters, stack right

4. 3 hitters, stack left

Also, you can call out numbers :

1. 3 hitters...stack right...4, 7, and 13

2. setter up...5...2 hitters..4 and 7

Calling out the setter and hitter's is an effective blocking volleyball strategy that will
better prepare your team for playing volleyball defense.

Effective communication skills are the volleyball skills that often separate the best
teams from everyone else.

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Volleyball is like other team sports in that there are specific defensive and offensive
formations that are determined by who has the ball. But unlike other team sports
where possessions may last 20 seconds or several minutes, possessions in
volleyball may last only two or three seconds. Consequently, players must move very
quickly from their defensive assignments to their offensive assignments. This
movement, from defense to offense and vice versa, is called "transitioning." Quick,
smooth transitions are imperative if your team hopes to play good volleyball.

A team is on "defense" -- that is, they are in their defensive positions -- whenever the
opponent is preparing to attack. Consequently, you must be in your assigned position
whenever the ball is in your opponents' court or whenever your team serves,
because the ball will be in your opponent's court soon. (When the opponent serves,
you are not in defense, because the first thing your team will do is attack the ball.)

= 5 
   5
Most mid- and upper-level teams, because the opposing
hitters are better, use all three front-row players as
blockers. More often than not, these teams are also
running a 5-1 or 6-2 offense, which means the setter is
coming from right back, though some teams elect to use a
4-2, with the setter playing in middle or right front. In either
case, the starting defensive positions (or "base" positions)
for a middle-back defense usually look like the diagram on
the right.

The front row players are at the net, preparing to block. Back row players are
relatively shallow in the court, in case the opponent bumps the ball back over on their
first hit or "dumps" the second hit over the net. As soon as the the opponent sets the
ball to one of their hitters, everyone will have to move these "base" positions to an
assigned defensive responsibility.

A common strategy (but by no means the only strategy) for defending attacked balls
include these general rules:

1. The blockers should position themselves so that no balls can be driven into the
center of your court. Double block the outsides and single block the middle.

2. The offside blocker (meaning, the front -row player not involved in the block) will
pick up all tips.

3. The outside back-row players must dig around the outside of the block.

4. Middleback positions him/herself in the "seam" of the block, usually a step or two
cross-court.

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Remember: The "standard" defense diagrammed above, which commits the offside
blocker to covering tips, is only one possible strategy. Some teams use a "rotation"
defense, in which the outside back row player nearest the set moves forward to cover
tips while the other defenders "rotate" to cover the vacated area. Other teams use a
"perimeter" defense, meaning no one is assigned to cover tips; all four diggers
position themselves along the perimeter of the court. Whichever defensive scheme
your team elects to use, you must understand that the blockers and backrow
defenders must work in unison to cover the court -- that is, diggers should position
themselves so that they are not defending the same area as the block.

In addition, you should use a strategy that fits your team's personnel and your
opponent's offensive tendencies. If you have terrific left side diggers, for instance,
you should arrange your block so that it funnels hits to them. Or, if your opponent
often tips down the line, you should use a rotati on defense; if they tip to the center of
the court, use the first defense mentioned above. If your opponent hardly ever tips,
use a perimeter defense.

º
 
  

At most levels of play, your opponents will give your team lots of "downballs" an d
"freeballs." The distinction is important because it significantly alters defensive
responsibilities. A downball is any set that your opponents can swing at but which
they cannot attack with authority. If the blocker closest to the attacker recognizes th at
the hitter is not going to able to take a good swing at the ball, s/he yells, "Downball!"

Both blockers stay down (hence, the term "downball") and back off one step to pick
up tips or balls that carom off the net. The other four players (the offside blocker and
three back-row defenders) position themselves in a slight umbrella shape, with the
line digger staying relatively deep and the cross -court digger staying relatively
shallow.

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A freeball is any ball
that the opponent will
bump or set into your
court. As soon as it is
clear that your opponent
cannot attack the ball at
all, everyone yells,
"Freeball." The setter
releases from her/his
defensive position,
usually in right back, as
soon as s/he realizes the opponent cannot attack the ball and sprints to her/his
offensive position near middle front (the setter should never, ever pass a freeball).
The remaining back-row players split the back court while all the blockers drop to the
3m line and prepare to hit. These transitions create a W formation, not including the
setter.

Don't relax on freeballs! This is your team's best chance to win the rally, so focus on
moving your body to the ball and making a perfect pass to the setter.

C  
 

1. Blockers must realize their job is not to stuff every hit; their job is to keep balls from
being driven into certain areas o f the court -- that is, they are blocking a zone, not
the ball.

2. Whoever has tips -- whether it's a back row player or the offside blocker -- must
stay low and run after every tipped ball. This frees the backrow players to worry
only about driven balls.

3. Cross-court diggers must position themselves so that they can clearly see the ball
and the attacker around the outside of the block. If they position themselves
behind the block, where no balls can be driven at them, they b ecome useless
players.

4. Middle back players must first defend against hits through the seam of the block,
but they must also be prepared to run after soft shots to the center of the court and
balls that ricochet off the block.

5. Do not think of defense in terms of "tape -on-the-floor." Just get to your assigned
position quickly and then react to every ball.

6. Call downballs and freeballs loudly and early. Move to the appropriate position
quickly. Don't relax on freeballs.

7. In a freeball situation, make sure the setter never passes the ball.

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8. Lastly, and most importantly, everyone must do the basic individual skills correctly:
blockers must get their hands and forearms in the opponents' court, and diggers
must be low and stopped, with their weight forward, before the hitter contacts the
ball.

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P1 > Right Back
P2 > Right Front
P3 > Middle Front
P4 > Left Front
P5 > Left Back
P6 > Middle Back

   
 
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The most common starting line up in the beginning of the games when playing the
most common ³5-1 offense´ is:

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Other commonly used line up is 6-2 rotation. The only difference is when running 6-2
the opposite is replaced with another setter. It allows team to have three hitters in the
front row in all the rotations.

Please notice it is possible to set up 6 -2 line up with other ways also, but the previous
one is the most common form. The basic idea is: the setters, middle blockers and
wing hitters (outside hitter/right side hitter) are opposites of each other.

Several leagues in United States have unlimited substitutions, therefore 6 -2 offense

is commonly used formation there. Coaches are able to replace the front row setter
with a hitter with no substitution limits.
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The following image is the same 6 positions of volleyball with abbreviations - to help
you to comprehend the line up sheets be low.

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³Right back´ is the position in the defensive zone (or back row) on the right side of the
court (when looking at the court b ehind the back line).

This position can be called "right back", position 1, P1, ³zone 1´, ³Z1´.

Setter usually starts the game on the right back position.

Setter starts from the right back because it allows having three front row attackers
more often.

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Opposite (the player opposite of setter) is the other player who plays ³zone 1´, it
allows opposite to perform 3 meter or 10 feet attack from the right side of the court
while the setter is playing right front position (position 2).

The following image is the basic starting serve receive line up when the setter is in
The right back postion in 5 -1 offense :

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³Middle back´ is the position in the defensive zone (or back row) on the middle of the
court.

This position can be called "middle back", position 6, P6, ³zone 6´, ³Z1´.

The middle blocker usually starts the game in the line up on the middle back position,
but is generally speaking replaced by the libero, a back row specialist befor e the first
serve.

In competitive volleyball liberos rarely play on this position on the rallies, but are
changed to left back position after the serve when appropriate.

Outside hitter or right side hitter usually plays in the middle back position becau se it
Allow them to hit the ball from zone 6.

This line up sheet is the basic starting serve receive line up when setter is in the
middle back position in 5 -1 rotation:

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³Left back´ is the position in the defensive zone (or back row) on the left side of the
court. This position can be called "left back", position 5, P5, ³zone 5´, ³Z1´.

Most often the libero plays position 5, or alternatively the middle blocker on one
rotation after his/her own serve. After the serve libero usually subsitutes in for the
middle blocker.

The image is the basic starting serve receive line up when the setter is in the left
back position in 5-1 offensive rotation.

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³Left front´ is the position in the attack zone (or front row) on the left side of the court.
This position can be called "left back", position 4, P4, ³zone 4´, ³Z4´.

Most often the outside hitter, or in some rotations the opposite hitter or right side
hitter plays in this position.

Sometimes teams may change positions by placing a weaker blocker in this position
when they are having the serve. (Often a short setter is moved away from blocking
the opponent's outside hitter and placed on this position.)

The basic starting serve receive line up when the setter is in the left front position in
5-1 rotation :

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4/ = Î
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 4

³Middle front´ is the position in the attack zone (or front row) on the middle of the
court. This position can be called "middle front", position 3, P3, ³zone 3´, ³Z3´.

The middle hitter plays in this position in all the rotations.

The basic starting serve receive line up when the setter is in the middle front position
in 5-1 rotation :

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3/  Î
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 3

³Right front´ is the position in the attack zone (or front row) on the middle of the court.
This position can be called "right front", position 2, P2, ³zone 3´, ³Z3´.

The right side hitter, opposite hitter or setter plays in position 2.

³The following image is the basic starting serve receive line up when setter is in the
Right front position in 5 -1 offense :

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^ ^


Volleyball is an Olympic team sport in which two teams of 6 players are separated by
a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court
under organized rules. [1] This article focuses on competitive indoor volleyball;
numerous other variations of volleyball have developed, most notably the Olympic
spin-off sport beach volleyball.

The complete rules are extensive. But simply, play proceeds as follows: A player on
one of the teams begins a 'rally' by serving the ball (tossing or releasing it and then
hitting it with a hand or arm), from behind the back boundary line of the court, over
the net, and into the receiving team's court. The receiving team must not let the ball
be grounded within their court. They may touch the ball as many as three times.

Typically, the first two touches are to set up for an attack, an attempt to direct the ball
back over the net in such a way that the serving team is unable to prevent it from
being grounded in their court.

The rally continues, with each team allowed as many as three consecutive touches,
until either (1): a team makes a kill, grounding the ball on the opponent's court and
winning the rally; or (2): a team commits a fault and loses the rally. The team that
wins the rally is awarded a point, and serves the ball to start the next rally. A few of
the most common faults include:

Ô causing the ball to touch the ground outside the opponents' court or without
first passing over the net;
Ô catching and throwing the ball;
Ô double hit: two consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same player;
Ô four consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same team.

The ball is usually played with the hands or arms, but players can legally strike or
push (short contact) the ball with any part of the body.

A number of consistent techniques have evolved in volleyball, including spiking and

blocking (because these plays are made above the top of the net the vertical jump is
an athletic skill emphasized in the sport) as well as passing, setting, and specialized
player positions and offensive and defen sive structures.

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