Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport played by two teams of six players separated by a high net. Each team has six players on the court at a time, with more players on the bench who can come in as substitutes. Teams score points by hitting the ball to the floor on the other team's side of the net. The ball can be played with any part of the body. Each team is allowed up to three touches before the ball must cross back over the net.[1]
_pictogram.svg) Volleyball | |
| Highest governing body | FIVB |
|---|---|
| First played | 1895, Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | None |
| Team members | 6 |
| Mixed gender | Single |
| Type | Team sport, Net sport |
| Equipment | Volleyball |
| Glossary | Glossary of volleyball |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Worldwide |
| Olympic | 1964 |
Volleyball's governing body is the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB).[2] Volleyball has been part of the Summer Olympic Games since 1964.[3]
History
In 1895, William G. Morgan invented a new game called "Mintonette" in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Morgan was working as a physical education director at the YMCA. He wanted to create a game that needed less physical effort than basketball, so that older businessmen at the YMCA could play it.[1]
A year later, a professor named Alfred Halstead watched the game being played. He noticed the volleying action used to send the ball back and forth over the net, and suggested the name be changed to "volleyball". The name stuck.[1]
The first net was a rope, and the first ball was the rubber bladder from inside a basketball. The sport spread quickly through YMCA networks in the United States and other countries. The FIVB was founded in Paris in 1947, and the first World Championship for men was held in 1949.[2]
Until 1960, men and women played with slightly different rules. Today, the rules are the same for both, except for the height of the net — the men's net is higher.
The player cannot hit the ball twice. A point is gained when a team plays the ball in the opposition's court and the ball is not defended, therefore it lands within the court. The ball must be served (hit) from outside the court, otherwise, it will be regarded as a foul. The game is played in sets of 25 points (sometimes 21). The team that reaches 25 (or 21) points first, wins the set. Each game consists of 3-5 sets (or the first one to 3 in middle school). The fifth set is played to 15 points.
A player usually wears knee pads to protect their knees from becoming bruised during dives for the volleyball. In order to win the game, the winners must be ahead by 2 points or the game goes on until you win by 2 points.
The sports governing body is the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). Besides being one of the best-known sports in the world, and being a favourite to millions of people, it is in the Olympics.
Positions
The positions in volleyball are separated into 6 areas, the first being Position 1 which is the back right side on the side that you are. Position 2 is on the right side of the court closest to the net, Position 3 is in the middle of the front part of the court right beside the net, Position 4 is on the left side of the court right beside the net, Position 5 is in the back left side of the court, and Position 6 is in the middle of the back of the court.
Court
The court is 60 by 30 feet (18 by 9 m). A net is stretched tightly in the middle. The height of the net is 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m) for middle and high schools and college women, 7'11"(2.43 m) for college men.
The game
The objective of the game is to legally return the ball over the net in such a manner that the opponent’s team cannot make a legal return. The main causes of illegal plays are: holding, carrying, or lifting with the palm of the hands, four touches on one side, and two consecutive touches by one player. A regulation game is played with six players on the court. They are to rotate to serve in a clockwise direction when facing the net. The server will come from the right front position, serve, then play the right back position.
Scoring
Rally scoring is used in volleyball, which means a point will be awarded to one of the two teams when a rally ends or a mistake is made. A rally is a play in volleyball and can be started by a serve. A regulation game is played to 25 points and the winners must be ahead by 2 points.
Libero
The libero is the player in the different color of jersey. The libero is only allowed to play backrow, and normally the libero is the best passer on the team. They can never rotate to the front. Typically, the libero plays backrow, left back, for the two middles. The libero is allowed to serve for one of middles, but not the other. The libero can only serve for one person.
Skills
Serving: may be underhand or overhand. If the serve touches the net and goes to the opponent’s side, it must be played. The server is not allowed to step on or over the end line when serving.
Float: Similar to a knuckle ball in baseball, the server stands flat footed and contacts the ball with a stiff wrist and does not swing through after contact. This causes no spin to be on the ball, allowing it to catch any air current and causes the ball to change directional course throughout the whole air course.
Top Spin: This serve is executed by snapping hard on the ball during contact. This puts a forward spin on the ball, which causes it to drop faster than a float.
Jump Serve: A jump serve is used to assist the server get more height. By jumping they have a better angle to put the ball down into the court, and are less likely to be underneath the ball. This can be a float or topspin ball depending on the contact, arm swing, and approach.
Pass or Bump (underarm pass): This is a pass used when the ball approaches a player below their shoulders. You are to hold your fingers together, elbows straight, and contact the ball with the forearms with shoulders facing the net on impact. Defined as a dig when passing a hard driven hit. Also pancaking is a form of passing. This is when the player has sprawled out to the floor in a last hope type of decision for the ball to land on their hand and it pop straight up.
Set or volley: (overhead pass) direct the ball to a place specifically. Hands high, flex wrist, contact the ball with the finger pads, and elbows bent. Use your legs and arms to project the ball into the air.
Hit: A hard hit ball from a height above the net, straight to the opponent’s side. Contact the ball with the cupped fingers and a long arm swing.
Block: (defensive hit) Two hands above the head, jumping with arms reaching for a ball that has been spiked. A block is used to prevent a volley from crossing the net. it usually hits the ball straight down or up!
Dig: Digging is the ability to prevent the ball from touching one's court after a spike or attack, particularly a ball that is nearly touching the ground.
Terminology
Serve: to put the ball into play from the end line.
Side out: the team that served made a mistake, ball now goes to the opponent’s for service.
Set: overhead pass that allows a player to spike
Bump: an underhand pass performed when a ball is below the shoulders
Spike: a hard driven ball aimed at the opponents.
Block: a defensive play to prevent the ball from crossing the net.
Double: Contacting the ball twice typically while settings
Kill: Any hit, rollshot, or tip that automatically results in a point.
Volleyball Media
William G. Morgan c. 1915
Japanese American women playing volleyball at the Manzanar internment camp during World War II in c. 1943
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diagram of volleyball court with lengths
diagram of volleyball rotation in court
Finnish children playing volleyball in a rural area (1950s)
White is on the attack while red attempts to block.
A scorer's table shown just before a volleyball game
A player making a jump serve
This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons as a contribution*from an Art&Design School thanks of a collaboration between UCAC2 and Wikimedia España.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Volleyball. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. FIVB. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
- ↑ Volleyball. Olympics.com. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
Other websites
- Fédération Internationale de Volleyball — official website