Volleyball notes

PLAYING AREA- it is a rectangular playfield of 18X9 metres. It is

surrounded by a free zone which is a minimum of 3 metres on all
sides. The surface must be flat, horizontal and uniform.

LINES OF THE COURT

 Boundary lines- all the lines are 5cm wide. There are two side
lines and two end lines.
 Centre line- The centre line divides the court into two equal
courts measuring 9X9 each.
 Attack line- on each side of the court there is an attack line
which is 3 metres away from the centre line.

ZONES

 Front zone- on each side of the court there is a front zone,

front zone area is from centre line to the attack, it is 3 metres
on each side from centre line to the attack line.
 Back zone- on each side of the court there is a back zone, back
zone area is from attack line to the end line, it is 6 metres on
each side from attack line to end line.
 Service zone- the service zone is a 9m wide area behind each
end line. 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 upto the scorer’s table.
 Libero replacement zone- libero replacement zone is a part of
the free zone on the sides if the team benches.
NET AND POSTS

 Height of the net- net is placed vertically over the centre

line, it’s height should not be more than 2.43 metre for men
and 2.24 metre for women. The height of the net must not
exceed by more than 2cm.
 Structure- the net is 1 m wide and 9.50-10metre long made
of 10cm square black mesh. At its top 7 cm wide horizontal
band is there which passes along its full length. Each
extreme end has a hole, through which cord passes and is
been tied on the posts.
 Side band- two white bands are fastened vertically on the
net and placed directly above each side line. They are 5cm
long, and are considered as part of the net.
 Antenna- it is a flexible rod, 1.80m long and 10mm in
diameter, made up of fiberglass material. An antenna is
fastened at the outer edge of each side band. The antenna
are placed on the opposite side of the net. The top 80cm of
each antenna extends above the net and is marked with
10cm stripes generally of red and white colour. It limits the
crossing space. Antenna Sideband

 Posts- the posts supporting the net are placed at a distance

if 0.50-1.00m outside the side lines. They are total 2.55m in
 height. They are rounded and smooth fixed to the grounds.

 Ball- the ball shall be spherical made of a flexible leather

with a bladder inside made of a rubber. Its colour may be
white or multi colour. Its circumference is 65-67cm and its
weight is 260-280gm. Its inside pressure shall be
 030/0.325kg/cm2

TEAM

 Team composition- a team may consist upto 12 players,1

coach, 1 assistant coach, one trainer and one medical
doctor. Captain is to be indicated in the score sheet. Only
the players recorded on the scoresheet may enter the
court and play in the match.
 Location of the team- the players not in play either sit on
their team bench or be in their warm-up area. The coach
and team members sit on the bench , but may
temporarily leave it. The benches for the team are located
besides the scorer’s table outside the free zone.
  Equipment- players equipment consists of jersey, shorts,
socks and the sports shoes. The jersey design must be
uniform for the team players except for the libero. Players
jersey must be numbered from 1-18. The colour and
brightness of the numbers must be contrast. The number
must be a minimum of 15 cm in height on the chest and
20cm in height on the back. The stripes forming the
number must be a minimum of 2cm in width.

DUTIES OF CAPTAIN

Prior to the match the team captain signs the score sheet
and represents his/her team in the toss.

During the match during the game the team captain is the
game captain. When the team captain is not there on the
court, the coach or the team captain should assign another
player on the court as captain but not the libero. This game
captain maintains his duty until the team captain returns to
play.

When the ball is out of play, only the game captain is

authorised to speak to the referees regarding any
explanation of interpretation of the rules, if the game
captain does not agrees with the explanation of the first
referee then he has the right record an official protest on the
score sheet at the end of the match. He may also ask to
change part of equipment which is been used. He verifies
the position of the team.

At the end of the match at the end the team captain thanks
the referee and sings the score sheet. He can also protest against the
official after the match.
DUTIES OF COACH

Through out the match the coach conducts the play of his team from
outside the court. He makes the line-up sheet, asks for substitution
and timeouts. He sits on the team bench nearest to the scorer, but
may leave it.

POINT

A team can score a point by successfully grounding the ball in the

opponents space, or when an opponent commits a fault.

FAULT

When any action is been made which is contrary to the rules by

violating them. The referee judge the faults

RALLY AND COMPLETED RALLY

Rally is a sequence of playing actions from the moment the service

hit by the server till the point is been scored. A completed rally is the
sequence of playing actions which results in the award of a point.

WINNING A SET

A set is won by the team which first scores 25 points (Except the 5th
set which is played for 15 points) with a minimum lead of 2 points.

WINNING A MATCH

Match is won by the team that wins 3 set first out of 5 [Link] case of
2-2 tie the 5th set is played for 15 points with a minimum lead of 2
points.

TOSS

Before the match the toss is been conducted by the referee with
both the captains, to decide upon who will perform the serve or
which team will be on which end. The winner of the toss choose
either to serve first or to receive the from which end, the other
option goes to the opponent.

ROTATION

Rotational order is determined by the teams starting line-up and

controlled with the service order and players position through out
the set. When the receiving team has gained the right to serve, the
players rotate one position towards the clock wise direction. The
player at position number2nd moves to 1st position and performs the
service as 1st position player moves to the 6th position.

ROTATIONAL FAULT

Rotational fault is committed if players rotates in the anti-clockwise

direction or if they do not rotate when they get the chance to
perform the service. Additionally the points will be cancelled from
the moment the fault was committed, opponent’s points remains the
same.

BALL IN PLAY

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

BALL OUT OF PLAY

The ball is said out of play when due to any fault the referee whitles .

BALL ‘IN’

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

BALL ‘OUT’
The ball is out when the ball contacts the floor outside the boundary
lines, or if the ball touches the antenna, if the ball crosses completely
under the net.

BALL AT THE NET

 Ball crossing the net

The ball sent to the opponent’s court must go over the net.
If ball goes to the opponents free zone it may be played back
within three team hits.
 Ball touching the net
While crossing the net, the ball may touch the net.
 ball in the net
A ball driven into the net may be recovered within three team
hits. If the ball tears the net (EXCEPT SERVICE) the rally is
cancelled and replayed.

PLAYER AT THE NET

 Reaching beyond the net

While blocking , a blocker may touch the ball beyond the net ,
but he should not interfere with the opponent’s play before or
during the last attack hit.
 Penetration under the net
It is permitted to penetrate into the opponent’s space under
the net but it should not interfere the opponents play.
Penetrating the centre line is also permitted, but some part of
the foot should remain in contact with the centre line.
Player may enter into the opponent’s free zone but it should
not interfere with the opponent’s play.
 Contact with the net
 Contact with the net, posts, ropes, or any other object by a
player is not a fault, unless it interferes with the opponent’s
play.

SUBSTITUTION PF PLAYERS

Substitution is an act of replacing player(except libero), after

being recorded by a scorer. Substitution requires the referee’s
authorization.

 Limitation of substitution-
Six substitution 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. A substitute player may enter the game in place of a
player of the starting line up.
 Exceptional substitution-
A player who can not continue to play due to injury or illness
should be substituted legally. If this is not possible, the team
can do exceptional substitution. The injured player is not
allowed to re-enter the match.
 Illegal substitution-
A substitution is illegal if it exceeds the limitations. If illegal
substitution is been made by any team the play will resume
after sanctioning a point and all points will be cancelled from
the time illegal substitution took place.

INTERVAL AND CHANGE OF ENDS

Interval- an interval is the time between sets, after the end of
1st 2nd 3rd set interval is given for 3 minutes where as after the
end of 4th set the interval can be extended up to 10 minutes
 during which toss is conducted to decide which team will
choose which end which team will perform the service first.

Change of ends- after the end of 1st 2nd 3rd set teams change
their ends during the interval. If 5th set is to be played than
teams change their ends when any of the team reaches at 8
points first.

VIOLATIONS
 If player is unable to serve the ball over the net.
 Stepping on the end line while serving the ball.
 Illegal passing of the ball like palming, throwing, carrying.
 Touching any part of the body while passing the ball.
 Blocking the ball before the opponents last attack hit.

LIBERO
 Libero designation- each team can designate one
player as libero, who is the defence specialist. The
libero must be recorded on the score sheet before
the match in the special line. The libero can not be a
game captain.
 Libero equipment- libero must wear different colour
jersey, it should be of contrast colour then other
team members.
 Action involving the libero- libero is allowed to
replace any player from the back row.
Libero can only perform his duty from back row and
is not allowed to perform the attack hit.
Libero may not block, he may not attack, he may not
serve, or take part in rotation.
 Rules for libero replacements of players- replacement of
libero is not counted as the regular replacements. They are unlimited
but there must be a rally between replacements. Replacement must
only take place when the ball is out of play. Libero and replacing
player may only enter and leave from the libero replacement zone.

Rules for re-designation of a new libero- in case of an injury to the

designated libero, the game captain can re-designate a new libero
with the approval of the first referee. The injured libero can not re-
enter to play for the remainder of the match. He may remain as a
libero for remaining of the match. For re-designating a libero , the
libero’s number must be recorded in the score sheet.

OFFICIALS

Duties of referees- first referee station himself at one end of the net.
he will start and stop the game with a whistle signal. He is the head
official and has the power to overrule the decisions of other officials.

He will rule on the following thing:-

 When the ball is in play.

 When the ball is dead.
 When the point is scored.
 When the side out occurs.
 Requests for timeout

Duties of second referee- second referee station himself on the

opposite side of the first referee. He rules on:

 When the centre line is crossed.

 When net violations occur.
 Time for time-outs
 Illegal rotation.
 Duties of scorer- scorer station himself on the same side of the
second referee. He is responsible for the operation of the
official scoring device.
Duties of line judges line judges station themselves at every
corner of the court and away from the service area. They will
signal the 1st referee for the following things:
 Ball lands inside
 Ball lands outside
 Foot fault occurs by server
 Ball passes outside the antenna

INTERRUPTIONS

Interruptions are the obstacles because of which the game time

extends.

Regular time-outs and substitutions.

Each team is entitled to request two timeouts and six players

substitutions.

A timeout should not last for more than 30 seconds.

Fundamental skills

 Overhead pass- it is an action to pass the ball to his own player

to cross the ball towards the opponents. To perform this
player should stand with his feet apart, knees bent, leaning
forward. The hands should be in front of the face with elbows
bent. The ball should be passed with the tips of the fingers in
front of forehead.
 Blocking- the player should come closer to the net from where
the smash is expected to come. The blocker should jump and
raise his hands above the net. The player should try not to
allow the ball to come towards his own space, the blocking can
be one man two men and three men blocking.
 TYPES OF SERVICE

 Underhand service- underhand service is the most easiest

service and is most easy for the opponent to receive. In this
type of service the server performs service from service zone
not touching the end line facing towards the net with one feet
ahead of the other and hit the ball with a pendulum like
movement.

 Tennis service- the server stands in the service area one foot
ahead of the other facing towards the net. The ball is tossed by
left hand and hit at the highest point by right hand
 Overhead floating service- in this the ball is tossed higher
and slightly forward than in tennis service. The server
takes two to three steps forward and jumps vertically.
With a forward swing of the arm he hits the ball with
open palm. This service requires lots of practise to
perform.

 Round arm service- the server should stand in his service area
with one foot ahead of the other and the body turned towards
the sideline. The shoulder should be almost parallel to the
sideline. The ball is to be tossed above the head with left and
right hand should be moved back, in preparation of the
forward swing and open palm. When the ball comes down, the
right hand should be swung forward with round arm
movement by keeping the elbow bent.
  Round house service- in this service the server stands with one
shoulder facing towards the net, tosses the ball high and hits
with a fast circular movement of the arm with fist closed.
Action will be same like of round arm service.

FEW TERMINOLOGIES RELATED TO VOLLEYBALL

1. Diving- in this a player tries to play the ball falling on to the

ground.
2. Dig – a dig is made by a player who first contacts the ball near
the net by diving onto the court.
3. Ace- it is a point scored on an unreturned service.
4. Rally- rally is the exchange of hits between the teams. The
team which wins the point gets the service.
5. Rotation- it is change of position of players in clockwise
direction after a team gets a chance to perform the service.
6. Boosting- Boosting means to lift the ball for the smasher to
smash.
7. Booster- the player who lifts the ball for a smasher is called
booster.
8. Smasher- player who smashes the ball which is lifted by the
booster
9. Block- an attempt to stop the smash by a player close to the
net by taking jump and raising hand is called block.
10. Antenna- two flexible rods, fixed at the outer edge of
each side band. The ball must pass to the opponents court
between these antennas.
11. Libero – he is a special player of a team for defence. He is
not allowed to smash the ball. His dress is different from other
players. He can not take part in rotation.

THINGS TO LEARN FROM BOOK

 IMPORTANT TOURNAMENTS
 FAMOUS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
PERSONALITIES
 NAMES OF ASSOCIATION AND FEDERATIONS