VOLLEYBALL

HISTORY

In 1895, William G. Morgan, an instructor at the Young Men’s Christian Association in

He was aiming to develop a game with less physical contact and less intense than
basketball because he needed a competitive but recreational game that could be used
to enjoy and do physical activity with the minimum risk and more adaptable for his sport
classes for adults.

Morgan raised the net just above the average man's head, used an inflated basketball
bladder for a ball, and the rules 1st stated that the ball had to be hit from one player to
another and catching, holding or throwing was not permitted.

In its initial format, 9 players were required and placed in three rows of three, the team
rotation was necessary, so all players took turns playing the various positions on the
court.

In 1896 at a YMCA Conference, the name changed to "Volleyball", the net height was
raised, and the teams were reduced to six players.

Olympic sport in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

THE COURT (18 x 9 m.)

The playing area includes the playing court and the free zone.

The attack line is 3 meters from the center line; it is the divider between the front row and
back row players and restrictions are applied to the back row players.

The net height varies (2,43 m. for men and 2,24 m. for women)

CHARACTERISTICS

Objective:

To score more points than the other team by sending the ball over the net inside the court.
Using a maximum of 3 hits so that the opponents cannot return the ball, preventing the
ball from hitting the ground in their court.

Playing area:

A rectangle in which the players may enter and play within and if the ball touches the line
is in.

Ball:

Spherical, made of a flexible leather case, made of rubber or a similar material.

Its color may be a uniform light color or a combination of colors.

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

Duration:

No time limit for a volleyball match.

There are two-minute breaks between each set.

After each set, the teams change courts, apart from the 5th set.

In the deciding set, once the leading team reaches 8 points, the teams change courts.

Players:

A team has 12 players; there must always be 6 players per team in play, 3 front-row
players and 3 back-row players.

Score:

A team scores a point when the ball contacts the floor on the opponent’s court, or a fault
is made by the other team.

A set is won by the team which scores 25 points with a minimum lead of two points. In
the case of tie, play is continued until a two-point lead is achieved

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

In the case of a 2-2 tie, the deciding 5th set is played to 15 points.
Referees:

Led by two referees, a scorekeeper and 2-4 line judges.

The referees stands at end of the net, his view must be above the net.

HOW TO PLAY

A rally is the sequence of actions from the service hit until the ball is out of play.

The ball is put in play with a service hit from behind the backline of the court over the net
to the opponent´s court.

The receiving team has 3 hits, using any part of their bodies.

The first two touches are used to set up for an attack, an attempt to direct the ball back
over the net unable to prevent it from being grounded in their court.

The rally continues until the ball is grounded, goes “out” or a team fails to return it
properly.

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, it wins the serve and its players rotate
one position clockwise.

FOULS

During the serve:

To step on the end line.

The ball does not pass over the net

The ball touches a teammate when serving.

The serve cannot be blocked.

A player is not in the correct position

Screening: a player of the serving team jumps, raises their arms or stands together
at the net to block the ball.
In playing the ball:

A team hits the ball four times before returning it.

A player takes support from a team-mate or any structure/object to hit the ball
within the playing area.

The ball is caught or thrown; it does not rebound from the hit.

A player contacts the ball twice consecutively

To spike from the attack zone when you are a player of the back row.

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

In the net:

A player may not touch the net unless an incidental contact

Reaching under or over the net.

Misconducts:

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

Depending on the seriousness of the offence, the sanctions to be applied are:

PLAYERS POSITIONS AND ROTATIONS

In clockwise manner each time it gets the serve.

If the serving team wins the point, the person who served the ball continues to do so until
his team loses the point.

The player rotates out of the serving position when the team gets the ball back.

If a player is out of its alignment during the serve, he/she commits a rotation fault and the
serve, and a point goes to the other team.

Any time a player is in the back row, cannot “attack” the ball.
Back-row Players (1, 5 & 6)

Play in the backcourt behind the attack line.

Responsible for passing the ball towards teammates who then “set” the ball to the
spikers.

Front-line Players (2, 3 & 4)

Positioned in the front court between the attack line and the net.

Hit “spikes” into the opposite court and jump to “block” shots hit by the opposite team.

Setter

Coordinates and organizes the attack, and try to put the ball softly in the air at just the
right height for an attacker to spike it.

Libero

Defensive specialist who is allowed to play back court only. The libero wears a different
color shirt in the team and is allowed to enter and exit the game without substitution
request.

Receivers

Specialized in defense; digging, free ball passing, and ball control.

Spikers or hitters

Set and hit the ball to the other side of the net in the opponent´s court and try to block
the opposite team´s spike.

PLAYING TECHNIQUE

Serve

It begins the game, it done from behind the back line.

There are many types: underhand or overhand, stationary or jumping in the air.
Overhead pass or set

Different types of sets: to the front, to the side, to the back.

The main goal is to put the ball in the air in such a way that it can be sent by an attack.

Forearm pass or bump

The bump is the most basic and essential skill . The bump is used to hit a ball that is below
the head to receive and pass the ball.

Spike

The spike is a powerful overhand smash into the opposite court.

This is a difficult move, and requires perfect timing with the ball.

Block

The objective is to intercept a spiked ball stopping it or slowing it down jumping over the
net.

Dig

A dig is when aplayer “dives” to get or pass up the ball very close to the floor, lifting and
saving the ball.

BASIC TEAM FORMATIONS

To receive the ball

The simplest formation is the W+1. The player in the 3 zone is the setter and the team
mates will drive the ball to him in the 1st hit (forearm pass).

To attack
After receiving, it comes the formation for attacking, player 3 sets and 2 or 4 attack with
a spike, then 3 and 6 come closer to support the spiker. The other three players: 1, 5 and
the one that didn´t do the spike stay in their zones for defending the blocking.

To defend

After sending the ball to the other court, the formation changes for defending.

The formation 3-1-2 is commonly used.

If the other team attacks to the 2 zone, player 3 and 2 will block; number 6 will come
closer to support the blockers; number 4 defends the short spike; number 5 the long
spikes and number 1 the spikes directed to the side line. If the attack goes to the 4 zone,
the formation is the same but in the other side.