VOLLEYBALL

INTRODUCTION

Volleyball is a team sport which is played in a court with a high net by two (2)
teams with six (6) persons on each team court. It may be played by all male, all female,
or mixed teams with net height adjustments for boys, girls or age-group differences; and
using a variety of playing surfaces; wood, rubberized materials, and or grass. The
objective of the game is to try to make the ball touch the ground on the opponent side.
When the ball is hit by a team, the members of other team hit it with their hands to
prevent it from touching the ground and to send it to another teammate or to the other
side of the court across the net. Only three players from the team can strike the ball
successively before they send it to the other team. The team that fails to return the ball
within the specific limits, loses the chance to serve and gives a point to the team’s
opponent. In the game volleyball, the cooperation of the members of the team is
important.

Volleyball allows players to pass the ball among teammates like basketball, but
the strategies of defending and attacking are similar to other net or racquet games.
Players try to shoot the ball over the net at the opponent side where it is tough for the
opponents to volley it. The players of both teams have to prevent ball touching the
ground thus preventing the opponent to gain points.
TEAM SIZE

Volleyball is played among two teams of six players each. A team may also have
six more substitute players. One of the players is team captain and one of them is Libero.
Players are positioned in two rows of three players each. The Libero is identified with a
dress different from other team members. He is a specialist in defending and cannot
serve or move to the front court.

The team captain along with the coach is responsible for maintaining discipline
in the team. The team captain also represents the team and speaks about their team
members concerns.

During competition, each team has a coach, one or two assistant coaches, a
physiotherapist and a doctor. These members sit along with substitute players on their
team bench outside free zone.
 HISTORY

Volleyball was first developed by William G.

Morgan. After graduation from Springfield College in
Massachusetts in 1895, William G. Morgan took a
position as physical director of the Holyoke Young
Men’s Christian Association. The main activity was
basketball, a relatively strenuous sport for the
businessmen who used the facilities of the gymnasium.
Some older men did not like it because of the roughness
of the game. In 1896 at a YMCA Conference at
Springfield College, Mr. Morgan publicized a new game.
William G. Morgan
A net 6 feet 6 inches was stretched across the
gymnasium. The main object of this new game was to hit the ball back and forth over
the net with the hands. The game was started with a serve. The server was allowed
three “outs” after which the opposite team was permitted to serve. To constitute an out,
the ball had to land out-of-bounds or hit the floor on a second bounce. The game was
introduced as “Mintonette” but after watching the game, a faculty member of Springfield
College, Dr. Alfred T. Halstead, recommended that the name be changed to volleyball.
Shortly after the game’s invention, Mr. Morgan drew up specifications for a special ball.
By 1912, several rule changes had been made. Volleyball became very popular with
schools, colleges, playgrounds and the armed forces. In 1929, the United States
Volleyball Association was formed. The game volleyball was introduced in the
Philippines by the YMCA in 1910. This sport became an Olympic sport in1964 during
the Tokyo Olympic Games.
 TERMINOLOGY

ACE – A serve that is not passable and results immediately in a point.

ANTENNA – The vertical rods (normally white and red) mounted near the edges of the
net. The antennas are mounted directly above the sidelines and are not-in-play.
Antennas are not usually used on outdoor nets.

APPROACH – Fast stride toward the net by a spiker before he jumps in the air.

ASSIST – Passing or setting the ball to a teammate who attacks the ball for a kill. This
stat is normally only logged for high school, college, and National/Olympic team play.

ATTACK – The offensive action of hitting the ball. The attempt by one team to terminate
the play by hitting the ball to the floor on the opponent’s side.

ATTACK BLOCK – Receiving players’ aggressive attempt to block a spiked ball before it
crosses the net.

ATTACK ERROR – An unsuccessful attack which does one of the following: 1) the ball
lands out of bounds, 2) the ball goes into the net and terminates play or goes into the

net on the third hit, 3)the ball is blocked by the opposition for a point or sideout, 4) the
attacker is called for a center line violation, or 5) the attacker is called for illegal contact

(lift, double hit…) on the attack.

ATTACKER – Also “hitter” or “spiker.” A player who attempts to hit a ball offensively
with the purpose of terminating play in his or her team’s favor.

ATTACK LINE – A line 3m from the net that separates the front row players from the
back row players. Commonly referred to as the “10-foot line.”

BACKCOURT – The area from the endline to the attack line.

BACK SET – A set delivered behind the setter’s back, which is subsequently hit by an
attacker.

BACK ROW ATTACK – When a back row player attacks the ball by jumping from behind
the 3m line before hitting the ball. If the back row player steps on or past the 3m line

during take-off, the attack is illegal.

BEACH DIG – An open hand receive of the ball, also called a “Deep Dish”.

BLOCK – A defensive play by one or more players meant to deflect a spiked ball back to
the hitter’s court. It may be a combination of one, two or three players jumping in front

of the opposing spiker and contacting the spiked ball with the hands.

BUMP – a common term for forearm passing.

BALL HANDLING ERROR – Any time the official calls a double hit, a thrown ball or a lift
(except on a serve reception or attack). For our purposes, this category also includes

any blocking errors (when an official calls a blocker for a violation such as going into the
net, centerline violation, reaching over the net, etc.).

BUMP PASS – The use of joined forearms to pass or set a ball in an underhand manner.

CAMPFIRE – A ball that falls to the floor in an area that’s surrounded by two, three, four
or more players. At the instant after the ball hits the floor, it appears as if the players are
encircling and staring at a campfire.

CENTER LINE – The boundary that runs directly under the net and divides the court
into two equal halves.

CLOSING THE BLOCK – The responsibility of the assisting blocker(s) to join the
primary blocker and create an impenetrable block in which a ball cannot fit between the
two individual blockers.

CROSS COURT SHOT – An individual attack directed at an angle from one end of the
offensive team’s side of the net to the opposite sideline of the defensive team’s court.

CUT SHOT – A spike from the hitter’s strong side that travels at a sharp angle across the
net.

DECOY – An offensive play meant to disguise the spiker who will receive the set.

DEEP SET – Set to be hit away from the net to confuse or disrupt the timing of the
blockers.

DIG – Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball. Slang for the art of passing an attacked ball
close to the floor.
DINK – A legal push of the ball around or over blockers.

DOUBLE BLOCK – Two players working in unison to deflect an attacked ball at the net
back to the hitter’s side.

DOUBLE HIT – Successive hits or contacts by the same player. (Illegal)

DOUBLE QUICK – Two hitters approaching the setter for a quick inside hit.

DOUBLES – A game with two players on each side, most commonly played on a sand
court.

DOWN BALL – A ball the blockers elect not to attempt to block because it has been set
too far from the net or the hitter is not under control. A “Down Ball” is hit overhand and
driven over the net with topspin while the player remains standing. “Down Ball,” is
usually called aloud by the defense when it becomes apparent the attacker has no
chance of hitting a powerful spike.

FIVE-ONE – A 6-player offensive system that uses five hitters and one setter.

FIVE SET – A back set to the right front hitter.

FLARE – Inside-out path of an outside spiker who hid behind a quick hitter.

FLOATER – A serve which does not spin or rotate and therefore moves in an erratic
path. This is similar to a “knuckle ball” pitch in baseball.

FOREARM PASS – Join your arms from the elbows to the wrists and strike the ball with
the fleshy part of your forearms in an underhand motion.

FOUL – A violation of the rules.

FOUR SET – A set 1′ from the sideline, and 1’ to 2′ above the net.

FOUR-TWO – A 6-player offensive system using four hitters and two setters.

FREE BALL - A ball that will be returned by a pass

rather than a spike. This is usually called aloud by the defense

instructing players to move into serve receive positions.

HELD BALL – A ball that comes to rest during contact resulting in a foul.
HIT – To jump and strike the ball with an overhand, forceful shot.

HITTER – Also “spiker” or “attacker”

HITTING PERCENTAGE– kills vs. attempts

INSIDE SHOOT – A playset or a 33.

ISOLATION PLAY – Designed to isolate the attacker on a specific defender, normally to

exploit a weakness or give a hitter a chance to hit against a single block.

JUNGLE BALL – Any volleyball game with people who don’t really know how to play
volleyball. A common euphemism for this type of game is “Picnic Volleyball.”

JUMP SERVE – A serve that is started by the server tossing the ball into the air and
jumping into and hitting the ball in its downward motion.

JOUST – When 2 opposing players are simultaneously attempting to play a ball above
the net.

KEY – To predict a team’s next play by observation of patterns or habits.

KILL – An attack that results in an immediate point or side out.

LINE – The marks that serve as boundaries of a court.

LINE SHOT – A ball spiked down an opponent’s sideline, closest to the hitter and
outside the block.

LET SERVE – A serve that contacts the net. If the ball dribbles over, it’s playable just like
any other ball that contacts the net on the way over. If the ball fails to clear the net, it will
become dead when it either hits the serving team’s court, or is contacted by a player on
the serving team.

MIDDLE-BACK – A defensive system that uses the middle back player to cover deep
spikes.

MIDDLE-UP – A defensive system that uses the middle back player to cover dinks or
short shots.

MINTONETTE – The original name of the game of volleyball, created by William

Morgan.
MULTIPLE OFFENSE – A system of play using different types of sets other than just
normal outside sets.

OFFSIDE BLOCK – Player at the net, which is on the side away from the opponent’s
attack.

OFF-SPEED HIT – Any ball spiked with less than maximum force but with spin.

OUTSIDE HITTER – a left-front or right-front attacker normally taking an approach

which starts from outside the court

OVERHAND PASS – A pass executed with both hands open, controlled by the fingers and
thumbs, played just above the forehead.

OVERHAND SERVE – Serving the ball and striking it with the hand above the shoulder.

OVERLAP – refers to the positions of the players in the rotation prior to the contact of
the ball when serving.

PANCAKE – A one-handed defensive technique where the hand is extended and the
palm is slid along the floor as the player dives or extension rolls, and timed so that the
ball bounces off the back of the hand. PASS see “Forearm Pass”

PENETRATION – The act of reaching across and breaking the plane of the net during
blocking.

POINT OF SERVICE – A serve that results in a point (an ace by NCAA standards) as the
serve is not returnable due to a bad pass by the receiver, this number includes aces.

POWER ALLEY – A cross-court hit traveling away from the spiker to the farthest point
of the court.

POWER TIP – A ball that is pushed or directed with force by an attacking team.

POWER VOLLEYBALL – A competitive style of volleyball started by the Japanese.

QUICK – a player approaching the setter for a quick inside hit

QUICK SET – a set (usually 2’ above the net) in which the hitter is approaching the
setter, and may even be in the air, before the setter delivers the ball. This type of set
requires precise timing between the setter and hitter.
READY POSITION – The flexed, yet comfortable, posture a player assumes before
moving to contact the ball.

RECEPTION ERROR – A serve that a player should have been able to return, but results
in an ace (and only in the case of an ace). If it is a “husband/wife” play (where the ball
splits the two receivers), the receiving team is given the reception error instead of an
individual.

RED CARD – a severe penalty in which an official displays a red card. The result of a red
card may be a player is disqualified, the team loses the serve, or the team loses a point. A
red card may be given with or without a prior yellow card as a warning; it is up to the
official’s discretion.

ROLL – a certain way to pass a ball in which the digger, or passer lays out an arm, passes
the ball, and rolls over the shoulder (over the shoulder roll) or back (barrel roll) after
passing the ball. This is a quick way to return to action after the play.

ROOF – A ball that when spiked is blocked by a defensive player such that the ball
deflects straight to the floor on the attacker’s side.

ROTATION – The clockwise movement of players around the court and through the
serving position following a side out.

SERVE – One of the six basic skills; used to put the ball into play. It is the only skill
controlled exclusively by one player.

SERVER – The player who puts the ball into play.

SERVICE ERROR – An unsuccessful serve in which one or more of the following occurs:
1) the ball hits the net or fails to clear the net, 2) the ball lands out of bounds, or 3) the
server commits a foot fault.

SERVICE WINNER – A point the serving team scores when this player has served the
ball. The point can be an immediate (in the case of an ace) or delayed (a kill or opponent
attack error after a long rally). Therefore, the sum of the team’s service winners equals
their score.

SET – The tactical skill in which a ball is directed to a point where a player can spike it
into the opponent’s court.
SETTER – the player who has the 2nd of 3 contacts of the ball who “sets” the ball with
an “Overhand Pass” for a teammate to hit. The setter normally runs the offense.

SIDE OUT – Occurs when the receiving team successfully puts the ball away against the
serving team, or when the serving team commits an unforced error, and the receiving
team thus gains the right to serve.

SIX PACK – Occurs when a blocker gets hit in the head or face by a spiked ball.

SIX-TWO – A 6-player offense using 2 setters opposite one another in the rotation.
Setter 1 becomes a hitter upon rotating into the front row as setter 2 rotates into the
back row and becomes the setter.

SPIKE – Also hit or attack. A ball contacted with force by a player on the offensive team
who intends to terminate the ball on the opponent’s floor or off the opponent’s blocker.

STRONG SIDE – When a right-handed hitter is hitting from the left-front position or
when a left-handed hitter is hitting from the right-front position.

STUFF – A ball that is deflected back to the attacking team’s floor by the opponent’s
blockers. A slang term for “block.”

TURNING IN – the act of an outside blocker turning his/her body into the court so as to
ensure the blocked ball is deflected into the court and lands in-bounds.

UNDERHAND SERVE – a serve in which the ball is given a slight under-hand toss from
about waist high and then struck with the opposite closed fist in an “underhand
pitching” motion.

WEAK SIDE – When a right-handed player is hitting from right-front position or when a
left-handed player is hitting from the left-front position.

WIPE – when a hitter pushes the ball off of the opposing block so it lands out of bounds

YELLOW CARD – a warning from an official indicated by the display of a yellow card.
Any player or coach who receives two yellow cards in a match is disqualified. A single
yellow card does not result in loss of point or serve.
 FACILITIES, EQUIPMENTS AND MEASUREMENTS

The ball is made of leather, 25 to 27 inches in circumference and

weighs 260-280 grams, white color was used for some time until
recently, the combination of white, blue and yellow colors was
introduced.

BALL

The net is slightly longer than the width of the court, 32

feet is a common length, 36 inches in width from top to
bottom made up of nylon cord. The net is made of heavy
thread so that repeated contact of the ball on the net will
not destroy the mesh. Nets should extend at least one
NET
foot on each side of the court (32 feet), have 4-inch-square
mesh openings and a flexible cord or cable running through a 2-inch-wide white band at
the top. The height of the net in secondary men is 2.43m women is 2.24m when
elementary boys 2.15m and girls is 2.10 m.

Two posts or net supports are needed in this game. The

net supports should be located at least 19 ½ inches outside
the sideline. They should be anchored securely enough to
allow the net to be safely stretched tight without any sag
below the required height. Supports with easily adjustable
settings assist in quickly varying net height.
POSTS OR NET SUPPORT

The antennae is a vertical side marker attached to the

net directly above each side of the boundary line of the
court. The antennas extend upward from the net directly
above the sideline to assist in determining whether the
ball crossed the net within the court. It measures one (1) meter above the net. A ball
contacting the antennae is out of play.

The court is a rectangle measuring nine meters wide and

nine (9) meters long. It is bounded by two lines, two
inches wide. The court is divided into equal halves
separated by a center line and net. A line three (3)
meters parallel from the center line is called attack line.
This line indicates the area where back row players are
prohibited to spike and block.

COURT

THE PLAYERS, POSITION & ROTATION

A team is made up of twelve (12) players but only six

(6) players are allowed to play inside the playing court.
There are three front row and three back row players.

POSITIONS

There are six positions on a volleyball court, and each position serves a unique
role in the success of the team. And these are: setters, liberos, middle hitters/blockers,
outside hitters, opposite hitters, defensive specialist, and serving specialist.

 Setter
 The setter is the player who
runs the team's offense. They
will try to receive the second
touch and set it for the opposite
or outside hitter. A setter needs
to have strong communication
skills and must be able to make
quick decisions during a match.
 Liberos
The libero focuses on defense
and will only play the back row.
Since they typically receive the
first touch, liberos must have
great passing and defensive
skills. The first touch needs to
turn into a good pass to the setter. You will often find a libero in a different
colored jersey and can come in and out of the game without counting against the
team’s substitutions. A libero cannot block, set from the front, or attack the ball
above the net.
 Middle Hitter/ Blocker
The middle blocker tends to be
the tallest person on the team.
While on defense, they will
cover the center area on the net
and try to block any attack with
the opposite and outside hitter.

On offense, the middle hitter must be able to read the set and adjust. They will
also act as a decoy in order to spread out the opposing blockers.

 Outside Hitter
The outside hitter, also known
as the left-side hitter, is
 considered the focal point of the offense and typically performs most of the
attack hits. An outside hitter must be able to have good back row skills and a
good jumping ability because they sometimes will hit from the from and back
row depending on where the set is coming from. Outside hitters will sometimes
remain in the game for all rotations. On defense, they will receive the serve and
block with the middle hitter. They are also considered one of the primary
passers.
 Opposite Hitter
An opposite hitter, also known
as a right-side hitter, is
considered the most versatile
because they can excel on
offense and defense. They will
not only hit the ball from the
front and back row but also dig for quick attacks and set the ball if the setter is
unable to do it. During defense, they will also help on blocks with the middle
blocker.

 Defensive Specialist

A defensive specialist is
another position that it’s
main focus is defense. They
usually come in for a player
who does not have the skill to
play the back row. Unlike a
libero, a defensive specialist must make a substitution with the referee, and they
can play the front row if needed. They are also able to play as a back-row hitter.

ROTATION

When the ball is not on play, the players must remain in

the proper rotation order, which establishes the
sequential service order. Proper rotation order (6 on 6)
establishes three front row and three back row players. The back row players may not
legally enter the front court attack area to block or attack the ball over the net. When
the ball is dead, players may not overlap with a player who is in an adjacent position.
“Adjacent” refers to the player in the corresponding position on the opposite row.
(Example: center back (CB) with center front (CF), plus the teammates next to that
player on the same row. (Example: center (CB) with both left back (LB) and right back
(RB) players.) The players all rotate one position clockwise following array.

A score sheet is used by the official scorer for

recording games.

SCORE SHEET

The player who rotates to the right back position

serves, or if at the start of the game is the first
server. The serve is initiated from anywhere
behind the end line of the court. The objective is
to serve the ball across the net into the
opponent’s court. After the ball is served, players
can THE SERVER

TYPES OF SERVICES

There are basically three types of Serve in volleyball: the Underhand Serve, the
Side Arm Serve and the Overhand Serve. Within each of these types there are different
styles of Underhand Serve, Side Arm Serve and Overhand Serve, such as the Jump Serve,
the Jump Float Serve and the Hybrid Serve.

1.Underhand Serve

- The denomination Underhand is related to the way in which the ball is hit in this type
of Serve, beginning from the bottom and going upward. It is the easiest and simplest for
beginners to use to start play.

Stages of the Underhand

Serve Volleyball

-Hold the ball with

the hand opposite
the serving hand

-Stand facing the net.Legs

slightly open, knees slightly
bent and torso leaning forward.

-The leg matching the serving hand should be positioned in the back.

-Slightly toss the ball upwards and hit it with a closed or open hand while hiding the
thumb.

-The ball must be hit when it’s under the chest, at waist level.

2. Overhand Serve
- It’s an Overhand Serve style simpler than the others, performed with both feet on the
floor.

Stages of the Overhand Serve in

Volleyball

-Hold the ball with one or both hands

-Toss the ball upwards slightly higher than

the head (see picture above).

-With a firm open hand, hit the ball using

the palm.

NOTE: In sports initiation for children, the Overhand Serve may be performed with a
closed hand. This way, the children will have more power in the movement.

3. Jump Serve

- The Jump Serve is just an Overhand Serve combined with a quick run (3-step
approach) that gives momentum, a jump and a powerful hit in the ball. It is a very
powerful and quick serve. It’s the most performed serve at the professional level in
Volleyball.

Stages of the Jump Serve in Volleyball

-The player positions him or herself in the

Service Zone far from the end line.

-He or she tosses the ball high in the air

and forward (see picture above).

-He or she steps forward and jumps to hit

the ball with the palm of the hand at the highest point possible and with as much force
as possible.

-At the moment of the contact with the ball the player must slightly bend the wrist joint.
-The contact may occur within the playing area as long as the player jumps from the
service zone and does not touch the playing area before touching the ball.

4. Side Arm Serve

- It is frequently used at any level of play.

Stages of the Side Arm Serve in

Volleyball

-Hold the ball with the hand opposite the

serving hand.

-Stand sideways with respect to the net.

-Keep your legs slightly open, knees

slightly bent and torso leaning forward.

SIDE SERVE – Toss the ball low in the air and hit it with the hand open or closed when
the ball is at the waist level (lower than the chest level).

ASIAN SERVE – Toss the ball high in the air, in front of the body and above the head
level, and hit it with the hand open when the ball is at the head level or a little higher
(see picture above).

NOTE: This Type of Serve is known as Asian Serve or Eastern Serve because it used to
be widely used by asian women’s teams.
 BASIC RULES OF VOLLEYBALL

General Rules

- Volleyball is played by two teams of six players on a court divided by a net.

- There are different versions available for specific circumstances in order to offer
the versality of the game to everyone.
- The object of the game is to send the ball over the net so that the opposing team
cannot return the ball or prevent it from hitting the ground in their court.
- Each team has three hits to attempt to return the ball.
- The ball is put in play with a serve that is hits the playing court, goes out of
bounds, or a team fails to return it properly.
- When the receiving team wins a volley, it gains the right to serve, and the players
rotate one position clockwise.
- When the serving team wins a volley, it wins a point and the right to continue
serving.
- Each team consists of no more than six persons, with each side having an equal
number.
- Each player must be in his or her own position before the balls is served.
- After the server strikes the ball, each player may cover any section of the court.
- 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 center), and 2 (front right).
 The other three are back-row players occupying positions 5 (back left), 6
(back center), and 1 (back right).
- Each player serves in turn and continues to serve until the volley is lost (side
out).
- The ball must clear the net on the serve, unless the ball hits the net and goes over
the net on the first attempt, it may be reserved.
- After a team has lost it serves, the team receiving the ball for the first serve must
rotate one position clockwise before serving.
- The ball may be volleyed only three times from one team member to another
before returning it over the net.
- During this volley a player may not hit the ball twice in succession. One or both
hands may be used.

Fouls
- A player holds or throws the ball.
- The ball touches any part of the body, other than the hands or forearms.
- A player touches the net with any part of the body or hands, or reaches over the
net.
- A player plays out of position when the ball is being served.
- - A player does not clearly hit the ball or allows the ball to come to rest on any
part or parts of the body.
- A player hits the ball out of the boundaries of the court.
- A player allows the ball to hit the floor, or any object outside or over the court )
except net), before being legally returned to the opponent’s court.
- A player touches the ball twice in succession.
- A player fails to make a good serve.

Penalty

- The penalty for fouls or errors committed is a point if the foul or error was
committed against the serving team, or side out if the foul or error was
committed against the receiving team.

Scoring

- Only the serving team can score.

- When the serving team fails to score, it is side out and the receiving team
becomes the serving team.
- The game is played to 21 points or, upon agreement by both teams, 15 points
may constitute a game.
- A match consists of two out of three games.
 SAFETY HITS FOR VOLLEYBALL

- Warm up thoroughly prior to game.

- Equipment should be checked for safety prior to game.
- Area surrounding court or playing area must be kept free of obstacles.
- No jewelry or sharp objects should be worn during game.
- Payers should stay in control and maintain their own positions.
- Ball should be rolled to opponents when returning to serve.
- Players should learn to play the ball properly to avoid injuries to hands and
fingers.