Volleyball
How to Play
The complete rules are extensive. 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 hit their court. The team may touch the ball up to 3 times but individual players may not touch the ball twice consecutively.
Rules
Volleyball is played by two teams, six people on each team. The teams are separated by a net. The teams compete with one another using an inflated ball.
One team serves the ball over the net to the other team with the intention of placing the ball into the opponent’s court. The receiving team attempts to return the ball back over the net to place it back in the serving teams court.
The object of the game is to win the match. A match is won by the first team to win 3 out of 5 games. As soon as a team wins 3 or 5 games, the match is over.
A game is played to 25 points, the first team to 25 wins. Games must be won by at least 2 points. So, if there is a 24-24 tie, the game shall be played until one team has a two point lead. If the match goes to a 5th game, the game is played to 15 points.
A point is scored by a team every time the opponent commits a fault and is also scored every time the ball lands in the opponents court.
A good strategy for serving and scoring points would be to serve the ball in such a way that it would be difficult for the other team to return the ball back over the net.
Each team is allowed 3 hits before the ball has to be returned over the net. A good strategy would be to play the ball to your teammates in such a manner to make the 3rd hit difficult for the opponent to play. Most teams try to utilize strategies to bump, set, then spike the ball into the opponent’s courts.
Each team consists of 3 players in the front line and 3 players in the back line. The front line players may jump at the net and hit the ball. This strategy is called attacking.
The front line players may also reach above the net and try blocking the ball coming from the other side.
In an easy way to understand how to play!
1 - Choose your players. Ideally, you want at least 6 players for a competitive game.
You should have 1 to 3 rows of players, with the first row closest to the net and the back row closest to the rear boundary of the court.
The player in the back right corner will serve the ball. You can rotate players around the court so that you will have a new server for each service game.
2 - Serve the ball from behind the line at the back of the court If you serve from in front of the line it will not count as a point. This is known as a foot fault.
The ball has to go over the net (but it can touch), and it has to land within the court for the serve to be good. The player on the right-hand side at the back of the court serves. Each player will only receive one service attempt per serve rotation. The ball is good even if it lands on a line.
Serving the ball (source: http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Volleyball)
If you are rotating players out, rotate clockwise -- looking at the net, the player closest to it on the right side would rotate out, allowing for many players to play.
Rotating in the court (source: http://easyvolley.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/the-court.html)
3 - Return the ball if you're on the receiving team. So the game has begun! A typical play will be bump, set, spike -- but as long as it goes over th netwithin three hits, it's good.
Technically, you can hit the ball with any part of your body so long as the ball does not come to a rest (http://www.volleytastic.com/playing-volleyball/basic-volleyball-rules/).
Players may go over the lines, but the ball may not. If a player on your team hits it out of bounds, you may run to retrieve it -- successfully so if it doesn't touch the ground.
Receiving the ball (source: http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Volleyball)
4 - Continue hitting the ball back and forth across the net until a fault happens. This could be because of any one of the following: The ball hits the ground. If the ball hits the ground on the side of the serving team, then the other team has the opportunity to serve.
If the ball hits the ground on the side of the receiving team, then the serving team can serve again. The point is awarded to the team that did not allow the ball to hit the ground.
The ball goes out of bounds. The team that hits the ball out of bounds loses the point.
Someone touches the net. If a player on one team touches the net, then the opposing team picks up a point. Someone's foot goes under the net. When that happens, the opposing team receives the point. Someone hits the ball 2 consecutive times. Players can't strike the ball twice in a row. A team hits the ball 4 or more times without sending it over. 3 is the maximum.
Hitting the ball (source: http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Volleyball)
5 - Serve the ball again. The team that won the last point gets to serve the ball.
If you're rotating, rotate now. If your team has the ball, it's common for the rows to back up a bit. The idea here is to get ready for an attack. If you don't have the ball, move forward. The idea instead here is to make the attack.
Serving the ball (source: http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Volleyball)
6-Continue playing until you reach a threshold. You can decide how many points you will allow for each game. For instance, you can start a new game when a team earns 15 points.
Recent rules state that regulation games go to 25 points, with the third game (in a set of three) going to 15. A standard match is three games long. Each team should switch sides at the start of a new game. A game must be won by two points - 25-26 will not cut it; it must be 25-27. Because of this, close games can go on much longer.
The main skills and terms:
Serve – overhand (toss the ball in front of you. Make a fist and raise your dominant hand in the air. Bend your elbow to bring your hand closer to your shoulder. Straighten your elbow and strike the ball with the outside of your fist) or underhanded (toss the ball into the air in front of you once it's illegal to hold it. Make a fist and pull your dominant hand down and to the side. Your elbow should be slightly bent, and your thumb should be stretched across your fingers. Strike the ball at waist level using the front side of your fist. The ball should hit your fist against your bent thumb and index finger).
Serving overhand (source: http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Volleyball)
Serving underhanded (source: Volleyball companion book – Australian Government.)
A pass – any action where the ball is played to a team-mate. A set and a dig are wtoe of the more common types of passes.
A Dig – performed as a defensive action to keep the ball in play and prevent it hitting the floor following an attack hit from the opposition. Hands are joined, with fingers tips overlayed and thumbs together. Arms should be straight and the ball should make contact with the forearms.
A dig (source: Volleyball companion book – Australian Government.)
A set – the action of passing where a player has a responsibility to deliver it to a team-mate to enable them to perform a spike. Players should have both hands above their head and only the fingertips should make contact with the ball.
A set (source:Volleyball companion book – Australian Government.)
A Spike — an attack hit used in an attempt to win a rally. The ball is driven into the opponent’s court by jumping near the net and hitting the ball down hard from above.
A spike (source:Volleyball companion book – Australian Government.)
A Block— a defensive action where players position themselves at the net so they can use their hands/arms to stop the ball from crossing the net into their court. This move is typically used to defend against spikes.
A block (source: Volleyball companion book – Australian Government.)
Equipment/What do you need
EquipmentCourt Today, courts must meet the specifications set forth by USA Volleyball and the international governing body, FIVB.
Indoor courts must measure 18 meters long by 9 meters wide and have an attack area demarcated 3 meters back from the centerline. The lines used on the court should not be any wider than 5 cm.
A free space measuring 2 meters in any direction is recommended around the playing area of the court to prevent any accidental obstructions of play. Above the highest point of the net, there should be at least 7 meters of space to allow the ball free travel, though 12 meters is recommended.
A center line is marked at the center of the court dividing it equally into 30 feet squares, above which the net is placed. An attack line is marked 10 feet of each side of the center line. A service line, the area from which the server may serve the volleyball, is marked 10 feet inside the right sideline on each back line.
The court (source: http://easyvolley.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/the-court.html)
Ball
The ball used for volleyball is smaller than the basketball bladder that was used originally. For indoor volleyball, it should have a circumference between 65 and 67 cm when fully inflated to an inner pressure between 4.3 and 4.6 lbs. psi. Once inflated, the ball must weigh between 260 and 280 g. During FIVB competitions and world events, three balls are used and must meet the same standards as the other balls before being approved for play.
The ball (source: www.dhgate.com)
Net
Net height can vary depending on the age of the players and the class of volleyball being played. The standard height used for men over the age of 15 is 2.43 meters measured from the lowest point of the net to the court floor. For women over the age of 13, the standard measurement is 2.24 meters.
The net extends to each of the sidelines on the court and should be the same height at both sidelines. The net itself is 1 meter wide. At either end of the net, an antenna is attached that is 10 mm in diameter and extends 1.8 meters above the net.
These antennas are considered part of the net and are used to delineate the vertical crossing space. Volleyball poles should be set at 36 feet apart, 3 feet further out from the sidelines. The minimum ceiling height should be 23 feet, though they should preferably be higher.
The net (source: www.sportsimports.com)
Beach
The beach variant of volleyball began in the 1940s. While many of the rules and specifications of this format are the same as indoor volleyball, there are some differences. The court used in beach volleyball is slightly smaller, measuring 16 meters by 8 meters. The ball also is increased in size to a circumference between 66 and 68 cm. The average net height for men and women stays the same.
Volleyball in beach (source: advancementacademy.org)
Referee Stand
The volleyball game rules require the referee stand to be a stable platform that elevates the referees head to about 2 or 3 feet above the top of the net. The platform should be 18 inches long and 12 inches wide.
The refereeing corps for a match is composed of the following officials: the 1st referee, the 2nd referee, the scorer, four (two) line judges.
Referee Stand ( source: http://www.cev.lu/Competition-Area/CompetitionNews.aspx?ID=597&NewsID=13955)
Scoresheet and scoreboard
In competitive volleyball, volleyball game rules require a scoresheet to be used to keep score. A scoresheet also provides space for lineups, individual scoring, team scoring, and timeouts. There is a comments section for recording warnings, penalties, unsporting conduct, and any other unusual events.
Scoresheet (source: http://www.strength-and-power-for-volleyball.com/scorekeeping.html)
The scoreboard is a place to show the current time and the results of the game.
Scoreboard (source: http://www.robbinssports.com/scoreboards-c-275.html)
Sources: Official Volleyball Rules, Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 2013-2016. Published by FIVB in 2012.
(for a complete information access http://www.fivb.org/EN/Refereeing-Rules/documents/FIVB-Volleyball_Rules2013-EN_20121214.pdf)
Formations:
The three standard volleyball formations are known as "4–2", "6–2" and "5–1", which refers to the number of hitters and setters respectively. 4–2 is a basic formation used only in beginners' play, while 5–1 is by far the most common formation in high-level play.
4–2
The 4–2 formation has four hitters and two setters. The setters usually set from the middle front or right front position. The team will therefore have two front-row attackers at all times. In the international 4–2, the setters set from the right front position. The international 4–2 translates more easily into other forms of offense.
The setters line up opposite each other in the rotation. The typical lineup has two outside hitters. By aligning like positions opposite themselves in the rotation, there will always be one of each position in the front and back rows. After service, the players in the front row move into their assigned positions, so that the setter is always in middle front. Alternatively, the setter moves into the right front and has both a middle and an outside attacker; the disadvantage here lies in the lack of an offside hitter, allowing one of the other team's blockers to "cheat in" on a middle block.
The clear disadvantage to this offensive formation is that there are only two attackers, leaving a team with fewer offensive weapons.
Another aspect is to see the setter as an attacking force, albeit a weakened force, because when the setter is in the front court they are able to 'tip' or 'dump', so when the ball is close to the net on the second touch, the setter may opt to hit the ball over with one hand. This means that the blocker who would otherwise not have to block the setter is engaged and may allow one of the hitters to have an easier attack.
6–2
In the 6–2 formation, a player always comes forward from the back row to set. The three front row players are all in attacking positions. Thus, all six players act as hitters at one time or another, while two can act as setters. So the 6–2 formation is actually a 4–2 system, but the back-row setter penetrates to set.
The 6–2 lineup thus requires two setters, who line up opposite to each other in the rotation. In addition to the setters, a typical lineup will have two middle hitters and two outside hitters. By aligning like positions opposite themselves in the rotation, there will always be one of each position in the front and back rows. After service, the players in the front row move into their assigned positions.
The advantage of the 6–2 is that there are always three front-row hitters available, maximizing the offensive possibilities. However, not only does the 6–2 require a team to possess two people capable of performing the highly specialized role of setter, it also requires both of those players to be effective offensive hitters when not in the setter position. At the international level, only the Cuban National Women's Team employs this kind of formation. It is also used in Women's NCAA play, partially due to the variant rules used which allow 12[23] substitutions per set (as opposed to the 6 allowed in the standard rules).
5–1
The 5–1 formation has only one player who assumes setting responsibilities regardless of his or her position in the rotation. The team will therefore have three front-row attackers when the setter is in the back row, and only two when the setter is in the front row, for a total of five possible attackers.
The player opposite the setter in a 5–1 rotation is called the opposite hitter. In general, opposite hitters do not pass; they stand behind their teammates when the opponent is serving. The opposite hitter may be used as a third attack option (back-row attack) when the setter is in the front row: this is the normal option used to increase the attack capabilities of modern volleyball teams. Normally the opposite hitter is the most technical skilled hitter of the team. Back-row attacks generally come from the back-right position, known as zone 1, but are increasingly performed from back-center in high-level play.
The big advantage of this system is that the setter always has 3 hitters to vary sets with. If the setter does this well, the opponent's middle blocker may not have enough time to block with the outside blocker, increasing the chance for the attacking team to make a point.
There is another advantage, the same as that of a 4–2 formation: when the setter is a front-row player, he or she is allowed to jump and "dump" the ball onto the opponent's side. This too can confuse the opponent's blocking players: the setter can jump and dump or can set to one of the hitters. A good setter knows this and thus won't only jump to dump or to set for a quick hit, but when setting outside as well to confuse the opponent.
The 5–1 offense is actually a mix of 6–2 and 4–2: when the setter is in the front row, the offense looks like a 4–2; when the setter is in the back row, the offense looks like a 6–2.