The Ball

The standard volleyball is made of leather or synthetic leather, weighs between 9 and 10 ounces and has
a circumference of 25.6 to 26.4 inches. The ball has a rubber bladder and can be one color or a
combination of colors. Synthetic leather is lighter and is fine for beginner players. Junior volleyballs for
children 12 years old and younger weigh between 7 and 8 ounces.

The Net and Court

The outdoor volleyball court measures 18 x 9 m, surrounded by a free zone that is 2 meters wide on all
sides. The minimum playing space for U.S. volleyball competitions is 7 meters. The volleyball net is 32
feet long by 3 feet wide. For women, the net should be 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches high. For men, the net
should be 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches high. U.S. regulation volleyball playing surfaces must be flat and not
present any hazards to the players.

Lines
The playing court is marked by two sidelines and two end lines. All lines must be 2 inches wide and must
be created with a light color that is easy to discern from the playing court. An attack line should be
placed three meters from the center line. The center line divides the court into two 9 x 9 meter courts.

Posts and Cables

The volleyball net structure is held together with metal cables and posts. Posts are placed 0.5 to 1.0
meter outside the sidelines and 2.55 meters high. Posts should be round, smooth and padded, to
prevent injury to the players should they dive or crash into them. Metal WIRES AND CABLES may need
to be covered if it is determined that they present a danger to the players.

Knee pads
Knee pads should be sturdy enough to protect your knees from falls, slides and dives, but flexible
enough to allow you to bend comfortably. Your volleyball knee pads must be made of fabric that
breathes and manages moisture. Good quality pads have a gel or foam shock-absorbing material that
will cover and protect your patella. It is best to purchase your pads from a reliable sporting goods store
that will allow you to try them on. If you have difficulty finding the right fit, have the store professional
measure you and order custom-fit pads. Popular volleyball knee pad brands include Asics, Mizuno,
adidas, Nike and Mikasa.

Shoes
Arch and ankle support is key when choosing a volleyball shoe. Mizuno, Asics and Nike are just a few of
the popular brands of volleyball shoes, which are lightweight, allowing you to be faster on your feet, as
well as bearing good shock absorption on your toes. Volleyball shoes also provide for better lateral
movement than typical running or cross-training shoes.

This was How Volleyball was Introduced Facts and Information About the Game
The game of volleyball, originally called mintonette, was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan after
the invention of basketball only four years before. Morgan, a graduate of the Springfield College of the
YMCA, designed the game to be a combination of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball.
The first volleyball net, borrowed from tennis, was only 66 high (though you need to remember that
the average American was shorter in the nineteenth century).
The offensive style of setting and spiking was first demonstrated in the Philippines in 1916. Over the
years that followed, it became clear that standard rules were needed for tournament play, and thus the
USVBA (United States Volleyball Association) was formed in 1928.
Two years later, the first two-man beach volleyball game was played, though the professional side of the
sport did not emerge until much later. Not surprisingly, the first beach volleyball association appeared in
California (1965), and the professional players united under the auspices of the AVP (American
Volleyball Professionals) in 1983.
During the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, American men and women took gold and silver medals in indoor
volleyball competitions. Four years later at the Olympics in Korea, the men once again scored gold.
Starting in 1996, two-man beach volleyball was officially introduced to the Olympics. Today, there are
more than 800 million volleyball players worldwide, 46 million of them in the U.S.