RECENT RULE CHANGES

In 2000, other rule changes were enacted in which included serves in which the ball touches the
net, as long as it goes over the net into the opponents’ court. Also, the service area was expanded to allow
players to serve from anywhere behind the end line, but still within the theoretical extension of the
sidelines. Other changes were made to lighten up calls on faults for carries and double-touches, such as
allowing multiple contacts by a single player (“double-hits) on a team’s first contact provided that they
are a part of a single play on the ball.
In 2008, the NCAA changed the minimum number of points needed to win any of the first four
sets from 30 to 25 for women’s volleyball ( men’s volleyball remained at 30.) If a fifth (deciding) set is
reached, the minimum required score remains at 15. In addition, the word “game” is now referred to as
“set”.
The game is played on a volleyball court 18m (39 feet) long and 9m (29.5 feet) wide, divided into
two, 9mx9m halves by one-meter (40-inch) wide net placed, the top of the net is 2.43m (7 feet 11 5/8
inches) above the center of the court for men’s competition, and 2.24m (7 feet 4 1/8 inches) for women’s
competition (these heights vary for veterans and junior competitions).
The attack line is 3 meters and parallel to the net. This “3m” (or 10 foot) line divides the court
into “back row” and “front row” areas (also back court and front court). These are in turn divided into 3
areas each and are numbered as: area “1”, which is the position of the serving player, after a team gains
the serve (also known as siding out), its members must rotate in a clockwise direction, with the player
previously in area “2” moving to area “1” and so on, with the player from area “1” moving to area “6.
The team courts are surrounded by an area called the free zone which is a minimum of 3 meters
wide, and which the players may enter, and play within after the service of the ball. All lines denoting the
boundaries of the team court and the attack zone are drawn or painted within the dimensions of the area,
and are therefore a part of the court or zone. If a ball comes in contact with the line, the ball is considered
to be “in”. An antenna is placed on each side of the net perpendicular to the sideline, and is vertical
extension of the side boundary of the court. A ball passing over the net must pass completely between the
antennae (or their theoretical extensions to the ceiling) without contacting them.

Ball
Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) regulations state that the ball must be spherical,
made of leather or synthetic leather, has a circumference of 65-7 cm, weighs 260-280g, with inside
pressure of 0.30-0 325 kg/cm² Other governing bodies have similar regulations

LESSON 6
TERMINOLOGIES AND MECHANICS OF VOLLEYBALL
Set your Goals
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

 Identify and discuss the different terminologies in volleyball

 explain the importance of rules & regulations of volleyball
 play volleyball in accordance with the rides & regulations

Expand your Knowledge

TERMINOLOGIES
Ace A serve that results directly in a point without further action by players on the serving
team. Typically, the ace can be detected due to inability to touch the served ball or a
shanked pass by a player on the receiving team. However, if the serve-receiving player
passes the ball to another player, and that second player can make a play on it, but fails,
this serve is not considered an ace
Antenna The vertical rods along the outside edge of the net extending 32 inches above the net to
indicate out-of-bounds along the sideline. Any ball that touches the antenna is considered
out.
Assist Passing or setting the ball to a teammate who attacks the ball for a kill. The typical assist
is a set, but generally, any ball delivered by one player to a second player to allow that
second player to make a kill is an assist.
Attack A broad term that can mean many different things. At a high level, this term is
used to describe the offensive scheme or pattern with which a team attempts to
score a point. At a lower level, this term refers to the attempt by a player to score
a point by hitting the ball in some manner.
Attack Attempt The attempt by a player to terminate a play by hitting the ball to the floor on the
opponent’s side.
Back Set A set made when the player who is setting the ball has his/her back toward the
hitter. Normally, the setter back sets but occasionally, a player other than the
setter decides to get fancy, and back sets to the designated hitter It looks more
difficult than it really is. Many players master back setting at an early age.
Back Row Attack Typically, a player who has rotated to the back row jumps behind the 5-meter
line to hit the ball. When done by a flashy player who puts some heat on the ball,
the play is visually spectacular. However, regardless whether a player takes off,
any play involving a back row player attacking the ball is considered a back row
attack When accomplished by a short defensive specialist, the crowd goes wild
with delight.
Block The first line of defense where one or more players successfully terminate a rally
or play in their favor, stop the ball from traveling over the net. Typically, the
blocking player(s) jump in front of the opposing hitter at the net to make contact
with the ball, in such a way that the ball lands inbounds on the opposing hitter’s
court or hits the opposing hitter before falling out of bounds (See Roof)

Blocking Error A violation consists of touching the net, crossing the center line, blocking a set,
or any other violation which occurs while making a block attempt.

Center Line The boundary that runs under the net, and divides the court into two equal
playing areas

Court Dimensions 59 feet from endline to endline, and 29 feet, 6 inches wide (18mx9m).

Defensive Specialist (DS)
The position of a team which is responsible for digging and passing the
ball in the back row. These players are normally short, and substituted
out when they rotate to the front row. As befits their name, these players
are not expected to contribute to the team’s offensive production. Some
of the greatest defensive specialists in the history of the game include
Nalani Yamashita (Hawaii) and Jaimi Gregory (Stanford).
Dig The act of successfully receiving a ball. Almost always, the dig refers to the act
of recovering an attacked ball close to the court floor. Some of the best diggers in
collegiate volleyball include Nalani Yamashita (Hawaii), Stacy Sykora (Texas
A&M), Jaimi Gregory (Stanford), and usually any of Kathy Gregory’s UCSB
teams.
Dawn-Referee Secondary referee. He/she stands on the floor at the opposite end of the net as the
up-referee..
FIVB/IVBF Federation Internationale de Volleyball/International Volleyball Federation.
Floater A serve with no spin that follows an unpredictable path. Usually, the ball arcs
high up at less than full speed and then, defying all laws of physics, drops to the
floor with the force of a 10-ton truck
Focus To concentrate attention or effort. To direct toward a common center or
objective.
Foot Fault The illegal act of placing a foot on, or inside the end line prior to the serve. Like
tennis, the server’s foot must always be located behind the end line until the
server serves the ball.
Forearm Pass Contacting the ball with the forearms in order to deliver the ball to the setter in an
underhanded manner.
Foul A violation of the rules that was called by referee. If the referees do not call it, a
player gets away with it. No difference from any other sport.
Free Ball A ball delivered over the net to the opposing team in a non threatening manner
ball was hit more like a past rather than a spike. When this occurs, players on the
opposing team normally and collectively yell “freel”, while moving backwards
away from the net to receive the free ball, and set up a transition offensive play.
Usually, but not always, the receiving team moves into its serve receive
positions.
Held Ball (carry) A ball that comes to rest for more than the maximum allowable time during
contact resulting in a foul. Again, this is a subjective call.
Hit To offensively strike the ball in an effort to terminate the rally for a side-out or
point. The hit can be either an overhand or underhand shot, so long as the hit is
made to terminate the rally.
Jump Serve One of the most feared serves in volleyball. When executed consistently, the
jump serve involves the server tossing the ball up and making contact with the
ball as it falls by jumping up in the air. The resulting served ball usually has more
power, are, and spin than the normal serve. However, it is a risky serve for the
serving team as, most players cannot execute it perfectly Some of the best jump
servers in college volleyball include Logan Tom (Stanford) and Brittany
Hochevar (Long Beach State).
Kill A succesful attack that terminates a play or rally resulting in an immediate point
or side out by the team making the kill.
Let Serve A legal serve attempt where the ball makes contact with the net while still
managing to go over on the serve receiving team’s side of the court.
Libero A player who can be substituted into a game freely in the back row for defensive
purposes, ie,, digging, passing. Required to wear a striking and different color
jersey, the libero is prohibited from serving or attacking the ball.
Line Shot In contrast to a cross-court shot, a line shot refers to a hit attempt where the ball
is directed along an opponent’s sideline closest to the hitter and usually outside
the block.
Line Judge Officials located at the corners of the court; each linesman is responsible for
ruling, if the ball is legally in play along the lines for which he/she is responsible.
Mintonette The original name for the sport of volleyball given by Founder William Morgan.
Overhead Pass A ball-handling skill using both hands simultaneously to contact the ball above
the head, and direct it to the intended target.
Pass The act of receiving and delivering the ball to the setter. Technically, a pass is
made by joining the arms from the elbows to the wrists, and making contact with
the ball on the forearms in an underhand motion to direct the ball to the setter.
The pass is considered the most important fundamental element of volleyball.
Ready Position The flexed, yet comfortable posture which a player assumes to the point of
Red Card A more severe sanction given by the up-referee
Rally Point Score (or RPS) Simply put, every play will result in a point regardless of who served the
ball. Rally score has been used in international play for years But, the
United States high school and collegiate games were played with the
conventional sideout scoring system.
Rotation The collective clockwise movement of players on a team around their side of the
court following a side out. Each rotation determines the identity of the server.
Screening The illegal act of obstructing the view of the opposing team by preventing them
from visually seeing the server, with players on the server’s team at the time of
the serve. Typically, players on the server’s team gather together in close
proximity to create a “wall” or “screen” so that the opposing team cannot
determine how, when, and where to serve. The players on the server’s team must
be separated from each other by at least 1 meter.
Serve The act by one player to put the ball into play. The serving player is usually
identified by the current rotation. When serving, the player must be located in a
designated area behind the back line.
Setter (S) The position on a team which is considered the leader and “quarterback” (to use
an overused analogy), who is normally responsible for delivering the ball to one
of the other players for an attack attempt. In the past, setters were usually shorter,
and were not expected to contribute to blocking, and to the team’s offensive
production. Recently, the trend is to train athlete taller players so that they can
 also block and attack the bull when necessary. Some of the greatest setters in the
history of the USA Womens Volleyball Team include Debbie Gree (USC, 1976-
77), Lisa Sharpley (Stanford, 1994-97), Robyn A Mow (Hawaii, 1993-96), and
Misty May (Long Beach State 1995-98).
Sideout In contrast to the rally point scoring system, the side-out scoring system
mandates that the only time a team scores a point is when the play ends in the
serving team’s favor. Also, the term refers to situation where a play ends in the
serve receiving team’s favor, next play.
Underhand Serve Although most players serve overhand for greater power, the underhand serve
was successfully employed by the Japanese teams. Arguably, the underhand
serve is a more conservative, “safer,” and accurate serve than the overhand serve.
Up Referee The main or first referee. He/she stays on a stand.
USAV United States Volleyball (formerly USVBA)
USPV United States Professional Volleyball
Yellow Card A warning given by the up-referee