PATHFit - 4

PART 1
VOLLEYBALL
Introduction
The game volleyball has been played and enjoyed for centuries. Volleyball is a great past time
and a fun game to participate in. It is sport that does not take a lot of stamina or skill on the
players’ part. It also is a good game to play in larger groups and with friends.
Volleyball is above all a team sport, where star players will not make or break the game.
Volleyball relies on all the team members’ abilities without focusing on errors. It is a great game
to play for enjoyment, not competition. It is a game that takes energy and will keep you fit, but
does not wear you out completely.
If you are not an extremely athletic person, volleyball is a great sport to test yourself at. It is not
a very exuberating game, and does not require a lot of movement.
It is a fairly mellow game and is very enjoyable. You can make the game of volleyball very
powerful and strenuous, but you can also shy away from that. It comes highly recommended as
a sport that most anyone can participate in. It is definitely not a sport that only the young can
participate in.
Volleyball does not just have to be a summer sport. The good thing about volleyball is that it can
be played indoors. Unlike baseball and softball, (unless you are in a dome) the only requirement
to play volleyball indoors is a net.
Overall, volleyball is an excellent sport to participate in if you wish to join an activity. After a few
games you will feel like an old pro and quickly learn the ins and outs to the game. Volleyball will
add excitement and an out of the ordinary experience.
History of Volleyball
On February 9, 1895, in Holyoke, Massachusetts (USA), William G. Morgan, a YMCA physical
education director, created a new game called Mintonette as a pastime to be played preferably
indoors and by any number of players. The game took some of its characteristic from tennis and
handball. Another indoor sport, basketball, was catching on in area, having been invented just
ten miles (sixteen kilometers) away in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts only four years
before. Mintonette (as volleyball was then known) was designed to be an indoor sport less
rough than basketball for older members of the YMCA, while still requiring a bit of athletic effort.
The first rules, written down by William G. Morgan, called for a net 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters)
high, a 25 x 50-foot (7.6 x 15.2 meter) court, and any number of players. A match was
composed of nine innings with three serves for each team in each inning, and no limit to the
number of ball contacts for each team before sending the ball to the opponents’ court. In case of
a serving error, a second try was allowed. Hitting the ball into the net was considered a foul
(with loss of the point or a side-out) except in the case of the first-try serve.
After an observer, Alfred Halstead, notice the volleying nature of the game at its first exhibition
match in 1896, played at the Springfield YMCA, the game quickly became known as volleyball
(it was originally spelled as two words: “volley ball”). Volleyball rules were slightly modified by
the Springfield YMCA and the game spread around the country to other YMCA locations.
Refinements and Later Developments
The first official ball used in volleyball is disputed; some sources say that Spalding created the
first official ball in 1896, while others claim it was created in 1900. The rules have evolved over
time; by 1916, the skill and power of the set and spike had been introduced, and four years later
a “three hits” rule and back row hitting guidelines were established. In 1917, the game was
changed from 21 to 15 points. In 1919, about 16,000 volleyballs were distributed by the
American Expeditionary Forces to their troops and allies, which sparked the growth of volleyball
in new countries.
The first country outside the United States to adopt volleyball was Canada in 1900. An
international federation, the Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB), was founded in 1947,
and first World Championships were held in 1949 for men and 1952 for women. The sport is
now popular in Brazil, in Europe (where especially Italy, the Netherlands and countries from
Eastern Europe have been major forces since the late 1980s), in Russia, and in other countries
including China and the rest of Asia, as well in as the United States.
Beach volleyball, a variation of the game played on sand and with only two players per team,
became a FIVB-endorsed variation in 1987 and was added to the Olympic program at the 1996
Summer Olympics.

 In 1900, a special ball was designed for the sport.

 In 1916, in the Philippines, an offensive style of passing the ball in a high trajectory to be
struck by another player (the set and spike) was introduced.
 In 1917, the scoring was changed from 21 to 15 points.
 In 1920, the three hits per side and the back row attack rules were instituted.
 In 1930, the first two-man beach game was played.
 In 1934, the approval and recognition of national volleyball referees came about.
 In 1947, the Federation International De Volley-Ball (FIVB) was founded.
 In 1948, the first two-man beach tournament was held.
 In 1949, the initial World Championships were held Prague, Czechoslovakia.
 In 1964, Volleyball was introduced in the Olympic Game in Tokyo.
 In 1974, the World Championships in Mexico were telecast in Japan.
 In 1987, the FIVB added a Beach Volleyball World Championship Series.
 In 1990, the World League was created.
 In 1995, the sport Volleyball was 100 years old!
 In 1996, the 2-person beach volleyball was added to the Olympics.
Objective:
Two teams of six players each attempt to get the ball across the net using any part of the body
above the waist, so that the opposing team cannot return it. A team is allowed to hit the ball
three times (in addition to the block contact) to return it to the opponent’s court. A player is not
allowed to hit the ball twice in a row, except when attempting a block. The rally continues until
the ball touches the ground/floor, goes “out” or a team fails to return it to the opponent’s court or
commits a fault.
Volleyball is usually played indoors. There is no time limit on a game of volleyball, but there are
sets. A team will usually have to win two of three sets, or for international and tournament
games, usually three of five sets to win the game. There is a break of three minutes between
set, and coaches may call two 30-second (maximum) time-out in each set. Players can be
called to the side of the court for instruction.
MORE COMPLEX RULES
SCORING
Two Types of Scoring Volleyball
Rally Point Scoring
The team winning a rally scores a point. When the receiving team wins a rally, they gain a point
and the right to serve, and its players rotate one position clockwise.
The best of three or best of five games will win matches. Each non-deciding game will be won
by the team that first scores 25 points with a minimum two-point advantage. If there is a
deciding game, it will be won by the team that first scores 15 points with a minimum two-point
advantage. This system is used for major competitions.
Sideout Scoring
Only the serving team may score a point, except in the deciding game when rally-point scoring
is used. When the receiving team wins a rally, it gains the right to serve (also scoring a point in
the deciding game), and its players rotate one position clockwise. Rotation ensures that players
play at both the net and the back zone of the court.
A team wins a game by scoring 15 points with a two-point advantage and wins the match by
winning the best of three or five games. In the event of a 16-16 tie, the team scoring the 17 th
point wins a non-deciding game with only a one-point advantage. In a deciding game play
continues until one team is two points ahead.
Serving
The ball is served by the back right hand player (see diagram) across the net.
COURT POSITIONS OF THE FRONT-COURT AND BACK-COURT PLAYERS
The arrow marks the spot where the serve would be made. The player would serve and return
to the court. The ball is served with one hand (open or closed) and has to go across the net.
The ball is thrown into the air with both hands, and hit with either one hand or arm. Only one
attempt at serve is allowed.
The team with the right to serve first serves at the start of set 1 and 3. the opposing team will
serve at the start of sets 2 and 4. in a five set match, a coin will be tossed to decide which team
serves first, and for the right to choose ends.
The server may move around within the service area, and jump to make the serve, as long as
the server stays off the court. For major matches, there is a ‘free zone’ around the court,
extending from between 2 to 5 meters (6 feet 6 to 16 feet) from the sides, and 2 to 8 (6 feet 6 to
26 feet) meters from the ends. The server is not allowed to step into this zone while making the
serve. The service area extends back to the limit of the free zone.
However, the serving player can land inside either the court or the free zone after releasing the
ball. Once the referee has signaled for the match to begin, the server has five seconds to make
the serve.
Any player can receive the serve, and one player can theoretically serve for all 25 points. The
serving continues until that team loses service. If a player serves out of rotation order, all points
gained in that sequence are lost, and the team loses possession of the ball. The team must be
back in rotational order before the play restarts.
The receiving team must be able to see the server and the ball at all times. The serving team
must not block the view of either the server or the ball.
The ball is allowed to contact the net during the serve. If the ball travels over the net, between
the antennas, and ends up the opponents court, it is legal.
Playing Positions
The team to serve first is decided by a toss of a coin. The captain of the team which wins the
toss can choose either to serve, or which side of court to play on. In the diagram, the number
mark where the receiving team could be positioned, although the diagram is a guide only.
At the moment that the ball is hit by the server, the players must be in their own court, and in
lines, not necessarily straight, but two distinct lines. The back row players must be farther from
the net than front row players.
Players on both sides remain in playing positions at each service until a side-out. When the
team who is serving changes between sets, it is the serving team who rotates players,
according to the black arrows in the diagram, one place clockwise. The team that loses the
service does not rotate.
The rotation order remains the same through a set, and can only be changed at the start of a
new set. Once the ball has been served, the players can move around their own side of the
court and play in any position.
The reason that teams rotate is so that every member of the team has a chance to play in every
position on the court.
Substitution
Up to six substitutes may be played in one set. Any player who joins the game as a substitute
can only be substituted by the player he replaced originally. Substitutes can only be made
during breaks in play (time-outs, between set breaks, or when the ball is out of play), and with
the permission of the referee.
The Libero
This player wears a different colored uniform from the rest of the team and can be substituted in
backcourt for any player on the team. The libero (free) cannot serve, spike the ball over the net,
or rotate into the front-line positions, but receives, serves and defends the backcourt. There
must be at least one point played between a libero substitution off for a player and going back
on the court for another player – hence they cannot be on the court for the whole game.
Ball Rules
Each team is allowed up to three contacts with the ball to get it over the net. If a front player
jumps to block the ball before it comes over the net, and it remains in the opposing teams court,
that does not count as a contact.
What does count as a contact is when the ball is passed between members of the same team,
and every time a player hits the ball. Players cannot touch the ball twice in a row, unless as part
of a block, but they can touch it as part of the same play, for example, first and third contact.
The ball is not supposed to stop in the players hands. If it does, it is a ‘held ball’ and counts as a
fault.
Front row players can play an attacking hit from anywhere in their own side of the court. Back
row players must not step on or in front of the attack line when they play an attacking shot, or a
block. However, back row players CAN play from in front of the attack line, if the ball is below
the level of the top of the net.
If the ball hits the net from a service and does not go over, it is a fault against the serving side,
and they would lose possession. The ball is allowed to hit the net during a serve if it goes over
the net. If the ball hits the net and goes over during the course of a rally, play continues.
The ball can be hit from off the court, providing it has not hit the ground before the player hits it.
The ball must always be played with a part of the body above and including the knees.
If two players on opposing teams both touch the ball at the same time, and the ball stays in play,
the receiving team is allowed three more contacts; however, if the ball goes out of play, then the
serving team has played a ‘ball out’ fault.
A team can hit the ball into the net and still play it, as long as they stop the ball from hitting the
ground, and they have enough contacts left to play it.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
THE VOLLEYBALL COURT
The net is 2.43 meters (8 feet) high for men, 2.24 meters (7 feet 4 inches) high for women.
If games go to a deciding set in a match, the teams change ends when one team has reached
eight points. Then player who is serving continues to serve, unless, of course, the team loses
the previous service.
THE BALL
The ball is round and covered with leather with rubber or similar inside.it is light in color, often
white, and the circumference is between 65 and 67 centimeters (25 and a half to 26 inches),
and must weigh between 260 and 280 grams (10 and 10 and a half ounces). It is inflated to a
pressure of 0.40 to 0.45 kilograms per square centimeter.
The volleyball is made of leather or synthetic leather and inflated with compressed air.
According to FIVB regulations.
 ♦ Its circumference is 65-67 cm and its weight is 260-280 g.
♦ Its inside pressure shall be 0.30 to 0.325 kg/cm2 (4.26 to 4.61 psi (294.3 to 318.82 mbar
or hPa).
THE NET
The net is stretched across the court, 1 meter (3 feet) deep and 9.5 meters (31 feet 6 inches
long). There is a flexible cable through the canvas fold at the top, and at the bottom. As the net
goes beyond the distance of the court, two white canvas tapes are placed vertically up and
down the net above where the sidelines are.
Extending up from the tapes are flexible poles 10 millimeters in diameter and 1.8 meters (6 feet)
long. They extend from the top of the net by 80 centimeters (31 inches). They are part of the
net, and count as the side limits. These antennae should be painted in red and white stripes so
they are clearly visible.
The net height is 2.43 meters (8 feet) high for men, 2.24 meters (7 feet 4 inches) high for
women. There is a slight difference for beach volleyball (see below).
The net is supported by two posts (often adjustable), each 2.55 meters (8 feet 3 inches) high.
The posts are between 0.6 to 1 meter (1 foot 6 inches to 3 feet 3 inches) from the side-lines and
must not be attached to the floor with cables or wires.
Officials
To make sure that the rules are followed, there are officials at volleyball games. The first referee
sits in a high chair on a level with the top of the net, so he has clear view across the top of the
net and the court.
The second referee stands opposite the first referee, close to the scorer’s table and substitute
benches. There may also be four-line officials (linesmen is sometimes used) at each corner of
the court, and they say whether a ball is in or out, and whether a player touches the ball.
Sometimes there may only be two-line officials, one at a corner, facing each other diagonally.
The scorer usually sits at a table on the opposite side of court from the first referee. The scorer’s
responsibility is to keep a record of the scores, names and numbers of team members, the team
coaches, and time-outs, substitutions, and makes sure that the order of rotation is followed
correctly.
Faults
Faults can lead to a loss of points to the opposing team, or a side-out.
The rules apply:
 if the ball touches the ground
 if the does not go over the net, between the net posts
 if the ball crosses center line underneath the net
A,B Legal (even if the foot is partly off the ground) C Fault
Foot Over Center Line. Some part of the foot must stay in contact with the line or be directly
above it.
 if the ball hits the net posts, or the imaginary upward extensions of the posts
Crossing space. During play, except on service, the ball may touch the net inside the antennae
(including the vertical side bands), but not the antennae itself or the net outside it.
 if the ball is played more than three times in a row by one team
 two opposing players hold the ball at the same time
 if the ball is held or rests in someone’s hands
 if the ball is played twice in a row by one player (double contact)
Double Contact or Double Touch. A double contact is not penalized any time the player is
making the first of the team’s permitted contacts, provided the player makes only a single action
at playing the ball.
 if the ball lands outside the court lines, or touches a player or object outside the court
without first touching an opponent (ball out)
 a player touches the net or the net posts
 a player deliberately touches an opponent
 if the ball touches a member of the same team from the serve
 if the ball touches the net or net posts
Reaching beyond the net is permitted only if there is no interference with the opponents’
attempts to play the ball.
 if the ball does not go over the net from the serve
 player(s) illegally screen (stand in front of) the serving player so that the receiving team
cannot see the server or the ball
 positional fault, player in wrong position
 rotational fault, team rotation not done correctly
 illegal substitution
 delayed substitution after second time-out
 interfering with the ball while it is in the opponent’s half of court
 going onto opponents’ side of the court
 leaving the court without permission of the referee
 playing an attacking hit while the ball is in the opponents’ half of court
Player 1 and 2 are not close to each other, if the ball is touched by player 1 and then by player
2, only the touch is counted as a block-player 2 will be making the first of the team’s three
allowed hits.
Player 3 and 4 form a collective block, if they touch the ball, the team will still have three more
hits.
 back line player plays attacking hit from inside attack line, unless the ball is below the level
of the top of the net
 blocking the ball either side of the net posts
 blocking service
(Net, Front zone, attack-line)
A Legal (player jumps from behind attack-line)
B Fault (player’s foot on over attack-line)
C Fault (even though ball is blocked before it crosses the net)
Top of the net
Height of the ball at the moment of the attack hit
A legal(even if the player takes off from over the attack-line)
B Fault (ball completely above height of net when contracted)
Attack-hit back-line player from the front zone
 blocking by a back line player
 player receives a misconduct penalty, for arguing, unsporting behavior, and so on
POSITION OF PLAYERS AT THE MOMENT OF SERVICE
A: Possible Front/Back Faults
A. Example to illustrate the position between front-and back-line pairs
(correct) Player 4 is in front of player 5
(faults) Player 3 is not in front of player 6
(faults) Player 2 is not in front of player 1
B: Possible Sideways Faults
B. Examples to illustrate the position between players of the same line
Player 4 is to the left of player 3 and player 2 is to the right of player 3 .No faults in the front line
players.
Player 5 is to the left of player 6 but player 1 is not to right of player 6 .There is a 1-6 fault’ in the
back line.
Misconduct
If a player is guilty of misconduct, the team will be penalized as above,.If it happens again,
there will be a warning from the referee about behavior, and player can be dismissed from the
game for repeated infractions of the misconduct rule, or instantly for showing any aggression
towards another player of officials. If a team cannot bring on a substitute and keep the numbers
on couret at six, they lose the match automatically.
Notes:
If two opposing players commit faults at the same time, they cancel each other out, and the
ball is replayed from the last serve.
Others Errors and Faults
 The ball lands out of the court, in the same court as the team that touches it last, under the
to opposing team’s court. Or the ball touches the net ‘’antennas’’ The ball also may not pass
over or outside the antennas even if it lands in the opponents’ court.
 The ball is touched more than three times before being returned to the other team’s court.
 The same player touches the ball twice in succession.
 A player ‘’lift’’ or ‘’carries’’ the ball( the ball remains in contact with the player’s body for too
long).
 A player touches the net with any part of his or her body or clothing while making a play on
the ball(with the exception of the hair)
 The players of one team do not manage to touch the ball before the ball lands in their lands
in their half of the court.
 A back-row player spikes the ball while it is completely above the top of the net, unless he
or she jumps from behind the attack line ( the player is ,however,allowed to land in front of
the attack line).
 A back-row player participates in a completed block of the opposing team’s attack
(completed means at least one blocker touched the ball).
 The libero, a defensive player who can only play in the back row, attempts a block or makes
an ‘’attacking hit’’, defined as any shot struck while the ball is entirely above the top of the
net.
 A player completes an attack hit from higher than the top of the net when the ball is coming
from an overhand finger pass (set) by a libero in the front of the zone.
 A player is not in the correct position at the moment of serve, or serve out of turn. This type
of foul is related to the position currently occupied by the players. When ball is serve,d,
players can place themselves freely on the field (e.g a ’’back-row’’ player can be close to
the net)so long as they obey the following rules: The area ‘’1’’ player must be behind the
area ‘’2’’ player and to the right of the area ‘’6’’ player. The are ‘’6’’ player must be behind
area ‘’3’’ player, to the left of area ‘’1’’ player and to the right of area ‘’5’’.The area ‘’5’’ player
 must be behind the area ‘’4’’ player and to the left of the area ‘’6’’ player. Symmetric must
be respected by the front-row players( those in areas ‘’2’’,’’3’’ and ‘’4’’).
 When hitting, a player makes contact with the ball in the space above the opponent’
court( in blocking an attack hit, this is allowed).
 A player touches the opponents’ court with any part of his or her body except the feet or
handss.
 When serving, a player steps on the court or the end line before making contact with the
ball.
 A player takes more than 8 seconds to serve.
 At the moment of serve, one or more players jump, raise their arms or stand together at the
net in an attempt to block the sight of the ball from the opponent (screening).
 A player block the serve or attacks the serve when the ball is in the front zone and above
the top of the net.
Collective Screen .Groups of two or more players form a collective screen if they stand in such
a way as to prevent players in the receiving team from seeing the service.
GAME PLAY
 Each team consists of six players. To get the play started, a team is chosen to serve by
coin toss.
 A player from the serving team (the server) throws the ball into the air and attempts to hit
the ball so it passes over the net on a course such that it will land in the opposing team’s
court (the serve)
 The opposing team must use a combination of no more than three contacts with the
volleyball to return the ball to the opponent’s side of the net.
 These contacts usually consist first of the bump or pass so that the ball’s trajectory is aimed
towards the player designated as the setter; second of the set( usually an over hand pass
using wrists to push finger-tips at the ball) by the setter so that the ball’s trajectory is aimed
towards a spot where one of the players designated as an attacker can hit it, and third by
the attacker who spikes ( jumping, raising one arm above the head and hitting the ball so it
will move quickly down to the ground on the opponent’s court) to return the ball over the
net.
 The team with possession of the ball that is trying attack the ball as described is said to be
on offense.
 The team on defense attempts to prevent the attacker from directing the ball into their court:
players at the net jump and reach above the top ( and if possible, across the plane) of the
net in order to block the attached ball.
 If the ball is hit around, above, or through the block, the defensive players arranged in the
rest of the court attempt to control the ball with the dig ( usually a fore-arm pass of a hard
driven ball). After a successful dig, the team transitions to offense.
 The game continues in this manner, rallying back and fort,until the ball touches the court
within the boundaries or until an error is made.
The Ball’In’or’Out’ - The ball lands ‘in’ when any part of it touches the floor of the playing
court. Including the boundary lines.

Notes:
 If the ball passes outside the antennas on the first contact for the team, e.g as the result of
a bad pass or dig, a player is allowed to go after the ball as long as he or she does not
touch the opponent’s court and the ball travels back to his or her team’s court also outside
the antennas.
 Except if a player blocks( touches a ball sent over the net by the opposing team, while
reaching above the top of the net) a ball that stays in the blocker’s side of the net. In such
an instance the blocker may play the ball another time without violating the rule against
playing the ball twice in succession. If the ball is touched during a block, that contact is not
considered one of the team’s three contacts.
 At the first hit of the team, the ball may contact various parts of the body consecutively
provided that the contacts occur during one action. Also. When a player touches the ball on
a block, he or she may make another play on the ball.
 Penetration under the net with hands or feet is allowed only if a portion of the penetrating
hands or feet remains in contact with or directly above the player’s court or center line.
 Screening is a fault only if the players stand directly next to each other in a way that clearly
impedes vision, and the serve is low line drive over their heads. (This is a judgement call by
the referee. Teams are generally give a warning before being sanctioned for screening.)
SCORING
 When the ball contacts the floor within the court boundaries or an error is made, the team
that did not make the error is awarded a point, whether they served the ball or not.
 The team that won the point serves for the next point. If the team that won the point served
in the previous point, the same player serves again.
 If the team that won the point did not serves for the previous point, the players of the team
rotate their position on the court in a clockwise manner.
 The game continues, with the first team to score 25 points (and be two points ahead)
awarded the set. Matches are best-of-five sets and the fifth set (if necessary) is usually
played to 15 points.
 Scoring differs between leagues, tournaments, and levels; high schools sometimes play
best-of-three to 30; in the NCAA games are played best-of-five to 30.
Before 1999, points could be scored only when a team had the serve (side-out scoring) and all
sets went up to only 15 points. The FIVB changed the rules in 1999 (with the changes being
compulsory in 2000) to use the current scoring system (formerly known as rally point system),
primarily to make the length of the match more predictable and to make the game more
spectator-and television-friendly.
THE LIBERO
 In 1998 the libero player was introduced internationally, the term meaning free in Italian is
pronounced LEE-bah-ro (rather than lih-BEAR-oh);the NCAA introduced the libero in 2002
 The libero is a player specialized in defensive skills: the libero must wear a contrasting
jersey color from his or her teammates and cannot block or attack the ball when it is entirely
above net height.
 When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row player, without prior notice
to the officials.
 This replacement does not count against the substitution limit each team is allowed per set,
although the libero may be replaced only by the player whom they replaced.
 The libero my function as a setter only under certain restrictions.
 If she/he makes an overhand set, she/he must be standing behind (and not stepping on)
the 3-meter line; otherwise, the ball cannot be attacked above the net in front of the 3-meter
line.
 An underhand pass is allowed from any part of the court.
 The libero is, generally, the most skilled defensive player on the team
 There is also a libero tracking sheet, where the referees or officiating team must keep track
of who the libero subs in and out for.
 There may only be one libero per set (game), although there may be a different libero in the
beginning of any new set (game).
 A libero is not allowed to serve, according to international rules, with the exception of the
NCAA women’s volleyball games, where a 2004 rule change allows the libero to serve, but
only in a specific rotation. That is, the libero can only serve for one person, not for all of the
people for whom she goes in. That rule change was also applied to high school play soon
after.
Recent Rule Changes
Other rule changes enacted in 2000 include allowing 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 single play on the ball.

SKILLS
 Competitive teams master six basic skills; serve, pass, set, attack, block and dig. Each of
these skills comprises a number of specific techniques that have been introduced over the years
and are now considered standard practice in high-level volleyball.
SERVE
A player stands behind the end line and serve the ball, in an attempt to drive it into the
opponent’s :direction, speed and acceleration so that it become difficult for the receiver to
handle it properly. A serve called an ‘ace’’ when the ball lands directly onto the court or travel
outside the court after being touched by an opponent.
>This is a foot fault on service. At the moment of the service hit, or the take-off for a jump serve,
the server must not touch the court ( including the end line ) or the ground outside the service
zone. After the service hit the player may land anywhere in contemporary volleyball, many types
of serve are employed:
 Underhand and Overhand serve: refers to whether the player strikes the ball from below,
at waist level, or first tosses the ball in the air and then hits it above shoulder level.
Underhand serve is considered very easy to receive and is rarely employed in high level
competitions.
 Sky ball Serve: a specific type of underhand serve occasionally used in beach volleyball,
where the ball is hit so high it comes down almost in a straight line. The serve was invented
and employed almost exclusively by the Brazilian team in the early 1980s and is now
considered outdated.
 Line and Cross-Court Serve: refers to whether the ball flies in a straight trajectory parallel
to the side lines, or crosses through the court in an angle.
 Top Spin: an overhand serve where the ball gains topspin through wrist snapping, This
spin causes the ball to drop fast.
 Floater: an overhand serve where the ball is with no spin so that its path becomes
unpredictable. This type of serve can be administered while jumping or standing. This akin
to a knuckle ball in baseball.
 Jump Serve: an overhand serve where the ball is first-tossed high in the air then the player
makes a timed approach and jumps to make contact with the ball. There is usually much
topspin imparted on the ball. This is the most popular serve among college and professional
teams.
 Jump Float: This is a serve like the jump serve and the floater. The ball is tossed lower
than a topspin jump serve,but contact still made while in the air. This serve is becoming
more popular among college and professional players because it has a certain
unpredictability in its flight pattern.
 Round House Serve: the player stands with in shoulder facing the net, tosses the ball high
and hits it with fast circular movement of the arm. The ball is hit with the palm of the hand
creating a lot of topspin.
Hybrid Serve: An overhand serve delivered similarly to a top spin serve; however, it has more
pace than a floater, but it has similar unpredictable path.
PASS
Also called reception, the pass is the attempt by a team to properly handle the
opponent’s serve, or any form of attack. Proper handling includes not only preventing the ball
from touching the court, but also making it reach the position where the setter is standing
quickly and precisely.
The skill of passing involves fundamentally two specific techniques.
1. underarm pass, or bump, where the ball touches the inside part of the joined forearms or
platform, at Overhand pass, where it is handled with the fingertips, like a set, above the head.
SET
The set is usually the contact that a team makes with the ball. The main goal of setting is to
put the ball in the air in such a way that it can be driven by an attack into the opponent’s court.
The setter coordinates the offensive movements of a team, and is the player who ultimately
decides which player will actually the ball
As with passing, one may distinguish between an overhand and a bump set, Since the
former allows for more control over the speed and direction of the ball, the bump is used only
when the ball is so slow it cannot be properly handled with fingertips, or in beach volleyballs
where rules regulating overhand setting are more stringent. In the case of a set, one also
speaks of a front or back set, meaning whether the ball is passed in the direction the setter is
facing or behind the setter. There is also a jump set that is used when the ball is too close to the
net,. In this case the setter usually jumps off his or her right foot straight up to avoid going into
the net. The setter usually stands about of the way from the left to the right of the net and faces
the left ( the larger portion of net that he or she can see).
Sometimes a setter refrains from raising the ball for a teammate to perform an attack and
tries to play it directly onto the opponents’ court. This movement is called a ‘’dump’’ The most
common dumps are to ‘’throw’’ the ball behind the setter or in front of the setter to zones 2 and
4. More experienced setters toss the ball into the deep corners or spike the ball on the second
hit.
ATTACK
An attack in progress--
The attack ( or spike, the slang term) is usually the third contact a team makes with the ball.
The object of attacking is to toss the ball so that it lands on the opponents’ court and cannot be
defended. A player makes a series of steps(the ‘’approach’’) jumps, and swings at the ball.
Ideally the contact with the ball is made at the apex of the hitter’s jump. At the moment of
contact, the hitter’s arm is fully extended above his or her head and slightly forward, making the
highest possible contact while maintaining the ability to deliver a powerful hit. The hitter uses
arm swing, wrist snap , and a rapid forward contraction of the entire body to drive the ball. A
’bounce’ is a slang term for very hard/ loud spike that follows an almost straight trajectory
steeply downward into the opponents’ court and bounces very high into the air.
Contemporary volleyball comprises a number of attacking techniques:
 Backcourt (or backrow) attack performed by a back row player.The player must jump from
behind the 3-meter line before making contact with the ball, but may land in front of the 3-
meter line.
 Line and Cross-court Shot: refers to whether the ball flies in a straight trajectory parallel to
the side lines, or crosses through the court in an angle. A cross-court shot with a very
pronounced angle, resulting in the ball landing near the 3-meter line, is called a cut shot.
 Dip/Dink/Tip/Cheat: the player does not try to make a hit, but touches the ball lightly, so that
it lands on an area of the opponent’s court that is not being covered by the defense.
 Tool/Wipe/block-abuse: the player does not try to make a hard spike, but hits the ball so
that it touches the opponent’s block and then bounce off-court.
 Off-speed hit: the player does not hit the ball hard, reducing its acceleration and thus
confusing the opponent’s defence.
 Quick hit/’’One’’: an attack( usually by the middle blocker) where the approach and jump
begin before the setter contacts the ball. The set( called a ‘’quick set’’) is placed only slightly
above the net and ball is struck by the hitter almost immediately after leaving the setter’s
hands. Quick attacks are often effective because they isolate the middle blocker to be the
only blocker on the hit.
 Slide: a variation of the quick hit that uses a low back set. The middle hitter steps around
the setter and hits from behind him or her.
 Double quick hit/’’Stack’’/’’Tandem’’: a variation of quick hit where two hitters, one in front
and one behind the setter or both in front of the setter, jump to perform a quick hit at the
same time. It can be used to deceive opposite blockers and free a fourth hitter attacking
from backcourt, maybe without block at all.
BLOCK
3 players performing a block
Blocking refers to the actions taken by players standing at the net to stop or alter an
opponents’ attack.
A block that is aimed at completely stopping an attack, thus making the ball remain in the
opponents’ court, is called offensive. A well-executed offensive block is performed by jumping
and reaching to penetrate with one’s arms and hands over the net and into the opponent’s
area . The jump should be timed so as to intercept the ball’s trajectory prior to it crossing over
the net. Palms are held deflected downward about 45-60 degrees toward the interior of the
opponents court . A ‘’roof’’ is a spectacular offensive block that redirects the power and speed of
the attack straight down to the attacker’s floor, as if the attacker has hit the ball into the
underside of a peaked house roof.
By contrast, it is called a defensive, or ‘’soft’’ block if the goal is to control and deflect the
hard-driven ball up so that it slows down and becomes more easy to be defended. A well-
executed soft-block is performed by jumping and placing one’s hands above the net with no
penetration into the opponent’s court and with the palms up and fingers pointing backward.
 Blocking is also classified according to the number of players involved. Thus, one may speak
of single ( or solo), double, or triple block.
Successful blocking does not always result in a ‘’result’’ and many times does not even touch
the ball. While it’s obvious that a block was a success when the attacker is roofed, a block that
consistently forces the attacker away from his or her ‘power’ or preferred attack into a more
easily controlled shot by the defense is also a highly successful block.
At the same time, the block position influences the positions where other defenders place
themselves while opponent hitters are spiking
DIG
Digging is the ability to prevent the ball from touching one’s court after a spike, particularly a
ball that is nearly touching the ground. In many aspects, this skill is similar to passing, or
bumping: overhand dig and bump are also used to distinguish between defensive actions taken
with fingertips or with joined arms.
Some specific techniques are more common in digging than in passing. A player may
sometimes perform a ‘’dive’’,I.e., throw his or her body in the air with a forward movement in an
attempt to save the ball, and land on his or her chest. When the player also slides his or her
hand under a ball that is almost touching the court, this is called a ‘’pancake’’.
Sometimes a player may also be forced to drop his or her body quickly to the floor in order to
save the ball. In this situation, the player makes use of a specific rolling technique to minimize
the chances of injuries.
COACHING
Basic principles
Coaching for volleyball can be classified under two main categories: match coaching and
developmental coaching. The objective of match coaching is to win a match by managing a
team’s strategy. Developmental coaching emphasizes player development through the
reinforcement of basic skills during exercise known as ‘’drills’’. Drills promote repetition and
refinement of volleyball movements. Particularly in footwork patterns, body positioning relative
to others, and ball contact.A coach will construct drills that simulate match situation thereby
encouraging speed of movement, anticipation, timing, communication, and team-work. At the
various stages of a player’s career, a coach will tailor drills to meet the strategic requirements of
the team. The American Volleyball Coaches Association is the largest organization in the world
dedicated exclusively to volleyball coaching.
Strategy
An image from an international match between Italy and Russia in 2005. A russian player on
the left has just served, with three men of his team next to the net moving to their assigned
block positions from the starting ones. Two other, in the back-row positions, are preparing for
defense . Italy. On the right, has three men in a line, each preparing to pass if the ball reaches
him. The setter is waiting for their pass while the middle hitter with no. 10 will jump for a quick hit
if the pass is good enough. Alessandro Fei( no. 14) has no passing duties and is preparing for a
back-row hit on the right side of the field. Note the two liberos with different color dress. Middle
hitters/blockers are commonly substituted by liberos in their back-row positions.
Player specialization
There are 5 positions filled on every volleyball team at the elite level. Setter,Outside
Hitter/Left Side Hitter, Middle Hitter and Opposite Hitter/Right Side Hitter and Libero/Defensive
Specialist. Each of these positions plays a specific, key role in winning a volleyball match.
 Setters have the task for orchestrating the offense of the team. They aim for second touch
and their main responsibility is to place the ball in the air where the attackers can place the
ball into the opponents’ court for point. They have to be able to operate with the hitters,
manage the tempo of their side of the court and choose the right attackers to set. Setters
need to have swift and skillful appraisal and tactical accuracy, and must be quick at moving
around the court
 Liberos are defensive players, who are responsible for receiving the attack or serve and
are usually the players on the court with the quickest reaction time and best passing skills.
Librero mean ‘’free’’ as they have the ability to substitute for any other player on the court
during each play. They do not necessarily need to be tall, as they never play at the net,
which allow shorter players with strong passing and defensive skills to excel in the position
and play an important role in the team’s success. A player designated as a libero for a
match may not play other roles during that match. Liberos wear a different colour jersey
than their teammates.
 Middle blockers or Middle bitters are players that can perform very fast attacks that
usually take can perform very fast attacks the usually take place near the setter. They
specialized in blocking, since they must attempt to stop equally fast plays from their
opponents and then quickly set up a double block at the sides of the court. In non-
beginners play, every team will have two middle hitters.
 Outside Hitters attack near from the left antenna. Since most sets to the outside hitter may
take a longer approach, always starting from outside the court sideline. In non-beginners’
play, there are again two outside hitters on every team in every match.
 Opposite hitters or Right side hitters carry the offensive workload for a volleyball team.
Their primary responsibilities are to attack the ball from the right side and to put up a well
formed block against the opponents ‘Outside Hitter’. This player hits the most balls on the
team. He/She is set from the front row and the back row. Sets to the opposite usually go to
the right side.
FORMATIONS
4-2
The three standard volleyball formations are known as ‘’4-2’’,’’6-2’’ and ‘’5-1’’, which refers to
the numbers of hitters and setters respectively. 4-2 is a basic formation used only in beginners’
play 5-1 is by far the most common formation in high-level play.
The 4-2 formation has four hitters and two setters. The setters usually set from the middle front
or night 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 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 disadvantages to this offensive formation is that there are only two attackers,
leaving a team with fewer offensive weapons.
Another respect is to see the setter as an attacking force, albert 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
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 back rows. After service, the player 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 posses 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 15 substitutions per set ( an
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 on;ly two when the setter is in the front row, for a total of five.
The player opposite the setter in a 5-1 rotation is called the opposite hitter. In general,
opposite hitter 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(position1), but are increasingly
perform,ed 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 hitter, increasing the chance for the attacking team to make a point.
There is another advantage: when the setter is a front-row player, he or she is allowed 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 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
look like a 4-2; when the setter is in the back row, the offense looks like a 6-2.
VOLLEYBALL GLOSSARY
Ace- a serve that hits the ground before the receiving team have had a chance to hit it back
Aerials- another name for the antennae, the upward extensions of the net posts by 80
centimeters (2.6 feet) to act as a guide for serving
Attacking block- a block with attempts to hit the ball straight into the opponents court
Attacking Over Opponent’s Court- A player is not allowed to attack the ball on the opposite
side of the net. If the ball is hit above the spiker’s side of the net and then the follow through
causes the spiker’s hand and arm to cross the net without contacting an opponent or the net,
such action does not constitute a fault.
Back-court spike- a spike or smash by a back court player
Block- Blocking is the action close to the net which intercepts the ball coming from the
opponent’s side by making contact with the ball before it crosses the net, as it crosses the net or
immediately after it crosses the net. An attempt to block does not constitute a block unless the
ball is contacted during the effort.
Back Line attacker- A backline attacker returning the ball to the opponent’s side while forward
of the attack line must contact the ball when at least part of the ball is below the level of the top
of the net over the attacking team’s area. The restriction does not apply if the backline player
jumps from clearly behind the attack line and, after contacting the ball, lands on or in front of the
line.
Bump(pass)- technique of playing ball using forearms,hands together, to direct the ball.
Bump(Set)- a forearm pass used as a set.
Carry- a fault called if ball comes to rest in the course of contact by one player.
Chickenwing- a last-ditch way to dig a ball using your elbow and a bent arm.
Clamp- to block a shot; so-called because the blocker would clam it.
Contacted ball- a contacted ball is the one that touches or is touched by any part of a player’s
body or clothing.
Contact with the net-a) if opponents contact the net at the same time, it shall constitute a
double fault and the first referee shall direct a replay.b) If a player’s action causes the player to
contact the player’s body or uniform, that player shall be charged with a. fault.
Court- the playing surface divided into two equal areas by a net. In its official form, volleyball is
played on a rectangular court 18 meters(59 feet 0.75 inches) long and 9 meters (29 feet 6.475
inches) wide; a net placed 2.24 meters (7 feet 4.125 inches) high
Coverage- most often refers to backing up a partner’s hit when the block is up and the ball
comes back.
Cross court/Cut Shot- an offensive hit when a player, instead of hitting with power, slices the
ball just over and nearly parallel to the net.
Crossing The centerline- contacting the opponent’s playing area with any part of the body
except the feet is a fault. Touching the opponent’s area with a foot or feet is not a fault providing
that some part of the encroaching foot or feet remain on or above the centerline and does not
interfere with the play of any opponent.
Dead ball- when the ball is out of play. A live ball becomes dead when: (a) The ball touches an
antenna or the net outside an antenna;(b) The ball does not cross the net completely between
the antennae;(c) The ball strikes the floor, floor obstacle or a wall; (d) The ball contacts the
ceiling or overhead obstruction above non-playing area.(e) A player commits a fault;(f) A served
ball contacts the net or other objects;(g) The first or second referee blows a whistle, even
though inadvertently, and(h) A player causes the ball to come to rest on a rafter or other
overhead obstruction that is less than 23 feet above the height of the playing surface.
Dig- playing the ball from below waist height with one or both hands
Deep Dish- to cradle the ball for a long time when setting; very soft hands, almost like a ball
going into jello. Some setters hold onto the ball, legally, to get a commitment out of the opposing
blockers-catch-look-look-release…
Dink- a very softly hit spike; ball played just over the net or the spiker’s hands, instead of
spiking.
Dish-to set the ball well.
Double fault- a double fault occurs when players from opposing teams commit faults
simultaneously. In such cases, the referee will direct a replay.
Double hit- Any player contacting the ball more than once, with whatever part of the body,
without any other player having touched it between these contacts, will be considered as having
committed a double hit. Such contacts are a fault.
Down ball- A ball the opponent jump and attacks but does so from a deep position or not with
total control. Blockers may or may not jump but stay near the net.
Dump- when the setter, instead of setting it setting the hitter, dunks the ball over the net.
Facial Disgracial- A spike that hits the opposing blocker or floor defender in the face.
Floater- a serve that’’ floats’’ through the air because it has no spin; much like a knuckle ball in
basketball.
Foot fault- stepping on the court or out of bounds serving the ball.
Free ball- A ball the opponent cannot attack and must yield by passing over the net. Blockers
drop off the net to near the three meter line and setter awaits a good pass to the target area.
Follow- through- completing the movements of a play
Foot fault- a server causes a foot fault of one of the feet touches or passes over the net.
Blockers drop off the net to near the three meter line and setter awaits a good pass to the target
area.
Front court- the area of court between the attack line and the net.
Hard block- when the blockers attack a smashed ball
Handcuffed- unable to dig or play a ball because you couldn’t get your hands on it.
Hard-Driven Ball- any spiked ball hit from above or even with the height of the net may be
handled with a double hit by any part of the body, so long as the hit is the first attempt to play
the ball. A spiked ball touching the net does not disqualify a ball from being ruled hard-driven.
Held Ball- When a ball visibly comes to rest momentarily in the hands of a player, it is
considered as being held. The ball must hit in a manner that is rebounds cleanly after contact
with a player. Scooping, lifting, pushing, or carrying the ball will be considered a form of holding
(carry).
Husband and Wife- when a serve drops untouched between two receivers who fail to move;
each thinking other’s going to get it.
Joust- when two players on opposing sides attempt to block the ball at the same time pushing it
onto each other’s side of the net.
J-stroke- using a “bent elbow” passing technique to pull a ball out of the net.
Jump pass- a set made by a player while in the air
Kill- when the team spikes the ball and it either ends in a point or a sideout
Knuckler- An emergency one-handed technique to save balls set tight to the net. The fingers
are curled and the ball hits the heel of the hand to be punched up.
Kong Block- A blocker who only uses one arm to block, the other arm hangs either by the side,
or on the net, like king kong swatting at planes from the Empire State Building.
Lob pass- a ball passed in a high curve
Multiple attack/block- when two or three players take part in an attack/block