Nature of Volleyball
1. History and Nature of Volleyball
2. Dimensions
3. Object of the game
4. Mechanics of the game (Rules, Procedures, Scoring)
History
 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 6’6″ 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.
Timeline of Significant Volleyball Events
 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) were introduced.
 In 1917, the game was changed from 21 to 15 points.
 In 1920, three hits per side and back row attack rules
were instituted.
 In 1922, the first YMCA national championships were
held in Brooklyn, NY. Twenty-seven teams from 11
states were represented.
 In 1928, it became clear that tournaments and rules
were needed, so the United States Volleyball
Association (USVBA, now USA Volleyball) was
formed. The first U.S. Open was staged, as the field
was open to nonYMCA squads.
 In 1934, national volleyball referees were approved
and recognized.
 In 1947, the Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball
(FIVB) was founded.
 In 1948, the first two-man beach tournament was
held.
 In 1949, the initial World Championships were held in
Prague, Czechoslovakia.
 In 1964, volleyball was introduced to the Olympic
Games in Tokyo.
 In 1965, the California Beach Volleyball Association
(CBVA) was formed.  In 1983, the Association of
Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was formed.
 In 1986, the Women’s Professional Volleyball
Association (WPVA) was formed.
 In 1990, the World League was created.
 In 1996, two-person beach volleyball became an
Olympic sport.
 All versions have the dual objective of causing the ball
to land in your opponent's court while preventing it
from landing in your own.
 Every version is considered a team sport, which
requires coordinating and communicating with
teammates to reach common objectives.
 Each team is allowed a limited number of touches on
the ball before it has to go over the net.
Dimensions
 The game is played on a volleyball court 18 meters
(59 feet) long and 9 meters (29.5 feet) wide, divided
into two 9 m × 9 m halves by a one-meter (40-inch)
wide net placed so that the top of the net is 2.43
meters (7 feet 11 5/8 inches) above the center of the
court for men's competition, and 2.24 meters (7 feet 4
1/8 inches) for women's competition (these heights
are varied for veterans and junior competitions).
 The object of the game is to send the ball over the net
in order to ground it on the opponent's court, and to
prevent the same effort by the opponent.
 If the serving team makes an error, it loses the serve,
and the receiving team scores a point.
 An error by the receiving team gives one point to the
servers. A team continues to serve as long as it
scores. A point is scored on each serve, by the team
who wins the volley.
 The team has three hits for returning the ball (in
addition to the block contact). One player may
execute two of the three hits, but not two in
succession.
 The serve must go directly from the server to the
opponents’ court and is allowed to touch the net, as
long as it goes over the net.
 A match consists of the best of five games at the
collegiate and high school levels. Volleyball games
are played to 25 points, but teams must win by at
least 2 points, with no final score cap.
 Change of Courts
 After each set, the teams change courts with
the exception of the deciding set. In the
deciding set, once a team reaches 8 points,
 the teams change courts without delay and
the player positions remain the same.
Terminology
1. Ace serve – any serve delivered in such a manner that the
opponents are unable to receive it.
2. Block – Defensive play by players (or a player) in the
forward position who places their hands and arms above the
net so that a spiked ball rebounds into the opponents’ court or
back to their own.
3. Bump pass – The forearm pass made on low balls.
4. Carrying the ball – The ball must be clearly batted. If it rests
momentarily in the player’s hands, it is considered illegal.
5. Dead ball – A ball out of play following a point, side out, or
any other decision of the referee temporarily suspending play.
6. Dig pass – A pass made with the hand slightly cupped or
with the fist of one hand, usually on a difficult play.
7. Dink – A soft shot off the fingertips used when faking a
spike.
8. Double foul – Infraction of rules by both teams during the
same play. Results in a replay of the point.
9. Double hit – A ball hit twice in succession by the same
player in a single attempt to play the ball.
10. Forearm pass – A pass made off the forearms. Used to
play served balls, hard-driven spikes, or any low ball.
11. Free ball – A return of a ball by the opponent that may be
easily handled.
12. Game Point - That situation in a game when a team is
within one point of winning the game.
13. Kill – A spike that cannot be returned.
14. Overhand pass – A pass made by contacting the ball
above the head with the finger pads.
15. Point – A point is scored when a team fails to return the
ball legally to the opponents’ court.
16. Rotation – Shifting of the players, clockwise, when gaining
the ball from the opponents.
17. Serve – The method of putting the ball in play over the net
by striking it with the hand.
18. Set – The placement of the ball near the net to facilitate
spiking.
19. Setter – Person assigned to set the ball.
20. Side out – Side is out when the serving team fails to win a
point or plays the ball illegally.
21. Spike – A ball hit with a strong downward force into the
opponents’ court.
22. Spiker – Person assigned to spike the ball.
RULES OF THE GAME
1. The ball must be served by the right back from anywhere
behind the rear line, and may be hit in any manner with the
hand.
2. Only one serve is allowed per side point and it must land
within the opponents’ court. It may touch the net as long as it
goes over.
3. It is a foul for players to touch the net, or to step completely
over the center line.
4. Lifting or throwing the ball while it is in play is a foul. The
play must be a distinct hit of the ball.
5. A ball landing on a boundary line is “in”.
6. A point is scored on each volley, by the team who wins the
volley. You do not have to be the serving team to score a point.
7. If a ball touches a player or a player touches a ball, he is
considered as having played the ball. If the ball hits 2 or more
blockers after being spiked, it is considered as having been
played just once. A block is not considered as one of the three
allowable hits.
8. The ball may be played only three times by one team in a
volley, and a player may not play it twice in succession but
may play it twice if it is played by a teammate in between.
9. Players of the serving team must rotate clockwise when
receiving the ball to serve.
10. When two opponents simultaneously hit the ball out of
bounds or touch the net at the same time, the point is played
over.
11. Players may shift position after the ball is served, but back
row players are not permitted to block or spike. (see #18).
12. Balls may be played only with body parts above the waist.
Ball may not be kicked.
13. First serve or choice of court side is decided by a coin toss.
Teams alternate opening serves with each game.
14. Net height is 8 feet for men, 7 feet 4 ¼ inches for women.
Physical education classes may adjust net height to age and
ability of their students.
15. Players substituted for may return only for their
replacement.
16. Ball may be blocked over the net, but may not be touched
before the spike. You may not block a set or serve.
17. Ball being spiked must be on your side of the net, but you
may follow through over the net.
18. Back row players may spike form behind the 10 foot
spiking line.

Serve
 The serve is obviously an important part of volleyball
match.
 To serve is to put the ball in play, to start every rally. It
is one skill that is under total control.
 It is a form of attack because with a strong and tough
serve, it can pressure on the opponents.
 A player stands behind the inline and serves the ball,
in an attempt to drive it into the opponent's court. The
main objective is to make it land inside the court; it is
also desirable to set the ball's direction, speed and
acceleration so that it becomes difficult for the
receiver to handle it properly. A serve is called an
"ace" when the ball lands directly onto the court or
travels outside the court after being touched by an
opponent; when the only player on the server's team
to touch the ball is the server.
Types of Serve
A. Underhand Serve – 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.
B. Overhand Float Serve – the alignment of feet, hips
and shoulders sets up the proper serve position. From
proper weight transfer on approach to hand position
at the point of contact.
Three Types of Overhand Serve
1. Standing Overhand Serve
2. Standing Float Serve
3. Standing Top Spin Serve
 Jump Floater Serve – A firm wrist and a focus on the
toss will help in a successful jump floater.
 Jump Serve with Top Spin – the most difficult part of
this volleyball serve is the ball toss. Using much of the
same technique as a ground Top Spin Serve, jump
Serve follows a toss, approach, attack pattern that will
get the player and the ball in the air.
 Top Spin Serve – “Pont the toes where the player
wants the ball to go” for the volleyball serve a player
needs to use more than his/her toes. A snapping wrist
and top of the ball contact will get him/her the spin
necessary for an impressive serve.
Pass/Passing
 The pass is the cornerstone of every players’
game. It is the first contact of a team with balls
coming from the opponent’s serve, spike, tip or
volley. Pass is the most frequently used skill in
volleyball.
 It is called a” passing machine”. He/ she can
easily and consistently direct the ball to where
the setter is.
 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
Two specific techniques:
 underarm pass, or bump - where the ball touches
the inside part of the joined forearms or platform,
at waistline; and overhand pass, where it is
handled with the fingertips, like a set, above the
head.
 however, there are much tighter regulations on
the overhand pass in beach volleyball. When a
player passes a ball to their setter, it's ideal that
the ball does not have a lot of spin to make it
easier for the setter.
Set
 The set is usually the second 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 attack the ball.
 the bump is used only when the ball is so low it
cannot be properly handled with fingertips, or in
beach volleyball 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.
 jump set that is used when the ball is too close to the
net. In this case, the setter usually jumps off their right
foot straight up to avoid going into the net. The setter
usually stands about ⅔ 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).
 As with a set or an overhand pass, the setter/passer
must be careful to touch the ball with both hands at
the same time.If one hand is noticeably late to touch
the ball this could result in a less effective set, as well
as the referee calling a 'double hit' and giving the
point to the opposing team.
Attack
 The attack, also known as the spike, is usually the
third contact a team makes with the ball. The object of
attacking is to handle the ball so that it lands on the
opponent's court and cannot be defended. A player
makes a series of steps (the "approach"), jumps, and
swings at the ball.
 A 'bounce' is a slang term for a very hard/loud spike
that follows an almost straight trajectory steeply
downward into the opponent's court and bounces very
 high into the air. A "kill" is the slang term for an attack
that is not returned by the other team thus resulting in
a point.
 Blocking refers to the actions taken by players
standing at the net to stop or alter an opponent's
attack.
 Digging is the ability to prevent the ball from touching
one's court after a spike or attack, particularly a ball
that is nearly touching the ground.In many aspects, TEAM TO SERVE
this skill is similar to passing, or bumping: overhand
dig and bump are also used to distinguish between  Extend the arm to the side of the team that will serve.
defensive actions taken with fingertips or with joined
arms. It varies from passing however in that is it a
much more reflex based skill, especially at the higher
levels. It is especially important while digging for
players to stay on their toes; several players choose
to employ a split step to make sure they're ready to
move in any direction.

HAND SIGNALS IN VOLLEYBALL

CHANGE OF COURTS
Officials
 Raise the forearms front and back, and twist them
 First Referee = “Up Ref” around the body.
 Second Referee = “Down Ref”
 Line judges on opposite corners

TIME- OUT

FIRST REFEREE  Place the palm of one hand over the fingers of the
other, held vertically (forming a “T”), and then indicate
 Head Official the requesting team.
 Responsible for ball play
 Has power to overrule other officials

SECOND REFEREE
SUBSTITUTION
 Responsible for net play
 Should move to get best view of play  Circular motion of the forearms around each other.
 Should not “ball-watch”

MISCONDUCT WARNING & MISCONDUCT PENALTY

AUTHORIZATION TO SERVE
 Show a yellow card for a warning; red card for a
 Move the hand to indicate the direction of service.
penalty.
  Raise both arms vertically, palms forward.

EXPULSION

 Show both cards jointly for explosion. POSITIONAL OR ROTATIONAL FAULT

 Make a circular motion with the forefinger.

DISQUALIFICATION BALL “IN”

 Show red and yellow cards separately for  Point the arm and fingers toward the floor.
disqualification.

END OF SET OR MATCH BALL “OUT”

 Cross the forearms in front of the chest, hands open.  Raise the forearms vertically, hands open, palms
toward the body.

BALL NOT TOSSED OR RELEASED AT THE SERVICE HIT

 Lift the extended arm, the palm of the hand facing CATCH
upward.
 Slowly lift the forearm, palm of the hand facing
upward

DELAY IN SERVICE

 Raise eight fingers, spread open. DOUBLE CONTACT

 Raise two fingers, spread open.

BLOCKING FAULT OR SCREENING

 PENETRATION INTO THE OPPONENT COURT BALL
CROSSING THE LOWER SPACE OR THE SERVER
TOUCHES THE COURT (END LINE) OR THE PLAYER STEPS
OUTSIDE HIS/HER COURT AT THE MOMENT OF THE
SERVICE HIT

 Point to the center line or to the respective line.

FOUR HITS

 Raise four fingers, spread open.

DOUBLE FAULT AND REPLAY

 Raise both thumbs vertically.

Indicate the espective side of the net. BALL TOUCHED

 Brush with the palm of one hand the fingers of the

other; held vertically; USAV: Brush fingers of opposite
hand once over palm of vertical hand.

REACHING BEYOND THE NET

 Place a hand above the net, palm facing downward.

DELAY WARNING AND DELAY PENALTY

 Cover the wrist with a yellow card (warning) and with

a red card (penalty).

ATTACK HIT FAULT

 Make a downward motion with the forearm, hand

open.
LINE JUDGE

 Responsible for out of bounds, ball contact, and foot

faults
BALL IN

 Lines: Point down with flag.

Court

 Green lines on floor

BALL “OUT”

 Lines: Raise flag vertically.

Players

 Players rotate clockwise

BALL TOUCHED
Officials
 Lines: Raise flag and touch the top with the palm of
 Referee = “Up Ref”
the free hand.
 Second Referee = “Down Ref”
 Line judges on opposite corners

CROSSING SPACE FAULTS, BALL TOUCHED AN OUTSIDE

OBJECT OR FOOT FAULT BY ANY PLAYER DURING
SERVICE
Referee

 Head Official
 Responsible for ball play
 Has power to overrule other officials

Lines: Wave flag over the head and point to the antenna or the
respective line.

Second Referee
JUDGEMENT IMPOSSIBLE Raise and cross both arms and
hands in front of the chest.  Responsible for net play
 Should move to get best view of play
  Should not “ball-watch”
Line Judge
 Responsible for out of bounds, ball contact, and foot
faults
General Rules
 Rally Point Scoring will be used
 Games will be played up to 25 point
 You must win by 2 points
 If the lead is less than 2, the game will continue until
there is a 2 point advantage
 The first team to win 2 out of 3 games wins the match
 A coin toss will decide first service
General Rules
 4 vs. 4 requires 3 players to begin
 6 vs. 6 requires 4 players to start
 Co-Ed requires a female player on the court at all
times
Time Outs and Subs
 Teams get one time out per game
 Give about 30 seconds
Substitutions may enter at any dead ball once
they are waved on by an official.
Captain’s Meeting
 Should be administered by Referee
 Before every game, the officials will have a
pregame conference with the captains
 Remind the captains of the basic rules and go
over any problem areas, such as foot faults
 Administer the coin toss and report the results to
the scorers table
 Ask if there are any questions and wish both
teams good luck
Out of Bounds
 The Ball is out of bounds and becomes dead when it:
 Touches the wall or ceiling
 Touches the floor
 Touches the net antennas, the net outside
the antennas, or does not pass between the
antennas when going over the net
 Touches a non-player or one of the referees
Serve
 Server is the player in the back, right position
 Ball will be hit with one hand, fist, or arm while the ball
is held or thrown by the server
 Change from last year
 Must be completely behind the serving area.
 Server is allowed one reserve during their term of
service
 The ball may hit the net provided it continues onto the
opponents court
Screening
 Players on the serving team can not intentionally
screen the opposing team from seeing the serve
o Waiving arms
o Jumping
o Standing to Close to the Server
o Penalty — Point and Side Out

Illegal Service
 A serve is illegal when the server:
o Hits the ball illegally
o Is touching the end line
o Is out of serving order
o Does not serve within 5 seconds of whistle
o Attempts to use more than one reserve
o Penalty — Point and Side Out
Service Faults
 A served ball becomes a service fault when it:
 Touches the server’s teammates or passes
under the net
 Touches the ceiling, does not pass through
antennas, or lands out of bounds
 When receiving team is out of position and
the ball is served illegally, the serving team
is penalized
 When the receiving team is out of position
and a service fault occurs, the receiving
team is penalized
Live and Dead Balls
 The ball becomes live the moment it is legally served
 The ball is dead when:
 It is grounded
 It lands or becomes out of bounds
 Ball or PLAYER breaks the plane of a non-playing
area
 Player commits a foul
Contacting The Ball
 Contact is any touch of the
ball by a player
 A hit is a contact that is
counted as one of the teams 3
allowable plays before the ball
is returned to the other side
 The ball has crossed the net
when it is: completely over the
net, is partially over the net
and is contacted by an
opponent, or no part of the ball
is over the net and it is legally
blocked
 Legal contact is a touch of the ball by a player’s body
that does not allow the ball to visibly come to rest or
involve prolonged contact
 Joust — When two opposing players make contact
with the ball simultaneously causing the ball to stop
 Multiple Contact:
 More than one contact by a player during ONE
ATTEMPT at the ball.
 Simultaneous Contact: Contact by teammates
simultaneously. Any player may make the next hit
 Successive Contacts: Two or more attempts at the
ball by the same player without the ball being
contacted by another player
 Illegal
 Penalty for Illegal Contact — Point and Side Out.
Net Play
 The ball may contact the net and play will continue
 Players may not contact a ball that is completely on
the opponents side, except for a legal block
 To call a foot fault, the guilty player must have foot or
hand COMPLETELY over the line
 Net Foul — Any time a player contacts the net, or
another player, while the ball is live, it is a penalty
 Exception — When the ball moves the net into a
player
Blocking
 Blocking a ball that is entirely on the opponent’s side
of the net is legal as long as the:
 Team has completed their attack
 Team directs the ball toward the opponents
side (referee’s judgment)
 Ball is falling near the net and no member of
the attacking team could play the ball
(referee’s judgment)
 A serve cannot be blocked
 The ball may be attacked as soon as it is
partially over the net (except on a serve)
Fouls
 Double Fouls — Occur when opposing players
commit violations at the same time
 Double Hit — Successive or multiple hits by one
player
  Foot Fault — Player crosses completely over the
service or center line

Penalties:

 Single Foul: Point and Side Out

 Live Ball, Double Foul: Replay
 Dead Ball, Double Foul: Both penalties accessed
Teams receive points and rotate

Replays

 Replay is awarded when:

 An inadvertent official’s whistle
interrupts play
 Player unintentionally serves before
signaled to
 Live Ball, Double Foul occurs
 Conflicting calls that cannot be resolved
 Ball becomes dead in the net inside the
antennas or an overhead obstruction
over playable area
 When a player is interfered with by any
non-player in a playable area
 Foreign object enters the court (another
ball or player from a different court)
 Ball hits a backboard or supports in a
vertical position AND the official
believes the ball would have been good