DECENA, MARIAN KATE S.

BSN2C
PE104

Volleyball, game played by two teams, usually of six players on a side,

in which the players use their hands to bat a ball back and forth over a
high net, trying to make the ball touch the court within the opponents’
playing area before it can be returned. To prevent this a player on the
opposing team bats the ball up and toward a teammate before it
touches the court surface—that teammate may then volley it back
across the net or bat it to a third teammate who volleys it across the
net. A team is allowed only three touches of the ball before it must be
returned over the net.

HISTORY

Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan, physical director

of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke,
Massachusetts. It was designed as an indoor sport for businessmen
who found the new game of basketball too vigorous. Morgan called the
sport “mintonette,” until a professor from Springfield College in
Massachusetts noted the volleying nature of play and proposed the
name of “volleyball.” The original rules were written by Morgan and
printed in the first edition of the Official Handbook of the Athletic
League of the Young Men’s Christian Associations of North America
(1897). The game soon proved to have wide appeal for both sexes in
schools, playgrounds, the armed forces, and other organizations in the
United States, and it was subsequently introduced to other countries.

In 1916 rules were issued jointly by the YMCA and the National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The first nationwide tournament
in the United States was conducted by the National YMCA Physical
Education Committee in New York City in 1922. The United States
Volleyball Association (USVBA) was formed in 1928 and recognized as
the rules-making, governing body in the United States. From 1928 the
USVBA—now known as USA Volleyball (USAV)—has conducted annual
national men’s and senior men’s (age 35 and older) volleyball
championships, except during 1944 and 1945. Its women’s division was
started in 1949, and a senior women’s division (age 30 and older) was
added in 1977. Other national events in the United States are
conducted by member groups of the USAV such as the YMCA and the
NCAA.

Volleyball was introduced into Europe by American troops during World

War I, when national organizations were formed. The Fédération
Internationale de Volley Ball (FIVB) was organized in Paris in 1947 and
moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1984. The USVBA was one of the 13
charter members of the FIVB, whose membership grew to more than
210 member countries by the late 20th century.

TERMINOLOGIES

1. Outside Hitter
The player that plays on the left side of the court in the front and back-
row is called the “outside hitter” or “left-side hitter." This player’s main
job is to attack and pass. Typically this player is best at terminating the
ball and will receive 60% or more of the sets in a match. They should be
trained in hitting in less-than-perfect situations as bad passes should be
set to this player to attack. If this player will play back-row as well, they
will also need to be a strong serve receive passer, server, and defender.

2. Middle Blocker
The player that plays in the middle of the court in the front-row is
called the “middle blocker." This player’s main job is to attack and
block. Typically this player hits well in medium to perfect situations and
can move well along the net, as well as get their hands over onto the
opponent's side of the net while they are blocking. This player is often
replaced by the libero in the back-row but this decision should be based
on the abilities of the players on the team.

3. Opposite/Right Side
The player that plays on the right side of the court in the front-row and
back-row and is not setting is called the “opposite.” This player’s main
job is to attack and block and is less involved in play at lower levels
because of the difficulty of back setting to them. This player will be
blocking on 60% or more of the plays since the opposing outside hitters
will receive the majority of sets.

4. Setter
The player in charge of the second ball is called the “setter." They don’t
necessarily play every second ball but they are in charge of determining
who will play the second ball. This player’s main job is to set a “hit-
able” ball for their teammates and allow the hitters to do the work to
score. They most often play on the right side of the court either in the
front-row, back-row, or both (again, this decision should be based on
the abilities of the players on the team).

5. Libero
The player who wears a different color jersey and only plays in the
back-row (typically middle-back) is called the “libero." This player’s
main job is to serve receive pass, play defense and step in as the
backup setter. They are allowed to play for any/all of the six players on
the court in the back-row. Depending on the league, one or two liberos
may be designated at the beginning of the match and used in any
game. If two liberos may play, then they may replace each other at any
time but cannot play together at the same time.

6. Defensive Specialist (DS)

The player that subs in for another player just to play back-row is called
a “defensive specialist." This player’s main job is to play defense and
pass on serve receive. They can be subbed in at any time but typically
are subbed in before their teammate serves to serve in their place or
after their teammate serves to start on serve receive (base this decision
on the abilities of the players).

7. Serving Specialist
The player subbed in only to serve for their teammate is called a
“serving specialist." Once the opposing team sides out, this player is
subbed out (base this decision on the abilities of the players).

8. Left-Back
The back-row area on the left is called “left-back." A player can be said
to play “left-back” on defense or serve receive. Alternatively, the back-
row area in the middle is called “middle-back." A player can be said to
play “middle-back” on defense or serve receive. And finally, the back-
row area on the right is called “right-back." A player can be said to play
“right-back” on defense or serve receive.

9. Left-Front
The front-row area on the left is called “left-front." A player can be said
to play “left-front” on defense or offense.

10. Middle-Front
The front-row area in the middle is called “middle-front." A player can
be said to play “middle-front” on defense or offensek

EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

Center Line

A center line is marked at the center of the court dividing it equally into
30 feet squares, above which the net is placed.

Attack Line

An attack line is marked 10 feet of each side of the center line.

Service Line

A service line, the area from which the server may serve the volleyball,
is marked 10 feet inside the right sideline on each back line.

The Net

The net is placed directly above the center line, 7 feet 4 inches above
the ground for women and 8 feet above the ground for men.

Poles

Volleyball poles should be set at 36 feet apart, 3 feet further out from
the sidelines.

Ceiling Height

The minimum ceiling height should be 23 feet, though they should

preferably be higher.

Officials
A first (or main) referee, second referee, a scorer and two line judges
are required to umpire an official game of volleyball.

Just like most sports, the main referee upholds the rules throughout
the whole game and their decision is final. However, unlike football, a
volleyball team is allowed to make a formal protest with the scorer.

The second referee stands opposite the main referee and is responsible
for all substitutions, timeouts and the actions of the scorer's table.

The official scorer keeps track of the score throughout the volleyball
game and they also note down all the players' names.

Similar to tennis, an official game needs two to four line judges

governing each game.

SIMPLIFIED RULES

Each team has six starters and six alternates

Players may be substituted at any moment, however, they may only be

switched for the player who replaced them if they later return.

Before the ball must be returned, each team may hit the ball a
maximum of three times.

The defending team has a total of three attempts to block or return the
ball by hitting it again.

Up to 25 points can be scored in a game, and a win must be two clear

points.
The following will be considered violations:
When serving the ball, cross the baseline.

The ball tries to cross the net but is stopped by it (If the ball hits the net
and still goes over the net then this is perfectly legal).

The ball cannot be carried, palmed, or run with by any player.

Any portion of a player's body that touches the net is forbidden.

This is acceptable if they are claimed to have been hit by the net rather
than the opposite.

The ball is unable to pass through the net.

Players are unable to hit the ball by reaching beyond the net

BASIC SKILLS

Passing

Setting

Spiking

Blocking

Digging

Serving