P.E. Volleyball Terms

Bump

Ball hits forearm and is passed on

Spike

A ball hit with force by an offensive player trying to hit so that the defense cannot recover the ball

Dig

When a player passes a strongly spiked ball that is close to the floor

Ace

An outstanding serve which is not passable by the opposing team and results in a point for the serving team

Kill

An attack that earns the offensive team an immediate point

Block

When one to three players jump in front of the opposing spiker with their arms raised to prevent the ball from coming over to their side of the court

Assist

This is when a player sets up a teammate with a pass, set, or dig so that the teammate can spike the ball and earn a point for the team

Free Ball

An easy ball for the opposing team to play

Joust

When two players from opposite teams simultaneously meet above the net to contact the ball

Line Shot

A ball that is spiked right down the opposing team's sideline

Shank

A bad pass that flies into the audience or anywhere that it is not supposed to

Side-out

When the receiving team earns the right to serve after winning a rally

Strong Side

When a left handed hitter is hitting from the right front position or when a right handed hitter is hitting from the left front position

Cat shot

When a ball travels at a very sharp angle across the net from a spike at the hitter's strong side

Dink

A legal push of the ball around or over the blocker

Overlap

Positions of the players before contact with the ball while serving

Forearm Pass

Bumping the ball with the fleshy part of their forearms

Key

To predict a team's next play by watching how they have played so far

Overhand Pass

Passing controlled by fingers with both hands open taking place just above the forehead

Doubles

A game (mostly played outdoors on sand or grass) with four players involved, two on each side

Rotation

Movement of players clockwise around the court and through the serving position

Tagged

When player cannot move fast enough out of the way of a hard hit ball

Approach

Fast stride toward the net by a spiker before he jumps in the air

Beach Dig/Deep Dish

Ball received with open hands

Dump

Opponent uses a soft hit by the net instead of a spike to throw off the other team

Ball handling errors

Contacting ball illegally (Double touching, lifting, carrying, throwing)

Illegal block

Back row player when at the moment of contact the back row player is near the net and has part of their body above the top of the net

Illegal attack

Back row player attacking ball inside front zone when at the moment of contact the ball is completely above the net

Front zone

Area inside 3m/10ft line

Dimensions of volleyball court

60 x 30 ft

Double hit

Two consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same player

Net foul

Touching net during play

Foot fault

Foot crosses over or on the boundary line when serving

When, where, and by who was volleyball invented

9th February 1895 Holyoke, Massachusetts (USA) by William G. Morgan

Highest governing body for volleyball

FIVB (International Federation of Volleyball

Types of volleyball

1. Indoor
2. Beach
3. Grass

Net heights

Women 7 ft 4 in

Men 8 ft