Volleyball Notes

History of Volleyball

• William G. Morgan, a physical instructor at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA, created the game on February 9, 1895.

• Originally called "Mintonette."

• Dr. Alfred Halstead suggested the name "volleyball."

  • In 1895, William G. Morgan initiated volleyball as a recreational activity for businessmen in Massachu   setts, U.S.A.

• The name changed to volleyball in 1896 because the basic idea was to volley the ball back and forth over a net.

• Volleyball spread quickly throughout all five continents in the 1950s and 1960s.

• In 1964, volleyball became the first team sport for men and women admitted to the Olympic Games; the Soviet Union won the men's title, and Japan took the women's title.

What is Volleyball?

• Played by two teams of 6 players.

• Played with a ball and net.

• The goal is to win a score by winning the rally.

Important Dates and Events

• 1900: The point system was adopted.

• 1910: Elwood Brown introduced volleyball in the Philippines.

• 1912: The rotation system was adopted.

• 1916: Set and spike were introduced.

• 1917: The game changed from 21 to 25 points.

• 1918: The number of players on the court was fixed at 6 per team.

• 1920: Three hits per side and back row attack rules were instituted.

• 1921: The center line was imposed.

• 1922: The first YMCA national championship was held in Brooklyn, New York.

• 1924: Japan introduced the 9-man team with 21 points to win a set.

• 1930: The first two-man beach game was played.

• 1934: Approval and recognition of national volleyball referees.

• 1964: Volleyball was included in the World Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Facilities and Equipment

Playing Court

1. Dimension: The playing court is a rectangle measuring 18m (approximately 59 feet) long x 9m (approximately 29.5 feet) wide, surrounded by a free zone of 3m, with a space free from obstruction to a height of at least 7m from the playing surface.

2. Playing Surface: The surface must be flat, horizontal, and uniform, presenting no risk of injury to players. Playing on rough or slippery surfaces is prohibited.

3. Service Line: The area from which the server may serve is marked 10 feet inside the ride sideline on each back line.

4. Center Line: The axis of the center line divides the playing court into two equal courts, each measuring 9m x 9m. This line extends beneath the net from sideline to sideline.

5. Attack Line: The rear edge of the attack line is drawn 3m back from the axis of the center line, marking the front zone.

6. Boundary Line: All lines are 5 cm in width. The lines must be light and of a different color from the floor and any other lines. Two sidelines and two end lines mark the playing court and are included in the 18m x 9m measurements.

Dimensions Summary (with LaTex)

• Playing Court: $18m \times 9m$

• Free Zone: $3m$

• Height Free from Obstruction: $7m$

• Attack Line Distance (from center line): $3m$

• Net Height (men): $2.43m$

• Net Height (women): $2.24m$

Equipment

• Net: Made with 10 cm square dark stitches. A rope is threaded through the bottom and tied to the poles to tense it.

  • Height: $2.43m$ for men, $2.24m$ for women.

• Antennae: Fastened on the outer edge of each vertical side band, extending 80 cm above the top of the net on opposite sides. Considered part of the net and define side limits.

• Poles: Two poles, preferably adjustable, round, and smooth, with a height of $2.55m$, support the net on each side.

• Ball: Spherical, made of a flexible leather case with a rubber bladder inside.

  • Circumference: $65$ to $67 cm$

  • Weight: $260$ to $280g$

  • Inside pressure: $0.30$ to $0.35kg/cm$

• Players Equipment: Consists of a jersey, shorts, knee pads, and sport shoes. Shorts must be uniform, clean, and of the same color.

Position of Players in Court

• The court includes front and back zones, where players like the Setter, Middle Blocker, Outside Hitter, Opposite Hitter, and Libero take their positions.

Rotation

• When a team regains the serve, all players move one position clockwise.

• All players must play both in the front court and in the back court.

Terminology

• Ace: A serve that results directly in a point when the ball hits the floor untouched on the receiving team's side.

• Attack: The offensive action of hitting the ball.

• Attacker: Also known as "hitter" or "spiker," a player who attempts to hit a ball offensively to terminate play.

• Attack Line: A line 3 meters/10 feet away from, and parallel to, the net that separates the front-row players from the back-row players. A back-row player cannot legally attack the ball above the net unless they take off from behind this line.

• Back row/court: The space from the baseline (end line) to the attack line. Positions 1, 6, & 5 are in this area.

• Back Row Attack: When a back-row player takes off from behind the attack line (10-foot/3-meter line) and attacks the ball.

• Back set: A set delivered behind the setter.

• Block: A defensive play by one or more front-row players to intercept a spiked ball. Involves jumping in front of the opposing spiker and contacting the spiked ball with the hands.

• Blocking Error: Touching the net, crossing the centerline, blocking a set or serve, or any other violation during a block attempt.

• Dink: A one-handed, soft hit into the opponent's court using the fingertips, also called a tip.

• Double block: Two players working together to intercept a ball at the net.

• Double hit: A violation where a player hits the ball twice in succession.

• Free ball: Returning the ball to the opponent without the intent to get a kill; usually a slow, arcing pass or "roll" shot rather than a spike.

• Front-row: Three players whose court position is in front of the attack line (3M/10 Foot), near the net, in positions 2, 3 & 4 on the court.

• Game plan: Offensive and defensive strategy for an opponent, usually organized for each rotation by the coaching staff.

• Hitter: Also "spiker" or "attacker," the player responsible for hitting the ball.

• Jump serve: The server uses an approach, toss, takeoff, and serves the ball with a spiking motion while in the air. There are two main types: jump float and jump spin.

• Kill: An attack that results directly in a point or sideout.

• Middle blocker: A player who usually plays in the middle of the net when in the front row and moves laterally to their blocking assignments.

• Off-Speed Shots: An attack that is intentionally slow, spiked with less than maximum force but with spin; also called a "roll" shot.

• Pancake: A one-hand floor defensive technique where the hand is extended and slid along the floor palm down while the player dives or extension rolls so the ball bounces off the back of the hand and is considered legal.

• Red card: Given by the official to a player or coach for flagrant misconduct, resulting in a point/side out to the opponent and automatic ejection.

• Rotation: The clockwise movement of players around the court and through the serving position following a side out. Players must retain their initial rotational order throughout the entire game, but once the ball is contacted on serve, they can move anywhere.

• Yellow Card: Given by the official to a player or coach as a warning of misconduct. Two yellow cards result in an automatic red card.

Basic Rules of Volleyball

• Players in the Team:

  • A team has 6 players on the court: 3 front-row players and 3 back-row players.

  • A team can use a libero player (back-row player, defensive specialist) who wears a different color shirt.

• Contacts:

  • Each team is allowed a maximum of three touches before hitting the ball over the net (EXCEPTION: block does not count as a touch).

  • The same player cannot hit the ball twice in a row (EXCEPTION I: block doesn't count a touch).

• Back Row Attack:

  • Back-row players cannot attack the ball in the front row. If they attack, they must perform the jump behind the attack line (10 feet line, 3-meter line).

    • The ball must be completely above the net for it to be an illegal attack.

• Antennas:

  • It is ALLOWED to play the ball off the net. It is a fault if the ball contacts the net outside the antennas.

  • The ball must travel between the antennas (or the imagined extensions of them) when flying to the other side of the net.

• In or Out?

  • The referee calls the ball "IN" if any part of it hits the lines.

  • Ball is ruled OUT if:

    • It lands outside the boundary lines (without touching the opponent).

    • It hits the antenna.

    • It hits any part of the net or cables outside the antennas.

    • It hits a referee stand or poles or the ceiling (in high school, club, or college volleyball in the United States, it is allowed to play after the ball hits the ceiling).

• Contacting the Ball:

  • Players are NOT allowed to catch, hold, or throw the ball.

  • Players are NOT allowed to hit or block the opponent's serve.

  • Attacking a ball which is coming over the net is ILLEGAL if it has NOT broken the plane of the net. A player can swing the ball when it breaks the plane of the net.

Recently Changed Basic Volleyball Rules

• Let Serve:

  • Let serve is allowed; the ball can touch the net on the serve.

• Points:

  • A point is awarded after each serve.

• Libero:

  • One of the back-row players can be substituted with a libero, who is a back-row specialist with unlimited substitutions. The libero can enter and exit the game between each serve without the coach requesting a sub.

• Serve:

  • The server is allowed to serve the ball from any place behind the backline.

Basic Skills

• Forearm Pass (Bump)

• Overhead Pass

• Serve

• Spike

• Block

Forearm Pass

• Most frequently used ball-handling skill.

• Used to serve, play balls below the waist, and play hard-driven balls.

• Avoids ball-handling violations.

Forearm Pass: Techniques

1. Plant feet shoulder-width apart.

2. Flex knees at a 90° angle.

3. Lean upper body forward, aligning the shoulders over the knees.

4. Extend hands downward, press thumbs together.

5. Rotate elbows inward.

6. Arms are parallel with the legs.

7. Ball makes contact with forearms above the wrist.