VolleyBall

VOLLEYBALL COURT

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball is played by two teams in a rectangular court, divided into two equal halves across the length by a net tightly stretched between two poles fixed at either sides of the court. It is one of most popular rally games and is today widely played across the world.

The objective of the game is to try to make the ball touch the ground on the opponent side. When the ball is hit by a team, the members of other team hit it with their hands to prevent it from touching the ground and to send it to another teammate or to the other side of the court across the net.

Only three players from the team can strike the ball successively before they send it to the other team. Volleyball allows players to pass the ball among teammates like basketball, but the strategies of defending and attacking are similar to other net or racquet games.

The players of both teams have to prevent ball touching the ground thus preventing the opponent to gain points.

THE PLAYING COURT AND THE BALL

A standard international volleyball court is rectangular in shape whose sides are 18 meters and the ends are 9 meters.

The surface of the court is neither slippery nor rough, to avoid injuries.

International courts have wooden or synthetic flooring. The court is divided into two similar squares of 9 X 9 meters by a center line, one for each team.

The court is further divided into the following zones:

Front zone

The front zone in each half extends from the center line to the attack line. It is drawn 3 meters away from the center line on both sides of the court.

Service zone

This zone is used for servicing the ball to the opponent court behind the end lines and has a width of 9 meters. The player has to be in the service zone while jumping or serving.

Substitution zone

The substitution zone lies between the scorer’s table and the attack line.

Libero replacement zone

The Libero replacement zone is a part of the free zone beside team benches and between the extended attack line and the end line.

The equipment

Volleyball is a simple game which doesn’t require any equipment other than a ball, a net and a flat court. Even two players can play and have fun with volleyball.

The net is one meter long and 9.5 to 10 meter wide. It is tied vertically above the center line of the court to posts fixed at either sides of the court, at a distance of one meter from the sidelines.

The center of the net should lie 2.43 meter above the ground for senior men and 2.24 meter for

senior women championships.

In sitting Volleyball the net is 1m high and 1.15m high for women and men championship games respectively.

At the sides the net may be higher by a maximum of 2cm, however it should be tied at the same height at both the posts. The court width is marked on the net with a tape and a flexible antennae of one meter extends from the tape marker on both sides of the net. These markings help the referee determine when the ball goes outside the court

Ball

Volley ball a spherical ball of 65-67 cm circumference. It is made of leather or any synthetic material and weighs 260-280 g. Volleyballs are available in various colors, however for international tournaments, FIVB approved balls should only be used. Other Equipment Players of a team are uniformly dressed in jerseys, shorts, socks and sport shoes.

Jerseys of each team has a different color.

The game

To get play started, a team is chosen to serve by coin toss. A player from the serving team 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 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.

Each match is divided into five sets. A team that wins three sets wins the match. A team wins a set if it scores 25 points and leads the other team by at least 2 points. If the lead is less than two points, both the teams continue playing till a wider lead is achieved. If both the teams won two matches each, then the team that wins fifteen points and leads the other team by at least two points in the fifth deciding set wins the match

Volleyball is very different to most sports as the first four sets are played to 25 points, but if the match goes to a fifth set this game is only played to 15 points. In order to win a set, a team must win by two clear points.

Specifically, in volleyball, the regulation allows the coach of each team to request two timeouts per set, with a duration of 30 seconds. A timeout is signaled by making a “T” shape using both the hands.

The 5th set acts a tie breaker in the game, and the teams changes sides at the 8th score.

The game rules

Here is a set of rules that are to be followed while playing volleyball:

When the ball is in play, it shouldn’t cross the side lines and end lines. At the net the ball should stay between the antennae.
Players are not prevented from hitting the ball at the same time. But, when two players hit it, they have made two hits.
Two players from opposing teams may hit the ball at the same time, but if the ball goes out of the court, then the team at the other side of the court is awarded a fault.
Players shouldn’t cross the center line while the ball is in play. Sometimes their hands may reach the opponents court while trying to block a ball, but their feet shouldn’t be placed in the opponent area and they should never interfere with the opponent hits.
They shouldn’t touch the net in such a way that it obstructs the game or interferes with the opponents play. However, the ball may touch the net or get struck in it. It can be hit back and brought into play.
No player should obstruct opponents from hitting the ball or moving.
After the referee whistles and instructs for a service, the player should serve the ball within 8 seconds.
The front-row players should deliver an attack hit only from their playing space.
A back-row player should deliver an attack hit only away from the front zone, but may reach the front zone after the hit. But, if the ball is too low, lower than the top of the net, he/she may deliver an attack hit by moving to the front zone.
A receiving team shouldn’t deliver an attack hit from the front zone when the ball is still higher than the top of the net.
The libero or any player from the back row should not block the ball.
The Libero cannot serve or block the ball.
A ball shouldn’t be blocked just after a service.
Players shouldn’t catch the ball and throw it. They should only hit the ball.

The team

Volleyball is played among two teams of six players each. A team may also have six more substitute players. In the team lists is a Libero player.

Players are positioned in two rows of three players each.

The Libero is identified with a jersey colour different from other team members.

He is a specialist in defending and cannot serve or move to the front court. The team captain along with the coach is responsible for maintaining discipline in the team. The team captain also represents the team and speaks about their team members concerns.

During competition, each team has a coach, one or two assistant coaches, a physiotherapist and a doctor. These members sit along with substitute players on their team bench outside free zone.

Liberos are not allowed to:

1. Go for Blocks

2. Serve

3. Move to the front court

How many substitute players are allowed on a volleyball team?

The FIVB states that volleyball teams can consist of a max of 12 players, but only 6 substitutions per set.

PLAYER POSITIONS

COMMON TERMS USED IN VOLLEYBALL

1. Rally – A ball is serviced by a player and players of both teams hit it till a foul is committed or ball falls on the ground. This period, from the point it is put to service till it halts is called a rally. It is a complete rally if one of the teams scores a point.

2. Service – Players hit the ball with their fist, wrist, or arm, from the service zone and it has to move above the net to the other teams play zone.

3. Warm up sessions – Players can get used to the environment and practice in a short six to ten minute warm up sessions before the actual game begins.

4. Attack hit – The hit that sends the ball to the opponent side.

5. Positional Fault – Players are numbered in anti-clockwise starting from the player in extreme right position in the back row. So, players in the front row are numbered 4, 3 and 2 and players in the back row are numbered 5, 6 and 1 from left to right. They should lie in the same positions declared before beginning a set, when ball is served, else they earn a fault. However, after the service they may move within their court.

6. Rotational Fault – If a receiving team earns a chance to serve, its players change positions and move clockwise, i.e. player in 1st position moves to 6th , player in 2nd position moves to 1st, etc. Not changing positions according to this order leads to a fault. An exception to this rule is the Libero who cannot serve or enter the front court.

7. Four Hit Foul--Three players in the receiving team may hit the ball consecutively and the fourth hit should deliver the ball to the other side, failing so will earn them a four hit fault.

8. Double Contact --Players should hit the ball to a teammate or to the other team. Simultaneous hitting leads to a fault.

9. Assisted Hit – Players shouldn’t receive help from their teammates or any other objects like posts to hit the ball.

10. Serving Fault – Players should serve according to the serving order. They should hit the ball according to the rules and when instructed. Not complying with these rules leads to a serving fault.

11. Double fault – If opponents commit faults successively, they have to play the rally again. This scenario is called a Double Fault

12. Blocking – Players near the net may jump and hit the ball near the net after an attack hit. Sometimes the ball doesn’t even completely cross the net. This action is referred to as blocking.

13. Crossing space – The gap or space between the antennae and above the net is termed as Crossing Space. This space can also extend to the roofs inside the indoor courts. The ball should cross the net only through the crossing space.

MATCH 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.

THE GOVERNING BODY

When it comes to competitive volleyball, the rules most commonly recognized are those set out by the FIVB (International Federation of Volleyball). Kenya Volley Federation (KVF) is the national governing body. It organizes volleyball leagues and officiates them under the FIVB rules.

Complied and referenced from

i. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball

ii. https://www.britannica.com/sports/basketball/Jump-ball

iii. https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/basics/basics.html

iv. https://www.fiba.basketball/

v. https://www.myactivesg.com/sports/basketball/training

vi. https://ggibney.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/positions-2/

vii. https://www.dutchreferee.com/laws-of-football/

viii. https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer/Strategy-and-tactics

ix. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/alcohol--211880357461395126/

x. https://www.rookieroad.com/volleyball/how-does-scoring-work/

xi. https://thevblounge.com/how-long-is-a-game-of-volleyball/