Net & Court Games

What is volleyball?

» Volleyball is an international sport, played by 2 teams of 6 players who hit a ball over a net to each other, predominantly using their hands and forearms.

» Each team is allowed no more than three touches in a row to get the ball back to the opposition’s side of the court.

» A single player cannot contact the ball on consecutive hits.

» The object of the game is to score points by winning a rally. The rally is won when:

– one team does not return the ball inside three hits

– the ball lands out of court

– one team is successful in hitting the ball so it lands on the floor/ground in the opposition’s court area, or

– a fault is committed by one team.

» The winner of each rally not only scores a point, but also the right to serve to start the next rally.

» Players rotate clockwise after winning the right to serve (if the opposition served for the previous rally) so that all players get a chance to serve.

Introduction to volleyball

» Substitutes can be made between any points within any rule limitations on the number of substitutions allowed.

» A game of volleyball usually consists of the best of five sets and the first team to 25 points wins the set, as long as they are ahead by 2 points. That is, they cannot win 25–24 — they must win by at least 2 points e.g. 25–23, 26–24.

» Teams change ends after each set.

Two referees control the game and make decisions according to the rules and the skills of the players. Their aim is to make the game enjoyable, safe and as free-flowing as possible. To be qualified, referees have to pass practical and theory tests, but a good game can take place with responsible people acting as umpires for recreational games.