Volleyball is a sport played in indoor courts. This sport generally consists of six players in each of the two teams. The teams in volleyball are separated by a walled net and each team strives to land the ball in rival team's court to score points. Over the years, this sport has evolved and a number of techniques such as blocking, spiking, setting, passing, defensive and offensive structures have been added to the sport. Volleyball is usually played on an 18m x 9m indoor court separated by a walled net which is 2.43m high for men and 2.24m for women. This sport is generally played with hands and arms. However, the players can legally push or strike the ball with any part of their body. The origins of Volleyball as a sport in Olympics can be traced to as early as 1924 Summer Olympics where it was played as demonstration events by American sporting group. After the Second World War, the continental confederations and FIVB decided to include the game in Olympics. As a result, Volleyball first featured at the 1964 Olympic Games with both men and women events.
Volleyball Rules And Regulations
The history of volleyball and Olympics is an old one. Read on to explore the rules and regulations of this game.
Volleyball
- Volleyball is played on an 18m x 9m indoor court separated by a walled net, which is 2.43m high for men and 2.24m for women.
- Each team consists of six players. Volleyball is played with hands and arms. However, the players can legally push or strike the ball with any part of their body.
- The objective of the game is to land the ball on the rival’s team court to score points.
- Players hold positions in two layers, three in the front and three at the back at the start of each rally.
- When a team scores point, the players turn around their positions clockwise and the rally is initiated by the player is at the back right hand position.
- The ball can be served from anywhere behind the end line and in any direction of rival’s court and is allowed to play off the net.
- When a player accidentally hits the net involving any parts of his body or hit the ball into the net, it results in loss of rally.
- A volleyball match is played on five sets. The first four sets carry 25 points where as the fifth set carries 15 points. To win over one set, a team should at least have two-point break over the rival team.
- In Indoor volleyball, a libero wears different uniform from rest of the players and is allowed to represent team at the back row.
- A libero is not permitted to take place in the front row.
- Each team is granted six substitutions per set and two time-out per set.
- Front row players can block a shot.
- Players at the back row are not allowed spike the ball from the attack line which lies three meters from the net on each side of the volleyball court.
- Similar to tennis, the boundary lines are included as a part of the court.
- The ball, made of leather, weighs 260-280 grams with a circumference of 65cm -67cm.