Volleyball

The history, rules, and basic skills involved in volleyball

A brief History

• Created in the United States in 1885 • William Morgan of the Young Men’s Christian Academy is

credited with its creation• Decided to blend elements of basketball, baseball, tennis, and

handball • He intended to create a game for his classes of business when

which would demand less physical contact then basketball • Originally the game was called mintonette • During a demonstration game, someone remarked to Morgan

that the players seemed to be volleying the ball back and forth over the net, and perhaps "volleyball" would be a more descriptive name for the sport.

Volleyball Basic Rules

• The serve

• Scoring

• Rotation

• Playing the game

• Basic Violations

• The Court

The Serve

• Server must serve from behind the restraining line ( end line ) until after contact

• Ball may be served underhand or overhand. • Ball must be clearly visible to opponents before

serve. • Served ball may graze the net and drop to the

other side for point. • First game serve is determined by a volley, each

subsequent game shall be served by the previous game loser.

• Serve must be returned by a bump only. no setting or attacking a serve.

Scoring

• Rally scoring will be used. • There will be a point scored on every score of the ball. • Offense will score on a defense miss or out of bounds

hit. • Defense will score on an offensive miss, out of bounds

hit, or serve into the net. • Game will be played to 25 pts. • Must win by 2 points.

Rotation

• Team will rotate each time they win the serve.

• Players shall rotate in a clockwise manner.

• There shall be 4-6 players on each side.

Playing the game• Maximum of three hits per side. • Player may not hit the ball twice in succession ( A block is not

considered a hit ). • Ball may be played off the net during a volley and on serve. • A ball touching a boundary line is good. • A legal hit is contact with the ball by a player body above and

including the waist which does not allow the ball to visibly come to a rest.

• If two or more players contact the ball simultaneously, it is considered one play and the players involved may not participate in the next play.

• A player must not block or attack a serve. • Switching positions will be allowed only between front line players.

( After the serve only ).

Basic violations

• Stepping on or over the line on a serve. • Failure to serve the ball over the net successfully. • Hitting the ball illegally ( Carrying, Palming, Throwing, etc. ). • Touches of the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play. If the

ball is driven into the net with such force that it causes the net to contact an opposing player, no foul will be called, and the ball shall continue to be in play.

• Reaching over the net, except under these conditions: – When executing a follow-through. – When blocking a ball which is in the opponents court but is being returned ( the

blocker must not contact the ball until after the opponent who is attempting to return the ball makes contact). Except to block the third play.

• Reaches under the net ( if it interferes with the ball or opposing player ). • Failure to serve in the correct order. • Blocks or spikes from a position which is clearly not behind the 10-foot line

while in a back row position.

Court

• Both indoor and outdoor courts are 18 m x 9mi (29'6" x 59').

• Lines on the court are 5cm (2" wide).• Net height for men, co-ed mixed 6, &

outdoor is 2.43 meters or 7'11-5/8".• Net height for women, 7'4-1/8".• The ball weighs between 9 and 10

ounces. • Ball pressure is between 4.5 and 6.0

pounds

Basic Skills

• Overhead Serve

• Forearm Pass

• Overhead Pass

• Spike

• Block

Practice makes Perfect

Overhead Serve

• Stand with shoulders facing the net • Hold ball in palm of non-dominant hand at chest

level• Dominant elbow is held at 90-degrees behind

body. Elbow remains at shoulder height or above throughout the entire serving motion.

• Toss ball up and slightly in front of body. (A perfect toss lands just inside of the lead foot, in line with the hitting shoulder).

• Step toward net with opposite foot• Arm is fully extended at point of contact• Hand is Ridged - Wrist is Locked • Accelerate arm toward ball and contact ball with

heel of hand• Swing through middle back of ball using a

punching motion (no fist) 

Forearm Pass

• Begin in Medium Posture - Arms APART• Move quickly to the ball• Stop before playing the ball - shoulders

squared to the target• As you stop, hands come together: Arms

are straight and away from the body• Place one hand in the other (palms up) • Thumbs are parallel and facing down• Forearms are flat - form platform• Create appropriate angle with arms to

direct ball to target• Contact the ball on the forearm (platform)

out in front of (away from) the body• Body should move toward the target as

you pass (follow-through)

Overhead Pass

• View the ball through triangle formed by thumbs and index fingers

• Place hands directly in front of face, near forehead

• Allow ball to come to hands - On contact, wrists give and arms and legs extend (like diving board)

• Follow through high toward target - Body should be in vertical line from head - shoulders - trunk - hips – legs

• Move to spot before the ball arrives - use staggered stance

• Face target

Spike

• Approach at a 45-degree angle to net• Arms swing behind body and are parallel to floor on the last

second step• Both arms swing forward & over head to increase the height of

the jump• Hitting arm swings behind head like a bow & arrow; hand is

open & relaxed• Swing arm forward from shoulder; follow with elbow and then

hand • Non-hitting hand will pull downward toward the player's

abdomen• Contact the ball in front of hitting shoulder - as high and as far

in front as can be controlled with extended arm • Hit with heel of hand and spread out over the ball - "SNAP" • Follow through close to the body to avoid touching the net • Location of contact on the ball will depend on the location of

the ball - contact above ball when it is close to the net; behind ball when it is far from the net

• Land softly with two feet and bent knees • Begin approach when ball is at the peak of its trajectory

Block

• Begin in High Posture • Hands are held high in front of shoulders

with fingers spread; pinkies turned down• Move to "front" the hitter (hitter's hand

should line up at your outside hand and travel to your inside shoulder)

• Jump just after attacker jumps• Reach over the net - place hands around

ball (surround the ball)• Press ball to the opponent's side of the

court• arms and shoulder extend upward • leave no gap between the blocker's hands

and the net• Movement to Ball

The End By Anthony Piccirillo