Volleyball: History, Rules, and Gameplay

What is Volleyball?

Volleyball is a team sport where two teams of six players each face off on a flat court, separated by a central net. The objective is to pass the ball over the net into the opponent's court.

When Was Volleyball Created?

Volleyball was created in 1895 in Massachusetts, USA.

Who Created Volleyball?

William G. Morgan created volleyball.

Why Was Volleyball Created?

Volleyball was created because Morgan wanted a sport that could be played indoors and incorporate movements similar to basketball, but with less physical contact.

Olympic Debut and World Championships

The first Olympic volleyball matches were held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1964. However, world championships were held earlier: in 1949 for men and 1952 for women.

Purpose of Volleyball

The goal of volleyball is to send the ball to the opposite court, over the net, with a maximum of three touches per team. A block touch does not count as one of the three touches. The aim is to prevent the ball from falling into your own court or going out of bounds.

Example of a Defensive System in Volleyball

The 3-1-2 defense has three main characteristics:

• One player is responsible for covering short shots (tipping).
• Two players form the block.
• Three players make up the backcourt defense.

Volleyball Regulations

The rules are the set of standards and values established by the competent international body, which dictate all valid actions and violations in every playing situation.

Example of a Penalty

The penalty in a volleyball game is always the same: the loss of a point, which gives the serve to the opposing team. For example, if a player makes two or more consecutive touches without another teammate touching the ball, the other team gains a point and the serve.

The Libero: A Unique Role

The libero is a defensive player who can enter and exit the court continuously to replace any other player when that player rotates to a back-row position.

Three Types of Service in Volleyball

The three types of service are the underhand serve, the sidearm serve, and the overhand serve.

What is a Service?

The service is used to start the game, and the ball must pass directly to the other side of the court.

The Finger Touch (Setting)

The finger touch, or set, is a technique used for high passes and generally sets up the attack.

The Forearm Pass (Bump)

The forearm pass, or bump, is the most widely used technique in defense and reception because it offers greater accuracy.

The Block

The block is a defensive technique where one, two, or three players jump near the net to stop the opposing team's attack.

The Spike (Attack Hit)

A spike, or attack hit, is when a player jumps and sends the ball forcefully to the opposite court.

Number of Sets in a Match

Volleyball matches are played to the best of five sets.

Points Needed to Win a Set

To win a set, a team must reach 25 points, except for the fifth set (if necessary), where the first team to reach 15 points wins. The winning team must always have at least a 2-point advantage. The fifth set tiebreaker was established in 2000.

The Dive

The dive is a technique that allows a player to play the ball when they cannot reach it through normal movement.

Volleyball Attack Systems

An attack system is a coordinated action by one or more players to overcome the opposing team.

Example of an Attack System: 5-1

In the 5-1 system, there are five attackers and one setter. There are typically two quick attackers near the middle (zone 3), two outside hitters in zones 2 and 4, one setter, and one opposite hitter.

Volleyball Defense Systems

A defense system is the positioning of players on the court when the opponent attacks, and it is dependent on the block.