WMSU-ISMP

Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

Western Mindanao State University

College of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports

Zamboanga City

______________________________________________________

PE 103 TEAM SPORTS

(VOLLEYBALL)
HANDOUT
______________________________________________________

John Nino P. Delos Reyes

PE 103 INSTRUCTOR

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LESSON 1

HISTORY OF VOLLEYBALL

WHAT IS VOLLEYBALL?

Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team
tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules

History

Volleyball has come a long way from the dusty-old YMCA gymnasium of Holyoke, Massachusetts,
USA, where the visionary William G. Morgan invented the sport back in 1895. It has seen the start
of two centuries and the dawn of a new millennium. Volleyball is now one of the big five
international sports, and the FIVB, with its 220 affiliated national federations, is the largest
international sporting federation in the world.

Volleyball has witnessed unprecedented growth over the last two decades. With the great success
of world competitions such as the FIVB World Championships, the FIVB World League, the FIVB
World Grand Prix, the FIVB World Cup and the FIVB Grand Champions Cup as well as the Olympic
Games, the level of participation at all levels internationally continues to grow exponentially.

The beach volleyball phenomenon also continues to amaze. The overwhelming spectator and
television success of beach volleyball since its introduction to the Olympic Games at Atlanta 1996
and the stunning success of the FIVB World Tour, the World Championships and the Continental
Cup has opened up volleyball to a completely new market.

GAME CARACTERISTICS

Volleyball is a sport played by two teams on a playing court divided by a net. There are different
versions available for specific circumstances in order to offer the versatility of the game to
everyone.

The object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s
court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent. The team has three hits for returning the
ball (in addition to the block contact).

The ball is put in play with a service: hit by the server over the net to the opponents. The rally
continues until the ball is grounded on the playing court, goes “out” or a team fails to return it
properly.

In Volleyball, the team winning a rally scores a point (Rally Point System). When the receiving
team wins a rally, it gains a point and the right to serve, and its players rotate one position
clockwise.

Competition taps latent strengths. It exhibits the best of ability, spirit, creativity and aesthetics.
The rules are structured to allow all of these qualities. With a few exceptions, Volleyball allows all
players to operate both at the net (in attack) and in the back of the court (to defend or serve).

William Morgan, the game’s creator, would still recognize it because Volleyball has retained
certain distinctive and essential elements over the years. Some of these it shares with other
net/ball/ racquet games:

– Service – Rotation (taking turns to serve) – Attack – Defense

Volleyball is, however, unique amongst net games in insisting that the ball is in constant flight – a
flying ball – and by allowing each team a degree of internal passing before the ball must be
returned to the opponents.

The introduction of a specialist defensive player – the Libero – has moved the game forward in
terms of rally length and multi-phase play. Modifications to the service rule have changed the act
of service from simply a means of putting the ball in play to an offensive weapon.

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The concept of rotation is entrenched to allow for all-round athletes. The rules on player positions
must permit teams to have flexibility and to create interesting developments in tactics.

Competitors use this framework to contest techniques, tactics and power. The framework also
allows players a freedom of expression to enthuse spectators and viewers.

And the image of Volleyball is increasingly a good one.

THE ORIGINS

William G. Morgan (1870-1942), who was born in the State of New York, has gone down in history
as the inventor of the game of volleyball, to which he originally gave the name "Mintonette".

The young Morgan carried out his undergraduate studies at the Springfield College of the YMCA
(Young Men's Christian Association) where he met James Naismith who, in 1891, had invented
basketball. After graduating, Morgan spent his first year at the Auburn (Maine) YMCA after which,
during the summer of 1895, he moved to the YMCA at Holyoke (Massachusetts) where he became
director of physical education. In this role he had the opportunity to establish, develop and direct
a vast programme of exercises and sport classes for male adults.

His leadership was enthusiastically accepted, and his classes grew in numbers. He came to
realise that he needed a certain type of competitive recreational game in order to vary his
programme. Basketball, a sport that was beginning to develop, seemed to suit young people, but
it was necessary to find a less violent and less intense alternative for the older members.

At that time Morgan knew of no similar game to volleyball which could guide him; he developed it
from his own sports training methods and his practical experience in the YMCA gymnasium.
Describing his first experiments he said, "In search of an appropriate game, tennis occurred to
me, but this required rackets, balls, a net and other equipment, so it was eliminated, but the idea
of a net seemed a good one. We raised it to a height of about 6 feet, 6 inches (1.98 metres) from
the ground, just above the head of an average man. We needed a ball and among those we tried
was a basketball bladder, but this was too light and too slow. We therefore tried the basketball
itself, which was too big and too heavy."

In the end, Morgan asked the firm of A.G. Spalding & Bros. to make a ball, which they did at their
factory near Chicopee, in Massachusetts. The result was satisfactory: the ball was leather-
covered, with a rubber inner tube, its circumference was not less than 25 and not more than 27
inches (63.5 cm and 68.6 cm, respectively), and its weight not less than 9 and not more than 12
ounces (252 gr and 336 gr, respectively).

Morgan asked two of his friends from Holyoke, Dr. Frank Wood and John Lynch, to draw up
(based on his suggestions) the basic concepts of the game together with the first 10 rules.

Early in 1896 a conference was organized at the YMCA College in Springfield, bringing together all
the YMCA Directors of Physical Education. Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick, director of the professional
physical education training school (and also executive director of the department of physical
education of the International Committee of YMCA's) invited Morgan to make a demonstration of
his game in the new college stadium. Morgan took two teams, each made up of five men (and
some loyal fans) to Springfield, where the demonstration was made before the conference
delegates in the east gymnasium. The captain of one of the teams was J.J. Curran and of the other
John Lynch who were respectively, mayor and chief of the fire brigade of Holyoke.

Morgan explained that the new game was designed for gymnasia or exercise halls, but could also
be played in open air. An unlimited number of players could participate, the object of the game
being to keep the ball in movement over a high net, from one side to the other.

After seeing the demonstration, and hearing the explanation of Morgan, Professor Alfred T.
Halstead called attention to the action, or the act phase, of the ball's flight, and proposed that the
name "Mintonette" be replaced by "Volley Ball." This name was accepted by Morgan and the
conference. (It is interesting to note that the same name has survived over the years, with one
slight alteration: in 1952, the Administrative Committee of the USVBA voted to spell the name with
one word, "Volleyball", but continued to use USVBA to signify United States Volleyball
Association).

Morgan explained the rules and worked on them, then gave a hand-written copy to the conference
of YMCA directors of physical education, as a guide for the use and development of the game. A
committee was appointed to study the rules and produce suggestions for the game's promotion
and teaching.

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A brief report on the new game and its rules was published in the July 1896 edition of "Physical
Education" and the rules were included in the 1897 edition of the first official handbook of the
North American YMCA Athletic League.

Activity

Match column A with column B. Write only the letter of your answer on the space provided.

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LESSON 2

DIMENSIONS AND EQUIPMENT

The playing court is a rectangle measuring 18 x 9 m, surrounded by a free zone which is a

minimum of 3 m wide on all sides.
The free playing space is the space above the playing area which is free from any obstructions.
The free playing space shall measure a minimum of 7 m in height from the playing surface.

The surface must be flat, horizontal and uniform. It must not present any danger of injury to the
players. It is forbidden to play on rough or slippery surfaces.

All lines are 5 cm wide. They must be of a light color which is different from the color of the floor
and from any other lines.

Two side lines and two end lines mark the playing court. Both side lines and end lines are drawn
inside the dimensions of the playing court.

The axis of the center line divides the playing court into two equal courts measuring 9 x 9 m each;
however, the entire width of the line is considered to belong to both courts equally. This line
extends beneath the net from side line to side line.

On each court, an attack line, whose rear edge is drawn 3 m back from the axis of the center line,
marks the front zone.

Front Zone
On each court the front zone is limited by the axis of the center line and the rear edge of the attack
line. The front zone is considered to extend beyond the side lines to the end of the free zone.

Service Zone
The service zone is a 9 m wide area behind each end line. It is laterally limited by two short lines,
each 15 cm long, drawn 20 cm behind the end line as an extension of the side lines. Both short
lines are included in the width of the service zone.

In depth, the service zone extends to the end of the free zone.

Substitution zone
The substitution zone is limited by the extension of both attack lines up to the scorer's table.

Libero Replacement zone

The Libero Replacement zone is part of the free zone on the side of the team benches, limited by
the extension of the attack line up to the end line.

Warm-up area
The warm-up areas, sized approximately 3 x 3 m, are located in both of the benchside corners,
outside the free zone.

Penalty area
A penalty area, sized approximately 1 x 1 m and equipped with two chairs, is located in the control
area, outside the prolongation of each end line. They may be limited by a 5 cm wide red line.

NET AND POSTS

HEIGHT OF THE NET

1 Placed vertically over the center line there is a net whose top is set at the height of 2.43 m for
men and 2.24 m for women.

Its height is measured from the center of the playing court. The net height (over the two side lines)
must be exactly the same and must not exceed the official height by more than 2 cm.

STRUCTURE
The net is 1 m wide and 9.50 to 10 m long (with 25 to 50 cm on each side of the side bands), made
of 10 cm square black mesh.

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At its top a horizontal band, 7 cm wide, made of two-fold white canvas, is sewn along its full
length. Each extreme end of the band has a hole, through which passes a cord, fastening the band
to the posts for keeping its top taut.

Within the band, a flexible cable fastens the net to the posts and keeps its top taut. At the bottom
of the net there is another horizontal band, 5cm wide, similar to the top band, through which is
threaded a rope. This rope fastens the net to the posts and keeps its lower part taut.

SIDE BANDS
Two white bands are fastened vertically to the net and placed directly above each side line. They
are 5 cm wide and 1 m long and are considered as part of the net.

ANTENNAE
An antenna is a flexible rod, 1.80 m long and 10 mm in diameter, made of fiberglass or similar
material. An antenna is fastened at the outer edge of each side band. The antennae are placed on
opposite sides of the net.

The top 80 cm of each antenna extends above the net and is marked with 10 cm stripes of
contrasting color preferably red and white. The antennae are considered as part of the net and
laterally delimit the crossing space.

POSTS
The posts supporting the net are placed at a distance of 0.50-1.00 m outside the side lines. They
are 2.55 m high and preferably adjustable.

3 BALLS STANDARDS
The ball shall be spherical, made of a flexible leather or synthetic leather case with a bladder
inside, made of rubber or a similar material. Its color may be a uniform light color or a
combination of colors. Its circumference is 65-67 cm and its weight is 260-280 g. Its inside
pressure shall be 0.30 to 0.325 kg/cm2 (4.26 to 4.61 psi).

UNIFORMITY OF BALLS
All balls used in a match must have the same standards regarding circumference, weight,
pressure, type, colour, etc.

For FIVB, World and Official Competitions, five balls shall be used. In this case, six ball retrievers
are stationed, one at each corner of the free zone and one behind each referee.

TEAM COMPOSITION

For the match, a team may consist of up to 12 players, plus – Coaching Staff: one coach, a
maximum of two assistant coaches, – Medical Staff: one team therapist and one medical doctor.

Only those listed on the score sheet may normally enter the Competition/ Control Area and take
part in the official warm up and in the match.

EQUIPMENT

A player's equipment consists of a jersey, shorts, socks (the uniform) and sport shoes. The color
and the design for the jerseys, shorts and socks must be uniform for the team (except for the
Libero). The uniforms must be clean. The shoes must be light and pliable with rubber or
composite soles without heels. Players' jerseys must be numbered from 1 to 20.

The number must be placed on the jersey at the center of the front and of the back. The color and
brightness of the numbers must contrast with the color and brightness of the jerseys. The
number must be a minimum of 15 cm in height on the chest, and a minimum of 20 cm in height on
the back. The stripe forming the numbers shall be a minimum of 2 cm in width.

The team captain must have on his/her jersey a stripe of 8 x 2 cm underlining the number on the
chest.

It is forbidden to wear uniforms of a color different from that of the other players (except for the
Liberos), and/or without official numbers.

CHANGE OF EQUIPMENT

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The 1st referee may authorize one or more players:

 to play barefoot;
 to change wet or damaged uniforms between sets or after substitution, provided that the
color, design and number of the new uniform(s) are the same;
 to play in training suits in cold weather, provided that they are of the same color and
designfor the whole team (except for the Liberos) and numbered according to Rule 4.3.3.

FORBIDDEN OBJECTS
 It is forbidden to wear objects which may cause injury or give an artificial advantage to the
player.
 Players may wear glasses or lenses at their own risk.
 Compression pads (padded injury protection devices) may be worn for protection or
support.

TEAM LEADERS

 Both the team captain and the coach are responsible for the conduct and discipline of
their team members.

 The Liberos cannot be either team or game captain.

CAPTAIN
PRIOR TO THE MATCH, the team captain signs the score sheet and represents his/her team in the
toss.

DURING THE MATCH and while on the court, the team captain is the game captain. When the team
captain is not on the court, the coach or the team captain must assign another player on the court,
but not the Libero, to assume the role of game captain. This game captain maintains his/her
responsibilities until he/she is substituted, or the team captain returns to play, or the set ends.

When the ball is out of play, only the game captain is authorized to speak to the referees:
1. to ask for an explanation on the application or interpretation of the Rules, and also to
submit the requests or questions of his/her teammates. If the game captain does not agree
with the explanation of the 1st referee, he/she may choose to protest against such
decision and immediately indicates to the 1st referee that he/she reserves the right to
record an official protest on the score sheet at the end of the match;

2. ask authorization: a) to change all or part of the equipment, b) to verify the positions of the
teams, c) to check the floor, the net, the ball, etc.;

3. in the absence of the coach to request time-outs and substitutions.

AT THE END OF THE MATCH, the team captain:

thanks the referees and signs the score sheet to ratify the result;
may, when it has been notified in due time to the 1st referee, confirm and record on the score
sheet an official protest regarding the referee’s application or interpretation of the rules.

COACH
Throughout the match, the coach conducts the play of his/her team from outside the playing
court. He/she selects the starting line-ups, the substitutes, and takes time-outs. In these functions
his/her contacting official is the 2nd referee.

PRIOR TO THE MATCH, the coach records or checks the names and numbers of his/her players
on the score sheet team roster, and then signs it.

DURING THE MATCH, the coach:

prior to each set, gives the 2nd referee or the scorer the line-up sheet(s) duly filled in and signed;
sits on the team bench nearest to the scorer, but may leave it; requests time-outs and
substitutions; may, as well as other team members, give instructions to the players on the court.
The coach may give these instructions while standing or walking within the free zone in front of
his/her team’s bench from the extension of the attack line up to the warm-up area, without
disturbing or delaying the match.

ASSISTANT COACH
The assistant coach sits on the team bench, but has no right to intervene in the match. Should the
coach have to leave his/her team for any reason including sanction, but excluding entering the

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court as a player, an assistant coach may assume the coach's functions for the duration of the
absence, once confirmed to the referee by the game captain.

Activity

On the following pages, fill up the needed data on the following:

a. parts of the volleyball court
b. dimensions of the volleyball court

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A. Parts of a Volleyball Court

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B. Dimensions of a Volleyball Court (Measurement should be in meters)

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LESSON 3

RULES IN VOLLEYBALL

PLAYING FORMAT
TO SCORE A POINT, TO WIN A SET AND THE MATCH
TO SCORE A POINT
A team scores a point:
 by successfully landing the ball on the opponent’s court;
 when the opponent team commits a fault;
 when the opponent team receives a penalty.

Fault
A team commits a fault by making a playing action contrary to the rules (or by violating them in
some other way). The referees judge the faults and determine the consequences according to the
rules:
 if two or more faults are committed successively, only the first one is counted;
 if two or more faults are committed by opponents simultaneously, a DOUBLE FAULT is
called and the rally is replayed.

Rally and completed rally

A rally is the sequence of playing actions from the moment of the service hit by the server until
the ball is out of play. A completed rally is the sequence of playing actions which results in the
award of a point. This includes:
– the award of a penalty
– loss of service for service hit made after the time-limit.
–
If the serving team wins a rally, it scores a point and continues to serve.
If the receiving team wins a rally, it scores a point and it must serve next.

TO WIN A SET
A set (except the deciding 5th set) is won by the team which first scores 25 points with a minimum
lead of two points. In the case of a 24-24 tie, play is continued until a two-point lead is achieved
(26-24; 27-25; etc.).

TO WIN THE MATCH

The match is won by the team that wins three sets. In the case of a 2-2 tie, the deciding 5th set is
played to 15 points with a minimum lead of 2 points.

DEFAULT AND INCOMPLETE TEAM

If a team refuses to play after being summoned to do so, it is declared in default and forfeits the
match with the result 0-3 for the match and 0-25 for each set.

A team that, without justifiable reason, does not appear on the playing court on time is declared in
default with the same result as in previously.

A team that is declared INCOMPLETE for the set or for the match, loses the set or the match. The
opponent team is given the points, or the points and the sets, needed to win the set or the match.
The incomplete team keeps its points and sets.

STRUCTURE OF PLAY
THE TOSS Before the match, the 1st referee carries out a toss to decide upon the first service and
the sides of the court in the first set.

If a deciding set is to be played, a new toss will be carried out.

The toss is taken in the presence of the two team captains. 5.1
The winner of the toss chooses:
EITHER
 the right to serve or to receive the service, 12.1.1
OR
 the side of the court.
The loser takes the remaining choice.

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POSITIONS
At the moment the ball is hit by the server, each team must be positioned within its own court in
the rotational order (except the server).
The positions of the players are numbered as follows:
 the three players along the net are front-row players and occupy positions 4 (front-left), 3
(front-center) and 2 (front-right);
 the other three are back-row players occupying positions 5 (back-left), 6 (back-center) and 1
(back-right).

Relative positions between players:

 each back-row player must be positioned further back from the center line than the
corresponding front-row player;
 the front-row players and the back-row players, respectively, must be positioned laterally
in the order indicated.

The positions of players are determined and controlled according to the positions of their feet
contacting the ground as follows:
 each front-row player must have at least a part of his/her foot closer to the center line than
the feet of the corresponding back-row player;
 each right (left) side player must have at least a part of his/her foot closer to the right (left)
sideline than the feet of the center player in that row.

After the service hit, the players may move around and occupy any position on their court and the
free zone.

POSITIONAL FAULT
The team commits a positional fault, if any player is not in his/her correct position at the moment
the ball is hit by the server. When a player is on court through illegal substitution, and play
restarts, this is counted as a positional fault with the consequences of an illegal substitution.

If the server commits a serving fault at the moment of the service hit, the server's fault is counted
before a positional fault.

If the service becomes faulty after the service hit, it is the positional fault that will be counted.

A positional fault leads to the following consequences:

 the team is sanctioned with a point and service to the opponent;
 players' positions must be rectified.

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ROTATION
The rotational order is determined by the team's starting line-up and controlled with the service
order and players' positions throughout the set.

When the receiving team has gained the right to serve, its players rotate one position clock-wise:
the player in position 2 rotates to position 1 to serve, the player in position 1 rotates to position 6,
etc.

ROTATIONAL FAULT
A rotational fault is committed when the SERVICE is not made according to the rotational order. It
leads to the following consequences in order:
 the scorer stops play by the buzzer; the opponent gains a point and next service;
 If the rotational fault is determined only after the completion of the rally which started with
a rotational fault, only a single point is awarded to the opponent, regardless of the result
of the rally played.
 the rotational order of the faulty team must be rectified;
 Additionally, the scorer should determine the exact moment when the fault was
committed, and all points scored subsequently by the team at fault must be cancelled. The
opponent's points remain valid.

If that moment cannot be determined, no point(s) cancellation takes place, and a point and service
to the opponent is the only sanction.

PLAYING ACTIONS

STATES OF PLAY
BALL IN PLAY The ball is in play from the moment of the hit of the service authorized by the 1st
referee.
BALL OUT OF PLAY The ball is out of play at the moment of the fault which is whistled by one of
the referees; in the absence of a fault, at the moment of the whistle.

BALL”IN” The ball is “in” if at any moment of its contact with the floor, some part of the ball
touches the court, including the boundary lines.

BALL “OUT” The ball is “out” when:

all parts of the ball which contact the floor are completely outside the boundary lines;
it touches an object outside the court, the ceiling or a person out of play;
it touches the antennae, ropes, posts or the net itself outside the side bands;

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it crosses the vertical plane of the net either partially or totally outside the crossing space,
it crosses completely the lower space under the net.

PLAYING THE BALL Each team must play within its own playing area and space. The ball may,
however, be retrieved from beyond its own free zone.

TEAM HITS A hit is any contact with the ball by a player in play.
The team is entitled to a maximum of three hits (in addition to blocking), for returning the ball. If
more are used, the team commits the fault of “FOUR HITS”.

CONSECUTIVE CONTACTS
A player may not hit the ball two times consecutively.

SIMULTANEOUS CONTACTS
Two or three players may touch the ball at the same moment.
When two (or three) team-mates touch the ball simultaneously, it is counted as two (or three) hits
(with the exception of blocking). If they reach for the ball, but only one of them touches it, one hit
is counted. A collision of players does not constitute a fault.

When two opponents touch the ball simultaneously over the net and the ball remains in play, the
team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball goes “out”, it is the fault of
the team on the opposite side.

If simultaneous hits by two opponents over the net lead to an extended contact with the ball, play
continues.

ASSISTED HIT
Within the playing area, a player is not permitted to take support from a team-mate or any
structure/object in order to hit the ball.

However, a player who is about to commit a fault (touch the net or cross the center line, etc.) may
be stopped or held back by a team-mate.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HIT

 The ball may touch any part of the body.
 The ball must not be caught and/or thrown.
 It can rebound in any direction.

The ball may touch various parts of the body, provided that the contacts take place
simultaneously.

Exceptions:
 9.1, 14.4.1 at blocking, consecutive contacts may be made by one or more player(s),
provided that the contacts occur during one action;
 at the first hit of the team, the ball may contact various parts of the body consecutively,
provided that the contacts occur during one action.

FAULTS IN PLAYING THE BALL

 FOUR HITS: a team hits the ball four times before returning it.
 ASSISTED HIT: a player takes support from a team-mate or any structure/ object in order
to hit the ball within the playing area.
 CATCH: the ball is caught and/or thrown; it does not rebound from the hit.
 DOUBLE CONTACT: a player hits the ball twice in succession or the ball contacts various
parts of his/her body in succession.

BALL AT THE NET

BALL CROSSING THE NET

The ball sent to the opponent's court must go over the net within the crossing space. The
crossing space is the part of the vertical plane of the net limited as follows:
 below, by the top of the net;
 at the sides, by the antennae, and their imaginary extension;
 above, by the ceiling.

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The ball that has crossed the net plane to the opponent's free zone totally or partly through the
external space, may be played back within the team hits, provided that:
 the opponent's court is not touched by the player;
 the ball, when played back, crosses the net plane again totally or partly through the
external space on the same side of the court.
The opponent team may not prevent such action.

The ball that is heading towards the opponent’s court through the lower space is in play until the
moment it has completely crossed the vertical plane of the net.

BALL TOUCHING THE NET

While crossing the net, the ball may touch it.

BALL IN THE NET

A ball driven into the net may be recovered within the limits of the three team hits.

If the ball rips the mesh of the net or tears it down, the rally is cancelled and replayed.

PLAYER AT THE NET

REACHING BEYOND THE NET

In blocking, a player may touch the ball beyond the net, provided that he/she does not interfere
with the opponent’s play before or during the latter's attack hit.

After an attack hit, a player is permitted to pass his/her hand beyond the net, provided that the
contact has been made within his/her own playing space.

PENETRATION UNDER THE NET

It is permitted to penetrate into the opponent’s space under the net, provided that this does not
interfere with the opponent’s play.

Penetration into the opponent's court, beyond the center line:

 to touch the opponent's court with a foot (feet) is permitted, provided that some part of the
penetrating foot (feet) remains either in contact with or directly above the center line;
 to touch the opponent’s court with any part of the body above the feet is permitted
provided that it does not interfere with the opponent’s play.

A player may enter the opponent's court after the ball goes out of play.

Players may penetrate into the opponent's free zone provided that they do not interfere with the
opponent’s play.

CONTACT WITH THE NET

Contact with the net by a player between the antennae, during the action of playing the ball, is a
fault. The action of playing the ball includes (among others) take-off, hit (or attempt) and landing
safely, ready for a new action.

Players may touch the post, ropes, or any other object outside the antennae, including the net
itself, provided that it does not interfere with the play.

When the ball is driven into the net, causing it to touch an opponent, no fault is committed.

PLAYER’S FAULTS AT THE NET

A player touches the ball or an opponent in the opponent's space before or during the opponent’s
attack hit.

A player interferes with the opponent's play while penetrating into the opponent’s space under the
net.
A player’s foot (feet) penetrates completely into the opponent's court.
A player interferes with play by (amongst others):
 touching the net between the antennae or the antenna itself during his/her action of
playing the ball, 11.3.1 – using the net between the antennae as a support or stabilizing aid
 creating an unfair advantage over the opponent by touching the net
 making actions which hinder an opponent’s legitimate attempt to play the ball,
 catching/ holding on to the net Any player close to the ball as it is played, and who is
him/herself trying to play it, is considered in the action of playing the ball, even if no
contact is made with it.

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However, touching the net outside the antenna is not to be considered a fault.

SERVICE
The service is the act of putting the ball into play, by the back-right player, placed in the service
zone.

FIRST SERVICE IN A SET

The first service of the first set, as well as that of the deciding 5th set is executed by the team
determined by the toss.

The other sets will be started with the service of the team that did not serve first in the previous
set.

SERVICE ORDER
The players must follow the service order recorded on the line-up sheet.
After the first service in a set, the player to serve is determined as follows:
 when the serving team wins the rally, the player (or his/her substitute) who served before,
serves again;
 when the receiving team wins the rally, it gains the right to serve and rotates before
actually serving. The player who moves from the frontright position to the back-right
position will serve.

AUTHORIZATION OF THE SERVICE The 1st referee authorizes the service, after having checked
that the two teams are ready to play and that the server is in possession of the ball.

EXECUTION OF THE SERVICE

The ball shall be hit with one hand or any part of the arm after being tossed or released from the
hand(s).

Only one toss or release of the ball is allowed. Dribbling or moving the ball in the hands is
permitted.

At the moment of the service hit or take-off for a jump service, the server must not touch the court
(the end line included) or the floor outside the service zone.

After the hit, he/she may step or land outside the service zone, or inside the court.
The server must hit the ball within 8 seconds after the 1st referee whistles for service.

A service executed before the referee's whistle is cancelled and repeated.

SCREENING
The players of the serving team must not prevent their opponent, through individual or collective
screening, from seeing the server and the flight path of the ball. A player or a group of players of
the serving team make(s) a screen by waving arms, jumping or moving sideways during the
execution of the service, or by standing grouped, and in so doing hides both the server and the
flight path of the ball until the ball reaches the vertical plane of the net.

FAULTS MADE DURING THE SERVICE Serving faults.

The following faults lead to a change of service even if the opponent is out of position. The server:
 violates the service order
 does not execute the service properly.

Faults after the service hit.

After the ball has been correctly hit, the service becomes a fault (unless a player is out of
position) if the ball:
 touches a player of the serving team or fails to cross the vertical plane of the net
completely through the crossing space;
 goes “out”;
 passes over a screen
SERVING FAULTS AND POSITIONAL FAULTS
If the server makes a fault at the moment of the service hit (improper execution, wrong rotational
order, etc.) and the opponent is out of position, it is the serving fault which is sanctioned.

Instead, if the execution of the service has been correct, but the service subsequently becomes
faulty (goes out, goes over a screen, etc.), the positional fault has taken place first and is
sanctioned.

ATTACK HIT

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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ATTACK HIT

All actions which direct the ball towards the opponent, with the exception of service and block,
are considered as attack hits. During an attack hit, tipping is permitted only if the ball is cleanly
hit, and not caught or thrown. An attack hit is completed at the moment the ball completely
crosses the vertical plane of the net or is touched by an opponent.

RESTRICTIONS OF THE ATTACK HIT

A front-row player may complete an attack hit at any height, provided that the contact with the
ball has been made within the player's own playing space.

A back-row player may complete an attack hit at any height from behind the front zone:
 at his/her take-off, the player's foot (feet) must neither have touched nor crossed over the
attack line;
 after his/her hit, the player may land within the front zone.

A back-row player may also complete an attack hit from the front zone, if at the moment of the
contact a part of the ball is lower than the top of the net. No player is permitted to complete an
attack hit on the OPPONENT’S service, when the ball is in the front zone and entirely higher than
the top of the net.

FAULTS OF THE ATTACK HIT

 A player hits the ball within the playing space of the opposing team.
 A player hits the ball “out”.
 A back-row player completes an attack hit from the front zone, if at the moment of the hit
the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net.
 A player completes an attack hit on the opponent's service, when the ball is in the front
zone and entirely higher than the top of the net.
 A Libero completes an attack hit if at the moment of the hit the ball is entirely higher than
the top of the net.
 A player completes an attack hit from higher than the top of the net when the ball is
coming from an overhand finger pass by a Libero in his/ her front zone.

BLOCK
BLOCKING
Blocking is the action of players close to the net to intercept the ball coming from the opponent
by reaching higher than the top of the net, regardless of the height of the ball contact. Only front-
row players are permitted to complete a block, but at the moment of the contact with the ball, a
part of the body must be higher than the top of the net.

Block attempt
A block attempt is the action of blocking without touching the ball.

Completed block
A block is completed whenever the ball is touched by a blocker.

Collective block
A collective block is executed by two or three players close to each other and is completed when
one of them touches the ball.

BLOCK CONTACT
Consecutive (quick and continuous) contacts with the ball may occur by one or more blockers,
provided that the contacts are made during one action.

BLOCKING WITHIN THE OPPONENT’S SPACE

In blocking, the player may place his/her hands and arms beyond the net, provided that this action
does not interfere with the opponent’s play. Thus, it is not permitted to touch the ball beyond the
net until an opponent has executed an attack hit.

BLOCK AND TEAM HITS

A block contact is not counted as a team hit. Consequently, after a block contact, a team is
entitled to three hits to return the ball.The first hit after the block may be executed by any player,
including the one who has touched the ball during the block.

BLOCKING THE SERVICE

To block an opponent's service is forbidden.

BLOCKING FAULTS

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 The blocker touches the ball in the OPPONENT’S space either before or simultaneously
with the opponent’s attack hit.
 A back-row player or a Libero completes a block or participates in a completed block.
 Blocking the opponent’s service.
 The ball is sent “out” off the block.
 Blocking the ball in the opponent’s space from outside the antenna.
 A Libero attempts an individual or collective block.

THE LIBERO PLAYER

DESIGNATION OF THE LIBERO
Each team has the right to designate from the list of players on the score sheet up to two
specialist defensive players: Liberos. All Liberos must be recorded on the score sheet in the
special lines reserved for this. The Libero on court is the Acting Libero. If there is another Libero,
he/ she is the second Libero for the team. Only one Libero may be on court at any time.

EQUIPMENT
The Libero player(s) must wear a uniform (OR JACKET/BIB FOR THE REDESIGNATED Libero)
which has a different dominant color from any color of the rest of the team. The uniform must
clearly contrast with the rest of the team.

The Libero uniforms must be numbered like the rest of the team.

For FIVB, World and Official competitions, the re-designated Libero should, if possible, wear the
same style and color of jersey as the original Libero, but should keep his/her own number.

ACTIONS INVOLVING THE LIBERO

The playing actions:
 The Libero is allowed to replace any player in a back row position.
 He/she is restricted to perform as a back row player and is not allowed to complete an
attack hit from anywhere (including playing court and free zone) if at the moment of the
contact the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net.
 He/she may not serve, block or attempt to block.

A player may not complete an attack hit when the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net, if
the ball is coming from an overhand finger pass by a Libero in his/her front zone. The ball may be
freely attacked if the Libero makes the same action from outside his/her front zone.

Libero Replacements
Libero Replacements are not counted as substitutions.
They are unlimited but there must be a completed rally between two Libero replacements (unless
a penalty causes the team to rotate and the Libero to move to position four, or the Acting Libero
becomes unable to play, making the rally incomplete.)

The regular replacement player may replace and be replaced by either Libero. The Acting Libero
can only be replaced by the regular replacement player for that position or by the second Libero.

At the start of each set, the Libero cannot enter the court until the 2nd referee has checked the
line-up and authorized a Libero replacement with a starting player.

Other Libero replacements must only take place while the ball is out of play and before the whistle
for service.

A Libero replacement made after the whistle for service but before the service hit should not be
rejected; however, at the end of the rally, the game captain must be informed that this is not a
permitted procedure, and that repetition will be subject to delay sanctions.

Subsequent late Libero replacements shall result in the play being interrupted immediately, and
the imposition of a delay sanction. The team to serve next will be determined by the level of the
delay sanction.

The Libero and the replacing player may only enter or leave the court through the Libero
Replacement Zone.

Libero replacements must be recorded in the Libero Control Sheet (if one is used) or on the
electronic score sheet.

An illegal Libero replacement can involve (amongst others)

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– no completed rally between Libero replacements,

– the Libero being replaced by a player other than the second Libero or the regular replacement
player.

An illegal Libero replacement should be considered in the same way as an illegal substitution:
 i.e. should the illegal Libero replacement be noticed before the start of the next rally, then
this is corrected by the referees, and the team is sanctioned for delay;

 should the illegal Libero replacement be noticed after the service hit, the consequences
are the same as for an illegal substitution.

RE-DESIGNATION OF A NEW LIBERO

 The Libero becomes unable to play if injured, ill, expelled or disqualified.
 The Libero can be declared unable to play for any reason by the coach or, in the absence
of a coach, by the game captain.

Team with one Libero

When only one Libero is available for a team according to the rule, or the team has only one
registered, and this Libero becomes or is declared unable to play, the coach (or game captain if
no coach is present) may re-designate as Libero for the remainder of the match any other player
(replacement player excepted) not on the court at the moment of the re-designation.

If the Acting Libero becomes unable to play, he/she may be replaced by the regular replacement
player or immediately and directly to court by a re-designated Libero. However, a Libero who is
the subject of a re-designation may not play for the remainder of the match.

If the Libero is not on court when declared unable to play, he/she may also be the subject of a re-
designation. The Libero declared unable to play may not play for the remainder of the match.

The coach, or game captain if no coach is present, contacts the second referee informing him/her
about the re-designation.

Should a re-designated Libero become or be declared unable to play, further re-designations are
permitted.

If the coach requests the team captain to be re-designated as the new Libero, this will be
permitted – but the team captain must in this case relinquish all leadership privileges.

In the case of a re-designated Libero, the number of the player re-designated as Libero must be
recorded on the score sheet remarks section and on the Libero control sheet (or electronic score
sheet if one is used.)

Team with two Liberos

Where a team has registered on the score sheet two Liberos, but one becomes unable to play the
team has the right to play with only one Libero.

No re-designation will be allowed, however, unless the remaining Libero is unable to continue
playing for the match.

SUMMARY
If the Libero is expelled or disqualified, he/she may be replaced immediately by the team’s second
Libero. Should the team have only one Libero, then it has the right to make a re-designation.

LESSON 4

SKILLS IN VOLLEYBALL: SERVICE AND RECEIVE

Volleyball is a sport comprising of specific skills, like serves, passes, sets, blocks, attacks and
digs. Each skill can be used to attack or defend depending on game play.

Below are a few volleyball techniques with explanations on how they can be executed.

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Service

Underhand Serve
An underhand serve is a type of serve in which the player holds the ball in one hand, swings the
other in an arc motion below the waist and strikes the ball from the bottom with a fist to put it in
play.

Float serve - The float serve is one of the types of serves in the game of volleyball. The serve
involves hitting the volleyball in such a way to minimize the rotation of the ball, causing
unpredictability in the ball’s movement and is akin to baseball's knuckleball.

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1. Hold the ball in your left hand. Prepare to toss the ball in the air.
2. Lift your left hand to toss the ball and ready your right hand to hit the ball with your palm.
Make sure your hitting hand is held firm and stiff.
3. Strike the middle of the ball with the palm of your hand as it comes back down after the
toss.
4. Pull your hand back immediately after the strike. Do not follow through with the
momentum of the hit.

Passing/Receive

Forearm pass - Join your arms from the elbow to the wrists and strike the ball with the fleshy part
of your forearms via an underhand motion.

1. Relax your shoulders and spread your feet slightly wider than your shoulders.
2. Straighten your arms and grip your hands together to create a flat contact surface from
wrists to elbows.
3. Bend your knees at this point to around 90 degrees with one foot slightly in front of the
other.
4. Keep your arms at a 90-degree angle to your thighs, with your back straight as you lean
forward slightly.
5. Swing arms forward and upward to contact the ball via your forearms at a point slightly
above your wrists.
6. Follow through on the momentum with your body.

Lesson 5

SKILLS IN VOLLEYBALL: SPIKE, SET AND BLOCK

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Overhead set/pass - A set/pass played above the forehead, executed with both hands open, and
controlled by the fingers and thumbs.

1. Prepare your body by bending your knees and leaning forward slightly.
2. Extend your arms over your head, with your thumbs about 2-4 inches above your
forehead.
3. Face your palms outwards with fingers spread apart.
4. As the ball approaches, push upwards, straightening your arms and legs. Use only your
fingers to contact the ball.
5. Extend your hands forward in the direction you want the ball to go.
6. Pull back once contact is made.

Setting (You can also do setting without the jumping)

Block

1. Straight to the floor on the attacker’s side.

2. Move in near the net from any outside position. When in front of the net, hips and
shoulders should be square to the net. Your feet should be slightly wider than shoulder-
width apart. Bend your knees slightly, so you can move quickly if the ball direction
changes.

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3. Hold up your arms, with elbows out and palms facing the net at about eye level.
4. When the opponent attacks, lock in on the ball's position.
5. Jump with arms straightened up and fingers widespread.
6. Block the ball by shooting your hands over the net. Leave as little space between your
arms and the top of the net as you can.

Jump attack / Spike - A move where the ball is contacted with force by an offensive player to
terminate the ball on the opponent’s side or off the opponent’s blocker.

1. Start your approach towards the net. As you prepare to jump, bend your knees and extend
your arms downwards and backwards.
2. Jump right before the attack line and swing your arms up in front of you.
3. Try to get an arch in your back to provide more power.
4. Extend your hitting hand straight out in front of you.
5. Contact the ball with the heel of your open hand.
6. Snap your wrist downward to give the ball top spin and direct the ball into the opponent's
court.

Dive - Recovering a spiked ball when it is close to the floor.

1. Stand with your legs apart, slightly wider than shoulder width.

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2. As the ball approaches, take a step forward and lunge with arms together.
3. Deepen the lunge as the ball gets lower. Shift your body weight to your bent leg.
4. Move forward leading with the bent knee till you are almost lying down.
5. Extend your arm to contact the ball, keeping the ball in play.

Learning the fundamentals of volleyball takes time and patience, here are a few drills that can help
hone the basic skills you need.

The Pepper Drill is one of the most common drills and has proven to be effective in helping
players hone their ball control as well as their serve-and-receive techniques. Players should work
on their form and technique while practicing this drill and hit the ball close to their partner, so
they do not need to take more than one step in any direction to return the ball. This drill will also
help increase your reaction time in response to an incoming ball and reduce the fear of being hit
by the ball.

This drill requires you to have a partner and a volleyball. Stand approximately two metres away
from your partner. You should toss the ball to your partner, who will use a volleyball technique to
pass the ball back. Without catching the ball, you will pass the ball back using another volleyball
technique. The objective of this drill is to see how long the ball can be kept in a rally.

The Three-player Drill is essential for players to improve their ability to move after a pass and this
will help players in creating a fluid offensive play. Players will be able to hone their passing and
setting techniques as well as improve their footwork as this drill keeps them moving. This drill
requires you to have two other players and two balls.

Amongst you, designate two players as tossers and the last one will be a passer. Have the two
tossers stand approximately two meters apart facing the passer in a triangle formation. One
tosser should toss the ball to the passer, who will use the forearm pass to send the ball back to
the same tosser. Repeat that with the other tosser. The passer should shuffle their feet after each
pass, so they face the next tosser. The objective of this drill is for the passer to learn the proper
footwork and how to shuffle after passing the ball. Try to keep the drill going for two minutes
without stopping, then rotate the role of the passer.

The Dead Fish drill is a fun way to learn how to serve the ball, so it goes over the net but stays
within the boundaries of the court on the other side. This drill helps players learn to keep their
serves within the court boundaries and allows them to hone their ball placement skills.

This drill requires you to have a big group of players. Divide the players into two groups and have
each group stand at opposite service lines to serve the ball. The first player serves the ball at the
service line. If the serve is successful, the player goes to the back of the line. If the server misses,
that player must run to the other side of court to lie down on the floor within the boundary lines.
The only way they’ll be allowed to get up is for a player from their side of court to hit them with the

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ball. After a player is ' saved', they must run back to their side and get back in line. Set a time limit
for this drill. The side with the fewest number of players on the floor wins.

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