History of Volleyball

Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan, physical director of the Young Men’s
Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It was designed as an indoor sport
for businessmen who found the new game of basketball too vigorous. Morgan called the sport
“mintonette,” until a professor from Springfield College in Massachusetts noted the volleying
nature of play and proposed the name of “volleyball.” The original rules were written by Morgan
and printed in the first edition of the Official Handbook of the Athletic League of the Young
Men’s Christian Associations of North America (1897). The game soon proved to have wide
appeal for both sexes in schools, playgrounds, the armed forces, and other organizations in the
United States, and it was subsequently introduced to other countries. In 1916 rules were issued
jointly by the YMCA and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The first
nationwide tournament in the United States was conducted by the National YMCA Physical
Education Committee in New York City in 1922. The United States Volleyball Association
(USVBA) was formed in 1928 and recognized as the rules-making, governing body in the United
States. From 1928 the USVBA—now known as USA Volleyball (USAV)—has conducted
annual national men’s and senior men’s (age 35 and older) volleyball championships, except
during 1944 and 1945. Its women’s division was started in 1949, and a senior women’s division
(age 30 and older) was added in 1977. Other national events in the United States are conducted
by member groups of the USAV such as the YMCA and the NCAA. Volleyball was introduced
into Europe by American troops during World War I, when national organizations were formed.
The Fédération Internationale de Volley Ball (FIVB) was organized in Paris in 1947 and moved
to Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1984. The USVBA was one of the 13 charter members of the FIVB,
whose membership grew to more than 210 member countries by the late 20th century.
Facilities and Equipment:

The Ball

A regulation size volleyball has a circumference of approximately 25.6 to 26.4 inches (65 to 67
centimeters), and typically weighs between 9.2 to 9.9 ounces (260 to 280 grams). Volleyballs are
usually made of synthetic leather or composite leather. These materials are chosen for their
durability and consistency in flight. The inflation pressure of a volleyball is regulated. The
pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (psi) and typically falls within the range of 4.3 to
4.6 psi (0.30 to 0.32 kg/cm²).

The Volleyball Court Court

Volleyball court is 60 feet by 30 feet in total. The net in placed in the center of the court, making
each side of the net 30 feet by 30 feet. Center Line: A center line is marked at the center of the
court dividing it equally into 30 feet squares, above which the net is placed. Attack Line: An
attack line is marked 10 feet of each side of the center line. Service Line: A service line, the area
from which the server may serve the volleyball, is marked 10 feet inside the right sideline on
each back line.

The Net

Volleyball poles which support the net should be set at 36 feet apart, 3 feet further out from the
sidelines. The net is placed directly above the center line, 7 feet 4 inches above the ground for
women and 8 feet above the ground for men.
Basic Skills:

1. Serving: The serve is the first contact in a volleyball game, and it's an important opportunity
to gain an advantage over the opposing team. It is a skill that every player must master as it’s the
first move that can give your team momentum and shut down your opponent’s momentum.

2. Passing: Also known as the bump, is used to receive the ball from the opposing team's serve
or hit. The goal of passing is to keep the ball in play and set up an offensive play. To pass
effectively, the player should get in position, keep their arms straight and feet parallel, extend
their knees forward, and make contact with the ball using their forearms.

3. Setting: Setting or overhead passing is the most important step in an offensive play as it
determines which player gets to spike or attack. This is normally done by the team’s setter and is
the second step in the pass-set-spike sequence.

4. Attacking: Attacking, also known as hitting, is the final step in the pass-set-spike sequence
and is used to score points. There are a variety of different ways to attack a ball, but the most
common and consistently effective way to do so is by spiking. Spiking is a combination of
jumping with powerful arm swings in order to smash the ball onto the opponent’s side of the
court.
Enter

5. Blocking: Blocking is a defensive skill used to stop the opposing team's attack and can also be
used to potentially score points. Blockers must focus on stopping the opposing team’s offensive
attacks, while also paying attention to the opposing setter so that they can better predict the
opposing team’s attack strategy. It is important for blockers to be able to react to an attack
quickly and be in position before the attack is completed.
Enter
6. Digging: Digging is a defensive skill used to save the ball from hitting the ground. It is often
done when the ball does not come directly at the player, and a standard underhand pass would be
impossible or extremely difficult to get. To get into a digging position, the player must sink their
hips low to the floor with their heels slightly raised in order to be light on their feet. They must
then stretch out their arms into the underhand pass position. In order to dig for the ball, the player
must push off their toes and use their lower body to move their upper body. Players must also be
ready to dive for the ball, but that’s often not necessary if you’re already positioned to where the
ball might be going.

Terms Used in Volleyball:

ACE – A serve that is not passable and results immediately in a point.

ANTENNA – The vertical rods (normally white and red) mounted near the edges of the net. The
antennas are mounted directly above the sidelines and are not-in-play. Antennas are not usually
used on outdoor nets.
APPROACH – Fast stride toward the net by a spiker before he jumps in the air.
ASSIST – Passing or setting the ball to a teammate who attacks the ball for a kill. This stat is
normally only logged for high school, college, and National/Olympic team play.
ATTACK – The offensive action of hitting the ball. The attempt by one team to terminate the
play by hitting the ball to the floor on the opponent’s side.
ATTACK BLOCK – Receiving players’ aggressive attempt to block a spiked ball before it
crosses the net.
ATTACK ERROR – An unsuccessful attack which does one of the following: 1) the ball lands
out of bounds, 2) the ball goes into the net and terminates play or goes into the net on the third
hit, 3)the ball is blocked by the opposition for a point or sideout, 4) the attacker is called for a
center line violation, or 5) the attacker is called for illegal contact (lift, double hit…) on the
attack.
ATTACKER – Also “hitter” or “spiker.” A player who attempts to hit a ball offensively with
the purpose of terminating play in his or her team’s favor.
ATTACK LINE – A line 3m from the net that separates the front row players from the back row
players. Commonly referred to as the “10-foot line.”
BACKCOURT – The area from the endline to the attack line.
BACK SET – A set delivered behind the setter’s back, which is subsequently hit by an attacker.
BACK ROW ATTACK – When a back row player attacks the ball by jumping from behind the
3m line before hitting the ball. If the back row player steps on or past the 3m line during take-off,
the attack is illegal.
BEACH DIG – An open hand receive of the ball, also called a “Deep Dish”
BLOCK – A defensive play by one or more players meant to deflect a spiked ball back to the
hitter’s court. It may be a combination of one, two or three players jumping in front of the
opposing spiker and contacting the spiked ball with the hands.
BUMP – a common term for forearm passing.
BALL HANDLING ERROR – Any time the official calls a double hit, a thrown ball or a lift
(except on a serve reception or attack). For our purposes, this category also includes any
blocking errors (when an official calls a blocker for a violation such as going into the net,
centerline violation, reaching over the net, etc.).
BUMP PASS – The use of joined forearms to pass or set a ball in an underhand manner.
CAMPFIRE – A ball that falls to the floor in an area that’s surrounded by two, three, four or
more players. At the instant after the ball hits the floor, it appears as if the players are encircling
and staring at a campfire.
CENTER LINE – The boundary that runs directly under the net and divides the court into two
equal halves.
CLOSING THE BLOCK – The responsibility of the assisting blocker(s) to join the primary
blocker and create an impenetrable block in which a ball cannot fit between the two individual
blockers.
CROSS COURT SHOT – An individual attack directed at an angle from one end of the
offensive team’s side of the net to the opposite sideline of the defensive team’s court.
CUT SHOT – A spike from the hitter’s strong side that travels at a sharp angle across the net.
DECOY – An offensive play meant to disguise the spiker who will receive the set.
DEEP SET – Set to be hit away from the net to confuse or disrupt the timing of the blockers.
DIG – Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball. Slang for the art of passing an attacked ball close to
the floor.
DINK – A legal push of the ball around or over blockers.
DOUBLE BLOCK – Two players working in unison to deflect an attacked ball at the net back
to the hitter’s side.
DOUBLE HIT – Successive hits or contacts by the same player. (Illegal)
DOUBLE QUICK – Two hitters approaching the setter for a quick inside hit.
DOUBLES – A game with two players on each side, most commonly played on a sand court.
DOWN BALL – A ball the blockers elect not to attempt to block because it has been set too far
from the net or the hitter is not under control. A “Down Ball” is hit overhand and driven over the
net with topspin while the player remains standing. “Down Ball,” is usually called aloud by the
defense when it becomes apparent the attacker has no chance of hitting a p