 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2015) |
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| Highest governing body | FIVB |
|---|---|
| First played | 1895 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | None |
| Team members | 6 |
| Mixed-sex | Single |
| Type | Team sport, Net sport |
| Equipment | Volleyball |
| Glossary | Glossary of volleyball |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Worldwide |
| Olympic | 1964 |
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.[1] It has been a part of the official program of the Summer Olympic Games since Tokyo 1964. Beach volleyball was introduced to the program at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics. The adapted version of volleyball at the Summer Paralympic Games is sitting volleyball.
The complete set of rules is extensive,[2] but play essentially proceeds as follows: a player on one of the teams begins a 'rally' by serving the ball (tossing or releasing it and then hitting it with a hand or arm), from behind the back boundary line of the court, over the net, and into the receiving team's court.[3] The receiving team must not let the ball be grounded within their court. The team may touch the ball up to three times to return the ball to the other side of the court, but individual players may not touch the ball twice consecutively.[3] Typically, the first two touches are used to set up for an attack. An attack is an attempt to direct the ball back over the net in such a way that the team receiving the ball is unable to pass the ball and continue the rally, thus, losing the point. The team that wins the rally is awarded a point and serves the ball to start the next rally. A few of the most common faults include:
- causing the ball to touch the ground or floor outside the opponents' court or without first passing over the net;
- catching and throwing the ball;
- double hit: two consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same player;
- four consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same team;
- net foul: touching the net during play;
- foot fault: the foot crosses over the boundary line when serving or under the net when a front row player is trying to keep the ball in play.
The ball is usually played with the hands or arms, but players can legally strike or push (short contact) the ball with any part of the body.[4]
A number of consistent techniques have evolved in volleyball, including spiking and blocking (because those plays are made above the top of the net, the vertical jump is an athletic skill emphasized in the sport) as well as passing, setting, and specialized player positions. Offensive and defensive structures are also key plays.[5]
- ^ "Volleyball". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
- ^ "Official Volleyball Rules, 2017–2020" (PDF). 35th FIVB World Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
- ^ a b Joel., Dearing (2003). Volleyball fundamentals. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. ISBN 0736045082. OCLC 50643900.
- ^ Originally, only the upper body was allowed to touch the body and kicking the ball was penalised ("Can You Use Your Feet in Volleyball?: (What's the Rules)". volleyballvault.com. October 4, 2023. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.) In 1993 (FIVB) and 1999 (NCAA, respectively, the rules were amended to allow for touching the ball with any part of the body. ("Are You Allowed To Use Your Feet In Volleyball". volleyballedge.com. May 5, 2022. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.), ("Is using your feet legal in volleyball?". sportsmanist.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.)
- ^ "History of Volleyball – NCVA". ncva.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2021.