Volleyball rules

Sport

2022

We explain what the rules of volleyball are regarding the field of play, the position of the players and the types of shots.

In volleyball, two teams compete, each on one side of the net.

What are the rules of volleyball?

The volleyball, volleyball or volleyball is a sport of ball that is played in opposing teams, in which an inflatable ball is hit with the hands to make it pass over a net suspended in the center of the playing field. The team that allows the ball the most times to touch the ground on its side of the net will be defeated.

It is a relatively recent sport, which began to be practiced in the United States at the end of the 19th century, when in 1895 the professor of physical education of the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association, "Young Men's Christian Association"), William G. Morgan, was looking for a playable sport indoors that would not be as aggressive as the newly invented basketball.

The game was originally called mintonette, but soon his name changed to volleyball, since players often volley the ball, that is, they hit it in the air, interrupting its trajectory.

volleyball came to Europe alongside American troops in World War I. Since then it has gained notoriety among sports until it became an Olympic sport in 1964, both in its male and female categories.

Its practice was especially popular in Eastern Europe, and nations such as Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria or the Soviet Union (and then Russia instead) have traditionally been the great champions in this sport. Another very prominent country in women's volleyball towards the end of the 20th century was Cuba.

General rules of volleyball

The general rules of volleyball are relatively simple. The two competing teams, each on one side of the net, must hit the ball with their hands and arms (or with any part of the body) in such a way that it goes over the net and falls into the enemy's territory.

For this they have a maximum of three consecutive hits before the ball passes over the net, and at all times they must keep it moving, without holding it, stopping it or accompanying it in any way along its path. Also, no player can hit the ball twice in a row.

The game normally starts with a serve made by the team in turn, and from then on both rivals alternate between:

  • Attack phases, in which the ball is controlled.
  • Defensive phases, in which the arrival of the ball over the net and the opponent's movements are anticipated.

During both phases, the players have a fixed position on their respective court, although they are allowed some freedom of movement within it. For no reason may the players cross the net towards the opponent's court, nor pass the ball under it.

Finally, the ball must be in continuous movement during the play, and always suspended in the air. The play ends when one of the teams fails to return the ball, and it touches the ground or leaves the playing area.

Volleyball field and equipment

Each team's court is divided into a defensive zone, away from the net, and an attack zone.

Volleyball teams are usually made up of 12 players, 6 of whom may be on the court at the same time, and can be exchanged throughout the game with their teammates on the bench only once each. Each team has a court next to the net, clearly delimited by the lines of play, and at no time may they enter the opponent's court.

The field of play is a flat, smooth and uninterrupted rectangle, 18 meters long by 9 meters wide. It is divided in its central line by the net, suspended at a height of 2.4 – 2.2 meters, depending on the category of play.

Around it there is a free zone, at least 3 meters wide, that separates the players from the public and where the game action can continue as long as the ball has not touched the ground. In addition, an amount of free space above the court of around 7 meters in height is required.

Each team's court is delimited by a bottom line and two side lines, within which the ball must touch the ground for it to be the opponent's point. This space is also divided into a defensive zone, away from the net, and an attack zone much closer to it. There are usually two referees per game, located at both ends of the net and without entering the field of play.

Volleyball player positions and rotation

Within their respective court, the players must occupy six certain positions, which are:

  • Three forwards or attackers. Located in a straight line in the attack zone, facing the net.
  • Three backs or defenders. Located in a straight line in the defensive zone, with their backs to the baseline.
  • Two liberos. Interchangeable players for a strictly defensive role, who can enter and leave the field of play during the defense phases in substitution of the other, as long as they are never on the field together. This can happen in the middle of a rally, but the return of the substituted player will have to wait until the end of the rally. Liberos fulfill strictly defensive roles and dress differently from the rest of the team.

Normally, on a rally, each player sticks to his position to cover a specific area on the court.However, when the team scores a point, its players must rotate positions clockwise, so that each one must play in all possible positions. This is known as rotation. However, by the time the rally is kicked off, the players must already be clearly positioned on the court and waiting.

The ball and the volleyball net

The volleyball ball is spherical, inflated, and made of leather (or a similar synthetic material), and is usually light in color, predominantly white. It is considerably smaller and lighter than a basketball or soccer ball. football: It has a circumference of 65 cm and a weight of approximately 260 g.

For its part, the net is one meter wide and is supported by two posts located at the ends of the central line. It must be tense at all times and has two white bands that mark its beginning and end at the top and bottom of its extension. The fact that the ball touches the net does not imply the end of the play, nor the point for the opponent, unless it is a serve.

touches in volleyball

The reception is the touch with which the ball is received or intercepted after the opponent's service.

The ball can be hit in a number of ways throughout a play, typically:

  • Take out or serve. It is the touch that starts the play, and is made by projecting the ball with one hand in the air and then hitting it with the other, either above or below the shoulder. The idea is that the ball goes over the net without interruption and looks for the weak sides of the opposing team's formation. This serve is taken behind the baseline.
  • Reception. It is the touch with which the ball is received or intercepted after the opponent's serve, joining both arms extended in front of the chest to hit the ball with the forearm or the region near the wrist.It is a critical touch in this sport, as it must not only prevent the opponent's serve from hitting the ground, but it must also give the team itself the opportunity to put together a counter-offensive play.
  • Placement. It is the touch that normally follows a successful reception. It is done with the fingers of both hands, propelling the ball so that a third player can shoot it over the net. It is a precise, simple and fast touch that can be made on the ground or during a jump.
  • Attack or finish. It is normally the final touch of the three allowed to a team, and consists of hitting the ball hard so that it goes over the net and into the opposite court, looking for the ground. The attack can also be made during the first moves, both from an attacking position and from a defensive position.
  • Blocking. It is the touch with which it is sought to prevent the opposite attack, that is, it is carried out from a defensive position. It consists of jumping parallel to the net, with both arms extended, looking for the ball to hit them and return to the opposite court, instead of opening the field towards one's own.

Sets and scoring in volleyball

A play ends in a point for one of both teams. It is generally considered a point for the opponent if:

  • The ball touches the ground on its own court, regardless of whether it was the team's own or the opponent's that touched the ball last.
  • During an attack, the ball leaves the opponent's court and touches the ground in the free zone or beyond. Also if during a play the ball hits the ceiling or hits the net or the posts on the outside of the court.
  • The team itself incurs in the retention or accompaniment of the ball, or if the reception occurs with improper touch.
  • The team itself exceeds the maximum allowed of three continuous touches of the ball.
  • At the moment of a service, the player of the own team that takes it steps on the baseline or hits the net.

The team that scores the most points will win the match, the length of which, however, can be highly variable, since there is no pre-established playing time. A team must win three out of five sets to be considered victorious. Each set ends when a team reaches or exceeds 25 points with at least a 2-point lead over its opponent (ie 25 to 23 points). If you do not have that advantage, you will continue playing until you reach it.

Any team that accumulates three winning sets will be the final winner. But if the fifth set is reached without a clear winner, this tie-break set will be played to 15 points only, which must be won with a 2-point advantage over the rival (15 to 13).

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