What Is Volleyball?: Exploring the Basics in 2024

Last Updated: November 21, 2023

Volleyball was a creation of William G. Morgan from Holyoke, Massachusetts. The game was introduced as an alternative exercise for older demographics interested in non-strenuous physical activity.

Volleyball is an international sport played on every continent. The team sport made its first official appearance in the Olympics in 1964.

It is played with a ball in an 18-meter by nine-meter court. The court is subdivided in half with an elevated net. Each side of the net has a team of six players.

If you have an interest in volleyball, the following basic information and essential rules may help you to learn, and understand the sport.

A Volleyball Team

A single volleyball team typically has 12 players. While six are playing, six wait on the bench as substitutes. Three players play in the front and back rows. The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) regulations (1) allow a team to have a maximum of 14 players. Most reputable teams are international teams such as Brazil, the United States, Italy, and Poland.

Below are the various players’ positions, and their specific roles in the game.

1. Setter

The setter is the point guard or the quarterback of a team. The position requires strong communication skills to set the pace of the team. Setters play from the right-back of the court and may work both rows. The player directs offense and has to make quick decisions while on the court.

2. Libero

A libero is stationed at the back row and only plays at the rear of the court. The player wears a different color from the rest of the team and may enter and exit the court without a substitute. The libero position plays defense, serves, or receives attacks.

The person can replace other players and often switches places with a middle blocker. A player with good serving and defensive skills may make a great libero.

3. Middle hitter or middle blocker

The tallest team players play the strategic positions of a middle blocker or middle hitter. The player has a strategic position, front row, middle slot, and next to the net. A middle blocker reads the opponent’s hitters to set up blocks and uses quick attacks on offense.

4. Outside hitter

The outside hitter is also known as the wing spiker. The player is stationed at the front-left, and is regarded as the focal position of offense to complete most of the attack hits. As one of the primary passers, an outside hitter may play in the front or back row.

5. Opposite hitter, or right/left hitter

As the most versatile player, an opposite hitter may excel on offense or defense. The position requires great jumping skills to hit the ball from front, and back rows.

6. Defensive specialist

A defensive specialist replaces any player who may not have the skills for a back-row position. The position of a defensive specialist depends on the rules of a particular match.

Sets and Matches

A volleyball game is broken into sets and matches. A set is made of a number of points while a match is made up of sets or games. The goal of the team is to win the most points during a set of a game.

A team must score more points to win sets, to be the winner in a match. An indoor volleyball game consists of five sets. A team must win the majority, three sets, to be the overall winner.

For beach volleyball, the winner of a game is the best of three sets of a match.

Scores to Win a Match

A team scores a point when it wins a rally. A rally starts with a serve that sends the ball to the other team. If the opponents fail to return the ball, the server team earns a point. A team can score a point if the opponents are at fault.

Every time a team scores a point, the players rotate one position in the clockwise direction. Each team plays a maximum of three hits, and a player cannot touch a ball twice in a row.

A team must score at least 25 points with a lead of two points to win a match. If the two teams tie or closely follow each other; the game may continue for a maximum of 25 minutes.

The deciding game plays until a team scores 15 points. If the tie persists, or a two-point lead is not achieved, the game proceeds to 21 minutes to resolve the stalemate.

This way of earning points is called the rally scoring system. And it is not that long ago, that volleyball scoring rules were quite different.

Major Volleyball Moves and Techniques

Below are some of the common moves you can learn to play volleyball.

1. Beginner

A beginner in the sport starts by tossing and catching the ball to get the feel of the game. At this level, the player learns how to maintain a rally. Once past the beginners’ phase, a play can bring in the hits to score points for the team.

2. Passing

Passing occurs when a player receives a ball, and sends it to the setter to pace it for an attack. The technique involves a short underhand controlled and minimal arm swing movement.

3. Blocking

A block is a defensive technique used near the net. As an attacker shoots, a maximum of three players from the other team stand next to the net with arms in the air to block the ball. The ball may be returned to the opponents, or be passed to other team members.

4. Digging

Digging happens when the ball from an attacker heads to the ground, and the defender from the back row dives forward to pass it to another team member. The defender can also bump the ball back up.

5. Sprawl

Sprawl is a defensive technique where a player places the forearms on the ground while moving from side to side to prevent the ball from contacting the floor. When the move is completed and executed well, the player is left sprawled on the ground on the stomach.

6. Spiking

A spike is also known as an attack. Spiking is an impressive, and over-the-net powerful swing. A player runs, jumps, and hits the ball to attack, or shoot.

The spike move may win a rally in the following ways:

The ball may be irretrievable
The move is so tough, the ball cannot be returned
The other team is not able to return the spiked ball across the net
The opponent may return the ball, but shank it

7. Setting

Setting is a strategic move that directs the ball to a player to spike to the opponent’s court. A set may be low, medium, or high depending on height and location. The technique prepares the ball and paces it for the attacker to spike, and score for the team.

An overhead set is when a player places the ball in both hands above the forehead to form triangles with the index fingers and the thumbs. The setter pushes the ball off the fingers for the attacker to spike the opposing team.

Common Volleyball Terminologies

For you to enjoy a game of volleyball, it is good you know and understand the language used on the court. Some terminologies may be particular to the sport.

Some common volleyball terminologies include:

Ace

Happens when the ball is not kept in play and touches the ground before the opponents touch it

Bump

A bump is also known as the forearm pass. It is a gentle move that controls and passes the ball to another player

Dig

When a ball flies past a blocker but the defender rescues it before it hits the ground

Joust

Occurs when two opposing players engage in an up-against-the-net tussle to get a ball at the top of the net

Kill

Happens when a player hits, passes, or tips the ball to the opponents, and wins some points

Shank

A bad pass that goes astray by flying out of the boundaries, or into the audience

Volleyball Equipment

It is essential to be in appropriate attire when playing a volleyball game. The sport may cause injuries if a player is not well geared, or does not play correctly.

This is the appropriate volleyball gear.

1. Volleyball shoes

Professional volleyball footwear should have a rubber sole, and be designed for lateral movements of the sport. The middle part of the sole may be made of foam, and the back be of nylon or mesh. A recreational player may use tennis trainers.

2. Knee pads

Knee pads are an essential protection gear for a volleyball player. The sport involves many lowball hits that require kneeling. Floor burns and bruising may be common in the game.

3. Elbow pads

Many players use elbow pads to cushion the arm joints when making spontaneous dives to keep the ball at play. A player may opt to wear arm sleeves for the same purpose.

4. Ankle braces

Volleyball concentrates a lot of strain and stress on the ankles. Ankle injuries are common during the game. Players wear ankle braces for extra support and protection.

5. Volleyball kit

The volleyball kit comprises a T-shirt and shorts. A player can be comfortable in spandex shorts since they are made of super-stretchable and moisture-wicking fabric. A long-sleeved or a sleeveless T-shirt may be good depending on preferences, and circumstances.

Normally, the T-shirt has the team’s logo and player number on the front and back.

6. Ball

The ball depends on whether it is for an indoor or a beach game. Indoor balls are usually made of leather, whereas outdoor balls are made of water-resistant materials.

Typically, the ball has a circumference of 65 to 67 cm and weighs about 260 to 280 grams. You may get the ball in assorted colors. However, international tournaments only use FIVB-approved balls.

7. Net

A volleyball net normally has the following dimensions 1 x 9.5 x 10 meters. It is fixed on posts on either end of the center line. The net edges may be higher by at most 2 cm.

The volleyball net height for a men’s court is 2.43 meters from the ground, while for the women is 2.24 meters. The width of the court is marked with a one-meter flexible tape. The tape helps the referee determine when the ball is out of the boundary.

8. Volleyball court

Volleyball may be played on an indoor or outdoor court. When played outdoors on a sandy court, the sport is referred to as beach volleyball. The sand surface has to be a minimum of 40 centimeters deep.

An indoor court is a flat surface, painted with a lighter color than the rest of the floor. The lines of the court are drawn in white color. FIVB regulations require official and international games to be played on synthetic, or wooden courts.

9. Penalty cards

The sport uses yellow and red cards. A yellow card is used to warn players of a misconduct without a penalty. Persistent bad behavior may lead to a red card and a sanction.

The team of the person issued a red card may also lose service if they have possession or points.

Referees and Other Officials

A volleyball match has three referees that include a first, second, and line referee.

1. First referee

The first referee is an up referee who watches a match from a stanchion that has a direct view of the court. The view provides a clear observation of what is happening on the court. The first referee faults errors concerning the ball.

2. Second referee

The second referee is a down referee and observes the match from the floor level. The down referee resolves errors committed by the defending team.

3. Line referees

Line referees are stationed at the corners of the volleyball court. They determine if the ball has struck within, or outside the court. They also watch the antennas of the net and foot faults during serves.

4. Scorer

The official who keeps an accurate record of the scores. The scorer works with an assistant and the two seat at scorekeeper’s table normally positioned behind the second referee, and on the opposite side of the first referee.

5. Ball Crew

The ball crew or the ball shaggers manage the balls to keep the game flow smooth. Players do not have to wait for balls to be retrieved since the crew has ready balls on standby.

Volleyball Rules and Violations

The volley rules to observe

Below are the rules each volleyball player should know:

A team should have a total of six players on the court at a time. Three at the front, and the back rows
The team that wins a rally gets a point with every serve
Players are not allowed to hit the ball twice in a row, but a block is not counted as a hit
The ball may be played off the net on a server and during a volley
A ball is inside the court if it hits a boundary line
When a ball hits an antenna, net, pole, ceiling of the non-play areas, cables outside the antennae, or a referee stand, it is considered to be out
It is against the rules to hold, catch, or throw the ball. But it is legal for the ball to contact any part of a player’s body.
A player cannot attack or block a serve from the inside or on the 10-foot line
Front-row players may switch positions at the net after a serve

For the complete set of volleybal rules – see this post

Rules violations

Any player that commits any of the violations below may cause the opponents to get a point:

Steps on, or across the service line while contacting the ball
Failure to send the ball over the net while serving
Erroneous handling of the ball: Catching, holding, throwing, or double touching the ball
Touching the net with other parts of the body while playing
Reaching over the net to block a ball from the opponent’s court while the team has not had three contacts, and has a player ready to play
An attack and contact with the ball before it has broken the vertical plane of the net from the opponent’s side
Crossing the centerline with the entire hand, foot, or any other part of the body except part of a hand or foot
When a serve is out of order or rotation
An illegal block whereby a back row player blocks a ball near the net with part of the body above the top of the net
An illegal attack when a back row player attacks the ball inside the 3 meters (10-foot line), and the ball is above the net
Foot faults, or illegal placement of the feet on court lines. Foot faults include; a serving foot fault where a server’s foot is not at the serving area; a serving foot fault by other players in which a player other than the server, touches the boundary lines; and crossing the center line by stepping on the center line

Major Volleyball Leagues

Volleyball has numerous different levels of competition played all over the world.

These are some of the prominent global volleyball leagues.

League	Location	Level
Association of Volleyball Professionals	USA	Pro Beach Volleyball
Pan American	North and South America	International
Volleyball Nations League	All over the world	Professional

History

When William G. Morgan created volleyball back in 1890, he sought to provide a lighter sport that would be an alternative to older basketball players. He got inspiration from other sports, such as basketball itself and tennis.

At first, he named the sport as mintonette due to its similarity to badminton. The name volleyball is derived from the volley motions of the ball.

There is a rich history of volleyball – read more about it here

Conclusion

Volleyball is an exhilarating and popular sport played the world over. The game may be played as an indoor or outdoor sport. It is a suitable physical activity for the young and older generations and requires minimal equipment.

Understanding the basics may help you to enjoy the sport even more.