PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES TOWARDS HEALTH – FITNESS I

TEAM SPORTS
(PE 103)

History and Development of the Game Volleyball

CREATION
➢ The sport of volleyball was started in the United States in 1895 by an instructor
from the YMCA, William G. Morgan, director of physical education at the YMCA of
Holyoke, Massachusetts. Within a few years it has become a popular activity at
Yong Men’s Christian Associations’ (YMCAs’).
➢ Morgan, a graduate of the Springfield College of the YMCA, designed the game to
be a combination of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball. His desire was to
blend elements from other sports such as basketball, handball and baseball into a
less physical game that could be enjoyed by area businessmen and older
gentlemen.
➢ The game was first called "mintonette" and was originally designed to be played
solely indoors on a hard floor.
➢ Within a few decades’ volleyball had spread internationally and become a college
sport in the United States.
➢ Over time, the rules were refined to limit teams to six aside on the court and hits
to three per possession.
➢ Volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1964 and beach volleyball became an
Olympic sport in 1996.
INVENTION OF THE SPORT
➢ Morgan developed volleyball in 1895, four years after a mentor, James Naismith,
invented basketball.
➢ As director of physical education at the Holyoke (Massachusetts) YMCA, Morgan
sought a sport less vigorous than basketball. "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," Morgan explained.
He raised the net higher than the height of the average person and experimented
with various balls.
➢ Morgan asked A.G. Spalding & Bros. to develop a ball that could be batted back
and forth. Morgan then began promoting his game.
 ➢ The first rules of the game were written by Morgan, who repurposed a tennis net
to be raised 6 feet, 6 inches from the floor on a 25-by-50-foot court. There were no
limits on the amount of volleys a team could have before sending the ball back
over the net to the other team.
➢ Today, the limit is usually three. Each team was allowed three serves per inning,
and there were nine innings per game.
➢ Most games were played with a typical overhand pass until the 1940s, when the
forearm pass was also used.
COMPETITION BEGINS
➢ Morgan showcased his new sport to YMCA directors in 1896.
➢ At the suggestion of Professor Alfred T. Halstead, its name was changed to "volley
ball" to match the action of the sport.
➢ It was played on a smaller court (25 feet by 50 feet) with an unlimited number of
players hitting the ball an unlimited number of times.
➢ The sport's rules were published in the July 1896 edition of "Physical Education"
and were included the first official handbook of the North American YMCA Athletic
League in 1897.
➢ After 1900, the YMCA introduced volleyball to many different countries, including
Canada, Cuba and Uruguay.
➢ During World War I, thousands of volleyballs were sent overseas to troops, which
helped encourage awareness of the game to other lands outside of the United
States.
➢ Sports enthusiasts in Paris, France, founded the Federation Internationale De
Volley Ball in the late 1940s.
➢ In the 1950s, the first volleyball game was played during the Pan American Games.
➢ The International Olympic Committee granted volleyball status as a team sport in
1957.
➢ The United States won gold for men and silver for women in 1984 during the Los
Angeles Olympic Games.
EVOLUTION OF THE SPORT
➢ The new game of mintonette was quickly changed to volley ball, written as two
words, when an observer noted that this may be a better way to describe the game.
➢ The first game was played on July 7, 1896, at Springfield College.
➢ A ball designed specifically for volleyball was created in 1900.
➢ Volleyball spread to Canada and then around the world.
➢ A version of the sport featuring 16 players aside was played at the first Far-Eastern
Games in 1913. The set-and-spike style was observed in the Philippines in 1916.
➢ In that same year, the YMCA asked the National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA to assist in improving the rules and promoting the sport within schools and
colleges.
➢ In 1917, final game points were changed from 21 to 15. In 1918 the number of
players on the court was limited to six per team.
➢ In 1920, three hits per side and back row attack rules were instituted.
➢ Another major rule change came in 1922 when the maximum number of hits per
side was set at three.
➢ The USA Volleyball organization was created in 1928 and was originally called the
United States Volleyball Association.
➢ In 1930, the first two-man beach game was played.
➢ In 1934, national volleyball referees were approved and recognized.
➢ In 1937, at the AAU convention in Boston, action was taken to recognize the U.S.
Volleyball Association as the official national governing body in the U.S.
➢ In 1947, the Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball (FIVB) was founded.
➢ In 1948, the first two-man beach tournament was held.
➢ In 1949, the initial World Championships were held in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
➢ In 1964, volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
➢ In 1965, the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) was formed.
➢ In 1974, the World Championships in Mexico were telecast in Japan.
➢ In 1975, the U.S. National Women’s team began a year-round training regime in
Pasadena, Texas (moved to Colorado Springs in 1979, Coto de Caza and
Fountain Valley, CA, in 1980, and San Diego, CA, in 1985).
➢ In 1977, the U.S. National Men’s Team began a year-round training regime in
Dayton, Ohio (moved to San Diego, CA, in 1981).
➢ In 1983, the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was formed.
➢ In 1984, the U.S. won their first medals at the Olympics in Los Angeles. The men
won the gold, and the women the silver.
➢ In 1986, the Women’s Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was formed.
 ➢ In 1988, the U.S. men repeated the gold in the Olympics in Korea.
➢ In 1990, the World League was created.
➢ In 1995, the sport of volleyball was 100 years old!
➢ In 1996, two-person beach volleyball became an Olympic sport.
VOLLEYBALL GETS BIG
➢ The sport became a serious international competition in 1947 with the formation in
Paris of the Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball.
➢ The first World Championship was held two years later. With more than 50 million
people now playing the sport in more than 60 countries by 1951, volleyball became
part of the Pan-American Games in 1955 and the Olympics in 1964.
➢ By the late 1960s, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and National
Collegiate Athletic Association had embraced the sport.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
➢ The outdoor version of volleyball -- a two-on-two competition played on sand --
was born as a tournament sport in 1948.
➢ It grew in popularity after its introduction at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
➢ It has been a vibrant professional sport for decades and has become one of the
fastest-growing sports at the collegiate level.
THE HISTORY OF VOLLEYBALL IN THE PHILIPPINES
➢ The Philippines had more influence over the style of modern volleyball than you
might think.
➢ In fact, Philippine volleyball players invented the set and spike.
➢ More than 800 million people in the world play volleyball at least once a week,
according to information from the Westlake High School physical education
department.
➢ This competitive sport burns 364 calories per hour for a 200-pound person.
ORIGINS
➢ The history of volleyball in the Philippines dates back to 1910.
➢ The Physical Director of the YMCA, Elwood S. Brown, first introduced volleyball to
the Philippines that year.
 ➢ Philippine people began to play volleyball as a backyard sport and games of beach
volleyball soon followed, according to information from the Philippine Volleyball
Federation, or PVF.
➢ Players hung the net between two trees.
➢ They made up their own rules regarding how many players on each side and how
many times you could hit the ball before sending it over the net.
THREE-HIT LIMIT
➢ The Philippine style of volleyball inspired the Americans to create the three-hit limit,
according to information on the PVF website.
➢ Before the rule, Philippine volleyball teams would sometimes let every player hit
the ball before sending it over to the opposing side.
➢ This took too much time and snuffed out the challenge and competitive nature of
the game.
SET AND SPIKE
➢ With the new three-hit rule in place, Philippine players experimented with new
volleyball techniques and came up with the set and spike, a.k.a. the “Filipino
Bomb.”
➢ In this offensive passing style, one player hits the volleyball and sends it high in
the air to set it up for another player on her team.
➢ A second player then strikes the ball sending it over the net at a downward angle.
➢ This is called spiking the ball.
PHILIPPINE AMATEUR VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION
➢ The date July 4, 1961 marks the birth of the Philippine Amateur Volleyball
Association.
➢ The director for the Playground and Recreation Bureau, members of the business
community and others gathered to create an organized volleyball association in
the Philippines.
➢ The Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association was later named the Philippine
Amateur Volleyball Association and is currently called the Philippine Volleyball
Federation.
➢ It is affiliated with and accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Asian
Volleyball Confederation and the Federation International de Volleyball.
FACILITES AND EQUIPMENT
Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan as a less-strenuous
alternative to basketball for middle-aged men. The sport began as a loose conglomeration
of several other sports, incorporating equipment and ideas from badminton, tennis and
basketball. As the game developed, the court and equipment used became uniquely
refined to meet the specific needs of the sport.
Morgan’s original game used the rubber bladder out of a basketball as the first
volleyball, which was hit over a badminton net that was suspended 6 ½ feet off of the
ground. The court was divided into two 25-foot square halves, and each team was allowed
to have as many players as could fit on the court. Roughly one year after the sport was
created, Spalding designed the first official volleyball, and by 1900 the ball used became
more or less standardized. By 1928, the United States Volleyball Association was
established to oversee the sport and ensure that standards were established for all court
and equipment usage.
The beach variant of volleyball began in the 1940s. While many of the rules and
specifications of this format are the same as indoor volleyball, there are some differences.
The court used in beach volleyball is slightly smaller, measuring 16 meters by 8 meters.
The ball also is increased in size to a circumference between 66 and 68 cm. The average
net height for men and women stays the same.

COURT
Today, courts must meet the specifications set forth by USA Volleyball and the
international governing body, FIVB. Indoor courts must measure 18 meters long by 9
meters wide and have an attack area demarcated 3 meters back from the centerline. The
lines used on the court should not be any wider than 5 cm. A free space measuring 2
meters in any direction is recommended around the playing area of the court to prevent
any accidental obstructions of play. Above the highest point of the net, there should be at
least 7 meters of space to allow the ball free travel, though 12 meters is recommended.
NET
Net height can vary depending on the age of the players and the class of volleyball
being played. The standard height used for men over the age of 15 is 2.43 meters
measured from the lowest point of the net to the court floor. For women over the age of
13, the standard measurement is 2.24 meters. The net extends to each of the sidelines
on the court and should be the same height at both sidelines. The net itself is 1 meter
wide. At either end of the net, an antenna is attached that is 10 mm in diameter and
extends 1.8 meters above the net. These antennae are considered part of the net and
are used to delineate the vertical crossing space.
 Center and Attack Lines
A net divides the court in half lengthwise along a center
line, making for square areas on either side of the net.
Each side of a recreational court will be 30 feet square,
each side of a sanctioned court will be 29 1/2 feet square,
and each side of a doubles sand court will be 26 1/4 feet
square. An attack line is marked off 10 feet back from the
center line on each side of indoor courts to mark the point
behind which players may attack the ball. Sand courts do
not have this line or a center line since attacks may begin
from anywhere and players may cross under the net in
some circumstances.
Free Zone
The free zone is the area around the court in which
players can enter to play the volleyball, but only after the
ball is served. On standard courts, the outer area is a
minimum of 10 feet wide on every side, but can be
undefined, as natural barriers can end the free zone. In
beach volleyball, the free zone is a defined area, between
16.4 and 19.7 feet wide.
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.
Poles
Volleyball poles should be set at 36 feet apart, 3 feet further out from the sidelines.
Ceiling Height
The minimum ceiling height should be 23 feet, though they should preferably be higher.
The Net
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.
Volleyball Court Dimensions
The 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.

BALL
The ball used for volleyball is smaller than the basketball
bladder that was used originally. For indoor volleyball, it should
have a circumference between 65 and 67 cm when fully inflated
to an inner pressure between 4.3 and 4.6 lbs. psi. Once inflated,
the ball must weigh between 260 and 280 g. During FIVB
competitions and world events, three balls are used and must
meet the same standards as the other balls before being
approved for play.

How Big Is a Volleyball Court in Feet?

The length of a volleyball court depends largely on the number of players
participating. A beach volleyball doubles match, for instance, will have a smaller court
than a standard match involving six players on each side. Matches set up by USA
Volleyball, the NCAA and other official volleyball leagues will have small, likely
unnoticeable differences in dimensions compared with a recreational volleyball court,
which is used more for intramural and less-competitive matches.
General Court Dimensions
A recreational volleyball court is 60 feet in length and 30 feet wide. If you are
interested in building a court or roping off an area to play volleyball, these are the
dimensions to use and are the same as will be found in the majority of gyms. Indoor courts
sanctioned by the International Volleyball Federation, USA Volleyball and the NCAA are
slightly smaller, measuring 59 feet long and 29 feet 6 inches wide. This is for a match with
six players on each side of the net.
AVP and Olympic Dimensions
The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) and the Olympics feature
doubles beach volleyball, consisting of two players on each side of the net. Since there
are fewer players on the court, the dimensions are smaller: A doubles beach volleyball
court is 52 feet 6 inches long and 26 feet 3 inches wide.
Overhead Clearance
The NCAA recommends that the space above an indoor court be 41 feet, which is
measured from the playing surface. The rules also state that the playing space above the
court must be free of any obstruction to a minimum of 25 feet for facilities that were built
after 2006.

TERMINOLOGIES USED IN VOLLEYBALL GAME

▪ ACE: A serve that is not passable and results directly in a point, usually when the
ball hits the floor untouched on the receiving team’s side of the court.
▪ 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: Helping a teammate set up for a kill. Passing or setting the ball to a
teammate who attacks the ball for a kill.
▪ 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.
▪ ATTACKER: Also “hitter” and “spiker.” A player who attempts to hit a ball
offensively with the purpose of terminating play in his or her team’s favor.
▪ ATTACK BLOCK: The defensive team’s attempt to block a spiked ball. 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
side out, 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.
▪ ATTACK LINE: A line 3 meters/10 feet away from, and parallel to, the net.
Separates the front-row players from the back-row players. A back-row player
cannot legally attack the ball above the net unless he takes off from behind this
line.
▪ BACK ROW/COURT: The area from the end line to the attack line. Space from
baseline (end line) to attack line. There are 3 players whose court positions are in
this area (positions 1, 6 & 5 on court)
▪ BACK ROW ATTACK: When a back-row player takes off from behind the attack
line (10-foot/3-meter) line and attacks the ball. 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.
▪ BACK SET: Set delivered behind the setter which is subsequently hit by an
attacker.
▪ BEACH DIG: An open hand receives of the ball, also called a “Deep Dish”
▪ BASELINE: The back boundary of the court. Also called the end line
▪ BLOCK: One of the 6 basic skills. A defensive play by one or more front-row
players meant to intercept a spiked ball. The combination of one, 2 or 3 players
jumping in front of the opposing spiker and contacting the spiked ball with the
hands.
▪ BLOCKING ERROR: Touching the net, crossing the centerline, blocking a set or
serve. 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 call a blocker for a violation such as going into the
net, centerline violation, reaching over the net, etc.).
▪ BUMP: A common term for forearm passing.
▪ 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.
▪ “COVER”: Refers to the hitter having his/her teammates ready to retrieve
rebounds from the opposing blockers.
▪ CROSS COURT SHOT/ ATTACK: 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: Refers to sending the ball away from the net, toward the baseline of the
opponent’s court. Set to be hit away from the net to confuse or disrupt the timing
of the blockers.
▪ DEFENSE: One of the 6 basic skills. The key skills used to receive the opponent's
attack are digging and sprawling. The dig resembles a forearm pass from a low
ready position and is used more for balls that are hit near the defender. The sprawl
is a result of an attempted dig for a ball hit farther away from the defender. It
resembles a dive.
▪ DIG: Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball and low to ground. Defensive play. Slang
for retrieving an attacked ball close to the floor.
▪ DINK: A one-handed, soft hit into the opponent’s court using the fingertips. Also
called a tip. A legal push of the ball around or over blockers.
▪ DOUBLE BLOCK: Two players working in unison to intercept a ball at the net or
deflect an attacked ball at the net back to the hitter’s side.
▪ DOUBLE HIT: Violation. Two successive hits by the same player.
▪ 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 powerful spike.
▪ DUMP: Usually performed by the setter, who delivers the ball into the opponent’s
court on the second contact.
▪ FIVE-ONE: A 6-player offensive system that uses five hitters and one setter.
▪ FIVE SET: A back set to the right front hitter.
▪ FLARE: Inside-out path of an outside spiker who hid behind a quick hitter.
▪ FLOATER: A serve which does not spin or rotate and therefore moves in an erratic
path.
▪ FOLLOW: To move with and block an attacker. Athletes may change positions
with another blocker in the process.
▪ FOREARM PASS: Join your arms from the elbows to the wrists and strike the ball
with the fleshy part of your forearms in an underhand motion. Sometimes referred
to as the “pass,” “bump” or “dig”.
▪ FOUL: A violation of the rules.
▪ FOUR SET: A set 1′ from the sideline, and 1’ to 2′ above the net.
▪ FOUR-TWO: A 6-player offensive system using four hitters and two setters.
▪ FREE BALL: A ball that will be returned by a pass rather than a spike. This is
usually called aloud by the defense instructing players to move into serve receive
positions. Returning the ball to the opponent without the intent to get a kill. Usually
a slow, arcing pass or “roll” shot rather than a spike.
▪ FRONT: Position of a blocker so that she/he can block the attacker.
▪ FRONT-ROW: Three players whose court position is in front of the attack line
(3M/10 Foot), near the net. These players are in positions 2, 3 & 4 on the court.
▪ GAME PLAN: Offensive and defensive emphasis for an opponent. Usually
organized for each rotation by the coaching staff.
▪ HELD BALL: A ball that comes to rest during contact resulting in a violation.
▪ HIT: One of the 6 basic skills. To jump and strike the ball with an overhand, forceful
shot.
▪ HITTER: Also “spiker” or “attacker.” The player who is responsible for hitting the
ball.
▪ HITTING PERCENTAGE: A statistic derived from total kills minus total attack
errors, divided by total attempts. (kills vs. attempts)
▪ INSIDE SHOOT: A playset or a 33.
▪ ISOLATION PLAY: Designed to isolate the attacker on a specific defender,
normally to exploit a weakness or give a hitter a chance to hit against a single
block.
▪ JOUST: When 2 opposing players contact the ball simultaneously above the net
causing the ball to momentarily come to rest; the point is replayed if this is called
by the official.
▪ JUMP SERVE: The server uses an approach, toss, takeoff and serves the ball with
a spiking motion while in the air. There are two main types: jump float, jump spin.
▪ JUNGLE BALL: Any volleyball game with people who don’t really know how to
play volleyball. A common euphemism for this type of game is “Picnic Volleyball.”
▪ KEY: To predict a team’s next play by observation of patterns or habits.
▪ KILL: An attack that results in an immediate point or side out.
▪ LET SERVE: A serve that contacts the net. If the ball dribbles over, it’s playable
just like any other ball that contacts the net on the way over. If the ball fails to clear
the net, it will become dead when it either hits the serving team’s court, or is
contacted by a player on the serving team.
▪ LIBERO: A player specialized in defensive skills. This player must wear a
contrasting jersey color from his or her teammates and cannot block or attack the
ball when it is entirely above net height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can
replace any back-row player without prior notice to the officials.
▪ LINE: The marks that serve as boundaries of a court. 2 inches (5cm) wide.
▪ LINESMAN: Officials located at the corners of the court; each linesman is
responsible for ruling if the ball is legally in play along the lines for which he or she
is responsible. For indicating touches and play outside of the antennae on their
side of net.
▪ LINEUP: Players starting rotation and, therefore, serving order. Numbered
1,2,3,4,5,6.
▪ LINE SHOT: A ball spiked down an opponent’s sideline, closest to the hitter and
outside the block.
▪ LINE SERVE: A straight-ahead serve landing near the opponent’s left sideline.
▪ LINE SHOT: A ball spiked along an opponent’s sideline, closest to the hitter and
outside the block.
▪ LOAD: Body position for the blockers so that they are most effective.
▪ MIDDLE BACK: A defensive system that uses the middle back player in 6 to cover
deep spikes. Also called “6 back” defense.
▪ MIDDLE BLOCKER: Usually plays in the middle of the net when in the front row
and moves laterally to her blocking assignments.
▪ MIDDLE UP: A defensive system that uses the middle-back player in 6 to cover
tips or short shots along the 3 meter/10-foot line. Also called a “6 up” defense
▪ MINTONETTE: The original name of the game of volleyball, created by William
Morgan.
▪ MULTIPLE OFFENSE: A system of play using different types of sets other than
just normal outside sets.
▪ MEN: 7 feet, 11-5/8 inches high (2.43m).
▪ NET HEIGHT: Women – 7 feet, 4-1/8 inches high (2.24m).
▪ OFF-BLOCKER: Outside blocker not included in the double block. Also called off-
side blocker.
▪ OFF-SPEED SHOTS: An attack that is intentionally slow. Ball spiked with less than
maximum force but with spin. Also called “roll” shot.
▪ OPPOSITE: Player who plays opposite the setter in the rotation. In some systems,
this player is also a setter. In other systems, this player is called a right-side.
▪ OUTSIDE HITTER: Usually plays at the ends of the net when in the front row. Also
called right-side (opposite) or left side (power). A left-front or right-front attacker
normally taking an approach which starts from outside the court
▪ OVERHAND PASS: A pass with both hands open that is controlled by the fingers,
with the face below the ball. Both hands simultaneously contact the ball above the
head and direct it to the intended target.
▪ OVERHAND SERVE: Serving the ball and striking it with the hand above the
shoulder. Float or spin.
▪ OVERLAP: A violation called if a team is lined up out of rotation when the ball is
served or refers to the positions of the players in the rotation prior to the contact of
the ball when serving.
▪ OVERPASS: A ball passed across the net.
▪ OVERSET: An errant set that crosses the net without being touched by another
offensive player.
▪ PASS: One of the 6 basic skills. Receiving a serve or the first contact of the ball
with the intent to control the ball to another player. Also called a “bump”.
▪ PANCAKE: One-hand floor defensive technique where the hand is extended and
slid along the floor palm down while the player dives or extension rolls so the ball
bounces off the back of the hand and is considered legal.
▪ PARTY BALL: When the ball is passed across the net in front of attack line so the
front-row attacker can immediately hit the ball on the first contact.
▪ PENETRATION: The blocker’s ability to reach over the net above the opponent’s
court or the act of reaching across and breaking the plane of the net during
blocking.
▪ PERIMETER: Backcourt defense where 4 players arrange themselves near the
boundaries of the court.
▪ PIPE: A back-row attack from the middle of the court. Position 6.
▪ PLAY: An attack with a planned fake, usually including 2 or more hitters.
▪ POINT OF SERVICE: A serve that results in a point (an ace by NCAA standards)
as the serve is not returnable due to a bad pass by the receiver, this number
includes aces.
▪ POWER ALLEY: A cross-court hit traveling away from the spiker to the farthest
point of the court.
▪ POWER TIP: A ball that is pushed or directed with force by an attacking team.
▪ POWER VOLLEYBALL: A competitive style of volleyball started by the Japanese.
▪ QUICK: a player approaching the setter for a quick inside hit
▪ QUICK SET: An extremely low vertical set used to beat the opponent’s block. Can
be set at any position on the net or a set (usually 2’ above the net) in which the
hitter is approaching the setter, and may even be in the air, before the setter
delivers the ball. This type of set requires precise timing between the setter and
hitter.
▪ RALLY SCORING: Scoring method where points can be won by the serving or
receiving team.
▪ READY POSITION: The flexed, yet comfortable, posture a player assumes before
moving to the point of contact.
▪ RECEPTION ERROR: A serve that a player should have been able to return, but
results in an ace (and only in the case of an ace). If it is a “husband/wife” play
(where the ball splits the two receivers), the receiving team is given the reception
error instead of an individual.
▪ RED CARD: A severe penalty in which an official displays a red card. The result
of a red card may be a player is disqualified, the team loses the serve, or the team
loses a point. A red card may be given with or without a prior yellow card as a
warning; it is up to the official’s discretion.
▪ ROLL: a certain way to pass a ball in which the digger, or passer lays out an arm,
passes the ball, and rolls over the shoulder (over the shoulder roll) or back (barrel
roll) after passing the ball. This is a quick way to return to action after the play.
▪ ROOF: To block a spike, usually straight down for a point.
▪ ROTATION: The clockwise movement of players around the court and through the
serving position following a side out. Players must retain their initial rotational order
throughout the entire game, but once the ball is contacted on serve, they are
allowed to move anywhere.
▪ SEAM: The mid-point between 2 players.
▪ SERVE: One of the 6 basic skills. Used to put the ball into play. It is the only skill
controlled exclusively by one player.
▪ SERVER: The player who puts the ball into play.
▪ SERVICE ERROR: An unsuccessful serve in which one or more of the following
occurs: 1) the ball hits the net or fails to clear the net, 2) the ball lands out of
bounds, or 3) the server commits a foot fault.
▪ SERVICE WINNER: A point the serving team scores when this player has served
the ball. The point can be an immediate (in the case of an ace) or delayed (a kill
or opponent attack error after a long rally). Therefore, the sum of the team’s service
winners equals their score.
▪ SET: One of the 6 basic skills. The tactical skill in which a ball is directed to a point
where a player can spike it into the opponent’s court. Sets can be set at different
heights and different locations on the net and offensively there are names for each
of these. First number is location on net and second number height of set.
▪ SET ATTACK: When a setter attempts to score rather than set the ball to a setter.
Also called a shoot set.
▪ SETTER: The second passer whose job it is to position a pass to the hitter or the
player who has the 2nd of 3 contacts of the ball who “sets” the ball with an
“Overhand Pass” for a teammate to hit. The setter normally runs the offense.
▪ SHALLOW: Near the net.
▪ SHANK: Severely misdirected pass.
▪ SIDE OUT: Change of service when a serving team has failed to score a point.
Occurs when the receiving team successfully puts the ball away against the
serving team, or when the serving team commits an unforced error, and the
receiving team thus gains the right to serve.
▪ SIX-PACK: Occurs when a blocker gets hit in the head or face by a spiked ball or
being hit in the face with the ball.
▪ SIX-TWO (6-2): An offense with four spikers and two spikers/setters. Setter comes
from the back row. A 6-player offense using 2 setters opposite one another in the
rotation. Setter 1 becomes a hitter upon rotating into the front row as setter 2
rotates into the back row and becomes the setter.
▪ SLIDE/STEP: A quick attack behind the setter.
▪ SPIKE: Also called a hit or attack. A ball contacted with force by a player on the
offensive team who intends to terminate the ball on the opponent’s floor or off the
opponent’s blocker.
▪ SPLIT BLOCK: A double-block that leaves a space between the blockers.
▪ STRONG SIDE: When a right-handed hitter is hitting from the left-front position or
when a left-handed hitter is hitting from the right-front position.
▪ STUFF: A ball deflected back to the attacking team’s floor by the opponent’s
blockers. A slang term for “block.”
▪ SUBSTITUTION: Allows one player to replace another player already on the court.
Rules dictate number of subs each team is allowed.
▪ SWITCH: To change court positions after a ball is served to facilitate strongest
player positions.
▪ TANDEM: A combination in which one player attacks immediately behind another.
▪ TAPE: The top of the net.
▪ TELEGRAPH: To show one’s intention to the opponents.
▪ THREE-METER LINE: The line extended across the court to signify the point
which a back-row player must leave the ground behind to attack the ball. Also call
“attack line” and 10-foot line
▪ TIP: A one-handed, soft hit into the opponent’s court using the fingertips. Also
called a dink.
▪ TOOL: When an attacker hits the ball off an opposing blocker’s arms out of bounds.
Also called a wipe.
▪ TOUCH: A player contacting the ball on the defensive play.
▪ TRANSITION: To switch from offense to defense and vice versa.
▪ TRIPLE-BLOCK: Block formed by all 3 front-row players.
▪ TURNING IN: the act of an outside blocker turning his/her body into the court so
as to ensure the blocked ball is deflected into the court and lands in-bounds.
▪ UNDERHAND SERVE: A serve performed with an underhand striking action. The
ball is usually contacted with the heel of the hand or a serve in which the ball is
given a slight under-hand toss from about waist high and then struck with the
opposite closed fist in an “underhand pitching” motion.
▪ WEAK SIDE: When a right-handed player is hitting from right-front position or
when a left-handed player is hitting from the left-front position.
▪ W SERVE-RECEIVE FORMATION: Three players in the front row, two in the back.
▪ WIPE: To deliberately spike the ball off an opponent’s hands and out of bounds.
Also called a tool or when a hitter pushes the ball off of the opposing block so it
lands out of bounds
▪ YELLOW CARD: Given by the official to a player or coach as a warning of
misconduct. Two yellow cards result in an automatic red card. A warning from an
official indicated by the display of a yellow card. Any player or coach who receives
two yellow cards in a match is disqualified. A single yellow card does not result in
loss of point or serve.
Officials & Their Duties in Volleyball
On the sidelines, at the back corners and at the net, someone always has an eye
on the volleyball court during a game. Although their duties vary, volleyball officials ensure
that the game is played fairly, cleanly and that points are given when they are deserved.
Those officials are the referees, the scorekeeper, assistant scorekeeper or libero tracker,
and the line judges.
As in most sporting competitions, volleyball employs referees in order to control
the flow of the game and enforce the rules. The volleyball referee team includes the first
referee, the second referee, the scorer and two-line judges. Without the referee team, the
fast-paced game could easily get out of hand if disputes regarding rules were to arise.
REFEREE
The referee is the individual at the center of the court, usually dressed in black and
white stripes. A referee’s duties include signaling when a rally begins and ends. The
referee is responsible for officially recognizing team requests, substitutions, time-outs and
communicating with the coaches at the appropriate times. There are often multiple
referees in a match.
First Referee
The first referee stands on the referee stand and controls the play of the entire
game. Whatever issues arise during the game, the first referee determines the call and
has the final say. After making a call, no player or other referee can argue the call,
although a formal protest can be placed with the scorer.
Before the match begins, the first referee inspects the equipment and the players
uniforms. The warm-ups and the coin toss also fall under the jurisdiction of the first
referee.
Throughout the match, the first referee makes calls regarding faults and scoring
issues. Following the match, the first referee notes the score and signs the official
paperwork.
Second Referee
The second referee works to assist the first referee throughout the game. If for
some reason the first referee can’t finish her duties, the second referee may take the
place of the first referee.
The second referee stands next to the post opposite the first referee. In addition to
assisting the first referee with determining faults throughout the game, the second referee
is in charge of all substitutions, timeouts and the actions of the scorer's table.
LINE JUDGES
There are usually two-line judges, one at either end of the court, usually in opposite
corners. Line judges work with the referees, signaling to assist in making judgment calls.
These officials often use flags to signal when a ball is in or out, hits the antennae of the
net, or when the server commits a foot fault, or steps outside the line as they serve.
At least two, and as many as four, line judges monitor each game. The line judges
stand at the corners of the court watching the lines to indicate whether a ball in play falls
in or out of the court.
If a server steps on the line during a serve, the line judge watching the given line
notifies the referees using a flag. When a player touches an out-of-play ball or if the ball
hits an antenna, the designated line judge also indicates the interference.
SCOREKEEPER
The scorekeeper creates official records of volleyball games. Before play begins,
the scorekeeper records team and player information. Once the game begins,
scorekeepers not only track points, but also player substitutions, sanctions and time-outs.
The scorekeeper keeps an eye on the individual serving the ball to track the rotation and
notify referees of potential lapses. At the close of the game, the scorekeeper records the
final score of the game.
The official scorer keeps track of the score throughout the volleyball game. Before
the game begins the scorer notes the starting lineup of each team and notifies the
referees if the lineup was not received on time. If a dispute or irregularity arises regarding
the score, the scorer uses a buzzer to notify the first and second referees. Additionally,
when a substitution request arises, the scorer notifies the referees.
Assistant Scorekeeper
The assistant scorekeeper or libero tracker is responsible for updating the
scoreboard and keeping an eye on the libero. The libero tracking duty was added in 1999.
This individual records changes in the libero rotation, notifying referees when problems
occur in the rotation.