Basic Rules of
Volleyball Game
1.
Volleyball is a complex game of simple skills.
The ball is spiked from up to 60 cm above the height of a basketball hoop
(about 3.65 metres) and takes fractions of a second to travel from the spiker
to the receiver. That means the receiver must assess incoming angle, decide
where to pass the ball and then control their pass in the blink of an eye. A
purely rebound sport (you can't hold the ball), volleyball is a game of
constant motion.
2.
A team can touch the ball three times on its
side of the net. The usual pattern is a dig (an underarm pass made with the
forearms), a set (an overhead pass made with the hands) and a spike (the
overhead attacking shot). The ball is served into play. Teams can also try to
block the opponent's spike as it crosses the net. A block into your own court
counts as one of your three touches in beach volleyball, but not in volleyball.
3.
There are six players on court in a volleyball
team, who each must rotate one position clockwise every time their team wins
back service from the opposition. Only the three players at the net positions
can jump and spike or block near the net. The backcourt players can only hit
the ball over the net if they jump from behind the attack line, also known as
the three-metre line, which separates the front and back part of the court.
4.
Power and height have become vital components of
international teams, but the ability of teams and coaches to devise new
strategies, tactics and skills has been crucial for continued success.
5.
Volleyball has developed into a very specialized
sport. Most teams will include in their starting line-up a setter, two centre
blockers, two receiver-hitters and a universal spikier. Only certain players
will be involved with service reception. Players will also have specialist
positions for attack and defiance. Substitutions are allowed during the game.
6.
Since 1998, Volleyball has been using a new
scoring system. Teams scored a point on every rally (Rally Point System),
regardless of which team served. Formerly, a team could only win a point if it
served the ball. Winning the serve back from the opposition was known as a
side-out.
7.
Matches are played best of five sets. The first
four sets are played to 25 points, with the final set being played to 15
points. A team must win a set by two points. There is no ceiling, so a set
continues until one of the teams gains a two-point advantage. Previously, all
sets were to 15 points, with the first four sets having a ceiling of 17 and the
final set requiring at least a two-point winning advantage.
8.
In 1998, the FIVB introduced a new specialist
role: the libero. This player wears a different coloured uniform from the rest
of the team and can be substituted in backcourt for any player on the team. The
libero cannot serve, spike the ball over the net or rotate into the front-line
positions, but plays a vital role for the team in serve reception and backcourt
defence. There must be at least one point played between a libero substituting
off for a player and going back on the court for another player – hence he/she
cannot be on the court for the whole game. The libero has added an extra
dimension to backcourt defence, improving the reception of teams, lengthening
the rallies and giving a vital role to shorter players.