What is volleyball?
Volleyball is a sport played by two teams with a ball on a playing court divided by a net. The object of the game is for each team to send the ball regularly over the net to ground it on the opponent's court, and to prevent the ball from touching the ground on your team's side of the court.
Who invented volleyball?
William Morgan was an instructor at the YMCA in the United States. In 1895, he combined different parts of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball to create the game of volleyball. He wanted to create a game that did not have as much contact as basketball.
Equipment: What do you need to play volleyball?
- A volleyball
- A net - the height of the volleyball net is 2.43 m
- A court - indoor volleyball courts are 18 m x 9m
- Knee pads
- Tennis shoes
- Team uniforms
Rules: How do you play volleyball?
A server in the backcourt server the ball by hitting it over the net into the opponent's court. A team can hit the ball three times in order to return it to the team on the other side of the court. A player cannot hit the ball twice in a row unless one of those hits is a block. A block happens when a player prevents the ball from crossing the net with his or her arms.
Scoring: How do you keep track of points?
The team winning a rally scores one point. (A rally is a series of hits between teams that continues until the ball touches the ground, goes out of bounds, or the team commits a fault.) When the receiving team wins a rally, it gains a point and the right to serve. Players rotate one position clockwise each time they win a rally.
The team who scores 25 points wins. However, a team must win by at least 2 points. The teams play until one team wins the best of 3 games or best of 5 games, which is called a match.
The deciding game is the final game in a best of 3 or best of 5 series.
Why do volleyball players make good waiters and waitresses?
They are great at serving!
Team Line-Up: What are the player positions?
Each volleyball team has 3 front row players and 3 back row players. Players in the front row are attackers and blockers. Players in the back row are passers, and diggers. The setter can be in the back row or front row. When a team wins the rally, they rotate positions clockwise around the court.
Setter
The setter is the player on the volleyball team that sets the attackers to make the plays. A setter directs or runs the offense. A team may choose to have several setters.
Outside Hitter or Outside Blockers
Outside hitters are usually the primary attackers on the team. Hitters attack balls that are set to the left side of the court. They also block hits that the other team sends across the net.
Weak Side Hitter or Weak Side Blockers
Weak Side hitters hit from the right side of the court and are usually not the primary attackers on the team. They help with the attack. They also block when the other team returns the ball over the net.
Middle Hitter or Middle Blocker or Middle
Middle Hitters hit balls set at the net in the middle of the court. Middle Hitters are sometimes the primary attackers on the team. Middle Hitters are decoys to confuse the opposing team's blockers. Middle Blockers lead the front row players. They help coordinate the team's blocking strategy.
Volleyball Time Line
1895 - William Morgan created the game of volleyball.
1900 - The ball was designed for the spot of volleyball.
1900 - Volleyball was played in Canada, Asia, and the Southern Hemisphere.
1905 - Volleyball was played in Cuba.
1913 - Volleyball was included in the Far-Eastern games in Asia.
1916 - The set and spike were introduced in the Philippines.
1920 - Beach volleyball begins in Santa Monica, California.
Volleyball Time Line
1920 - Rules about three hits per side and back row attack were created.
1928 - The United States Volleyball Association was formed.
1948 - The first two-man beach tournament was held.
1949 - Prague won the first Men's World Championship in Czechoslovakia.
1951 - Volleyball was played in over 60 different countries.
1952 - Moscow won the first Women's World Championship.
1953 - The first Canadian Volleyball Championship was held.
Volleyball Time Line
1964 - Volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
1965 - The California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) was formed.
1975 - The U.S. National Women's Team began year-round training.
1977 - The U.S. National Men's Team began year-round training.
1984 - The U.S.A. won their first Olympic medals. The Men won the Gold, and the Women won the Silver.
1986 - The Women's Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was formed.
Volleyball Time Line
1988 - The U.S.A. Men won the Gold in the Olympics in Korea.
1996 - The-person beach volleyball became an Olympic Sport.
2000 - The U.S.A. Men's Team won the Olympic Beach Volleyball Gold medal.
2004 - Kerri Walsh and Misty May Treanor won the Women's Olympic Beach Volleyball Title.
2012 - Russia won the gold medal during the London Olympic games.
Volleyball Legends
Misty May Treanor Misty May Treanor played in her first beach volleyball tournament at age 8, with her father, and she later led her high school team to two national indoor volleybal championships and her college team to an undefeated season.
Volleyball Legends
Kerri Walsh Kerri Walsh Jennings played with Misty Mae Treanor and won the Olympic gold at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Volleyball Legends
Karch Kiraly Karch Kiraly is famous for playing Pro Beach Volleyball. Kiraly is the only volleyball player in Olympic history to win three Gold medals. He is the 'winningest' player in the hisory of the sport. Throughout his career, Kiraly earned many awards including: Best Defensive Player (2002), Best Offensive Player (1990, 1993, 1994), Comeback Player of the Year (1997), Most Valuable Player (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998) Sportsman of the Year (1995, 1997, 1998) Outstanding Achievement (2004). Best Player in the World in 1986 and 1988. He was inducted into the 2005 AVCA Hall of Fame Class.
Volleyball Legends
Gilberto Godoy Filho or Giba Gilberto Godoy Filho is famous around the world. Giba was an amazing player, even though he was shorter than most other volleyball players. He played in Italy, where he won the Italian Cup title. He won a Brazilian Championship in 2001 and he won the most valuable player award in 2006. Over his career, Giba won an Olympic gold medal, 3 World Championships, 8 World League titles, and 8 World League titles, and 8 South American Championships.
