History of Volleyball

The game of volleyball originated when William J. Morgan began experimenting in 1895 at the Y.M.C.A,
Holyoke, Massachusetts. He combined the main features of Tennis with a ball used in basketball. The name of this net
game was derived from the word “volley”, a term used in tennis meaning to hit the ball on the fly. The game was readily
adopted by the Y.M.C.A across the country, and this organization has led the way in promoting the sport. Separate rules
for women were published in 1924.
Volleyball offers many advantages. It trains us to be alert and instills interest in both sexes young and old alike. It
provides exercise in moderation and all-around muscular coordination. It is a safe game and is adapted to various age
range which makes it one of the best “carry –over” sports. The continual reaching, stretching, and looking upward is of
great value in correction of postural defects, especially round shoulder and flat chest.

Definition of Terms
Attack – The offensive team attempting to score.
Block - A defensive play used to intercept a hard – driven spike. Players generally leap with their outstretched hands in
front of the spiker in an attempt to deflect the ball either back of the spiker’s court or to one of their own players
Dead Ball - Ball is dead when the play stops with the whistle of the referee.
Double Foul - Both teams committing a foul in the same play. In this case, the service is to be replayed.
Dribbling – When a player touches the ball more than once with whatever part of his body when no other player has
touched it before.
Foul – A violation of the rule
Game – One team reaches 25 points
Holding – When the ball comes to rest momentarily in the hands or arms of the player. Scooping, lifting, shoving or
following the ball are considered holding.
Pass – To bat the ball to a Teammate
Placement – Hitting the ball on an intended spot
Point – A score made by the serving team
Service – The act of putting the ball in play
Set – Up – A high pass, close to the net, so that the spiker can drive the ball into the opponents’ court
Set – Equivalent to the word “game” as in the 25- point game
Side – out – Failure of the serving team to score
Spike – Hitting a ball in play at net level or above so that it is driven downward over the net.

Facilities and Equipment

1. The court
2. The Net
 3. The ball – Not more than 65-67 cm. in circumference, weight not more than 262g.

Service

A player stands behind the inline and serves the ball, in an attempt to drive it into the opponent’s court. His or her main objective
is to make it land inside the court;it is also desirable to set the ball’s direction, speed and acceleration so that it becomes difficult
for the receiver to handle it properly. A serve is called an “ace” when the ball lands directly onto the court or travels outside the
court after being touched by an opponent.

In contemporary volleyball, many types of serves are employed:

- Underhand: a serve in which the player strikes the ball below the waist instead of tossing it up and striking it with an
overhand throwing motion. Underhand serves are considered very easy to receive and are rarely employed in high level
competitions.
- Sky Ball service: a specific type of underhand serve occasionally used in beach volleyball, where the ball is hit so hi9gh it
comes down almost in straight line. This serve was invented and employed almost exclusively by the Brazilian Team in the
early 1980’s and is now considered outdated. In Brazil, this serve is called Jornada nas Estrelas(Star Trek)
- Topspin: an overhand serve where the player tosses the ball high and hits it with a wrist span, giving it topspin which
causes it to drop faster than it would otherwise and helps maintain the straight flight fight path. Topspin serves are
generally hit hard and aimed at a specific returner or part of the court. Standing topspin serves are rarely used above the
high school level of play.
- Float: an overhand serve where the ball is hit with no spin so that its path becomes unpredictable, akin to a knuckleball in
baseball.
- Jump Serve: an overhand serve where the ball is first tossed high in the air, then the player makes a timed approach and
jumps to make contact with the ball, hitting it with much pace and topspin. This is the most popular serve amongst college
and professional teams.
- Jump Float: an overhand serve where the ball is tossed high enough that the player may jump before hitting it similarly to
a standing float serve. The ball is tossed lower than a topspin jump serve, but contact is still made while in the air. This
serve is becoming more popular amongst college and professional players because it has a certain unpredictability in its
flight pattern.

Attack
The attack, also known as the spike, is usually the third contact a team makes with the ball. The object of attacking is to
handle the ball so that it lands on the opponent’s court and cannot be defended. A player makes a series of steps( the
“approach”), jumps, and swings at the ball.
Ideally the contact with the ball is made at the apex of the hitter’s jump. At the moment of contact, the hitter’s arm is
fully extended above his or her head and slightly forward, making the highest possible contact while maintaining the
ability to deliver powerful hit. The hitter uses arm swing, wrist snap, and a rapid forward contraction of the entire body
to drive the ball. A “bounce” is a slang term for a very hard/loud spike that follows an almost straight trajectory steeply
downward into the opponent’s court and bounces very high into the air. A “kill” is the slang term for an attack that is not
returned by the other team thus resulting in a point.
Contemporary volleyball comprises a number of attacking techniques:
- Backcourt (or backrow) /pipe attack: an attack performed by a back row player. The player must jump from
behind the 3 –meter line before making contact with the ball, but may land in front of the 3-meter line.
- Line and cross-court shot: refers to the whether the ball flies in a straight trajectory parallel to the side lines, or
crosses through the court in an angle. A cross court shot with a very pronounced angle, resulting in the ball
landing near the 3 –meter line , is called a cut shot.
- Dip/dink/tip/cheat/dump: the player does not try to make a hit, but touches the ball lightly, so that it lands on an
area of the opponent’s court that is not being covered by the defense.
- Tool/wipe/block-abuse: the player does not try to make a hard spike, but hits the ball so that it touches the
opponent’s block and then bounces off-court.
- Off-speed hit: the player does not hit the ball hard, reducing its spees and thus confusing the opponent’s defense.
- Quick hit/”one”: an attack (usually by the middle blocker)where the approach and jump begin before the setter
contacts the ball. The set (called a “ quick set”) is palced only slightly above the net and the ball is struck by the
hitter almost immediately after leaving the setter’s hands. Quick attack are often effective because they isolate the
middle blocker to be the only blocker on the hit.
- Slide: a variation of the quick hit that uses a low back set. The middle hitter steps around the setter and hits from
behind him or her.
- Double quick hit/”stack”/”tandem”: a variation of quick hit where two hitters, one in front and one behind the
setter or both in front of the setter, jump to perform a quick hit at the same time. It can be used to deceive
opposite blockers and free a fourth hitter attacking from backcourt, maybe without block at all.