History of Volleyball: Origins and Early Rules

• In 1895, Volleyball was invented by William Morgan in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA.
• Morgan was a Physical Education Director of YMCA.
• Volleyball was designed for businessmen who found basketball too fast and vigorous.
• "Mintonette" was the original name for volleyball.
• Volleyball incorporated tennis, baseball, basketball, and handball elements.
• Initially, the game involved hitting a ball with a long-handled racket over a net.
• The net was stung 6 inches above the floor.
• A server put the ball into play and was allowed three hits before losing possession.
• "Out" was called if the ball landed out of bounds or hit the floor after more than one bounce.
• July 7, 1896 - Volleyball was presented at a YMCA Sports Conference in Springfield College.
• Alfred Halsted suggested the name "volleyball".
• 1897 - Morgan wrote the first volleyball rules.
• Early rules specified a court size of 50 feet long and 25 feet wide.
• The net height was 6 feet, 6 inches from the ground.
• There were no restrictions on the number of players per team initially.
• The number of players was decided by agreement between the teams.

Development Timeline

• 1900 - Adoption of the 21 points per game system.
• 1910 -Volleyball was introduced in the Philippines by Elwood S. Brown.
• 1912 - Introduction of the rotation system.
• 1913 - The first Far East Olympic Games was held in Manila.
• 1916 - An offensive style of passing (set and spike) was introduced in the Philippines.
• Filipinos called hitter "Bomberino."
• 1917 - The game was changed from 21 to 15 points.
• 1918 - Six players were fixed per team, and the net height set to 8 feet (2.43 m).
• 1920 - Each team was allowed three successive plays at maximum in its court.
• 1921 - The centerline was set.
• 1923 - The court size was set to 30'x60' or 9m x 18m with a 0.05m boundary line.
• 1954 - The Asian Volleyball Federation (A.V.B.F.) was organized in Manila.
• 1960 - Volleyball was demonstrated in the Rome Olympics.
• 1964 - Volleyball became an official sporting event in the Tokyo Olympics.
• 1981 - SEA Games were held in Manila, Philippines.

Court Specifications

• 18m x 9m, clear of obstructions.
• The centerline divides the court into two equal parts.
• An attack line is 3m parallel from the centerline.
• Two sidelines and two end lines mark the playing court.
• Boundary lines are drawn inside the playing court's dimensions.
• All lines on the court are 5cm wide.

Net Specifications

• It is an aerial division of the court.
• Dimensions: 1m wide and 9.5m long.
• Height: 2.43m for men and 2.24m for women.
• The top horizontal band is 5cm wide, made of two-fold canvas.
• The band is sewn along its full length.
• Each end of the band has a hole for fastening to the post.
• Two white sidebands are fastened vertically to the net, 5cm wide and 1m long.
• Sidebands are considered part of the net.

Antennae Specifications

• Flexible rod made of fiberglass or similar material.
• Height: 1.8m long and 10mm diameter.
• Fastened at the outer edge of each side band.
• Placed on opposite sides of the net.
• Marked with contrasting 10cm stripes, preferably red and white.

Ball Specifications

• Spherical, with a flexible leather or synthetic leather case.
• Has a rubber or similar material bladder inside.
• Color: uniform light color or a color combination complying with FIVB standards for international competitions.
• Circumference: 25-27 inches (65-67 cm).
• Weight: 260-280 grams.

Post Specifications

• Rounded, smooth and fixed to the ground without wires.
• There should be no dangerous or obstructing devices.
• 1m away from the sideline.
• Height: 2.55 meters.

Common Terminologies

• Assist - a pass, set, or dig to a teammate who attacks the ball for a kill.
• Attack - an attempt to hit the ball onto the opponent's side of the court.
• Attack line - also called the "3-meter line" or "10-foot line", parallel to the center line.
• Back row attack - when a back row player attacks the ball by jumping from behind the attack line.
• Block - one, two or three players jumping to stop the spiked ball with their hands.
• Dig - retrieving an attacked ball close to the floor.
• Double contact - hitting the ball twice in succession.
• Four hits - a team hits the ball four times before returning it to the opponent's court.
• Free ball - the ball rests momentarily in a player's hands or arms.
• Jump serve - toss the ball, approach, and jump during a serve.
• Kill - an attack that strikes the floor or lands out of bounds after touching an opponent.
• Libero - a player who wears a different color uniform and can replace any player in a back row position.
• Pass - bat the ball to a teammate.
• Placement - hitting the ball to an intended spot.
• Point - a score made by a team.
• Positional fault - a player is not in the correct position when the ball is hit by the server.
• Service - putting the ball into play by the right back row player.
• Service ace - a serve that results in no player making a second contact.
• Set - directing the ball to a spiker.
• Side out - the receiving team wins a rally and the right to serve.
• Spike - attack to put the ball on the opponent's floor with force.
• Substitution - the referee authorizes a player to leave and another to occupy a position.
• Tip - placement or redirection of the ball with fingers, counted as an attack.
• Zones- a numbering system that designates player placement.

Participants in a Competition

• A team can have a maximum of 12 players (including substitutes).
• Players take general positions in two rows.
• Positions closer to the net are left forward, center forward, and right forward.
• Second-row positions are left back, center back, and right back.
• Coach - directs the team, selects lineups, and calls timeouts.
• Assistant Coach- sits on the bench and may assume the coach function if authorized by the referee.
• Captain - represents the team in the toss.
• The game captain is authorized to ask the referees for explanation or ask to change equipment to verify their position.
• Libero - can replace any player in a back row position.
• Libero may not serve, block, or attempt to block.
• A libero is replaced by the sideline in front of his team bench between the attack line and the end line.

Playing Format

• The Toss: The first referee carries out a toss to decide the first service and sides of the court.
• The winner of the toss chooses the right to serve, receive the service, or their side of the court.
• Team Line-Up: There must always be six players per team in play.
• Position of the Player: All players must be in their respective place when the ball is scored.
• As soon as the ball is served, each player can cover selection of the court.
• Rotation: Rotation order is determined by the team's starting lineup, and controlled through the set.
• The receiving team rotates one position clockwise when gaining the right to serve.
• Substitution: Substitutes and coaches stay on the side of the court opposite the first referee.
• The captain or coach makes a request for substitution when the ball is not in play.
• Six substitutions are permitted per set, and multiple players may be substituted.
• A player in the starting lineup may leave the game and re-enter once in a set.
• A substitute player may only enter, once per set, in the place of a starting line-up player.

Officials and Their Duties

• First Referee: Directs the match from start to finish.
• Has authority over all officials and team members.
• Their decision is final and can overrule other officials.
• The first referee can replace an official who is not performing their function.
• Decides any matter involving the game.
• Responsible for determining if the playing area and equipment meet requirements.
• Prior to the match the referees ensure condition of playing area and balls are good, performs the toss, and controls team warm-ups.
• During the match they issue warnings, decide on faults, and control space under the net.
• Second Referee: Assistant to the first referee and controls the scorer.
• They supervise team members on the bench and report misconduct.
• Second referee also authorizes interruptions, controls duration, and rejects improper requests.
• Responsible for controlling the number of time-outs and substitutions.
• They authorize exceptional substitutions or a 3-minute recovery time in case of injury.
• Position of Players: At the start of each set, second referee checks the position of the players.
• Positional faults of the receiving team is decided by them.
• Second referee ensure any contact made with the net or penetration into opponent's end.
• Scorer: Keeps the score sheet according to the rules.
• Prior to the match, reports starting line-ups and notifies the second referee if line-up sheets are missing.
• During the match records points scored, controls serving order, and announces the end of the set.
• At the end of the match, records the final results and obtains signatures from captains and the referee.
• If a protest occurs, they write or permit the team captain to write a statement on the score sheet.
• Line Judge: Uses flags to perform their functions.
• If two used, they stand at 1-2 meters from the corner.
• They signal the ball “in” or “out”, touches to “out” balls, when the ball touches the antenna, or any player stepping outside of the playing court.
• Other duties include flagging end lines and foot server faults, report if requested.

Playing Rules

• Duration of the Game: 5 sets in a match.
• Beginning of the Game and Change of Service: The team determined by a toss executes the first service.
• The service will be started with the service of the team that did not serve the first in each of the other sets.
• The receiving team gains the right to serve by winning the rally.
• Hitting a Ball: Ball can be hit or struck by any part of the body.
• The team is entitled to a maximum of three hits when returning.
• A player may not hit the ball two times consecutively, whilst two or three players may touch the ball at the same moment.
• Interruption and Delays: Each team is entitled to two time-outs and six player substitutions per set.
• Time-Outs: 30 seconds, with played confined to the free zone near benches.
• Subsitition must be carried out within zone three.
• Injury: Referee must stop the game immediately, allow assistance, or injured party will recover.
• However, there is only one time alotted for that party to be declared incomplete.
• Game Delays: Delaying a substitution, substitution not happening, illegal requests etc.
• Sanction of Delays: there is a "Delay Warning" or "Delay Penalty"
• sanctions on the delay of faults.
• Play at Net: The ball touching the net in the course of the game and the ball passing over the exterior is accepted.
• The results is a double fault if two opponents simultaneously touch the net.
• Player of Backline: Back row players are unable to participate in the spiking and blocking in attack area.
• Points/Score: The other team get a point, if a team committed a fault.
• When the 5th is set consist of, only 15 points are required.

Basic Skills

• SERVICE: the act of putting the ball into play.
• The ball shall be hit with one hand or any part, touched to playing surface.
• When serving the server must be in the zone, but after may go forward.
• After the first referee has whistled, the ball server has 8 second to hit said ball.
• Types of Services: Underhand
• Stand with you left foot forward to face the net.
• Right arm shifted to the back foot.
• To strike swing arm forwards and shift weight to the front.
• Overhand
• stance the same but the ball execution tossed and hitting to the arm extended.
• Sidearm
• Advantage is a descriptive twist.
• Preparatory Position: turned to the left closer to the net, holding the the ball with left hand at shoulder height.
• Body Action: Right arm drawn back to swing forward and contraction of the ball.

THE PASS

• Receive a ball and sttll it by any part, using the hand.
• Coach advoacte putting hand clasped togeter to avoid fault.
• Types of Pass: Underhand
• Elbows bent to be extended, hands togther and cupped.
• Bend the knees to lower the waist, use upward force when the limbs are straightened back up.
• Overhand
• Arms raised to be bent, held at shoulder height.
• Palms turn to face away when fingers used to play.
• Approaching and bending slightly bending knee and trunk.
• Step back.
• play the ball with points formed with finger.
• Dig Pass: fielding balls which a too out of reach.
• Set-Up: Place the position with correct player.
• Spiker stand right in direction where ball coming.

ATTACK

• Spiking: Hitting the ball over the net or any strong contact so that it descends.
• Aims to contain the faults and errors.

DEFENSE

• Blocking: defensive effort to stop a spike.
• Placing the ball to return with hands.
• More than one player can block, needs good timing.
• Ready when needed to reach.