Volleyball History and USAV Role

History of Volleyball

• William Morgan, a YMCA instructor, created volleyball in 1895
• Volleyball is a blend of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball but with less physical contact
• By 1916, the Philippines had introduced the "set and spike," a major offensive tactic involving a receiving player passing the ball high for another to strike
• In 1928, the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA) was founded, known today as USA Volleyball (USAV)

USA Volleyball (USAV) and its Role

• Former USVBA
• The sport's National Governing Body (NGB)
• Parent organization of the USA Men's and Women's National Teams
• Recognized by the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the international volleyball governing body
• Responsible:
  • Nurturing all variations of volleyball (indoor, beach, grass, six-person, doubles, coed, disabled) at all skill and age levels
  • Supporting year-long training schedules for the Men's and Women's National Teams
  • Overseeing amateur programs like USA Youth Volleyball (ages 7-12) and Junior Olympic Volleyball (ages 12-18)
  • Organizing the USA Coaching Accreditation Program (CAP)
  • Establishing rules of play in the United States
  • Certifying referees and scorekeepers
• Activities are implemented through regional commissioners and support from member organizations like the YMCA and NCAA
• More than 30 million Americans play volleyball

Volleyball in the Olympics

• Introduced at the 1964 Tokyo Games
• The U.S. won its first medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, with the men capturing gold and women silver

The Court

• The official indoor court is 9 meters by 18 meters
• There is an attack line 3 meters from the center line
• Outdoor courts are 9x9 meters, but beach doubles are 8x8 meters
• Many U.S. outdoor courts use a 32' x 3' net and a 30'x 60' court

Court Equipment

• Poles can be metal, wood, or plastic
• The top of the net has a 2" double thickness of white canvas or vinyl
• The net is 32' long and 3' wide
• The height is 7' 11 5/8" for men and 7' 4 1/8" for women; 7' 0" for ages 12 & under

The Ball

• Weighs between 9 and 10 oz. (260-280 grams)
• Is made of 12 or more pieces measuring 25.5"-27" (62 cm-68 cm)
• Pressure is 4.3 and 4.6 lbs. (0.30 and .325 kg/cm²)
• There is also a "lite" 7-8 oz. ball for 12 & under
• It has a "softer" synthetic leather cover

Apparel

• Jewelry isn't allowed except smooth wedding bands
• Glasses may be worn with a safety strap
• Shirts/jerseys should absorb perspiration
• Spandex shorts are popular for women players
• Pads protect knees and hips
• Socks absorb perspiration
• Sand socks can be worn on hot sand
• Volleyball shoes offer ankle support for jumping and diving

Volleyball Variations: Newcomb

• Simplest version of volleyball
• Often taught to grade school age children
• Throw the ball across the net
• Catch the ball

Volleyball Variations: Recreational

• The purpose is to have fun
• Emphasizes flexibility
• Can be regulation (six players per side) or use other team sizes,
• Attitude and ego should be kept off the court

Volleyball Variations: Four-a-Side / Triples

• Offers more activity and a wider use of skills
• Expect to cover more territory, handle the ball more, and get a greater workout
• In four-a-side, a designated setter plays in the front court, two outside hitters in back court, and one deep player in middle back
• Triples exclude the center back player

Volleyball Variations: Wallyball

• Volleyball played on a racquetball court
• Games are played to 15, must be won by two points

Volleyball Variations: Doubles

• Really work on your weaknesses
• Six-a-side rules apply with exceptions:
  • You don't have to rotate
  • You can cross the centerline as long you don't interfere with your opponent's play
  • You cannot open hand "tip”
• Rally scoring
• Both players go back on defense
• The teammate blocking gives the number one hand signal
• Both players set and spike for each other
• Set on two rather than setting for the common third contact spike

Volleyball Variations: Coed

• The key consideration is balance
• There should be an equal number of men and women per side
• Net set at men's height
• The men must spike behind the three meter line
• In some areas, if the ball is played more than one time on your side of the net, one of those touches must be by a woman

Volleyball Variations: Reverse Coed

• Played on women's height net, with men only able to spike from behind the back row attack line
• Men cannot block and play primarily setting, digging and deep court spiking roles
• Women control the net and must run to the net to block or spike

Volleyball Variations: Beach

• Lines are marked by a cord or rope, and sometimes they're just drawn in the sand
• Official ball is heavier than indoor and made of 18 panels
• Customary to under-inflate the ball a little to "deaden” it
• No center line violation
• In beach volleyball, a block counts as one of your three team contacts if playing doubles or triples
• Must set in the direction they face and open hand tips are not allowed
• It is permissible to use the knuckles or a fist
• Try serving "sky" balls

Volleyball Passing

• Passing is the most critical element of volleyball
• More points are lost on an inability to deal with the first ball over the net
• Good Pass: Will transform your team from a defensive posture to an offensive attack
• Two Hands: A common mistake is to let the ball strike wrists or hands, resulting in an unpredictable pass or overpass

Passing Hand Positions

• Wrapped fist: Make a fist with the dominant hand and wrap it in the palm of your other hand, with both thumbs side by side and pointing at the floor
• Cupped palms: Bring your hands together as if you were going to take a sip of water from your hands, and lay your thumbs across the top as in Wrapped Fist position

Setting

• The setter runs the offense, and determines which hitter to set
• Consistency is key
• Premise of setting: To take a bump pass and convert it to a well placed ball that can be effectively hit by another player to the opponent's court Technique:
  • Raise your hands about five inches above your head with your thumbs on the bottom and pointed towards your eyes
  • Your fingers should be loose and slightly cupped
  • Do not spread your hands any farther than necessary to receive the ball
  • Guide, you'll have a two to three inch gap between both of your thumbs and both of your forefingers

Basic Types of Sets

• One: Set a foot or two over the net and hit while the ball is still rising
• Two: Set two to four feet above the net and is also quick
• Three: Also set low and fast (about 4 - 6 feet above the net and delivered midway between the setter and the sideline)
• Four: A low set (1 - 2 feet above the net) for the outside hitter that is delivered near the sideline and over the net
• Five: A high Backset near the sideline
• Six: (fist hand signal) A high outside set to either sideline
• Setter Dump: executed when the setter comes to the net but instead of setting, pushes the ball over the net in a "tip" play

Hitting

• If there is a moment of truth in volleyball, it is the perfectly hit spike
• The spike combines power, speed and athleticism
• Used to either put the ball down in a portion of the court where the opposition is not, or to strike the ball so hard that the defenders are unable to deal with it
• Front row players can attack the ball from anywhere on the court, and back row players can only attack from behind the three meter line

Hitting Techniques

• Cross Court Shot: It must be hit extremely hard while aiming for a space on the floor between the front row players and the back row player that is diagonally positioned farthest from the hitter
• Tip or Dink Shot: The most important aspect of this shot is hitting with a wrist that does not break
• Line Shot: Imagine a left outside hitter who is right-handed receiving a set from her right side, rotating her body as she drops her left shoulder, and aiming the ball for the left sideline
• Soft Top Spin Shot: Contact ball a little softer and on the lower portion of the ball.
• Elements of hiting: Approach to the net, speed, planting of feet, jumping, timing, body position, and distance from the net

Serving Techniques: The Underhand Serve

• Since this is the easiest serve to execute, don't be embarrassed to use it in novice or recreational situations
• The goal of any serve is to get the ball in play Technique:
  • Gently toss the ball up and in front of yourself while bringing the other hand forward to make contact
  • A simple toss of several inches will suffice. Make contact with the heel of the hand or the open part of the palm along the index finger and the thumb
  • Stand outside the court, anywhere along and behind the end line, about ten feet from the right sideline

Serving Techniques: The Overhand Serve

• The most popular serve in competitive volleyball
• Offers speed and deception
• Serve Variations
  • The ball passes over the net quickly and can be made to do a number of different things including dropping quickly and floating erratically
  • Toss the ball over your head about three feet and slightly to your left and take a step forward with your weight shifting

Overhand Serve Ball Action

• Floater
  • This ball flight has no stabilizing spin and will dart more like a knuckle ball in baseball
  • Hit the ball in the center - in relation to its line of flight - so very little or no spin occurs works equally well with the underhand serve or the overhand
• Top Spin
  • Results when the ball is struck on top, using a wrist snap
  • The beauty of this shot is that it drops suddenly, leaving little time for an opponent to react
• Jump
  • Requires a higher toss and a literal jump in the air
  • Apply contact with the ball just as in the Top Spin serve, and the results can be even more devastating given the added force of the jump
• Curve
  • This ball flight can be most effective outdoors in windy conditions
  • Approach the shot just like a top spin serve until the moment of impact and then hit the ball left or right of center

Individual Defense

• Digging: Similar to a bump pass, but with knees bent more and weight more forward
• Blocking: Well coordinated blocking scheme. Blockers don't need to take a running start
  • Jump just slightly after the hitter's
  • Transfer of weight forward
  • Elbows in

Rules of Volleyball

• There are thirty rules of the game of volleyball
• Each of these rules is made up of articles which address specific aspects of the rule
• It is critical to be a proficient player, or just to avoid needless interruptions brought on by debate of the rules of play, you should become very familiar with all the rules
• High school, collegiate women, international competition, and beach volleyball rules all vary somewhat from what is presented there
• Call 88.US.VOLLEY (888.786.5539) to order, or visit www.usavolleyball.org/officiat/main.htm

Key Gameplay Rules

• All sets are rally scored and the minimum lead of two points
• Uniforms must be similar, clean and of the same color
• No jewelry is allowed except medical and religious medals or flat wedding bands
• If the captain asks the first referee, before the match begins, players may participate without shoes
• At the moment the ball is contacted by the server, each team must be completely within its own side of the court in two rows of three players
• Any playing action contrary to the rules is a playing fault
• Each team is entitled to three hits (in addition to blocking) to return the ball to their opponents

Volleyball Glossary

• Attack Block: Go aggressively after the spiked ball
• Bump: Technique of playing ball using forearms, hands together, to direct the ball
• Kill: An attack that results in an immediate point or sideout
• Six Pack: Getting a spiked ball in the face on defense
• Screening: An attempt by a player to conceal the start of a teammate's serve

Gameplay Situations

• Discuss and agree on offensive system you will use, your defense, who the setter(s) will be, who will call plays, and who are your strongest players by position
• "High Fives" and other enthusiastic displays are common and meant to encourage teammates
• Players frequently signal to stop play for wet floors due to perspiration