Volleyball is an Olympic sport comprised of two teams of six players each. The object of the game is to score more points than the opposition. Teams score points by either knocking the volleyball down on the ground side of the opposing team or the opposing team commits a fault. In each case, one point is awarded.
Setup
Each team has six players on the court at each time. There are three in the front and three in the back. According to VolleyballAdvisors.com, a team can elect to play a libero in the back row for defensive purposes. The libero is identified by wearing a different color uniform from the rest of her team. The volleyball is the main piece of equipment used for this game, and players volley and hit the ball over the net in an attempt to ground the ball on the opposing side.
Court
Volleyball is played on a court separated by a net. According to Strengthandpowerforvolleyball.com, the dimensions of a standard volleyball court measure 59 feet by 29 feet 6 inches. The volleyball net is divided in the center of the court at a height of 7 feet by 11 feet 5/8 inches for men and 7 feet by 4 1/8 inches for women, according to Volleyball.com. Antennas are positioned on top of the net on both ends. The ball must travel in between the two antennas. It is a fault if the ball contacts the net outside the antennas, according to VolleyballAdvisors.com.
Scoring
In most organized volleyball competitions, two teams face off to play the best of three games to win the match. Teams are awarded one point for grounding a ball on the opponent's side even if it does not come off the serve. The ball is in if it hits anywhere on the free zone or on the boundary lines. According to stengthandpowerforvolleyball.com, teams are also awarded a point if the opposing team commits a penalty or a fault. A set or game is won when a team reaches 25 points with a two point lead.
Serving
The serve is the first contact with the ball. The first serve is determined with a coin toss at the beginning of the game. Throughout the game, whichever team scored the last point serves next. According to Strengthandpowerforvolleyball.com, the serve is performed by the player in the right back position. The server has only one toss or release of the ball and cannot make any contact with the court outside the service zone, which is sideline to sideline behind the endlines.
Contact
Once the ball is served, the opposing team can touch the ball three times before hitting the ball over the net. According to VolleyballAdvisors.com, a player cannot touch the ball twice in a row, players cannot catch, hold or throw the ball, and players cannot hit or block an opponent's serve. Players can double hit a ball on first contact when they serve receive or dig the ball, according to VolleyballAdvisors.com. Digging is a defensive technique that involves players preventing the volleyball from hitting the ground off a spike.
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