Volleyball is played from elementary school to the professional level. Played by volleying a ball over a net in an attempt to keep the ball in the air on your side of the net while also trying to get the ball to hit the ground on the opponent's side, the game can provide exercise and fun.
History
Volleyball was created by William G. Morgan at the Young Men's Christian Association, or YMCA, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The game was designed for men in Morgan's business class who desired a sport that was less physical than basketball. The game was originally called "mintonette," but the name was later changed to volleyball after someone observing a demonstration of the game noted that the players seemed to be volleying the ball between one another. The first game of volleyball was played on July 7, 1896, at Springfield College.
Players
Volleyball is played with six players on each team; three players stand in the front row and three are in the back row. Beach volleyball is played with only two players on each team. Each player is allowed only one hit of the ball, and each team is allowed only three hits before the ball must be volleyed back over the net to the opponent's side. Players may not hold, throw, kick or catch the volleyball during the game.
Scoring
There are many variations to the scoring of volleyball among the different leagues, but there is a set of basic scoring rules. There are three sets in a volleyball game. The first two sets are won by the team that gets to 25 points first with at least a two-point lead. If there is a need, a third set can be played. In the third set, the first team to get to 15 with a two-point lead wins.
Serve
The serve is one of the most important parts of a volleyball game. Where once a team could only score on its own serve, it can now score on the serve of the other team. You can serve from anywhere behind the back line of the court. This is another change, as there was once a serving box in the back corner of the court. The serve must get all the way over the net, and the server cannot cross the back line before or during the serve.
Other Basic Rules
Touching the net while the ball is in play, reaching under the net, reaching over the net unless in an attempt to continue a serve or to block a ball that is being returned and blocking or striking a serve are all considered violations. The ball may touch the net and still be played. A hit may be completed by any part of the body that is above the waist.
Net and Ball
For men, the net must be at a height of 7 feet 11 5/8 inches. For women, the net must be 7 feet 4 1/8 inches. The proper weight of a ball is between 9 and 10 oz. and the proper ball pressure is between 4.5 and 6 pounds.
Championship Play and Olympic Volleyball
The first volleyball championship was held by the YMCA, for YMCA teams, in Brooklyn, New York. There were 27 teams from 11 different states. The U.S. Open, the first volleyball tournament to allow teams other than YMCA squads, was held in 1928. Volleyball made its first appearance in the Olympics at the 1964 Tokyo Games. The U.S. teams took their first medals in Los Angeles in 1984, when the men won the gold and the women captured the silver. Beach volleyball was first played as an Olympic sport in 1996.
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