Coed volleyball, also known as mixed team volleyball, is a form of recreational volleyball that involves teams composed of men and women. A set of rules have been created for coed teams in the United States, including the level of the net during play. While the international rules of the Federation Internationale de Volleyball, or FIVB, don't support coed play, USA Volleyball has specific rules designed for coed teams.
History of Volleyball
Volleyball originated in 1895 at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts, when William G. Morgan sought to design a sport to accommodate the older businessmen he trained. Borrowing rules from handball and tennis, Morgan created a game he named mintonette. While watching a demonstration of the game, an onlooker suggested the name of volleyball for the game because of the volleying motion involved.
Development of Standard Rules
In 1916, because of the rapid growth of the sport, the YMCA asked the NCAA to assist in developing a set of rules for volleyball. Volleyball was also added to intramural programs and physical education classes the same year. The United States Volleyball Association was developed in 1928 to provide rules and tournaments for volleyball, and became officially recognized in 1937 as the governing body of the sport in the U.S.
Coed Team Rules
Coed teams must have an equal number of men and women on the court during play. Each team has six players on the court at one time and can have up to 12 players on its roster. While similar to regular coed volleyball, reverse coed volleyball is a version played on a women's net. Regular coed games are played on a 2.43 m net, while reverse coed games use a 2.24 m net. Blocking and movement by male players is restricted during reverse coed games and attacking the ball over the net's height is not allowed. The rules of reverse coed play allow women a chance to play offense. Other rules regarding play during reverse coed stay the same. Regular coed rules require that when a team touches the ball more than once during play, a woman must make one of the touches. Female players' movement and blocking is not restricted.
Standard Professional Play
While the International Volleyball Association professional coed league ran from 1975 to 1979, standard professional play no longer allows for coed teams. A variety of city and state coed volleyball leagues are spread across the U.S. If you're interested in joining a local league, contact your community center or fitness center for more information.
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