Volleyball originated in the United States and enjoys worldwide popularity. In 1895, William G. Morgan of the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts, decided to combine elements of basketball, baseball, tennis and handball that had less physical contact than basketball as exercise for businessmen. The first official volleyball match was played the next year at Springfield College.
Volleyball Court
Volleyball courts are a rectangular shape measuring 59 feet by 29 feet and 6 inches. A designated attack line is placed 3m from the center line on either side of the volleyball court. The volleyball net is located on the center line of the court, 2.43m above the floor.
Teams
A men's volleyball team must have six players on the court at all times. Three players line up in the frontcourt, with three players lining up on the backcourt. The player lining up on the back right of the court serves, with the players rotating clockwise on each change of serve. This cycle continues until all players have served.
Playing the Game
Men's volleyball rules dictate that a volley must be performed with any part of the body above the waist, without the ball coming to a visible rest. A volleyball player may not touch the ball twice in succession. A volleyball serve may not be blocked, and a volleyball team is allowed no more than three hits per side before the ball is propelled over the net into the opposing half of the court. Balls can be played after they hit the net provided they do not hit the ground. A point is scored if a team sends the ball over the net legally, and it hits the ground in the opposite team's half of the court. A ball that hits the line is deemed in play; if the ball hits the ground outside the lines of the court, it is deemed out and a point is awarded to the defending volleyball team.
Scoring
A men's volleyball game is played in a best of five sets format, with the game ending if a team takes a lead of three sets to zero, or three to one. A set is won when a team scores 25 points; if the score reaches 24 all, the game continues until one team can win by two points. Most men's volleyball games use a rally scoring system where a team can score a point whether they are on serve or not. If a match goes to a fifth set, then the final set is won by the first team to reach 15 points. If the score is tied at 14, the game is played until one team gains a lead of two points or more.
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