Compared to other team sports, volleyball may involve less physical contact, but it is still a challenging sport because the game involves constant movement. Being a purely rebounding sport, no player can hold the ball, they can only pass, set, hit, spike or block the ball.
Court
Volleyball is played between two teams on a court divided transversely by a net. The offensive objective of each team is to send the ball, without holding it, in such a way that it lands on the ground of the opposing team.
Players
Each team consists of 6 players who must rotate clockwise each time the team makes up service time. Three players are in the net positions and the other three are in the back. Only players at the net can block or spike close to the net. Those at the back of the court can also block or shoot, as long as they jump from behind the three-meter line, also known as the attacking line.
The starting lineup typically includes specialists such as the setter, two center line defenders, two catcher-hitters, and what is known as a universal hitter. In 1998, the International Volleyball Federation introduced a new specialist player position called the libero, which is the only one that does not participate in the rotation.
The libero plays a fundamental role by receiving the service and playing defense in the backcourt. Although he can’t serve, shoot or rotate to the front line, he holds the key to making his team run a successful offense through a combination of excellent passing and ball handling.
Punctuation
Volleyball has since 1998 adopted a standard scoring system known as the Rally Point System which allows a team to score a point regardless of which of the two teams is serving. This is different from the traditional scoring system where only the serving team can score.
The ball is put into play through a service. Each team is allowed only 3 touches at the service reception. The ball is volleyed back and forth in what is known as a rally. Play continues until the ball comes to rest on the field of play, goes out of bounds or is not returned correctly. Whoever wins a rally wins a point.
A receiving team that wins a rally not only wins a point, but also wins the right to serve and the opportunity to rotate clockwise.
Matches
The matches are organized to the best of five sets. The first four sets are played to 25 points, while the last or fifth set is played to only 15 points. A team wins a set if it leads the opponent by at least 2 points. Since there is no maximum point, a set continues until one team wins by 2 points.
Uniform
During the early years of volleyball, the usual dress consists of loose-fitting T-shirts and shorts. Today, volleyball uniforms are less baggy and have a more formal look. Shirts may be sleeveless, short-sleeved, or long-sleeved and paired with pants or shorts. The players also wear volleyball shoes.