ACOG - Volleyball - IBM

Spectator's Guide to Volleyball

The Game

With its furious displays of agility, power and bruising disregard for physical well being, volleyball has quickly become one of the world's most popular and exciting games.

Playing on a court 18 meters long and 9 meters wide and divided by a net 2.43 meters (about 8 feet) for men and 2.24 meters (about 7-feet-4 1/4) high for women, six-member teams attempt to score points by forcing the ball to hit the floor on the opponent's side of the net. Not counting deflections by blockers, each team has a maximum of three hits to return the ball over the net.

Teams play a best three-out-of-five game match, with each game played to 15 points. Games must be won by a least 2 points with a 17-point cap. There is no point cap in a fifth game. With the exception of the fifth and deciding game, only the serving team may score points. A sideout occurs when the receiving team wins the rally and thereby gains possession of the serve. In the event of a fifth game, teams may score points following each successful rally regardless of which team served the ball. Designed to quicken the pace of a five-game match, "rally scoring" also tests the nerves of the players as the slightest mistake may result in a point for the opposition.

Before the ball is served into play, players must take positions with three players at the net and three in the backcourt. Following the serve, players may move freely to any position on their side of the court. Backcourt players may not spike the ball unless they're behind the attack line, 3 meters away from the net.

Players on a team rotate counterclockwise after gaining the serve, and the rotation often dictates a team's strategy. Teams may substitute for a weaker server or exchange a smaller defensive player for a taller blocker on the front row, but each side is limited to six substitutions during the course of a game. A substitute may enter the game only once, and a starting player may leave the game only once. A substitute can only be replaced by the starting player for whom he or she originally substituted.

The referee is the head official and controls the match from a platform at one end of the net. The umpire stands at the other end of the net and signals net and attack line violations while keeping track of timeouts, service order and receiving positions. Four line officials assist in determining whether the ball is out of bounds.

The Serve

The starting point for each rally, the serve has evolved from a simple method of putting the ball into play to a lethal offensive weapon. Most players now use a jump-serve in which the server throws the ball very high, then jumps to smash the ball over the net in a powerful spike-like motion. Another popular serve, the overhand floater, is hit above the head with an open hand to produce an erratic, floating trajectory over the net. The position of the server may vary as much as the style after recent rule changes allowed players to move from the three-meter service area in the corner of the court to a serving position anywhere along the backline.

Offense

In the flow of a team's offensive attack, a backcourt player usually receives an opponent's serve or digs an attack by passing the ball to the setter. The playmaking director of the offense, the setter then sends the ball arching into the air, allowing a hitter to drive the ball over the net with a powerful spike.

Front row players generally have assigned positions as a strong-side (hammer) hitter, opposite hitter and middle blocker. Strong-side hitters usually receive the majority of the sets and may assist in tandem blocks with the middle blocker. Opposite hitters will also rank among the team leaders in kills and also might provide their teams with some back row spiking power. In the center of the front row storm, middle blockers are generally their team's tallest players and possess explosive power and quickness for blocking and hitting at the net.

Defense

Strategies and alignments may change, but blocking and digging remain the keys to keeping opponents from scoring points and recording sideouts.

Extending their arms and hands high above the net, one, two or all three of the defensive front row players may attempt to block a spike and force the ball back onto the opponent's side of the net. A block doesn't count as one of the three hits in returning the ball, so any blocking player is allowed another hit.

Some recent rule changes now allow defenders more flexibility in playing the ball, but the changes in the game won't stop the reckless, all-out style of play displayed by the top defensive players. Players have thrilled crowds and sustained rallies with diving digs and lunging saves, and the new rules could provide even more spectacular play. Previous legislation made it illegal to touch the ball with any part of the body below the knee, but competitors may now keep the ball in play with any part of the body. New definitions of "held ball" and "double contact" also have liberalized volleyball defense by allowing players to slightly hold a ball off a hard-driven shot while permitting the ball to consecutively touch multiple parts of a player's body. In addition, players will no longer be penalized for accidentally touching the net away from the ball.

Protocol of Volleyball

As hectic and frantic as the sport appears on the court, volleyball is actually managed by strict codes of behavior and protocol.

Don't expect to see coaches or players in a shouting match with the referee. Only the team captain may speak to the officials and any dispute is settled on the spot. The captain reserves the right to file a protest after the match is finished.

Players guilty of bad language or unsportsmanlike conduct will receive a yellow card as a warning from the head official. Further offenses may lead to a red card and expulsion from the match.

When entering the game as a substitute, players display a paddle bearing the number of the player they're replacing. After the referee acknowledges the request, the substitute hands the paddle to the player he or she is replacing and waits for the referee's signal to enter the game.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publication Department. Written by Howard Thomas.


Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).