Liberos cannot block or attack shots by reaching over the net and are primarily in the game to pass, return the ball and help the team with their defensive skills. Liberos wear a different uniform to the rest of the team and can sub in for any member of the backcourt. Libero: The libero is one of the most unique positions in all of sports. Weakside hitter: The weakside hitter is on the opposite side of the court and is also the primary defenders against the opposition team’s outside hitter. Outside hitter: The outside hitter, also known as side hitters, is the team’s primary attacker and plays on the left side of the volleyball court. They initiate the blocks on the spikes coming in from the opponent's court and also attack the balls that are set in the middle of the court. Middle blocker: The middle blockers play offence as well as defence on a volleyball team. Setter: The setter’s job is to orchestrate the team’s offence and set the ball up for spikes for teammates. There are six volleyball players in a team, who can play in five positions – setters, middle blockers, outside hitter, weakside hitter, liberos: These include stepping over the line while serving, if any part of the body touches the net, double hit (when the same player hits the ball twice in succession), a team taking more than three touches before hitting it over the net and hitting the ball beyond the boundary line. However, teams can end up losing a point due to other faults as well. The most common way that points are won in a volleyball match is by spiking the ball into the opposing team’s half. If the game is tied at 24-24, or 14-14 in the fifth set, the set continues till one team builds a two-point lead over the other. The first four sets are played till one team scores 25 points and if the teams are tied at two sets each after four, the fifth set is played to 15 points.Įach rally is played for a point and the team that wins the rally and scores a point gets to serve for the next point. (2021 Getty Images) Volleyball scoring systemĪccording to rules of volleyball, matches are best-of-five-set contests. The size of a volleyball court is 18m (59ft) long and 9m (29.5ft) wide. The FIVB approved volleyball ball weighs 260-290gms (9.2-9.9 ounces) and has a circumference of 65-67cm (25.5-26.5 inches) with a psi of 4.3-4.6. The attack line that separates the frontcourt and backcourt is 3m (10ft) from the net on either side of the two halves. The top of the volleyball net is 2.43m (7.97ft) tall net for men’s and 2.24m (7.35ft) tall for women’s competition. The volleyball court is split into two halves of 9m (29.5ft) each and has a net. Volleyball court sizeĪs per FIVB guidelines and volleyball rules, an volleyball court is 18m (59ft) long and 9m (29.5ft) wide. The opposition team attempts to block the ball by often positioning their tallest and most athletic players close to the net and the rally continues until one of the teams commits a fault or if the ball hits the ground. The player that gets the second touch is usually the ‘setter’, who loops the ball up as close to the edge of the net as possible setting up a smash, known as a ‘spike’ in volleyball. This is known as the ‘pass’ or the ‘bump set’ which is executed with the forearms. The player that receives the serve, attempts to control the ball and loop it in the direction of one of their team-mates.

Teams are allowed a maximum of three consecutive touches after which they have to send the ball into the opposition’s half. The aim of the server is to hit the ball over the net from behind the baseline over to the opposition’s team half to start a rally.

The team that wins the pre-game coin toss gets the opportunity to serve the ball first. The number of players in volleyball is six on each side, with the teams separated by a net in the middle. Want to know more about basic volleyball rules and regulations at the Olympics? Here is a brief tell-all: Volleyball rules While the Soviet Union emerged as a force to be reckoned with in volleyball in the early Olympic years, Brazil, Cuba and China have grown in stature in recent times.

An engrossing and high-energy sport, volleyball has been an ever-present discipline at the Olympic Games since its debut at Tokyo 1964.

Volleyball referee signals outdoor