We are all familiar with the game volleyball, and some of us like to enjoy this sport a lot. This very game was invented in USA by a person named William Morgan; he wanted to create a game which is a mixture of basketball, baseball, handball and tennis. And this instructor of young men’s Christian association (YMCA) created this game in 1895, and was brought to international support in 1916 by Philippine’s players. By the year 1928m volleyball rules and regulations were then made, which also formed the united states volleyball association (USVBA) and teams at different age groups were formed; and was finally known to world at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
Let’s look into some of the Volleyball Rules and Regulations –
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On request of the captain before match to the first referee, team can play without shoes. But only depending upon the type of court the request is made, and moreover this decision always stays with the referee on how the game will be played.
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Uniform should be all the same, all neat and clean of a particular team. Only the libero (a defensive player) can wear uniform of bright color. And no jewelry is allowed whilst playing, except those which are soft and couldn’t harm others, the religious and medical bands are allowed. Rings, chain any kind of hard stuff is not allowed to wear. The referee do check uniform’s sometime before play.
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One of the many volleyball rules is that only the playing captain or the referee can do substitution when the ball is not in play, and captain is only allowed to talk to referee. And the records for substitution are kept with the second referee, under that person’s supervision the substitution is made by any team.
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Points are scored while – after – a long play – or during service. If the opponent team fails, or an error occurs, in that case points are earned or vice versa as mentioned under rules for volleyball. Team with 25 points first with a minimum lead of 25 points wins the match or play continues until a two point lead is achieved. A total of five sets are played of 25 points to win each set. Deciding or winning set (3rdor 5th) set is played for 15 points. In case of failing to play a match after referees call. The opponent team is scored 25-0 or 15-0 – depending upon the set to be played. If both the teams are at 24-24 each then the referee keeps game on until a side gets a two point lead. And after that, the team leading the score is the winner of that set.
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The coin is tossed at the beginning of the game; toss winner chooses a side of court or the serving opportunity at first. Same happens when a coin is tossed for the deciding match. After each set, every team changes their side, and this repeats after every set.
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At least two minutes before, the team lineup is submitted by the coach or the captain. But some before 30 seconds of the starting of the interval. After the game has started, no changes in the team list are allowed. Every detail must be submitted at the very beginning which is clearly listed under the rules and regulations of volleyball.
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When the server serves the ball, each team member should be on their side with 2 rows, 3 players in each row. One player must be close to center line and two players must be close to the back line, and two players should be at left and right side line of their part of court. When the opponent gets the serve same rotation should be done in clockwise direction. Reverse clockwise direction play will be considered as foul play and is liable for a warning by the referee if needed.
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While substituting a player on referees call, after the coach or captains request, details of players going inside and the one coming outside are noted which is clearly enlisted under rules of volleyball. The libero when used, cannot serve a ball, or block or hit. Also is not allowed to replace with back players unless there’s an injury, or at the call of referee. A libero must wear bright colored Jersey as similar to that of his/her team mates are wearing. They are always restricted as a back playing member of that team for that match, and are not allowed to set any team mate for hit attack if the libero is in front of the 3 meter line. But when the libero is outside the 3 meter line, then a team mate is allowed to take the hit shot. It’s substitution doesn’t require authorization from the referee and can enter between the end line and the 3 meter line. It is not counted as regular substitution and can have unlimited entries.
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A ball is in play only when it is legally contacted and being served. It is not in play if it hits any object 7 meters above net including the antenna, or it hits the net or goes under the net, or the player commits a foul, or if the referee blows the whistle. Hitting with any other object not part of the game is also not accounted as a service.
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Any action against the playing rules is a fault as stated under the volleyball regulations and rules. When a team commits a foul then the opposite teams wins a point, and in case of double fault, the referee checks who committed the foul first, then a point penalty is given to that team who committed the foul first. With team committing a foul, the opponent gets the advantage and wins a point.
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Whenever a ball is touched with hand, or pushed while service, or played from a non playing area, then it is termed as false play of ball. Also when a player contacts the ball more than two times in a row, or player touches the net or antenna while play, or any illegal block, or players are out of position or the ball lands outside the court – that is termed as false play of ball. Even if the ball touches other part of body other than hand, it is also a false. Entering into opponent’s area and touching the ball together by any two team members is also a foul. Reaching out for ball under the net, and touching the net or ball in order to do so is also a foul play of ball.
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The ball must completely Cross the net, or can touch the net to fall on opponent side, but while service ball should not touch the net as it is one of the many volleyball rules to be followed. Within the range of three hits the ball may be played out of the net, within that interval, players have the opportunity to return the ball to the opponent.
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If the player touches the net in any way then it is a foul play, or any body part touching other than insignificant touch. If a player hits the net and the net then hits the player if opponent team then it is not considered as foul and touching the other side of the net or touching the opponent team’s area is a foul. A player may hit the ball very hard in such a way that it may hit the attacking team member, crossing the vertical path of the net. Any accidental actions are considered by the referee, and most of the times accidental actions are not considered as foul, and the game is played on ignoring the accidental foul.
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Service is done behind the end line, and server should not touch the end line. Service not completed if the ball touches any player before crossing the net, ball lands outside volleyball court or the ball goes under the net. All the peoples must be in their respective position and can also take jump service only if the server is at the right position. Under volleyball rules and regulations, service may be of two types, underhand serve and overhand serve – two overhand services is the one that is effective, and underhand is the easiest service. Service not staying in the range of antenna or outside court is a foul; also ball falling into the hitter side after service is also foul service. Ball on the side line is considered out, and reserving is done.
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A front row player can do the attack hit but a back row player can’t do so as mentioned in the main volleyball rules regulations. A back row player can’t do attack hit in front of the attack line until the ball is below the top of the net. So it’s easier always to take the hit from a front player.
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Blocking is done by deviating the actual path of the ball before entering own side of the court resulting in the ball to fall inside server teams’ court. Blocking can be done by staying in the court without interfering with the other team’s space by staying close to the net which is an important point. It requires mainly the focus and observation of the blocker.
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The rules within volleyball clearly state that there is a thirty second time out twice for each team to use; they may be called as interruptions. Each team uses this time for strategy and some even use it to break the other teams momentum.
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There are some tricks used by teams during interruption which are used to delay the time. All the time wasting techniques which are used are in these time interval itself, which are being used as break by the teams legally.
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Intended interruptions, if any player gets injured then referee may call for a break which is stated within volleyball regulations and rules.
Accidents may happen any time, at that time referee may call for a break. -
Penalties such as, yellow card, red card, expulsion or disqualification. – If someone is shown a yellow card then it means a warning is given, while red card is a serious mistake for which warning is given along with point is awarded to opponent team. Under volleyball’s rules, when in expulsion, player is out for rest of the game. Any disqualification leads to the player going out of the area from where game is being played.
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While the match is on, the group of officials involved are: first referee, second referee, scorekeeper, and line judges. Every member of that group needs to be alert every second of the game.
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Duty of first referee is to take every responsibility of every decision to make in the game. From starting from foul decision, to stopping the game or re-starting a new set, every such decision is made by the first referee.
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Duty of second referee is to get the list of the team members playing, watching the clock, keeping track records, supervising the substitution and many other off field decisions. It is the second referee who is stationed on the floor at one end of the net which is opposite to that of the first referee.
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Scorekeeper records the score, keeps record of the rotation, and the side changes at any time. They also keep track of the time outs and the game progress. Most of the calculative procedures are done by the scorekeeper. According to rules of volleyball, the scorekeeper also signals when a team has acquired the 8th point in a deciding match, such that the sides can be interchanged.
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Line judges looks for the side line error or any decision regarding sideline activities. Any fouls committed on the lines, foot fouls or the ball foul or any other line regarding foul are checked by the line judges. In case of same foul from both the sides, the side which commits the foul first gets the penalty, which is decided by the line judges.
By learning the above rules of volleyball positions one can be more aware of limits within the sport, and plan their game more better. Every team should have a strategy for opponent which should be discussed before entering the court. One must follow every move of the opponent to get a perfect block. Body movements and hand signal may also be used so that opponent may not know about the move to come.
Volleyball is a fun sport with simple rules and regulations to follow, and can be a great deal of fun for the players when teams are equally matched.
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