Team Sports: Volleyball Review Sheet

Unit 1: Volleyball

Review Sheet

YMCA Director William G. Morgan developed the game of volleyball in 1895 in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

„   It was a recreational activity for businessmen who wanted a game that had less physical contact than basketball.

„   Morgan originally called the game “Mintonette”.

„  Icons of the Sport: Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh

„  Dimensions of the court

-        Court: 60ft long 30ft wide

-        Net: 32feet long, 7’ 4” ¼ from the floor, and 3ft tall.

„  Ball: 6-9 oz.

„  Positions:

-        RB = Right back server

-        CB = Center/Middle back

-        LB = Left back

-        RF = Right forward/right side hitter

-        CF = Center forward/middle hitter

-        LF = Left forward/outside hitter

-        Method of passing the ball: Bouncing it simultaneously off of both forearms.

-        Commonly used for serve reception, passing a hard spiked ball, or passing a ball lower than the nose or away from the middle of the player’s body.

-        Usually the first hit by the receiving team.

„  Forearm Pass/Bump Cues:

-        Make platform and lock elbows

-        Hold both hands out with your palms facing up

-        Keep your fingers together but thumbs spread and facing the outside

-        Contact ball with both arms simultaneously

-        Move feet to get under ball

-        One foot in front of other with knees bent

-        Aim arms toward the top of the net and not the ceiling

-        Keep head up and eyes on ball

„  Dig: Cues

-        Passing of a powerfully spiked or hit ball.

-        The back row players are responsible for digging the ball and keeping it in play.

„  Set/ Overhead Pass

-        Overhand technique of putting the ball into the air close to the net for the spike.

-        Usually the second hit after the forearm pass.

-        Cues:

o   Elbows high

o   Make diamond shape with your hands using your thumb and index fingers

o   Bend knees

o   Quick “catch” and push with your fingers (do not hold the ball)

o   Extend your arms and wrist

„  Spike

-        Striking of the ball with the hand above net height

-        Sends the ball forcefully downward into the opponent’s court.

-        Ideal third hit in a series… “BUMP, SET, and SPIKE”

-        Ideal offensive attack

-        Cues:

o   Left foot forward for a right handed swing

o   Step with right foot, come together with left and jump

o   Swinging arm goes back on take off

o   Arm comes over top and arm swings down

o   Follow through on right side of body for right handed swing

o   Don’t touch the net

„                           Block

-         A defensive play by one or more of the front row players.

-         Meant to intercept a spiked ball.

-         The block does not count as a hit.

-        Cues:

-        Feet shoulder width apart

-        Hands at shoulder level

-        Track offensive attack and move body into position in front of attack

-        Jump straight up pushing arms straight up

-        Keep hands together and spread fingers

-        Push hands over the net and down

-        Don’t touch the net

„  There are three types of serves:

-        Underhand - Easiest to master and is used by beginners.

-        Sidearm - Useful if you want lower trajectory and can put spin on the ball. 

-        Overhand - The type most commonly seen and is very powerful and most difficult to receive.

Terms to Know:

„   Rally scoring - When the serving team wins a rally, they score a point.

      When the receiving team wins a rally, they gain a point and the right to serve.

       Games (Sets) are played to 25 points with a minimum two-point advantage

„  Net serve – If the ball is served and makes contact with the net but reaches the opposing team’s side, the ball is considered in play.

„   A player may not hit the ball two times in a row. The only exception is if a player attempts to block.

„  A team may only touch the ball three times before it is sent over the net.

„  6 players on each team on the court at a time.

„   A net violation occurs when any player comes in contact with the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play. When spiking the ball, the player’s follow-through may not contact the net.

„  Players from the back row are allowed to spike the volleyball; however, they have to jump from behind the 10 foot line (spiking line).

„  If the ball hits the ceiling and comes down on the opposing team’s court, it is considered out of bounds. However, if the ball contacts the ceiling and comes down on the same side of the net, the ball is still playable.

„   No player may contact the ball on the opponent’s side of the net, unless it is a block.

„   Players rotate in a clockwise position.

„   Blocking a served ball is not permitted, nor is attacking a served ball while the ball is directly over the net.

„  A ball is considered in bounds if any part of the ball is touching the side or end line.

„  A player may step on the centerline but his/her entire foot may not be completely over the line.

„  When serving, a player may not step on or over the end line until after contacting the ball.

„  If the ball hits the antenna, it is considered out of bounds

Important Vocabulary 

„  Ace – A serve which lands on the court for a point without being touched.

„  Back Set-A set made over the head and back of the setter.

„  Floater-A serve that is softly hit with no spin that “floats” or wobbles in flight.

„  Hitter – The player who spikes the ball.

„  Kill - A non-returnable hit by a player.

„  Dink - A one-handed, soft hit into the opponent’s court using the fingertips.

„  Legal Hit – Contact with the ball by a player’s body above the waist, and in which the ball does not visibly come to rest.

„  Illegal Hit – Any hit below the waist, or if the ball visibly comes to rest.

„  Carry - When the ball rests momentarily on one or both hands. Point is awarded to opposing team.

„  Double hit – If one player hits the ball more than once ,consecutively. Point is awarded to opposing team.

„  Foul - An infraction of the rules. Point is awarded to opposing team

„  Foot Fault – Server steps on or over end line before he/she contacts the ball.

„  Net Recovery – An attempt to play a ball that has been hit into the net.

„  Side out - When the serving team violates a rule or hits the ball out.

„  Match – The varsity match winner is the team who wins 3 out of 5 sets (aka games).

„  Announce the score before each serve, if not a point will be awarded to opposing team.

„  Roll the ball under the net when returning it to the server, if not a point will be awarded to serving team.

„  Do not kick the volleyball

„  Play the ball only when it is near you allowing other teammates an opportunity to be part of the game. (Although competition is an integral part of the game, cooperation is important in setting up the ball and accomplishing other team strategies.)