Learning How To Play Volleyball

A vollyeball game is played between two teams on a volleyball court measuring 18 metres by 9 metres separated by a 1 metre wide net in the middle of the court. Each side of the court has an "attack line" that is 3 metres in from the net which divides the court into the front row and the back row. The official height of the net varies slightly between men's and women's volleyball.

Each team has six players on the court and each has a designated starting position (positions 1 to 6, with position 1 being the serving position)

One team serves the ball over the net into the opposing side to put it into play.
The opposing side must return the volleyball ball back with no more than 3 touches of the ball. Their aim is to use a variety of skills and strategies to return the ball aggressively ("attacking") so that their opponents can't pass the ball back.

The basic play is for the ball to be "passed" or "bumped" by the first player to contact the ball to a Setter (first touch).
The setter is usually a specialist who is able to consistently set the ball up for a hitter (second touch).
The third touch is usually where the team is able to execute an attacking move, usually called a spike. Their are many different spikes that can be executed to suit the particular game situation.

During the spike, the opposing team have their front row players jump at the net to stop the hitter from getting the ball into their court. This is called the "block". Even if they can't completely stop the ball from entering their side of the court, they can at least slow the ball down enough for their team mates to retrieve the ball in order to mount a counter attack.

This sequence of attack and counter attack continues until one side hits the ball out or the ball contacts the floor on their side of the court.
When this happens, the ball is passed to the side that did not make the error and the whole team rotates clock wise for their turn to serve.

The game continues until one team reaches 25 points and is ahead of the other team by two points, at which point they win the Set.

Matches are best-of-five sets and the fifth set (if necessary) is usually played to 15 points.

Signup for the essential volleyball drills free.

It contains 20 of the most basic drills covering Setting Drills, Blocking Drills, Passing Drills and Hitting Drills.

Basic volleyball skills

Serve

From behind the back line of the court a player serves the ball into the opposing side. The aim is to make a serve that makes it hard for the opposing team to return. There are many different types of serves that can be used: Top spin serve, Float serve, Jump serve, Underhand and Overhand serve.

Pass

Players use their forearms to form a platform to receive the ball and using a combination of their legs and arms "pass" the ball to the setter for the next play. The pass is very important because a good pass makes the subsequent set and spike easier to execute.

Set

A set is an overhand pass using the fingers of both hands and commonly used by the setter to put the ball exactly where the hitter can spike it and hopefully win the point.

Spike

Players run up and hit the ball into the opposing side with the aim of grounding the ball in their oppenets sideor hitting the ball out of play off their opponents. Their are numerous techniques for spiking: Outside, Back court, Line, Cross court, Dip, Quick, Slide etc.

Block

A block is a defensive play mounted by the side trying to stop their opponents hitting the volleyball into their side.
Players jump up at the net and extend their hands and arms into the opponents side of the court so as to intercept or interrupt the opposing hitter.
There are several blocking techniques: Single, Double and Triple blocks.

Summary
Learning how to play volleyball is pretty straight forward and can be a lot of fun. You can go as hard or as easy as you like but remember that like most things you only get out what you put in!

Where to from here?

Highly recommended is the Winning Volleyball Skills ebook which expands on basics and takes you quickly to an intermediate level.

When you are ready to take your volleyball training or coaching to the next level, take a look at Volleyball Locker Room!