This is where practice, practice, practice comes in.  Just as you have seen batters spend hours in a batting cage, or soccer players passing a ball for hours; you will have practice drill after practice drill.  Your coach does not give these to you just to keep you busy or to punish you.  These drills build hand-eye coordination, your ability to control the ball and your body, and, after a long while and a lot of drills, your ball control and timing will become almost second nature.  But you never get to stop doing drills. Pros still do drill practices even if they are world champions.

For beginners the drills focus on repetition.  Set drills are one of the most important because this is such a key in winning points. If you have a partner, switch roles between being the passer and the setter, a series for you and a series for your partner. Do both underhand and overhand (fingertip) sets, also mixing in one hand sets, because they will happen, especially in beginning levels. A twist on this is to gradually lower yourself and raise yourself back up from the floor when you are doing a series of sets to accustom your body to all the possible positions you may end up in and be able to keep the ball in play.

If you don’t have a partner and are practicing on your own, there are still plenty of things you can do if you have a ball and a wall.  Service practice is faster if you have a partner, but you can get plenty of service practice in if you are on a court by yourself or just using a wall, handball courts a great for this.  Breaking out the video camera can really help improve your serve, focusing especially on your timing, hitting the ball at the height of its arc and the top of your jump.  A good drill if you need pass practice and don’t have a partner is to do vertical sets.  These can be done both standing or on your back, learning to control the ball and have it go up directly over your head is the goal.  Wall sets and blocks train you to be in the correct position to not touch the net during play.

Footwork is extremely important, as are balance and agility.  You will have a lot of lateral movement in volleyball and therefore doing any type of training or drill that improves this will improve your game. Doing “crossovers” or “zig zags” where you move laterally first crossing the left foot over the right then vice versa is great for this.  Another good drill is “shuffles” this is actually they way you move your feet during a game, almost like a dance step, right foot right, left foot right up to the other foot and back again.  This is another one of those which you can do alone, in front of your tv or whenever you’re feeling like giving yourself that little bit of extra edge.

Technorati Tags: volleyball beginning drills

Drilling with your teammates does this at the same time that it is focusing on refining certain skills.  One of the simplest of these is the “circle pass.”  You have probably seen some variation of this in most sports, soccer, basketball, etc. You and your teammates all stand in an evenly spread circle, roughly fingertip to fingertip distance from each other and pass the ball.  Sounds simple, right?  In theory it is.  It practices your passing, but not in a straight line; which is more like real play. It also builds up camaraderie because no one wants to be the person that lets the rest of the team down and disappoints the coach.

A step up the ladder in complication you have the “pass, set, hit” relay.  This drill uses all the shots for the team receiving the serve.  You alternate the positions with your coach putting the ball into play instead of an opposing team.  You must be able to adjust yourself from one type of shot to another as you go through the rotation, just as you will have to do when you get to play real games.  In this drill communication with your teammates becomes important, letting them know where you will be, if you have the shot etc. This is exactly how you will have to interact when you have an opponent on the other side of that net.

The next step is to move into scrimmage games.  This is the beginning of learning the tactics and strategies you need to develop in order to be competitive.  A good coach will always explain why he is having you do something.  You coach will watch you and your teammates and see who needs to do more drills and in what specific area.  This is where your coach learns what role you play best in the team.  You will have your position changed and adjusted until the coach can see what your strongest traits are, and they might not be what you think they are.  Scrimmage is the time in which you will put together everything you have learned as far as skills, training and practice.  You will communicate with your teammates, function as a unit (which feels incredible) and hopefully have a great time doing it.

Technorati Tags: Volleyball team drills

The necessity of strength and power in volleyball are undeniable.   A player must be able to launch a serve; jump high, repeatedly and frequently; have the power to place shots in all court positions; and burst from one position on the court to another with great speed.  All of these combined necessitate training of all the major muscle groups. All of the leg muscles must be strength-conditioned with high weight, low repetition training to give the power needed to spring into action instinctively on the court.  The same is true of the upper body muscle groups; pounding a winning shot into the far opposite corner of the court can not be accomplished without strength.  Strengthening the quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus, pectorals, biceps and deltoids will improve the skill of any beginning player.

In addition to strength, players must train and improve their aerobic capacity and endurance. Players are continually in motion and must have the lung capacity and muscular endurance to respond quickly to whatever is happening on the court.  Being out of breath results in errors that are avoidable and one can be a better player simply with consistently aerobic conditioning.  Like most athletes, volleyball players should have an aerobic capacity that allows them to run around the court for the entire duration of a practice or game while still being able to breathe well and consistently, albeit faster than normal.

Although many people do not generally realize it, volleyball players must have a great deal of flexibility. Players don’t need to be able to put their legs behind their heads, but flexibility throughout the entire body will improve the skill level of all players.  There is a huge amount of lateral movement in volleyball in addition to the extensions that is necessary on all overhead shots and serves.  The addition of just a little more flexibility and agility can make the difference between the reach that allows the player to make the game winning shot or having to be consoled by teammates.  Stretching all major muscle groups both before and after practice or a conditioning session will give any player a competitive edge.

One other benefit of conditioning for volleyball is that, unlike a practice or a game, a player can always independently do something to improve performance without having to have other teammates there.  Practice was cancelled?  Go for a three mile run and do a series of squats and lunges followed by stretching.  This way, you may have missed out on a practice but you have managed to still improve your skill by doing some work on all of the major facets of the conditioning that are necessary for making you a better player.

Technorati Tags: volleyball conditioning

Obviously, the first thing that happens is the ball is served.  This is a skill that must be mastered by all because everyone must serve unless you are in a league that allows the use of a “libero.”  You can serve either underhand or overhand, but the overhand serve is more powerful.  You can also add spin to your serve by the positioning of your hand ever so slightly lower or higher on the ball.  This increases the unpredictability of the movement of the ball and makes it more difficult for your opponent to receive and respond to your serve.  If you can combine spin with accurate placement and some power you are on your way to becoming a valuable part of the team.

When you are receiving your opponents serve, either the “pass” or the “reception” there are two key factors that will help you to set up a winning shot. The first is to control the ball as it comes over the net; a huge part of this is reducing the speed of the serve you received.  At first you may have some pretty good forearm bruises, but that will pass when your technique improves.  The second factor is to put the ball into position for your setter; your control will increase with more practice. As with serving, you can receive either underhand or overhand with the fingertips, but underhand is more typical.

Now comes the “set.” This is actually the shot that seems to look the easiest, but, as you always hear, looks can be deceiving.  The set is the key to a huge number of game winning points.  Just as the reception can be either underhand or overhand, so can the set.  The difference here is that the overhand option offers an enormous increase in the amount of control you have over the placement of the ball.  The player that sets well can control the outcome of the game. Directing the ball to the strongest attacker accurately will make you priceless.

The “attack” or “spike” is the glory shot.  The shot you see on Sportscenter.  Height and/or the ability to jump REALLY high are valuable attributes for an attacker.  You must be responsive to your setter and hopefully learn to time your jump and strike so that you hit the ball at the highest point of your jump.  This gives you both maximum power and maximum range of direction for your shot.

The first possible response to the attack is the “block.”  This is the human fence that the opposing players form directly behind the net.  To be effective this must be perfectly timed so that you form a wall to defend against the opponent’s spike.  There are two different goals you are aiming for in a block; either sending the ball directly back to the opponent, forcing them to respond quickly; or taking some of the speed off the spike so your teammates can control it more easily.

If the attack shot is placed towards the edges or unguarded center of the court, then the “dig” is the shot you go for. This is the dive that you have seen and is the reason you see kneepads on every indoor player.  This shot saves the ball from hitting the ground and losing the point.  Do NOT, under any circumstances go for a full dive unless you have already learned the proper technique for this.  Part of the fun of learning a new sport and improving your skills is to learn everything the coach has to teach you, expand your skills and have a good injury free-time.

Technorati Tags: volleyball basic skills

By simple definition, volleyball is a game played between two teams of six players which involves striking a ball back and forth over a net.

Volleyball is one of the most played game of sport in the world.

History:

Volleyball was introduce to us by William Morgan in 1895 at the Holyoke, Massachusetts, YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association). This game was originally called Mintonette, but because this game is more on “volleying”, so, it was named Volleyball.

Kind of beginners drills used in Volleyball:

1. Serving
2. Wall hitting
3. Pass
4. Toss
5. Block
6. Line Passing

Technorati Tags: volleyball beginner drills, Volleyball drills for beginners

Gabrielle Reece also known as Gabby was born on 6th of January 1970, an American professional volleyball player, sports announcer and a hot fashion model who stand 623 tall.

Reece didn’t take up sports until then (the 11th grade) when she and her mother moved to St.Petersburg, Florida. Many colleges started recruiting her due to her abilities in sports. She accepted a volleyball scholarship from the Florida State University, where she majored in communications, and in volleyball she led the league in kills four times and blocks once. In 1989, she moved to model in New York City. She returned to Florida for six weeks that summer to take classes, and then she returned to New York for more modeling. That August, she was back on campus at FSU for the season. That meant turning down $ five-figure jobs to earn All-Tournament honors several times in her collegiate career. In 1997, she was selected for induction into the Florida State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Reece set two school volleyball records in solo blocks and total blocks. Both records still stand on Gabrielle Reece’s name.

Gabrielle Reece Volleyball career

Since graduation, Reece has played on professional volleyball tours. FSU inducted Reece into the Florida State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997. Reece set two still standing school volleyball records in solo blocks and total blocks

In 1997, competing with the best global beach volleyball players ever assembled, Reece’s 4-man team took first place at the first-ever Beach Volleyball World Championships staged at the UCLA Tennis Center. A Florida State star turned pro, 1997 was Reece’s fifth season as a team captain in the 4-person Women’s Beach Volleyball League (WBVL), and her fourth captaining Team Nike, which shared League Co-Championship.

For four consecutive years, Reece was the WBVL kills leader from 1993-1996. She was named the Offensive Player of the Year in 1994-95, and the League blocks leader in 1993. She also competed domestically in the 1999-2000 Olympic Challenge Series, the 1999-2000 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, and other competitions.

Gabrielle Reece Modeling career

Reece began her modeling career while attending FSU. In 1989 she was named by ELLE magazine as one of the five most beautiful Women in the World.
Reece has appeared on the covers of several magazines including Shape, Women’s Sports & Fitness, Outside, ELLE, and Life. She also appeared on the cover of Playboy, with an accompanying nude pictorial, in January 2001. Ironically, when appearing as herself the year before on the HBO series Arliss, she angrily chastised her agent for bringing her an offer to pose nude for Playboy.

Gabrielle Reece Other careers

Reece recently reunited with Nike as a spokeswoman, and she is a new expert and writer for Yahoo-Health. Reece is also a producer of a health & fitness product; ‘The Primal System’ with fitness expert Paul Chek and can be seen hosting a show for Fit Tv/Discovery, ‘Insider Training’ where she profiles professional athletes about their training & conditioning regimens.

In movies, Reece played the supporting role of a physical trainer in the film Gattaca (1997) and a pro beach volleyball player in ‘Cloud Nine’ with Burt Reynolds (2004). She has also guest starred on the television shows ‘North Shore’ (2004) and ‘8 Simple Rules’ on ABC (2005), and has appeared as a guest on Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ‘America’s Next Top Model’ and the ‘Tyra Banks Show’.

Get more gossips and videos online through our website here: www.omygirls.info

By: searchrankpros

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Check out latest news, photos, videos and gossips online about celebrities. Comments, Debates, Scams, Scandals, Mamma’s videos and More. For more information visit : www.omygirls.info

Technorati Tags: Gabrielle Reece, volleyball player

The fun and excitement of volleyball lures many children and adults into playing the sport. However, in order to have as much fun as possible, volleyball safety is something that you must always keep in mind. There is no fun in a sport if you are injured and cannot play due to something as simple as knowing when or when not to bend your wrist. Your first consideration when preparing to play volleyball, or any sport for that matter, is to make certain you have all of the equipment you need to play safely. Depending on where you are playing volleyball, there are several types of equipment you can purchase that can help prevent injuries. The basic equipment falls under several categories: Protective Gear Shoes Clothing Miscellaneous Accessories

Protective Gear

The most common type of equipment is the basic protective gear. Pads and palm protectors fall into this category. Pads, such as elbow pads and knee pads are generally used in hard floor based volleyball, such as indoor courts located in schools world wide. All three are also highly suggested in sand based courts, and are considered a vital part of volleyball safety, as they protect the most vulnerable parts of your body. Volleyball pads are used to prevent injury due to impact with the ground from purposeful dives and accidental falls. Palm guards are used to protect your hands and wrist from impact of the volleyball, as well as from falls.

Shoes

The second category of equipment that is vital for volleyball safety is the style and type of shoes worn during game play. Specially designed men and women’s volleyball shoes allow for better grip on the court, which prevents sprained ankles and dangerous falls. Without the proper shoes, you put yourself at risk. Nike and Reebok are two companies which specialize in sports shoes.

Clothing

During a volleyball game, wearing the proper style of clothing is the only way you can ensure accidents are prevented. Some styles of clothing, such as high riding shorts, can cause discomfort to the player, which can lead to a lack of concentration and injury. By wearing proper sports jerseys and comfortable low rise shorts, you can enjoy a comfortable game without additional risk of injury.

Miscellaneous Accessories

When selecting your other accessories, you need to always keep your safety in mind. While ear rings and other piercings may be aesthetically pleasing, they do not belong on a volleyball court. Choosing what to wear besides the standard volleyball safety gear is very important. A volleyball to the stomach could cause a great deal of pain and danger should you have a naval piercing, for example. Earrings being ripped from earlobes is another common volleyball injury which is easily prevented. Play it safe. If you do not need the accessory, take it off for the duration of the game. If you play volleyball a great deal, arrange for any piercings to be done and finished healing before or after the season. If you must have volleyball accessories, some good wholesale accessories for volleyball include hair scrunchies, temporary tattoos, and arm bands. Another thing to consider is most, if not all volleyball leagues do not allow temporary tattoos to be worn during matches. Much like glitter, they could be considered a distraction to the competition at hand.

After you have been fully equipped for playing volleyball, there are other things that you need to keep in mind. These are the basic safety rules of volleyball, and should be adhered to at all times. Body Positions – Setting, Serving, Spiking and Passing Physical Contact

Body Positions

In volleyball, an important aspect of the sport is the position your body is in, whether you are setting the ball, serving, or spiking. Improper body positions can cause injury to yourself, or potentially others, so you should take great care in assuring that you assume the proper positions.

Setting

When setting the ball, you should always be careful to watch the ball, and be in position several ball lengths before arrival. Facing the target rather than the origin can prevent being hit in the face with the ball. Losing focus on the ball can also result in being unbalanced due to reacting to the ball being where you do not expect it. This can result in injury, as sprained wrists and ankles are a likelihood.

Serving

When performing the serve, you want to make certain your lead foot is opposite from your hitting arm. If your lead and hitting arm are both on the same side, you will be unbalanced, which can result in a wide serve and injury. You must also make certain to hold a firm wrist position when completing the serve.

Spiking

This can be one of the more dangerous aspects of volleyball. When spiking the ball, you will be in motion, and using a heavy, hard action on the wrist and your body. As you are jumping in this move, you run risk of sprained ankles and other foot related injuries. Injuries resulting from falls are also extremely potential in this move. When performing your spike, there are several things you need to remember. First, you should be jumping with both feet. A one foot jump can lead to injury. Also, you should not perform a "tennis" swing. This is where you side-sweep with one arm, while your other arm swings backwards. This is a risk to yourself and your teammates, and should be avoided. Your wrist should also be held back in this position, and snapped forward on the spike. A dead-on hit can jam or sprain your wrist. By keeping these small tips in mind, you should be able to prevent injuries.

Passing

This is the one of the most common moves in volleyball. The pass, or the forearm bump, is performed by holding your hands together and hitting the ball with your forearms. A good pass involves your hands being held together, while your elbows are held straight, and your wrists remain firmly in position. Your body should be positioned towards your target when the pass is completed. If any of these things are not done during the pass, you run a risk of injury to yourself and others. This is where a great deal of wrist injuries occur, as hitting the ball with your hands instead of your forearms can cause sprains or breaks in your wrists.

Physical Contact

In Volleyball, physical contact should be avoided at all times. As this is a no-contact sport, collisions usually result in injuries that prevent you or your teammates from participating in future games. While many sprains only take a week or two to heal, broken ankles and wrists from collisions take far longer and can ruin your season. Always keep in mind where your teammates and opponents are. By doing this, you can save yourself and your comrades a lot of pain and trouble.

At first, all of these volleyball safety tips may be overwhelming. However, without them, you will find yourself out of play due to a painful injury. Persistence in following the basic rules of safety can prevent this and enable you to enjoy the game to its fullest extent.

About The Author

Rebecca Blain is a professional and hobbyist writer who enjoys taking care of her fish and educating people about volleyball equipment which can be read about here: http://www.everything-volleyball.com

This article was posted on August 25, 2004

 xx

xx

Positioned For Success – Shooting Volleyball « A Little News

This will give you a safe action photo that you can take back from any game you may cover. The second benefit to the high behind position is it allows you to cover action on the floor on the half of the court nearest you. 

Outdoor Volleyball

This rule keeps people safe. If you jump into the net chances are you will injure someone on the opposing team and/or yourself. Allowing people to touch the net is like allowing everyone to double dribble in basketball. 

Technorati Tags: Volleyball safety tips

Coaches should create an outline for their practices before the
season starts. It’s important to have created a
practice plan several months before the season that has
guidelines for what the team needs to accomplish.

These guidelines include everything from conditioning to skills
and drills. As the off-season, pre-season, and in-season are
going on, details of what exactly to be doing in practices
should be determined.

The volleyball coach should make an effort to plan each practice
or each practice week considering what needs to be improved upon
the specific time of season. This is called periodization.

A team should be taken through different volleyball
drills for conditioning in pre-season than in-season. In
pre-season, coaches should design volleyball conditioning drills
that train power endurance and prepare volleyball players for
the upcoming season.

When in-season, you want your volleyball players well rested and
playing their best. Conditioning for in-season should be more
focused on peak volleyball performance and less on building
endurance.

2. Design Volleyball Drills for Appropriate Time of Practice

What and when you do volleyball drills in practice is important
for having a successful practice. Technical skill volleyball drills, or
individual player volleyball drills are usually best done near the
beginning of practice. Team volleyball drills or fun volleyball drills
should be done near the end of practice.

Technical volleyball drills are drills that need players to focus for
perfect skill execution.

When performing technical drills, it’s common to rotate players
quickly during the drill. For example, when players are trying to execute a perfect forearm pass using perfect passing form, players can rotate quickly and only have
to focus on skill execution at a time.

With technical drills, each repetition is important. Players
shouldn’t be forced to pass so many balls in a series that will
make it harder to focus.

3. Keep Players Active

Limit each players part in each drill to just 1-3 minutes
because any longer than that players will start losing focus.
Volleyball drills that involve players rotating quickly are good because
they can get a break in focusing on the task then come back and
do the same thing several times again after each rotation during
the volleyball drill. So they are able to get repetition without having to
work several minutes at once repeating the same thing. This is
really important in executing technical volleyball drills.

Also, drills should be designed that keep players
actively participating in the drill. You don’t want to run
drills where many players are standing around watching. The more
players are able to stay involved, the
more they will stay focused and improve.

4. Design Volleyball Drills Specific to Player’s Playing Level

Not all players are for same. Coaches shouldn’t
design volleyball drills that are so advanced that players won’t get
anything out of doing them. Also, players shouldn’t be doing volleyball
drills that they’ve already mastered.

Coaches should look at individual players and determine what the
weakest link is. For example, if a player’s weakest skill is
passing, they need to spend time working on passing.

On the other hand, if a player’s strongest skill is hitting,
they shouldn’t be working on hitting all the time. Often, what
skills player’s like to work on are ones they are already really
good at doing.

5. Be Aware of What Current Events are Affecting Your Volleyball
Team

A volleyball player’s mood, stress level, and lifestyle have a
major impact on their volleyball playing ability.

They should be design with current events
in mind.

For example, if a team just experienced a long weekend from an
emotionally draining tournament, volleyball drills for the next
practice should be adjusted accordingly.

Also, day to day events such as exams and other events that
cause stress in school should be considered when designing
volleyball drills. Drills for practice often need to
be adjusted on the fly because of such a busy lifestyle.

Many teenagers have very busy lives and are often stressed.
Players may sometimes show up to practice and what you as a
coach had planned just aren’t going to work that day. Coaches
need to pay attention to how players are feeling and adjust
practices accordingly.

Author: Dennis Jackson

Dennis Jackson is a volleyball expert that provides advice on volleyball training. For more tips on volleyball drills along with volleyball strength and conditioning, visit his volleyball drills website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Jackson

xx

xx

ACU Wildcat Sports: First week of volleyball practice in the books

You could read an article with several quotes from head coach Kellen Mock about the first week of volleyball practice, and you could read a story describing some of the drills.

Rebel Volleyball To Host Spring Tournament This Weekend …

Volleyball Coach’s Corner with Joe Getzin 09.23. Volleyball Coach’s Corner with Joe Getzin 09.17. Volleyball Coach Speak with Joe Getzin 09.11. Volleyball Coach Speak with Joe Getzin 

Technorati Tags: volleyball drills, volleyball practice

There are lots of girls out there, and maybe you are one of them, who are really good at volleyball and still can’t manage to make the team. A big part of the reason is that volleyball tryouts really aren’t that long. It’s hard to be able to tell in a few days whether or not someone really has the skill and drive involved to be good at volleyball, or any other sport. What you have to do, besides being good (because you do need to be good) is to get yourself noticed and to stand out in the crowd.

First, you need to start preparing months in advance. Yes, you need to do the usual and practice as much as you can long before tryouts start, but you should also make an effort to let the coach get to know you ahead of time. The better the coach knows you, the more likely she is to notice how good you are. The easiest way to do this is to attend camps they are teaching or working at. If they aren’t doing any camps, see if you can get involved in team fundraisers. That way, at least they’ll know your name and that you’re dedicated. If you can’t do either of these things, the least you can do is go well ahead of time (several months even) to ask the coach about tryouts. Ask when they are, what paperwork you will need, what skills they think you should know, and any other information you think you need to know. This way, you’ll not only be prepared and feel a little more confident going into tryouts, but you’ll also give the coach a chance to see your face, learn your name, and know you’re dedicated. Just don’t pester the coach or suck up; try to get yourself noticed in a positive light.

The second thing you need to do is to not just be good, be better. Being a great player doesn’t get you noticed if everyone else trying out is great too, you have to be fantastic. Sure, you are limited by your body in how good you can be, but you need to push it as far as it will go (safely, of course). Don’t slack off before tryouts. Practice and work out every day. If possible, get friends together and play when you can. Even better, join a local volleyball team or league (YMCA usually has teams). You can also research in addition to actually practicing. Read books and magazines and learn about what’s going on in the sport. Just remember not to slack off or let yourself go. And if your prospective coach isn’t running any volleyball camps, find some to go to anyways; you may learn some tips.

If you’ve followed the tips above, you’re well on your way to getting on the team, but there’s one last way to get yourself noticed at tryouts. Many players give it their all when they’re on the court, but once their done, they don’t continue to give it their all. That’s a big no-no. When you’re doing drills, push yourself harder, even if it’s stretching, give it your all. If there’s setting up or breaking down to be done, be the first to volunteer to help. Also, be sure to encourage others and help them if they ask. No matter how good one played is, if they can’t work in a team they really aren’t that useful. Be respectful to your coach an everyone else there. Being rude or copping an attitude (even if you think something is unfair) is the surest way to get cut. You also have to give it your all off the court in the classroom. If a coach is considering picking someone for the team, but her grades are borderline, they may reconsider. A coach doesn’t want to risk losing a player mid-season because their grades aren’t good enough.

If you followed all these tips, you’ve greatly helped your chances of getting on the team, but sometimes, you do your best and still won’t make it. The important thing is not to give up. Keep working on your game. Still offer to help with fund raisers and other events. Some high school teams have student managers. These are good ways to get yourself noticed for next years tryouts. Just remember to keep working on your game. If all else fails, there’s always those YMCA leagues, they can be just as competitive and a lot of fun.

Good luck at tryouts!

xx

xx

Top 5 little secrets to help your serve receive game « Silver …

volleyballvolleyball, the ability to serve receive is the key to running your team’s offense.
How can I make the Frosh volleyball team next year?

Graceland Head Coach Chad McDole is looking for the athletes to make his dream a reality. “I’ve been campaigning to get (the JV program) back ever since I got here,” McDole said. “From our standpoint, it’s a win-win for everybody.

Technorati Tags: make volleyball team, tips for volleyball team

Read on to know more about Volleyball history and information about the volleyball court and volleyball equipments…

Volleyball is a team sport where 2 teams of 6 active players are separated by a high net and each team tries to score points against the other by grounding a ball on the other team’s court. The rules of the game of volleyball are quite extensive. Ideally, points are scored when one team grounds a ball in the opposing team’s court, or when the opposing team makes a fault. The game is made up of sets, each set being 25 points each. The first team to win 3 sets wins the game.

The ball is usually played with hands and arms. Sometimes players also use any other part of their body to strike or push the ball. A team can contact the ball up to 3 times before it crosses the net.

Mostly, volleyball is an indoor sport. However, other variations of the game, such as Beach Volleyball, have also developed over a period of time.

Volleyball History

Volleyball was invented by William G. Morgan who was a physical instruction teacher in the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA. He wanted to create an indoor game which could be played by any number of players. The game was created on the 9th of February, 1895. It was called Mintonette.

Some of the traits of the game were borrowed from tennis and handball. This was also the time when another game called basketball was also gaining a lot of popularity. Mintonette was intended to be an indoor game that was less rough and could be played by the older members of the YMCA.

Initial rules laid down by William G. Morgan required a net which was 1.98 meters (6 feet 6 inches) high and a court which was 7.6 meters X 15.2 meters (25 feet X 50 feet) in size. The game could have any number of players. The match was made up of 9 innings where each team had 3 serves in each inning. There was also no limit to the number of contacts which a team could make on the ball before passing it into the opposing team’s side.

Of course, the rules have evolved over time. The set and spike was introduced by 1916 and in 1917 the game changed from 21 points to 15 points.

In 1919 the American Expeditionary Forces distributed about 16,000 volleyballs to their troops and allies and the game spread to different parts of the world.

In 1900, Canada officially adopted volleyball.

In 1920 the ‘3 hits rule’ and the back row hitting guidelines were established.

In 1924, Volleyball was introduced in the Olympics – the games were held in Paris. Volleyball was played as an American sports demonstration event. Officially the game was included in the Olympics in 1964.

In 1947, the FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) was formed leading to the first of the World Championships to be held: in 1949 for men and in 1952 for women. Many countries have adopted volleyball since then. A list of these countries includes Brazil, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, and China.

In 1987, the FIVB endorsed Beach Volleyball, which is a game played on sand with only 2 players per team. Beach Volleyball was officially introduced in the Olympics program in 1996.

Volleyball Court

Volleyball courts have evolved since the time the game was played the first time. Today, the game is played on a court which is 9 meters wide and 18 meters long. This is then divided into two halves of 9 meters X 9 meters each.

A net which is 1 meter wide is placed in the center, so that the top of the net is 2.43 meters high (for men) and 2.24 meters high (for women). The height is often varied for different types of players such as veterans and juniors.

A line is drawn parallel to the center in each half, at a distance of 3 meters. This is called the ‘attack line’. Thus, the court area of each team is divided into the ‘front row’ and ‘back row’ areas.

The court areas are also surrounded by an area called ‘the free zone’ which is at least 3 meters wide on all sides of the court. The players can enter and play within this free zone after the service of the ball.

Volleyball Equipments

To play volleyball, the first equipment required is the volleyball court.

The next is obviously, the ball. The ball is made out of natural or synthetic leather. It is inflated with compressed air. As per the regulations laid down by the FIVB, the ball must:

• Have a circumference between 65 to 67 centimeters.
• Weigh between 260 to 280 grams.
• Have an inside pressure between 0.30 to 0.325 kilograms per centimeter square.

The next bit of equipment for the volleyball player is the outfit. A variety of volleyball uniforms are available. The colors depend upon the team colors. The uniform usually consists of jerseys, low rise shorts, volleyball shoes. Other accessories may include head bands and arm bands etc.

There are a variety of good sporting brands which make clothes for volleyball players. Also, there are volleyball kits available in the market for those who wish to learn and play the game.

By Madhavi Ghare Published: 12/17/2007

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: volleyball equipment, Volleyball history