Volleyball is a team game and one of the most popular competitive and recreational sports in the world. Check out history of volleyball here.
Volleyball : History of Volleyball | Court size
Volleyball is a team sport played with a ball and a net. There are teams on each side of the net.
One team hits the ball over the net and into the other team’s court, the other team must then hit the ball back over the net and in bounds within three tries without letting the ball touch the ground.
There are two main kinds of competitive volleyball played in the world right now. They are team volleyball and beach volleyball.
Both are Olympic sports and have competitive leagues. Team volleyball is played indoors on a hard court with 6 people per team.
Beach volleyball is played outdoors on the sand with 2 players per team. The rules, strategy, and discussion here will focus on team volleyball.
Volleyball can be a lot of fun to play. To play with friends you can play with any number of people and most anyone can join in. To be a competitive player takes lot of practice. Good height and jumping ability helps a lot.
History of Volleyball
The sport of volleyball originated in the United States, and is now just beginning to achieve the type of popularity in the U.S. that it has received on a global basis, where it ranks behind only soccer among participation sports.
In 1895, William G. Morgan, an instructor at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke, Mass., decided to blend elements of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball to create a game for his classes of businessmen which would demand less physical contact than basketball. He created the game of Volleyball (at that time called mintonette).
Per Morgan, the game was fit for the gymnasium or exercise hall but, could also be played outdoor. The play consisted of any number of players keeping a ball in motion from one side to the other over a net raised 6 feet 6 inches above the floor.
Play is started by a player on one side serving the ball over the net into the opponents’ field or court. The opponents then, without letting the ball strike the floor, return it, and it is in this way kept going back and forth until one side fails to return the ball or the ball hits the floor. The side serving the ball earns points when the opposite side either fails to return the ball or allows the ball to hit the floor.
During a demonstration game, someone remarked to Morgan that the players seemed to be volleying the ball back and forth over the net, and perhaps “volleyball” would be a more descriptive name for the sport.
After reaching Japan and Asia through the YMCA network by 1896, a specially designed ball came to be by 1900, and over the next 20 years, rules were set into place.
The Philippines created the “set” and “spike” in 1916 and six-a-side play was the standard two years later. By 1920, the rules mandating three hits per side and back-row attacks were instituted.
Japan, Russia and the United States each started national volleyball associations during the 1920s. And when U.S. soldiers brought the game overseas during World War II, the sport spread through the rest of Europe like wildfire. Shortly after, France recognized the sport nationally as well.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the game a non-Olympic sport in 1949 and the first World Championships for men were held in that same year. The women’s first world-level competition came three years later.
The Russians would dominate the sport until the mid-1980s with some challenge from Japan during the stint. The United States finally made their mark as the men’s team won back-to-back gold medals in Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988).
With beach volleyball stealing some of the spotlight away from indoor, certain traditions were dropped for the Sydney Games.
Replacing the previous system where only the serving team could earn one, a point will be at stake for every rally. In addition, another agile defender called a “libero,” who is free to substitute in back-row defense at almost every turn was added.
Today there are more than 46 million Americans who play volleyball. Worldwide, there are over 800 million people who play volleyball at least once a week.
In the mid 1960’s, the United States Junior Olympic Volleyball (USJOV) program was established. Initial talks to establish a junior program within the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA) were not productive.
The USVBA, then comprised totally of volunteers and lacking paid staff members, was required to concentrate on its Open Club program. In addition, priority efforts beyond that were to develop the national teams and international competition program.
The USVBA Executive Committee granted permission to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to pursue the development of a full-scale junior development program within the AAU structure.
Following two years of discussion and negotiations, and the finalization of appropriate legislation, the AAU approved volleyball as a Junior Olympic sport. John Eaton of Virginia Beach, V.A., was appointed to write the first set of rules for Junior Olympic Volleyball.
Using the rules of volleyball as approved by the USVBA, Eaton modified the rules so that they would be more compatible to the age group program. These rules still serve as the basic foundation of junior volleyball in the United States today.
Although the National AAU approved volleyball as a “JO” sport, the organization did not include it in the multi-sport Junior Olympic Championship.
Volleyball had to strike out on its own for qualifying national tournament sites. The first national championship was conducted in 1974 at the Catonsville Community College in Catonsville, MD.
Although the bulk of the teams were from East of the Mississippi River, the tournament was qualified a success due to the number of teams entered; the enthusiasm it generated; and the interest that was stimulated. In this tournament, 200 athletes (not teams) took part, as age group teams from Chicago and such places as York and Haverford, PA., emerged as national champions.
The 1974 national tournament followed two years of experimentation with a “Prep School-East” and a “Prep School-West” national championship approach.
The next logical approach was the implementation of developmental programs in the 57 local AAU associations. Although some developed programs, most notably Chicago, Louisiana and eastern Pennsylvania, other local associations did not.
As a result, AAU Junior Olympic Volleyball efforts were, for the most part, limited to the national tournament In some local AAU associations, volleyball was not even a recognized committee, Junior Olympic or otherwise.
During the 1950’s Stockton YMCA became a national power under coach Harold W. Peterson, winning the Open in 1954 and 1955 and finishing second in 1952, ’56, ’57, and ’63. Bob Miller and Hal Durham each had brief stints as Commissioner in the early 1950’s and Len Gibson was appointed in 1954. The exact dates are somewhat hazy in the Region record.
Although there is mention of women’s competition earlier, the first recorded Women’s Region 12 Championship took place in 1965 due largely to the efforts of Women’s Representative Jerry Kaluna and the Women’s Association founder Fran Plunket. The year women first competed in the Far Western was 1968, the year Al Monaco became Region Commissioner.
In 1971 the Region Executive Committee was formed to help Al with the ever-increasing tasks of running a fast-growing region. In 1972, Nevada and Utah joined Idaho to form Region 14, leaving Northern California as a separate region.
The same year, Dan Gellerman published the first issue of the Region 12 news, and the first Region 12 volleyball camp was held at St Mary’s College.
In 1973 Al Monaco was hired as Executive Director of the USVBA and Lon Crosson took over as Commissioner. Gary Colberg, the present Commissioner, succeeded Lon in 1975.
The rules of volleyball have changed many times since William Morgan first developed the game in 1895 with an original purpose of providing some form of recreation and relaxation for businessmen at the Holyoke, MA Y.M.C.A.
The first rules, written by Mr. Morgan in long hand, contained the following basic features: The net was 6 feet, 6 inches high. The court was 25 X 50 feet Any number of participants was allowed.
The length of the game was nine innings, with three outs allowed per team per inning. Continuous air dribbling of the ball was permissible up to a restraining line 4 feet from the net.
No limit on the number of hits on each side of the court. A served ball could be assisted across the net. A second serve (as in tennis) was permitted if the first resulted in a fault. Any ball hitting the net, except on the first service, was a fault and resulted in side out.
Court size
Volleyball is a sport played by two teams of six players each. Understanding the volleyball court length and width can help you play the game more effectively and with more understanding.
Following are volleyball court measurements broken down by league and location of play:
The Standard Volleyball Court Size
The official volleyball court length and width are as follows:
- Court: 18 metres long and 9 metres wide
- Centre: 9 m × 9 m halves by a one-metre
- Top of the Net: 2.43 metres
- Centre Line: 5 metres
- Serving Arena: 3 metres
- Playing Surface
The playing field is light-coloured and flat. The only permitted surfaces for FIVB, international, and official tournaments are hardwood or synthetic. The lines must be drawn in white. The playing court and free zone require additional distinct colours.
- Line Markings
Every line on the court is 5 cm broad and has a bright colour that contrasts with the floor. The two sidelines and end lines serve as the boundary lines. The centre line divides a 9 m × 9 m playing court into two equal courts.
From sideline to sideline, this line extends from underneath the net. The front zone is designated on each court by the rear edge of the attack line, which is drawn 3m away from the centre of the centre line.
- Nets and Posts
Men’s and women’s nets are 2.43 and 2.24 metres high, respectively. Vertically above the centre line, it is positioned. It is 10cm square black mesh, 1m wide, and 9.5–10m long.
From the centre of the playing court, the height of the net is calculated. The antenna is a flexible rod that is 10mm in diameter, 1.8 metres long, and composed of fibreglass or material comparable to it.
The 2.55 m-tall posts are positioned between 0.50 and 1 m outside the sidelines. The posts are wire-free and contoured, and secured to the ground.
Regulation Indoor and Beach Volleyball Net Height:
Frequently Asked Questions About Volleyball Court Measurements
1. What is the official size of a volleyball court?
The size of a volleyball court is 18 metres by 9 metres.
2. What height is the volleyball net?
The height of a volleyball net is 2.43 metres for a men’s game and 2.24 metres for a women’s game.
3. What is the weight of a volleyball?
The weight of the volleyball must be between 260 g and 280 g.
4. How many players are in a volleyball team?
There are 6 players in each team in volleyball.
5. How long is a volleyball game?
The game of volleyball lasts between 60 to 90 minutes and is played in a set of best 2 in 3.
6.What is the height of the antenna in volleyball?
The antenna is a flexible rod that is 10mm in diameter, 1.8 metres long, and composed of fibreglass or material comparable to it. On the opposing sides of the net, it is fixed. The antenna’s top rises 80 cm above the net and is identified by 10 cm-long stripes of contrasting colour, often red and white.
7. How big is the volleyball pitch?
A free zone that is 3 metres wide surrounds the playing court, which is 18 metres long and 9 metres broad. The area above the playing field is the open playing space, which is at least 7 metres high.