Terms

- § awarded when a player passes, sets, or digs the ball to a teammate who attacks the ball for § awarded when a player passes, sets, or digs the ball to a teammate who attacks the ball for a kill.
- § an attempt to terminate the play by hitting the ball to the floor on the opponent’s side; can be § an attempt to terminate the play by hitting the ball to the floor on the opponent’s side; can be awarded for a tip.
- § line: sometimes called “3 meter line” or “10-foot line;” the line parallel to the center line and § line: sometimes called “3 meter line” or “10-foot line;” the line parallel to the center line and three meters/10 feet back from the net.
- § row attack: when a back row player attacks the ball by jumping from behind the attack line § row attack: when a back row player attacks the ball by jumping from behind the attack line before hitting the ball; if the back row player steps on or past the line during take-off and sends the ball over after contacting it above the height of the net, the attack is illegal.
- § awarded when a player thwarts an attack, deflecting the ball onto the opponent’s court for a § awarded when a player thwarts an attack, deflecting the ball onto the opponent’s court for a point.
- § a misplayed ball involving “prolonged contact;” also called a lift or throw. § a misplayed ball involving “prolonged contact;” also called a lift or throw.
- § line violation: player encroaches on opponent’s court under the net; no violation if some § line violation: player encroaches on opponent’s court under the net; no violation if some part of the foot or hand (i.e. the heel) remains in contact with the center line.
- § the act of retrieving an attacked ball; awarded when a player successfully passes a ball that has § the act of retrieving an attacked ball; awarded when a player successfully passes a ball that has been attacked by the opponent; sometimes called an “up.”
- § serve: a serve in which the server tosses the ball, makes an approach, jumps, and spikes the § serve: a serve in which the server tosses the ball, makes an approach, jumps, and spikes the ball.
- § an attacked ball that strikes the floor or lands out of bounds after touching an opponent. § an attacked ball that strikes the floor or lands out of bounds after touching an opponent.
- § violation: illegal for any part of the player’s uniform or body (except for the hair) to contact the § violation: illegal for any part of the player’s uniform or body (except for the hair) to contact the net.
- § ace: a serve that hits the floor or causes the passer to misplay the ball such that no player § ace: a serve that hits the floor or causes the passer to misplay the ball such that no player can make a second contact.
- § a maneuver in which a ball is purposely directed to a spiker. § a maneuver in which a ball is purposely directed to a spiker.
- § out: receiving team wins a rally, earning the right to serve. § out: receiving team wins a rally, earning the right to serve.
- § a ball contacted by a player on the offensive team with the intent to terminate the ball on the § a ball contacted by a player on the offensive team with the intent to terminate the ball on the opponent’s side.
- § placement or redirection of the ball with the fingers, sometimes referred to as a dink or dump; a § placement or redirection of the ball with the fingers, sometimes referred to as a dink or dump; a tip is counted as an attack attempt and, if successful, a kill.

History The sport originated in the United States, and is now just achieving 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. Today there are more than 46 million Americans who play volleyball. There are 800 million players worldwide who play Volleyball at least once a week. 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). Morgan borrowed the net from tennis, and raised it 6 feet 6 inches above the floor, just above the average man’s head. 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. On July 7, 1896 at Springfield College the first game of “volleyball” was played. The Players Two teams of six players set up on the court at one time. A net divides the court in half, with each half split between a “frontcourt” (attack) and a “backcourt.” Teams line up with three front-line players near the net and three back-row players near the baseline (end line). The serving team rotates its lineup clockwise prior to each service change. Players move to each position on the court throughout the course of a game. Teams are allowed up to six substitutions per match. However, substituted players may only return to the game in place of those teammates by whom they were replaced.