Volleyball Positions : Volleyball Rules & Players Position

History Of Volleyball

Volleyball Positions : Volleyball Rules & Players Position : Volleyball is one of the most popular games where the rules are simple and easy to follow. You can even see the kids playing volleyball in the streets. It was first invented by William G.Morgan, who was a YMCA physical education director. Though it was started as the pastime, it acquired the status of a formal game with the development of a defined set of rules. To develop the game worldwide, an international organization was set up in the year 1947. Right from the year 1964, the game is an essential part of the Summer Olympics games for both the men and women category.

How To Play Volleyball?

• • Volleyball is played with two teams, each team with six players competing against each other.
  • One of the teams will start the game by serving the ball over the net.
  • The serve is done behind the outer boundary line in the service zone.
  • A team will win the rally and score the points if the opponent team failed to stop the ball from grounding or the players touched the ball more than 3 times.
  • The team which wins the rally will get an opportunity to serve.
  • The winner of the game will be decided by the best of three games or the five games.
  • The winner of a particular set will be the team which first scores 25 with a minimum two-point advantage.

To become an expert in this game, the most important feature one must learn is the various volleyball positions.

Volleyball Court & Players Positions

Volleyball Positions : Volleyball Rules & Players Position

• The standard dimension of the volleyball court is 18m* 9m divided into two equal halves.
• There is a centerline that is present exactly in the middle of the court and the net is tied over this line. Each side of the centerline is divided into the attack zone and the defensive zone.
• In a total of 6 players, 3 players will be in the attack zone and 3 players will be in the defense zone.
• In the attack zone, the positions are named P4, P3, and P2. The main job of the players in the attack zone is to block the opponent and attack the ball which falls in that particular zone.
• The positions in the defensive zone are called P5, P6, and P1. As the name indicates, the players here play the defensive role by facing the opponent’s attack and blocking those balls behind the attack line.

Basic Volleyball Rules

• • 6 players on the floor at any one time – 3 in the front row and 3 in the back row
  • Maximum of 3 hits per side
  • Points are made on every serve for winning team of the rally (rally-point scoring).
  • The player may not hit the ball twice in succession. (A block is not considered a hit.)
  • The ball may be played off the net during a volley and on a serve.
  • A ball hitting a boundary line is in.
  • A ball is out if it hits antennae, the floor completely outside the court, any of the net or cables outside the antennae, the referee stand or pole, the ceiling above a non-playable area.
  • It is legal to contact the ball with any part of a player’s body.
  • It is illegal to catch, hold or throw the ball.
  • A player cannot block or attack a serve from on or inside the 10-foot line.
  • After the serve, front-line players may switch positions at the net.
  • Matches are made up of sets; the number depends on the level of play. 3-set matches are 2 sets to 25 points and the third set to 15. Each set must be won by two points. The winner is the first team to win 2 sets. 5-set matches are 4 sets to 25 points and fifth set to 15. The team must win by 2 unless tournament rules dictate otherwise. The winner is the first team to win three sets.

Following are the various positions in volleyball:

• • Outside Hitter (also called wing spiker, left side).
  • Right Side Hitter (wing spiker, right side).
  • Opposite Hitter (attacker).
  • Setter.
  • Middle Blocker (center, middle hitter).
  • Libero.
  • Defensive Specialist.

Setter

The players in the Setter Position are the most important players in the team. Usually, the person who is well-versed among all the players in the game takes a setter position. The setter never takes the ball first which means he takes the ball only on the pass. His main role will be to make the offense stronger by putting the ball in the air so that the third touch is effective. This would make the offense, so perfect. Setter also has a role in the defense where he should anticipate the flow of the game and should defend their area when the ball is inside the net. The setter increases the scoring opportunities for the game.

Outside Hitters 

Unlike the other positions, the Outside Hitters play in both the back row and the front row. So the players who are selected to play this role should be an all-rounder. They play from the middle back positions when they are playing in the back row.  They take the ball on the sidelines when they play in the front row. The maximum points in the game are scored by these players. They must act in concert with the setter during an offense and should coordinate with the middle blocker during the defense. They should have a good passing capacity as they mostly touch the ball first when it comes to the opponent’s side. They must have good passing abilities.