Volleyball season has arrived, offering students an excellent opportunity to catch some exciting games while showing support for the WolfPack. If you’ve never watched a game but still want in on the excitement, we’ve got you covered. This is a guide to the basics of volleyball and will teach you all the rules you’ll need to know so that you can enjoy the match from the very first serve.
You’ve never seen a game?
A volleyball match consists of two teams, separated by a net. Each team has six players on the court at a time. The teams hit the ball back and forth over the net. The objective is simple: score points by hitting the ball over the net so that it lands on the ground on the opposing team’s side of the court. The first team to earn 25 points wins the set.
Is it a game or a match?
A volleyball match consists of a series of sets, either three or five. Teams compete until one wins a majority of the sets — two out of three or three out of five. Each set is played to a predetermined number of points–typically 25–and must be won by a margin of at least two points. Therefore, if a set is tied 24-24, it will continue until a team leads by two points.
Serving more than just looks
A serve is what puts the ball in play after a point is scored. The server stands behind the end line on their side of the court, holds the ball, and hits it over the net to the other side. Although there are variations, the overhand serve is most common, in which a player holds the ball in their non-dominant hand, tosses it into the air, and hits it while it’s at its peak. A successful and reliable serve can break up the opposing team’s formation, creating scoring opportunities.
Passing
To initiate offensive strategies and keep control of the action, players can pass to each other a maximum of three times before returning the ball over the net. Passing more than three times without the ball going over the net is a rule violation that results in the opposing team being awarded a point. The most common type of pass is the bump, also known as the forearm pass. As the name suggests, a player holds their arms out, creating a flat surface for the ball to bounce off of. Also common is the overhead pass, or set, where a player uses both hands to make contact with the ball over their head.
Rule violations
When a team commits a rule violation, the other team will be awarded a point. Violations are mistakes made by a player during a rally – the sequence of play that starts with a serve and continues until a point is scored or the ball is out of play. Some common violations occur when a player hits the ball so it lands outside the boundary lines or when the ball is handled illegally, such as when it is held, caught, or thrown by a player. Additionally, players are prohibited from hitting the ball twice in a row without passing to a teammate or hitting it over the net. When a violation occurs, a referee will stop the play and award points accordingly before the next serve.
Formation and why it matters
When a team earns a point after their opponents serve, they rotate positions in a clockwise circle. A team’s formation gives it structure while the ball is in play and determines who is responsible for setting, attacking, or defending. This makes communication and offensive plays quick and straightforward. The setter’s job in a formation is to receive a pass from either the opposing team or a teammate, then pass the ball to set up an attacker for an offensive hit. The simplest example is the ‘4-2’ formation, which utilizes two players in the front row as setters and the remaining players as attackers. As the players rotate, the setters will change so they are always positioned in the front row. A ‘5-1’ formation places one team member as the primary setter and the remaining team members as attackers. In this formation, the setter rotates with the formation but still consistently sets. Poor formation will leave areas on the court that are easy to score in and can be targeted offensively.
Although the game may initially seem complicated, understanding these rules may give you the bump you need to fully enjoy the game.