HANDBOOK FOR

VOLLEYBALL

ISAAC JACOB F. FANCUBILA

ACC-201 PE-4
Table of content
History…………………………………………… 1
Equipment & Facilities……………………….. 2
Fundamentals in Volleyball………………… 4
Rules…………………………………………….. 6
Officiating……………………………………… 7
 Volleyball History
Volleyball was invented in 1895 by
William G. Morgan, physical director
of the Young Men’s Christian
Association (YMCA) in Holyoke,
Massachusetts. It was designed as
an indoor sport for businessmen
who found the new game of
basketball too vigorous. Morgan
called the sport “mintonette,” until
a professor from Springfield College
in Massachusetts noted the volleying nature of play and proposed the name of
“volleyball.” The original rules were written by Morgan and printed in the first edition of
the Official Handbook of the Athletic League of the Young Men’s Christian Associations
of North America (1897). The game soon proved to have wide appeal for both sexes in
schools, playgrounds, the armed forces, and other organizations in the United States,
and it was subsequently introduced to other countries. In 1916 rules were issued jointly
by the YMCA and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The first
nationwide tournament in the United States was conducted by the National YMCA
Physical Education Committee in New York City in 1922. The United States Volleyball
Association (USVBA) was formed in 1928 and recognized as the rules-making, governing
body in the United States. From 1928 the USVBA—now known as USA Volleyball (USAV)—
has conducted annual national men’s and senior men’s (age 35 and older) volleyball
championships, except during 1944 and 1945. Its women’s division was started in 1949,
and a senior women’s division (age 30 and older) was added in 1977. Other national
events in the United States are conducted by member groups of the USAV such as the
YMCA and the NCAA. Volleyball was introduced into Europe by American troops during
World War I, when national organizations were formed. The Fédération Internationale de
Volley Ball (FIVB) was organized in Paris in 1947 and moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, in
1984. The USVBA was one of the 13 charter members of the FIVB, whose membership
grew to more than 210 member countries by the late 20th century.

1
Volleyball Equipment & Facilities

 The Ball
- A regulation size volleyball has a circumference of approximately 25.6
to 26.4 inches (65 to 67 centimeters), and typically weighs between
9.2 to 9.9 ounces (260 to 280 grams). Volleyballs are usually made of
synthetic leather or composite leather. These materials are chosen for
their durability and consistency in flight. The inflation pressure of a
volleyball is regulated. The pressure is measured in pounds per square
inch (psi) and typically falls within the range of 4.3 to 4.6 psi (0.30 to
0.32 kg/cm²)

 The Volleyball Court

- Court Dimensions: The Volleyball court is 60 feet by 30 feet in total.
The net in placed in the center of the court, making each side of the
net 30 feet by 30 feet.
- Center Line: A center line is marked at the center of the court dividing
it equally into 30 feet squares, above which the net is placed.
- Attack Line: An attack line is marked 10 feet of each side of the
center line.
- Service Line: A service line, the area from which the server may serve
the volleyball, is marked 10 feet inside the right sideline on each back
line.

 The Net
- The net is placed directly above the center line, 7 feet 4 inches above
the ground for women and 8 feet above the ground for men Poles-
Volleyball poles should be set at 36 feet apart, 3 feet further out from
the sidelines Ceiling Height- The minimum ceiling height should be 23
feet, though they should preferably be higher.

2
 The Antenna
- A volleyball antenna gives players and the referee a visual aid to judge
if a ball is in play or out of bounds as it flies over the net.

3
Basic Fundamentals in Volleyball
 Serving
- The serve is the first contact in a volleyball game, and it's an
important opportunity to gain an advantage over the opposing team. It
is a skill that every player must master as it’s the first move that can
give your team momentum and shut down your opponent’s
momentum.

 Passing
- Also known as the bump, is used to receive the ball from the opposing
team's serve or hit. The goal of passing is to keep the ball in play and
set up an offensive play. To pass effectively, the player should get in
position, keep their arms straight and feet parallel, extend their knees
forward, and make contact with the ball using their forearms.

 Setting
- Setting or overhead passing is the most important step in an offensive
play as it determines which player gets to spike or attack. This is
normally done by the team’s setter and is the second step in the pass-
set-spike sequence.

 Attacking
- Attacking, also known as hitting, is the final step in the pass-set-spike
sequence and is used to score points. There are a variety of different
ways to attack a ball, but the most common and consistently effective
way to do so is by spiking. Spiking is a combination of jumping with
powerful arm swings in order to smash the ball onto the opponent’s
side of the court.

4
 Blocking:
- Blocking is a defensive skill used to stop the opposing team's attack
and can also be used to potentially score points. Blockers must focus
on stopping the opposing team’s offensive attacks, while also paying
attention to the opposing setter so that they can better predict the
opposing team’s attack strategy. It is important for blockers to be
able to react to an attack quickly and be in position before the attack
is completed.

 Digging:
- Digging is a defensive skill used to save the ball from hitting the
ground. It is often done when the ball does not come directly at the
player, and a standard underhand pass would be impossible or
extremely difficult to get. To get into a digging position, the player
must sink their hips low to the floor with their heels slightly raised in
order to be light on their feet. They must then stretch out their arms
into the underhand pass position. In order to dig for the ball, the
player must push off their toes and use their lower body to move their
upper body. Players must also be ready to dive for the ball, but that’s
often not necessary if you’re already positioned to where the ball
might be going.

5
Volleyball Rules
Here are the fundamental, must-know rules of a volleyball game:

 Only 6 players on the floor at any given time: 3 in the front row and 3
in the back row.
 Points are made on every serve for the winning team of the rally (rally-
point scoring).
 Players may not hit the ball twice in succession (a block is not
considered a hit).
 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 an antennae, the floor completely outside the
court, any of the net or cables outside the antennae, the referee stand
or pole, or 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 level of play.

6
Officiating Volleyball

1. Spotlight is on the teams, not the officiating. Allow the game to

progress as smoothly as possible. Your primary job is to have the
match go as smoothly as possible with little interference from
officials.

2. Strive for consistency. Never "even up" when you have made a
mistake. If you make a mistake, let it go and continue to do the best
you can. Don't let complaints bother you or break your concentration.
Some of the best matches will bring you the most complaints.

3. Be friendly and courteous, but also firm. Don't let players, coaches,
and the crowd influence your decisions. Listen to any reasonable
inquiry, but don't allow constant questioning about your calls.

4. Review rules and situations which tend to cause controversy. Read

the rulebook, ask a clinician, or anyone that you feel can give you the
needed answer. Rules that commonly cause problems are time-out for
injury, simultaneous contact by opponents, illegal improper requests
for subs, libero player situations, and back court attacker/blocker
rules.

7
5. The officiating crew should be officiating volleyball as a team. Work
together with your other officials. Cooperate as closely as possible.
Give each other active support.

6. Be serious but have fun. You owe it to respect the game. Every match
is important to the teams playing. Get in the right frame of mind and
focus on the match you are about to officiate.

7. Know the rules. Read the book and use it as a reference. The referee
is the final judge on everything, even scorekeeping issues.

8. Referees should NOT be a part of the match. Your job as a referee is to

watch and judge, do not coach. Be consistent.

9. Use preventive officiating whenever possible. Examples are jewelry,

water on the court, etc.

10. Have consistent judgment. What is a catch/throw or double hit?

It all depends on the level of play of the teams. Allow play on both
sides of the net and call what is different.