Popular Game for All

Volleyball is a team game of universal popularity that requires play between two teams. The game is played on a court with the two teams separated by a net. Volleyball has also been a part of the Olympics since year 1964.
Know the Roots of Volleyball
Volleyball, in its earliest form, had come into existence towards the end of the 19th century. It was created as a crossbreed between tennis and handball. It was created as an indoor sport for the elderly crowd as a replacement for basketball, which required strenuous physical activity. As the game required the ball to be volleyed across the net by each team, it came to be known as volleyball.
Present Day Game
Over the years, the rules of the game have undergone modifications. At the very beginning, there was no limit on the number of players in each team and the ball could be hit from one player to another within the same team any number of times. By the early years of the 20th century, the spike and set type of shot had been introduced and a maximum of 3 hits between the players of a team had been enforced. As of today, the court size for a game of volleyball is 18 m in length and 9 m in width. The net is in the middle, thus giving a 9m x 9m court space. At a distance of 3m from the net, another line called the attack line is demarcated. This line differentiates the front and the back court.
Six players must be in any of the five distinct positions in a volleyball game. The setter is the person who runs his/her team’s offense. A setter must be able to set the ball in a location which makes it suitable for the teammates to hit the ball into the opponent’s court. The libero is a defensive specialist, and this position was introduced worldwide in 1998. The libero is free to replace any other player’s position on the court and hence the name. Apart from these, you have the hitter who can block shots from the opponent as well as smash or hit into the opponent’s court. The hitters maybe a middle, left-side, or right-side hitter.
A rally in volleyball consists of different types of attacks and defensive plays. The rally takes off with a serve from any player of a particular team from outside the court’s boundary. There are different types of serve like underhand, jump etc. A pass is made when a player of a team pushes the ball to any one of his/her teammates. A maximum of three passes can be made after which the ball must be sent back to the opponent’s court. The attack can be a smash, cross-court short, wipe etc. The attack is used with the hope that the opponent will not be able to stop the ball from hitting the ground or going out of bounds. On the defensive play, a block can be used just at the net to stop the ball from going any further.
Volleyball has now further developed to beach volleyball where each team has only 2 players. Both beach and ordinary volleyball are under the regulations of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), which is an international association for the sport of volleyball. You must always use all the protective gears from reliable sports stores needed to play any game, not just volleyball.

Checklist on volleyball equipment

Before you hit the volleyball court, it is vital that you equip yourself properly for the game. Volleyball was invented in the year 1895 and was a combination of basketball, handball, baseball, and tennis. It was formulated by William G Morgan. Initially the net was borrowed from tennis court, but the height was not sufficient for the game and gradually the nets were designed exclusively for the volleyball sport.
The sport is ready to be played once all the tools are in place. The most basic equipment needed for volleyball game is the net. The net is made up of nylon or polyethylene material and has cables to support them at the top and bottom. When it comes to nets there are myriad of them available, and you can pick a net depending upon the kind and the frequency of the play. An important factor to consider while purchasing a net is that if it will stand the test of time. Durability has to be given much importance while buying a net for this particular sport.
There are two types of volleyball sports played, indoor and outdoor volleyball. For indoor volleyball game, leather ball is used and while playing near water bodies, synthetic ball is used. Always buy top-branded leather balls when it comes to an indoor game. The reason why top-quality ball should be preferred is that it prevents your hand from damage due to the hardness of the ball, and the ball also retains its shape after several uses. So, do not hesitate to spend a little extra money while deciding on volleyball, this could ultimately turn out to be in your favor. Volleyball should be spherical in shape and should measure 25 x 27 inches in circumference. The weight can range from 9 to 10 ounces. The compressed air inflated in the ball should be 4.3 to 4.6 pounds per square inch. Check out for all these factors before investing in a ball.
Of course, one cannot miss out shoes while playing a sport. For a better foot support and protection, lightweight and high-quality volleyball shoes have to be chosen. There are exclusive volleyball shoes available in the market, consult your trainers before making a purchase. The shoes should not be confused with basketball or cross trainer shoes, as they do not provide sufficient grip and support for your foot and could lead to an injury.
Knee pads are used to protect the player while diving to save a ball. They can protect your knee from burns and contusion. Ankle braces are also used to support weak ankles while working on the volleyball court.
Equip yourself with the best volleyball gear from the best sports stores and play a safe and fulfilling game that you can cherish all your life.