Volleyball is a sport played between two teams on a court divided by a net. The object is to send the ball over the net into the opponent’s court. Unlike basketball, volleyball does not involve much equipment and is played by both men and women.
Traditionally, the service area is three metres long. But at the 1996 Olympic Games, the service area was extended to nine metres. It is traditionally behind the right one third of each court end line.
Volleyball is the most widely spread game. Teams usually have six players. Each player has a specialist position for defence or attack.
A team is awarded a point for every successful ball placement. Points are also awarded for errors on the opposing side.
To win a match, a team must score 25 points. If the first team fails to do so, the second team will serve. They then switch sides and the third game is played until the first team scores 15 points.
One of the most important elements of volleyball is the serve. This can be served overhand or underhand. In either case, the ball must pass over the net completely between the antennae, which are positioned about one metre above the net.
The game begins with a coin toss. The team that wins the toss chooses the side of the court. Normally, the team that is serving will serve from the center front.
Players serve from their left back. Most volleyball teams will include a setter and a universal spiker.
