Wednesday, January 9, 2013

How to Play Volleyball


Even though my website is dedicated to learn about any sport, there is one sport that will be forever number one in my heart, and that is volleyball. Like I have mentioned before, I currently play volleyball for Illinois State University and have been playing volleyball for over eight years now. Volleyball is a sport that is learned with experience; it is often very hard for someone to learn the skills and movements of volleyball right off the bat. It is a sport that requires a lot of practice, patience, and repetitiveness to get things right. There are several actions that can take place in volleyball:
1. Serve- This is usually the first contact of volleyball. An individual will go back to the serving line and serve the ball over the net. If the serve is good and hard to pass, it is called an "ace" and the team who served the ace will receive a point. Mastering your serve is one of the hardest things to do when competing, especially under pressure.
2. Pass- This is usually the first contact after the ball has just been served. Usually, there are three people in the back row who pass the serve; these individuals are called defensive specialists. There is one player who wears a different colored jersey and who plays only in the back row the entire time. She/he is called the libero. They have very good hands and are quick to the ball, often getting there before the ball falls to the ground.
3. Set- This is usually the second contact on one side of the net. The setter usually has strong hands and is able to use their legs and arms to set the ball to whichever hitter he/she desires. The setter runs the offensive side of the court and tells the hitters what they are hitting for each play. The setter has to be creative and very deceptive, so the other team cannot easily predict what he/she is going to set next.
4. Hit/Spike- The last contact is usually a hit or spike to the other side of the net. Tall individuals usually are hitters, and they have to be able to jump well and hit the ball hard. There are three types of hitters- outside hitters, middle hitters, and right side hitters.
5. Block- This is a contact that is not expected, but is performed more and more the higher levels of volleyball you play in. A block is when someone literally "blocks" a hitter from hitting the ball over the net. In collegiate volleyball, blocks happen all the time, and when hitting against taller blockers; you often find it harder to hit against certain blockers.
6. Dig- This type of contact is just like a pass, but it is when someone is being hit at instead of being served at. Once again, a dig usually takes place in the back of the court, and many defensive specialists are the ones who account for most of the digs.
Now that I have gone over all of the contacts in volleyball, here are some facts and rules about volleyball:
1. In collegiate volleyball, you must win 3 out of 5 games, and games are played to 25 points
2. In order to win a game, you must beat the opponent by 2 points
3. There can only be three contacts on each side of a court, if there are four, the point is awarded to the other side.
4. When serving, you cannot step across the serving line or else it is a point for the other team.
5. You can only have six players on the court at the same time.
6. You can only have twelve substitutions in a game. If you reach twelve substitutions in a game, the players who are on the court must stay on the court until the end of the game.
7. You are allowed only two timeouts within a game.
8. You are not allowed to touch the net when blocking or hitting the ball. If you do, the other team will be awarded a point.
9. A back row player cannot jump above the net in front of the ten foot line. If they do, a point will be awarded to the other team.
10.Lastly, if an individual steps over the half court line and under the net, a point will be awarded to the other team.
There are several things that will make you successful when wanting to play at a high level of volleyball. First and foremost, practice is the one thing that can truly make you a better player in the end. Mental toughness and physical strength are two things that are also necessary. Staying consistent and confident are also qualities that are looked at in successful volleyball players. Remember that volleyball is the game of mistakes. Each point is awarded because the other team has made a mistake.
I wish the best of luck to everyone!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4032588

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