Indoor volleyball - widely referred to simply as volleyball - is a team sport in which 2 teams of 6 players are separated by a net on an indoor court. Each team strives to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's side of the court while avoiding it being grounded on their own. Originating from the late 1800s, the game took some of its characteristics from other sports such as baseball, badminton, tennis, and handball. Due to its fast pace and the skilled teamwork involved, the sport is hugely popular throughout many parts of the world and has been a part of the Summer Olympic Games since Tokyo 1964.
Format & Scoring
Each team usually consists of 6 players. A player from the serving team throws the ball into the air and attempts to hit the ball so it passes over the net will hit the ground in the opposing team's court (the serve). The opposing team has no more than 3 hits to return the ball to the opponent's side of the net. The team with possession of the ball that is trying to attack the ball is on offence.
The team on defence attempts to prevent the other team from grounding the ball in their court: players at the net jump and block the ball. If the ball is hit around, above, or through the block, the defensive players attempt to control the ball with a dig. After a dig, the team transitions to offence.
The game continues rallying back and forth until the ball touches the court within the boundaries or until an error is made. A point is scored when the ball is grounded within the court boundaries or when an error is made. The team that won the point serves for the next point. If the team that won the point served in the previous point, the same player serves again. The first team to score 25 points by a 2-point margin is awarded the set. Matches are normally best-of-5 sets and the fifth set, if necessary, is usually played to 15 points.
