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Volleyball
There are a few essentials pieces of equipment that you will need to play volleyball: A ball and a net. If you are playing competitively, knee pads, proper apparel, and footwear are other things to look into. This guide will discuss the basics, however, if you know anything about specifics, please add to this guide.
Volleyball Skills
- Serve -- There are many different elaborate types of serves, but the main objective is to make the ball go over the net and inside the court. Serves are supposed to set the ball's direction and acceleration so it becomes difficult for the opposing team to handle the ball properly. Servers most stand behind the endline when serving the ball. The ball may be hit either underhand or overhand, but underhand serves are rare at higher levels of competition due to its easiness of handling.
- Pass or reception -- The attempt to handle the ball after the opponent hits it into your side of the court. Passes attempt to make the ball reach the setter. The passer also tries to prevent the ball from touching the ground. There are overhand and underhand passes (also called "bumps") as well.
- Set -- the "setter" on the team passes the ball to the teammate who will make the offensive move and hit the ball into the opposing team's side of the court. Sometimes the setter hits the ball into the opposing team's court. This is called a "dump".
- Attack or Spike -- Usually the third contact a team makes with a ball. The player jumps and hits the ball, usually very hard, intending to hit it so the other team cannot stop the ball from hitting the ground.
- Block -- Made by players standing near the net, the block tries to stop or alter the ball hit by the opposing team. A defensive block is when a player hits the ball in such a way so it can be handled easily by their team. An offensive block is when a player hits the ball back into the court of the opposing team.
- Dig --Digging is when a player prevents the ball from hitting the ground, particularly when the ball is very close to the ground. This often involves a player needing to throw him or herself to the floor of the court in order to "dig" the ball and hit it back in the air.
Choosing a Good Volleyball
A volleyball's a volleyball, right? Wrong. Volleyballs are designed specifically for playing indoors or outdoors. The main factor has to do with the material that the ball's outer cover is made of. Leather, a great material to play with because of the feel, is only good for use indoors. The reason for this is simple: Leather absorbs water. Any dew, rain, or even intense humidity can wreak havoc on a ball. For the same leather feel, choose synthetic leather for playing outside. It is resistant to water and will hold up to the elements. The only drawback is that it won't feel as good as a leather ball, and it might cause a sting on the arms when bumping the ball. For an indoor alternative to leather, try a cloth covered ball. They are great for practice because of their durability, but they also feel nice and cost less.
Wilson Volleyball
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Wilson
, Spalding
, and Mikasa
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Top indoor balls, as rated by
About.com
, are the
Tachikara SV-5W Gold
, Wilson 6000LE
, Mikasa VFC 200
, Ichiban 5L-ST
, and the Spalding TF4000
.
Official Tournament Size and Weight
For game play, pros and enthusiasts might require a ball with the correct standards in size and weight. Most manufacturers clearly state whether the ball meets those standards or not.
Volleyball Sets
The following are some inexpensive sets that include both a volleyball and the net system, which make setting up a game quick and easy.
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