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Beginner Volleyball Tips

Volleyball Basics

Volleyball seems like a relatively simple game to play, and it is, for casual players. However, for competitive team play, there are many rules and basic techniques you need to adhere to. Here are the basics of how to play volleyball:

Volleyball Court

A regulation indoor court should be 9 by 18 meters, and the attack line should be 3 meters from the center line. Outdoor court dimensions should be 9 by 9 meters.

Equipment

The actual volleyball should be between 9 and 10 ounces. Ball pressure should generally be between 4.3 to 4.6 pounds. The net should be 32 feet by 3 feet. At the top of every net should be a 2 inch piece of canvas running along the entire length of the net. The height of the net differs for men's and women's games. For men's volleyball, the height, usually measured from the center of the court, should be 2.43 meters. For women's volleyball, the height should be 2.24 meters.

Apparel

Indoor and court volleyball players can wear either short or long sleeve shirts and shorts made from flexible fabric. Long sleeve shirts are favored for when a lot of sliding on the court for the ball may be needed. This is to protect the forearm while sliding. Padding, including knee, hip and elbow pads are important for players who will be diving, reaching and sliding to reach balls in play. Shoes should offer extra support for the ankles as well as comfort and flexibility. It's important to remove all jewelry during play, with the exception of smooth, flat rings. This lessens the chance of damage or loss of your jewelry and also helps to protect you from injury should your wrist, hand or head be hit with the ball while you are wearing bracelets, rings or earrings.

Volleyball Play Basics

- Hand positions - There are two main hand positions. The wrapped fist hand position is when you make a fist with one hand, then wrap it with the palm of your other hand. The other main hand position is called the cupped palm position, where you bring the hands together in a cup form, then you lay your thumbs across the top.

- Serving - Two basic ways to serve are the overhand and underhand methods. The overhand serve is used most often in competitive volleyball. To serve overhanded, you toss the ball above your head a few feet, step slightly forward and then hit the ball with your hand.

- Passing - Passing is usually done to set up a hit or spike for another player or just to keep the ball in play. Passing is usually done with a forearm pass.

- Setting - A setter is important in volleyball, since a setter can control the offense and decide which players they will set up to spike or hit the ball into the opponents court. Setting is done by placing your hands above your head a few inches with your thumbs underneath. You hit the ball with your fingers only, not your palm.

- Hitting - There are many ways to hit the ball while it is in play. Some types of hits include the cross court shot, the tip shot, the line shot and the spike. The spike is the most exciting play in volleyball, when a player rises up near the net to deliver a hard shot into the opponent's court.

- Blocking - Blocking is when you stay close to the net and leap up when the ball crosses the net to block the opponent's shot, usually a spike attempt.

Those are the basics of volleyball, get out there and have fun!

Lydia Quinn writes for VolleyBallSeek.com, a portal for volleyball scores, players, teams, games and much more. |Visit us at: http://www.volleyballseek.com

Volleyball Steps to Success

Do you want to learn volleyball? Getting expert advice (before you go on the court and while you're practicing) will really improve your game and speed up your learning curve.

Take it from professional volleyball coaches Bonnie Kenny and Cindy Gregory: start by learning proper footwork and posture. Then learn the individual skills of serving, passing setting, attacking, blocking and digging. You can master volleyball fundamentals on your own through their professional step-by-step volleyball instruction using the carefully-selected drills and illustrations.

What to Get: Volleyball Gear

• Volleyball Sets
  If you need an outdoor volleyball system which includes net, poles and boundary line, you can find a variety of volleyball sets on sale. Some special features to look for: adjustable aluminum poles offering a choice of playing heights and pre-measured boundary line. Some sets include a convenient carrying bag.
• Volleyballs
  There are two type of volleyballs - indoor and outdoor. Leather is preferred for indoor balls, and synthetic is a good choice if you are playing outdoors near water. Wilson and Spalding offer quality outdoor volleyballs. With indoor volleyballs, as the price increases, the ball becomes softer and easier to play with. However, some players prefer a hard volleyball, while some prefer a softer ball.
• Volleyball Nets
  You can buy volleyball nets with or without poles. Some ship for free. Indoor Volleyball Nets | Outdoor Volleyball Nets
• Volleyball Knee Pads
• Volleyball Shoes
  Look for shoes that have a cushioning system to protect you from hard landings and for high-quality rubber traction for indoor court surfaces. Some high-performance vollyball shoes have open-mesh construction for breathability and special cushioning components for help in jumping and better lateral control. See more >> Men's Volleyball Shoes | Women's Volleyball Shoes

Where to Play: Volleyball Camps & Vacations

• Volleyball Camps
  Find a volleyball clinic or camp in your area simply by clicking on the map.
• Volleyball Vacations
  This "Volleyball-Vacation-Party" is geared more toward intermediate players who want to improve their skills. Lots of fun and lots of volleyball.

Who to Play Volleyball With:

• Find People to Play Volleyball With
  Find people in your area who are interested in playing volleyball, and make new friends who enjoy spending time on the court as much as you do.
• Volleyball Groups
  Find a group of beginner and experienced volleyball enthusiasts near you (worldwide) through a free online service called Meetup.com. Of course, you can't play volleyball alone, so this program is a great, virtually effortless way to meet people who enjoy playing volleyball.

Volleyball  Articles

• How to Build a Sand Volleyball Court
  Get procedures and dimensions for building your own volleyball court, including tips on climate and direction issues and the best building tools to use.
• Official Volleyball Rules
  Here are the official rulebooks for both indoor and outdoor volleyball from USA Volleyball. Includes hand signals, diagrams and scorekeeping instructions.
• Volleyball Drills
  Want to improve your game? Here are warm up & stretching techniques, plus strength-building, agility and cone volleyball drills you can use.
• How to Increase Your Speed, Strength and Agility
  Strength training can do more for your game than you may think. And you don't even have to have access to weights to do effective strength training for volleyball. Follow the easy tips on this website. Great visual demonstrations.