Volleyball Study Guide
Volleyball Terms:
(5th– 8th grades)
Bump – A forearm pass used for low balls.
Double Hit – A player hits the ball two times in a row or with two separate fists.
Foot Fault – Server steps on or over the service line during his or her serve.
Game Point – The last point in a game.
Illegal Hit – The ball comes to rest on any part of the body.
Match – A team winning 2 out of 3 games.
Out of Bounds – When a ball touches outside of a boundary line. If the ball touches the boundary line it is good.
Point – Scored by the opponent each time a team commits a fault. If the team wins
the rally, it scores a point and continues to serve. If the receiving team
wins the rally, it scores a point and gains the serve.
Rotation – The shifting of players before a new person serves. A six player (2 rows of 3 players) rotation shifts clockwise one position. A nine player (3 rows of 3 players) rotation shifts in a figure eight pattern.
Side-out – When the serving team fails to return a hit, or breaks a rule; the receiving team gets the ball to serve.
(7th and 8th grades only)
Block – Defense used on a spike.
Dig – A pass make with the fist of one hand, usually on a difficult play or from a low
position.
Set – A technique used to put the ball into position for a player to spike.
Spike – A hard hit directing the ball downward into the opponent’s court.
Basic Volleyball Information:
- A game is complete when a team has scored 25 points and has a 2 point lead.
- A serve is used to begin the game by the player in the right back position.
- One point is scored each time a team fails to return the ball legally.
- The underhand serve is the easiest serve to learn.
- When returning the ball to the opponents on a point or side-out, the ball should
be rolled under the net to the appropriate player.
- Playing the ball:
- The ball must be hit clearly.
- The ball may not be hit underhand with open palms.
- The ball may not be played twice in a row by the same player.
- Basic rules:
- Each team is allowed 3 hits to get the ball over the net.
- A ball touching the net and going over is good and should be played.
- A player may not touch the net or the other side of the court under the net
during play.
Team Strategy:
-Use the 3 hits your team is allowed. Bump, set, spike whenever possible.
-Always back up your teammates.
-“Call” for the ball.
-Play your position, not everyone else’s
-For better control, use a forearm pass or bump whenever possible, especially on a serve receive.
Six player rotation:Nine player rotation:
net net
################## ###################
X ------ X ------ X X ------ X ------ X
______
X ------X ------X
X ------X ------X X ------ X ------ X
______