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A volleyball match requires two teams that have 6 players on court. To start a point, one team will serve over the net from the back of their court. Then each team has 3 touches (4 if the ball touches the block on the way over the net) to keep the ball off the ground and back over to the other side. A point is scored when the ball touches the floor in bounds or a violation is comitted (hitting 'out', hitting the net antennae, 4 touches before return the ball, etc.) A typical set consists of 25 points, with a game having 3-5 sets. If there is a 5th set, it is only 15 points. There are many more rules, but this is the basic premise! 

There are many opinions on technique, strategy, etc. - experiment for yourself and take all advice on board from wherever it comes. Links to further information will be attached throughout.

Basic Rules - Fédération Internationale de Volleyball

Basic Volleyball Rules and Termes - The Art of Coaching

Volleyball 101 - Norwich Spikers

Without the serve, a game cannot begin! A serve is a one-handed contact with the ball from behind the baseline that sends the ball over the net and onto your opponent's side.

It's recommended for beginners to underarm serve in order to focus on other core skills and protect their arm from injury (from improper overhead hitting technique).

Underhand Serve - Gold Crown Foundation (you may find more success with a stiff open hand, palm contact)

How to Serve a Volleyball - The Honourable Coach Donny

The first contact after your opponent serves at your team can be labelled as "receiving" - this could be an overhead volley or a dig (pictured).

We're aiming to keep the ball off the ground, with some height and towards our setter (who has the second contact in an ideal situation).

Digging involves us being in our 'ready position', moving to where the ball will go and using our 'platform' (how we hold our arms) to pass the ball. For more comprehensive tips:

Volleyball 101 - Norwich Spikers

Passing Techniques with John Speraw - Gold Medal Winning USA Coach

A volley is when we contact the ball with two hands at head height and above - the same action can be labelled a 'set' if it sets up our teammate to attack the ball. 

A setter is a designated position in volleyball, and they usually have the second contact if someone can successfully pass/dig the ball to them.

Setting involves getting your feet to the ball, positioning our reaxed hands above our head with thumbs and index fingers forming a triangle and cushioning the ball down before pushing through to propel the ball up. 

Volleyball 101 - Norwich Spikers

How to become a better setter - Team USA

Setting Fundamentals - The Rt. Honourable Coach Donny

Attacking in volleyball is ultimately any attempt to score a point as you get the ball over the net - it could be a spike (with its numerous variations) or a volley over the net.

Spiking is one of the more complex techniques in volleyball as it requires bringing a lot of skills together to execute it correctly - spike approach/footwork in different situations, timing a high contact point, vertical jump height, armswing mechanics, types of shots and more. 

Break it down and focus on each consitutent element, don't beat yourself up over the end result as you start - instead, pay attention to each new element you're improving on and keep refreshing your memory of all the fundamental skills. 

How to Spike a Volleyball - WikiHow

4 Step Process to Developing a Good Arm Swing - Pat Powers (two-time Olympic gold medalist)

Jump Technique - Isaiah Rivera

Another factor that can make attacking more difficult is being face with a block. Only three players can jump within the front section of the court at any given time, so that is the maximum number of blockers you may face at a high level.

Blocking is the action of jumping with your hands stretched vertically above your head in an attempt to stop the ball coming over to your side, this may result in the ball landing back on the ground of the attacker's side, known as a 'kill block'.

If the ball touches your team's block but still travels over to your side, it does not count as one of your official three touches, so you may effectively touch the ball four times before returning it over the net.

As you become more experienced in volleyball, you will learn that blocking is more than just contacting the ball or 'kill blocks', but 'taking away' areas of the court from the attacker and trying to force them to hit towards your well-positioned defensive teammates ('block shadow', 'funnelling')

Masterclass, How to Block in Volleyball - David Lee (USA Gold Medallist)

Not only is watching professional an exhilarating spectable, but you can use it to improve your own game too!

Anticipating, reading (your opponent) and acting off these ‘reads’ are vital components of volleyball that come with experience. Actively thinking about it during your own matches and whilst watching pro volleyball will definitely be beneficial, as well as learning from the pros technique, movement, actions in certain situations, etc.

Find some volleyball live on VBTV, CBC and more.

Match Replays:

Olympics

Volleyball Nations League

Great matches:

Imoco Volley vs Vakifbank Istanbul (women's)

Poland vs USA (men's)

Brazil vs Japan (men's)

Zones help us quickly communicate areas of the court in games and training. When playing a rotation:

• • A setter typically moves to zone 2 during a rally

  • The outside hitter (front court) moves to zone 4

  • The middle blocker (front court) moves to zone 3

  • An opposite (front court) moves to zone 2 for most rotations

  • A middle blocker (back court) or libero will typically defend zone 5

  • A outside hitter (back court) will typically defend and hit from zone 6

  • A setter/opposite (back court) will defend zone 1

Each time your team 'wins serve', meaning you won a point when the rally started with the other team serving, each player on your team moves around one zone clockwise. The player who is now in zone one serves for your team. This is called rotating.

When you first start playing, it is likely that you will stay in your zone throughout the rally and experience what it's like playing in each zone. As you gain experience, teams start using formations to utilise each player's skill set by assigning each player a specific position and role.

The most common professional rotation is a 5-1, the second number connotes the number of designated setters. 

Learning the 5-1 Formation, with Diagrams

Volleyball 101 - Norwich Spikers