Volleyball

Volleyball is a team sport played by two teams. Each team has six players. The players stand on opposite sides of a tall net. They use their hands and arms to hit a ball back and forth. The goal is to make the ball land on the other team's floor. Volleyball is played all around the world. People play it at school, at the beach, and in big games like the Olympics.

How the Game is Played

A volleyball game starts with a serve. One player hits the ball over the net to the other team. The other team tries to hit it back. Each team can touch the ball three times before it must go over the net. Players often bump, set, and then spike the ball. A spike is a strong hit that sends the ball down fast. Teams score points when the ball lands on the other team's side. The first team to reach 25 points wins the set.

Where Volleyball Came From

Volleyball was invented in 1895 by a man named William G. Morgan. He lived in the United States. He wanted a sport that was softer than basketball. At first, he called it Mintonette. Later, people changed the name to volleyball. The game grew fast and spread to many countries. Today, beach volleyball is also very popular. It is played on sand with just two players on each team.

Fun Facts

• A volleyball spike can fly faster than 60 miles per hour.
• Beach volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1996.
• The tallest volleyball net is over 7 feet high for men's games.

Did You Know?

More than 800 million people play volleyball around the world at least once a week!