VOLLEYBALL: BASIC FUNDAMENTALS AND TECHNIQUES - ARTE - 2025

The volleyball, volleyball or volleyball is a word that comes from the English word and volleyball is a sport that involves a confrontation between two teams made up of 6 players, arranged in a court and separated by a net. The aim is for the ball to touch the ground on the opposite side, in order to get points.

The main objective of the game is for the ball to pass over the net to the side of the opposing team. These passes are made mainly with the hands and arms, although other parts of the body are accepted according to the rules established during the match.

Strokes must be clean and dry, avoiding holding or grabbing the ball for a specified amount of time. After the service, each team can only make three hits, and each player can make only two (not in a row). One aspect to highlight corresponds to the basic and technical foundations of this sport, which are volley, serve, attack and blocking.

It is estimated that the origin of the sport was in 1865 by the American William G. Morgan, who headed the Department of Physical Education of the YMCA. Since then it has become one of the most popular disciplines in the United States and the world, thanks to being a complete sport suitable for all audiences.

At present volleyball has a series of widely practiced varieties, such as beach volleyball or beach volleyball, with teams made up of two players; mini-volleyball, a game with a lower net and shorter court; sitting volleyball, practiced by people with disabilities; and the ecuavoley, a version played in Ecuador and Colombia.

In view of the different modalities, a certain series of variations will be presented in terms of court measurements, number of players and, in certain cases, number of sets per match.

History

According to historical records, volleyball was created in 1895 by William George Morgan, coach and director of the Physical Education Department of the Youth Christian Association (popularly known as the YMCA), with the aim of creating an alternative to relieve stress.

Volleyball emerged as a choice between basketball and tennis. The creation of this sport also sought to promote physical activity in different age groups.

Chronology of the origin of volleyball

-In light of the exercise and physical education programs, Morgan looked for a sport that combined entertainment and competition. For this she was based on the principle of tennis, but dispensing with rackets.

-Subsequently, the first parameters of the game were made: the net had to rise from the ground until it was located just at the height of the players' heads.

-Later, Morgan established the first rules regarding the measurements of the court (25 feet x 50 feet), the number of players and the number of times it was possible to have contact with the ball. She also defined the serve opportunities in case there was a wrong one, such as in tennis.

-This sport was initially called Mintonett, although later it changed its name to volleyball. In fact, the dynamics of the ball being in the air, without touching the ground, is called volleyball in English.

-In 1896 Morgan presented the idea to the YMCA committee, and it was later approved and implemented in the different headquarters of the organization.

Other events

It wasn't long before volleyball became a popular sport in the early 20th century:

-It became the favorite sport among Americans during the First World War.

-In 1912 the measurements of the court were modified, as well as the size that the ball should have; The number of participants was defined -which later varied in the middle of the century- and the rotation of the players at the time of serving.

-Four years later the YMCA requested the publication of the rules and regulations for dissemination to the general public.

-The touches to be made by the teams and by each player, as well as the victory of one team over another through a two-point advantage in the set, were guidelines that were established in 1922.

-In the 1922 Olympic Games, volleyball was part of the activities, but as an exhibition sport.

-In 1947 the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) was formed, in order to give this discipline an established sport status. Similarly, new rules proposed by teams made up in Europe were included.

-Volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1964, and its beach variant was in 1986.

-At the beginning of the 21st century, the use of any part of the body was allowed to save the ball.

-In the course of time, variants of the game emerged around the world, such as beach volleyball, sitting volleyball, cachibol (played by the elderly), ecuavolley and futvolley, which allows the use of the feet and whose tendency is more informal.

Basic positions

Regardless of the position, the player must comply with a series of positions that will allow him to participate in the most suitable way. Some of the aspects to take into account are:

-Look forward.

-The trunk should be slightly tilted back.

-The legs must remain semi-flexed.

-One foot should be slightly forward than the other.

-Arms equally flexed and placed at the height of the trunk.

According to offensive or defensive status

As experts indicate, there are other positions that will depend on the state (offensive or defensive) that you play during the game:

high

It is considered a relaxed position because it indicates that you are not waiting for the ball.

Half

It is the most used, since it is convenient to wait for the ball or to be in contact with it. In addition, it lends itself to preparing a play, be it a serve or a pass.

Low

It is a deep stance that is used in order to touch the ball or seek it in favor of the defense on the side of the court.

Players positions

There are other positions that refer to the preparation of the team on the court. According to the rules, the six people belonging to each team will be distributed in each position:

Position 1

Looking towards the network but in the furthest part of it.

Position 2

It is before the previous one, forming the line of attack.

Position 3

Located in the center, also for defensive or attacking purposes.

Position 4

Close the line of defense.

Positions 5 and 6

They are the rearguard of the team.

It is worth mentioning that the players do not remain fixed in their positions, since they are rotated each time the team is responsible for serving. This was introduced in 1923, with the intention of familiarizing all participants with the rules of the game.

Rotations

Rotation corresponds to the strategy established by the team to strengthen its defense and offense. Currently it is a fundamental element during the meetings.

After each team is presented with the opportunity to rotate, each member will be able to move freely according to the rules of the game. This also causes the overall performance to vary over the course of the set.

Although all players are subject to rotation, this is not the case with the Libero. The libero is a recent figure in volleyball, whose role is defensive in nature and is capable of substituting any member of the team, generally the attackers.

Volley

The volley corresponds to one of the fundamental movements in volleyball, thanks to the alternatives it offers during the game. At this point it should be noted that the volley to assist another play is known as a pass.

There are two types of volley:

High Ball Volley

It is generally used to deceive the opposing team and to prepare another play of a defensive nature. It is said that it "cheats" because the ball is directed to a point where there is not much defensive presence of the opposing team.

The player places his hands on the head, with the arms slightly bent, so that the ball touches the tips of the fingers.

Low Ball Volley

It is a posture used to receive the ball, especially when the opposing team has made an attack move.

The player must stand with the legs semi-bent (or bent according to the speed of the ball), with the forearms together from the elbows and with one hand hugging the other. The player must be leaning forward.

Displacement

As noted above, players take their position and can then move freely, according to established rules.

It is estimated that there are two types of displacement: a short one, which covers up to two meters; and another long, which exceeds two meters. In both cases, the displacement will depend on the movement of the ball on each court.

The success of a good movement on the court will depend on the following:

-Sense of anticipation.

-Quickness to move in various directions (forward-backward or left-right).

-Fast in the combination of turns and falls.

-Agility in the change of direction.

Types of serves

The serve corresponds to an attack technique, whose movement is made behind the baseline by hitting the ball to take it to the opposite court.

There are several types of serve:

Tennis serve

The player holds and raises the ball above his head with one of his hands, then hits it with the greatest possible force. This jump will be accompanied by a few steps forward to provide more momentum.

Floating serve

The intention of this type of service is to make it difficult for the opposing team to receive it. The player throws the ball into the air, while placing his other arm flexed back, at shoulder height. Once the ball is in the air, the player strikes it hard forward using his other arm.

Kick off

In this case, the player jumps while the ball is in the air, to then print force with the executing arm with an explosive and forceful movement.

It is worth mentioning that this movement was introduced in the 90s and has become popular with men's team services. Some experts consider it as a type of serve similar to tennis, but with a tendency to spike due to the level of difficulty it presents.

Passes

As noted above, the volley that seeks to assist a play is called a pass. The most important passes are the following:

Volley or touch with the fingertips

It is used to have better control of the ball. The player stands with the legs semi-bent and the hands in front; the direction will depend on the strategy you want to propose. This movement can be backwards, forwards or laterally.

Reception

Also called low ball volley, it seeks to receive the ball from the opposite court so that the team can handle it. That is why the attention and speed of the rest of the teammates is vital when assisting the play.

Placement

It consists of preparing the ball for the attacker or the spiker. Usually this move is performed by the setter in order to distribute the ball to the rest of his teammates. In addition, he must remain close to the net and with a relaxed and alert posture, in case the movement is not successful.

Goal attempts

The auction is an attack movement that is usually the last touch that corresponds to the team. It is used so that the ball falls on the opposite court, seeking that it cannot be saved.

Likewise, the shot can be done with a fast and violent movement, or rather a deception type, which seeks to confuse the attackers of the opposing team to, in the end, manipulate the ball in a gentle way.

There are several types of shots, depending on the area of ​​the court and the position of the players:

-Back to back.

-Finish by 4.

-Finish by 2.

-Central auction.

Locks

It consists of a defensive action to prevent the ball from falling on the court itself. In 1938 Czech teams institutionalized the neutralization of the opposing team's plays by placing two or three players together in front of the net, and in 1964 the extension of the hands and arms was allowed to block the ball.

The types of blocks will depend on the number of players that are part of it, although it is generally double (with two participants).

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