VoLLEYBALL AND ITS GREATEST PLAYERS 7 4 feet for women Further adjustments in net height can be made for young people and others who need a lower net A vertical tape marker is attached to the net directly above each side boundary line of the court and to help game officials judge whether served or volleyed balls are in or out of bounds a flex ible antenna extends I meter 3 feet above the net along the outer edge of each vertical tape marker The ball used is around 260 to 280 grams 9 to 10 ounces and is inflated to about 65 cm 25 6 inches in circumference A ball must pass over the net entirely between the antennae A service area tra ditionally 3 meters 10 feet long is marked outside and behind the right one third of each court end line At the 1996 Olympic Games the service area was extended to 9 meters 30 feet The service must be made from within or behind this area A space at least 2 meters 6 feet wide around the entire court is needed to permit freedom of action eliminate hazards from obstructions and allow space for net support posts and the officials stands A clear area above the court at least 8 meters 26 feet high is required to permit the ball to be served or received and played without interference I2
RULES OF THE GAME Beach volleyball is usually played as its name implies on a sand court with two players per team The court dimensions for beach volleyball are 8 meters 26 feet by 16 meters 52 feet making it slightly smaller than the court space used in indoor volleyball Also unlike on the indoor vol leyball court in beach volleyball the court has no attack line designated 3 meters A beach volleyball court has many of the features found on an indoor court However a beach court is smaller and has no attack line near the net Matej Divizna Getty Images 13
VoLLEYBALL AND ITS GREATEST PLAYERS an area 91716 10 feet from the net The net for A TOYMT height in beach volleyball remains the same as on the indoor court PLAYING THE GAME Informally any number can play vol led leyball In competition each team consists of six players three of whom take the forward positions in a row close to and facing the net the other three playing the back court An exception to this rotation is the libero a position introduced at the 2000 Olympics Serves are made underhand or overhand with an open hand or fist Play is started when the right back the person on the right of the second row of the serving team steps outside his end line into the serving area and bats the ball with a hand fist or arm over the net into the opponents half of the court The opponents receive the ball and return it across the net in a series of not more than three contacts with the ball This must be done without any player catching or hold ing the ball while it is in play and without 14
RULES OF THE GAME During a game a team usually has six players on the court three in the front and three in the rear Ververidis Vasilis Shutterstock com any player touching the net or entering the opponents court area The ball must not touch the floor and a player may not 15
