Heather E. Schwartz - Top Volleyball Tips

Your body is tense as you watch the opposing team and wait for the serve. Smack! The ball sails over the net to the player next to you. She sets it up, and then its your turn. Your fingertips push the ball up into the air. It comes down in perfect position for the middle hitter in the front row. She jumps up and attacks the ball with the palm of her hand. The ball hits the floor before your opponents can return it. Your team scores!

Want a sport thats as exciting as it is challenging? Vollyball pushes players to reach their full athletic potential. Players work with others and trust their teammates while they develop as individual athletes. Volleyball players who devote extra time and energy to their sport can rise through the ranks to compete at higher levels.

Volleyball teams have six players on the court at a time. Each player has a specific position and job during the game. Positions include right side hitter, middle hitter, setter, libero, and outside hitter.

Right Side Hitter: The right side hitter's designated position is the front right side of the court.

Middle Hitter: The middle hitter plays in the center of the front row. She hits at the net and blocks opponents hits at the net.

Setter: The setter runs offense by calling out plays. She hits the ball second and either sets it up to the hitter or tips it over the net. She may be in a front or back row corner.

Libero: The libero plays defense from the back row. She returns serves and passes the ball.

Outside Hitter: The outside hitter plays on the front left side of the court. She passes the ball and plays both offense and defense. There are usually two outside hitters on the court during play. The play opposite from the other.

At the beginning of the game, the setter is in spot 1. Spot 2 is an outside hitter. A middle hitter is in spot 3. Spot 4 is a right side hitter. Spot 5 is another outside hitter. Spot 6 is another middle hitter or libero.

During the game, the players must rotate spots clockwise. Once the ball is in play, they can move around the court freely and move to their designated positions. However, if a player starts in a back row spot, she is not allowed to attack the ball in front of the attack line.

Volleyball is a team sport. Usually, school volleyball teams play in the fall. Volleyball players also have the choice of playing for club or local . In tryouts, coaches find the right team for each player.

Tip Hustle up! Impress potential coaches at tryouts by running to and from stations, drills, and water breaks. This shows the coach that you're a serious player who is ready to learn.

Volleyball players are super focused and always on their game. They cant look away or let their mind wander. When the ball is in motion, they have less than a second to react and win or lose the point.

One team the ball on their third touch. This makes it difficult for their opponents to send it back.

Each team out of five. The first four are scored up to 25 points. The fifth set is scored up to 15 points. Play continues, however, until one team wins by two points.

Volleyball started out as a sport in 1895. William G. Morgan invented it. Morgan was a physical education director at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He called his new game Mintonette.

The game was originally meant for leisure. But it became more competitive over time. In 1949 the first World Championships in volleyball were held in Czechoslovakia.

Volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1964. Beach volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1996.

When a player serves the ball, she stands at the back of the court and behind the end line. Whether serving underhand or overhand, she has to hit the ball hard enough to send it over the net to land inbounds. Serving requires power and accuracy.

If you are right-handed, start by learning to serve underhand. Hold the ball in your left hand. Step forward with your left foot. If you are left-handed, start with the ball in your right hand and step with your right foot. While stepping forward, swing your other arm toward the ball. The faster you swing your arm, the more power the serve has. Keep your arm straight and hit the ball with the end of your palm and start of your wrist. The direction the ball goes depends on where you hit the ball.

When youre comfortable, work on your overhand serve. If you're right-handed, stand with your left foot forward and your right foot back. Hold the ball in front of you in your left hand. Toss it straight up about 2 feet (0.6 meters) into the air. At the same time, pull your right arm back by your ear. Bring it forward to hit the ball with your palm. Switch if you're left-handed. Practice hitting the ball at the right height. If you hit the ball too low, it wont go over the net. But if you hit the ball too high, it could sail out of bounds.

Tip You lose the serve and the point if you step on the end line when serving. Stand far behind the line. That way, you wont be focused on stopping yourself as you move forward.

Volleyball players may have excellent individual skills. But they also need to work as part of a team. Effective teamwork requires good communication skills. Without them, teammates risk colliding if two or more players go for the ball at the same time. They also risk giving a point to the other team. The ball will hit the ground if everyone assumes someone else is going to get it. Volleyball players do communication drills to make sure they understand one another during games.