Volleyball
A soft, inflated ball struck with the hands and arms in volleyball.
Overview
A volleyball is a round, inflated ball with a soft panelled cover, lighter and softer to the touch than many other sports balls so it can be struck cleanly with the hands, forearms and fists.
Its low weight and soft surface suit the passing, setting and spiking of the game, and a beach version is built to handle outdoor conditions.
Good to know
- Softer and lighter than a football or basketball.
- Struck with hands, forearms and fists rather than kicked.
- Beach volleyball uses a slightly different outdoor ball.
Where it’s used
Sports that use volleyball:
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How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Volleyball in the wider knowledge graph — each one with the reason it exists.
Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- Volleyball courtBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- Sports hallBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- Hard courtBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- WoodBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- SandBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Volleyball to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Facilities
- Volleyball courtA rectangular court split by a high net over which two teams rally the ball, played indoors or on sand.
- Sports hallA large indoor hall with multi-sport line markings, used for court sports like basketball, volleyball and badminton.
- Ice rinkA sheet of prepared ice, usually rink-boarded with rounded corners, used for skating and ice sports.
- Padel courtAn enclosed court, much smaller than a tennis court, walled with glass and mesh so the ball can be played off the walls.
- GymAn indoor facility equipped with free weights, machines and cardio equipment for strength training and general fitness.
Playing surfaces
- Hard courtA rigid acrylic, concrete or asphalt court that gives a true, consistent, medium-paced bounce — the standard multi-use outdoor surface.
- WoodAn indoor sprung timber or parquet floor — grippy, consistent and lightly cushioned; the classic surface for indoor court sports.
- SandLoose beach sand: a soft, shifting, energy-sapping surface with no true bounce that rewards balance and footwork, used for beach sports and conditioning.
- ClayA soft, granular racquet-sport surface of crushed brick, stone or shale that slows the ball, gives a high bounce and lets players slide into shots.
Techniques
- Volleyball SpikeA powerful attacking hit that drives the ball sharply downward over the net into the opponent's court, usually after an approach and jump.
- Volleyball DigA defensive contact that keeps a hard-driven ball in play by passing it up off the forearms, usually from a low position.
- Volleyball SetAn overhead pass using the fingertips of both hands to place the ball accurately for a teammate to attack.
- One-Handed BackhandA backhand groundstroke struck with a single hand on the grip, driving through the ball with a full extension of the hitting arm.
- Jump ShotA basketball shot released at the top of a vertical jump, letting the shooter get the ball over a defender with a soft, arcing release.
Beginner guides
- Your First Volleyball Session: What to ExpectA warm, honest guide to what actually happens at your first volleyball session, so you can turn up relaxed, join in, and enjoy the rallies rather than worry about getting everything right.
- Your first basketball sessionA first basketball session is a friendly, fast-moving introduction to handling the ball, moving your feet and sharing simple play with others — no experience or prior skill needed.
Rules
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- TravelingA basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
- GoaltendingA basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.
- Foot faultA serving fault called when the server's foot touches the baseline or court before striking the ball.
- Ball-handling faultsVolleyball faults for catching, carrying or double-contacting the ball rather than cleanly hitting it.
Go deeper with Volleyball
Everywhere else on the platform that covers Volleyball — assembled from what actually references it, so nothing here is a dead end.
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Structured courses and paths on the platform that cover this directly.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Equipment
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-07-09
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