VOLLEYBALL INFORMATION SYSTEM (VIS)

FIVB’s VIS is used to calculate points scored for individual skills of volleyball players. The players who win seven different categories for particular skills are rewarded with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title at the end of a tournament. This system is used to identify top players in all FIVB events. Click here to see an example of VIS-based calculations (from FIVB Men's World Championship 2010) Top Scorers Top Spikers The player who scores the most points in the tournament. Players can score with spike, block and serve. Calculated by the number of points minus the number of faults divided by the total number of attempts. Spike: A scoring attack Block: A point directly made by a block Serve: A service ace Spikes: Number of scoring attacks. Faults: Number of attacking errors. The opponent scores directly. Shots: An attack that is spiked to the opponent’ side of the net, but is successfully “dug” by the opponent. The rally continues. Total Attempts: The total number of attacks. Top Blockers Top Servers The player with the most kill blocks on average per sets played by the team. The player with the most aces on average per sets played by the team. Kill Blocks: Number of direct points by the block. Faults: Number of mistakes in block that results in the opponent scoring. Rebounds: When the blocker touches the ball, but the ball remains in play. The rally continues. Total attempts: Total number of blocks. Aces: The number of points directly scored by the service. Faults: Number of service mistakes. Serve Hits: Number of services played when the rally continues. Total attempts: Total number of serves. Top Diggers Top Setters The player with the most digs on average per sets played by the team - a dig is an action to defend the spike of the opponent. The player with the most running sets on average per sets played by the team. Digs: Number of outstanding digs. Faults: Number of digging mistakes. Reception: Number of touched balls in digging while the rally continues. Total attempts: Total number of digs made. Excellent: Number of excellent sets. Faults: Number of mistakes in setting. The opponent scores directly. Still sets: Number of sets that are not excellent and not faults. Total attempts: Total number of sets made. Top Receivers The number of excellent receptions minus the number of faults divided by the total number of attempts.   Excellent: Number of excellent receptions. Faults: Number of reception errors. Serve receptions: Number of receptions that are not excellent and not faults. Total attempts: Total number of receptions made.

In 1995, the sport of Volleyball was 100 years old!

The sport originated in the United States, and is now just achieving the type of popularity in the U.S. that it has received on a global basis, where it ranks behind only soccer among participation sports.

Today there are more than 46 million Americans who play volleyball.

There are 800 million players worldwide who play Volleyball at least once a week.

1895, William G. Morgan, an instructor at the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke, Mass., decided to blend elements of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball to create a game for his classes of businessmen which would demand less physical contact than basketball. He created the game of Volleyball (at that time called mintonette). Morgan borrowed the net from tennis, and raised it 6 feet 6 inches above the floor, just above the average man's head.
During a demonstration game, someone remarked to Morgan that the players seemed to be volleying the ball back and forth over the net, and perhaps "volleyball" would be a more descriptive name for the sport.

1896, July 7th -  at Springfield College the first game of "volleyball" was played.

1900, a special ball was designed for the sport.

1900 - YMCA spread volleyball to Canada, the Orient, and the Southern Hemisphere.

1905 - YMCA spread volleyball to Cuba

1907 Volleyball was presented at the Playground of America convention as one of the most popular sports

1909 - YMCA spread volleyball to Puerto Rico

1912 - YMCA spread volleyball to Uruguay

1913 - Volleyball competition held in Far Eastern Games

1916, in the Philippines, an offensive style of passing the ball in a high trajectory to be struck by another player (the set and spike) were introduced. The Filipinos developed the "bomba" or kill, and called the hitter a "bomberino".

1916 - The NCAA was invited by the YMCA to aid in editing the rules and in promoting the sport. Volleyball was added to school and college physical education and intramural programs.

1917 - YMCA spread volleyball to Brazil

1917, the game was changed from 21 to 15 points.

1919 American Expeditionary Forces distributed 16,000 volleyballs to it's troops and allies. This provided a stimulus for the growth of volleyball in foreign lands.

1920, three hits per side and back row attack rules were instituted.

1922, the first YMCA national championships were held in Brooklyn, NY. 27 teams from 11 states were represented.

1928, it became clear that tournaments and rules were needed, the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA, now USA Volleyball) was formed. The first U.S. Open was staged, as the field was open to non-YMCA squads.

1930's Recreational sports programs became an important part of American life

1930, the first two-man beach game was played.

1934, the approval and recognition of national volleyball referees.

1937, at the AAU convention in Boston, action was taken to recognize the U.S. Volleyball Association as the official national governing body in the U.S.

Late 1940s Forearm pass introduced to the game (as a desperation play).  Most balls were played with overhand pass.

1946 A study of recreation in the United States showed that volleyball ranked fifth among team sports being promoted and organized

1947, the Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball (FIVB) was founded in Paris.

1948, the first two-man beach tournament was held.

1949, the first World Championships were held in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

1949 USVBA added a collegiate division, for competitive college teams. For the first ten years collegiate competition was sparse. Teams formed only through the efforts of interested students and instructors. Many teams dissolved when the interested individuals left the college. Competitive teams were scattered, with no collegiate governing bodies providing leadership in the sport.

1951 - Volleyball was played by over 50 million people each year in over 60 countries

1955 - Pan American Games included volleyball

1957 - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) designated volleyball as an Olympic team sport, to be included in the 1964 Olympic Games.

1959 - International University Sports Federation (FISU) held the first University Games in Turin, Italy. Volleyball was one of the eight competitions held.

1960 Seven midwestern institutions formed the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA)

1964 Southern California Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (SCVIA) was formed in California

1960's new techniques added to the game included - the soft spike (dink), forearm pass (bump), blocking across the net, and defensive diving and rolling.

In 1964, Volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The Japanese volleyball used in the 1964 Olympics, consisted of a rubber carcass with leather panelling. A similarly constructed ball is used in most modern competition.

In 1965, the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) was formed.

1968 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) made volleyball their fifteenth competitive sport.

1969 The Executive Committee of the NCAA proposed addition of volleyball to its program.

1974, the World Championships in Mexico were telecast in Japan.

1975, the US National Women's team began a year-round training regime in Pasadena, Texas (moved to Colorado Springs in 1979, Coto de Caza and Fountain Valley, CA in 1980, and San Diego, CA in 1985).

1977, the US National Men's team began a year-round training regime in Dayton, Ohio (moved to San Diego, CA in 1981).

1983, the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was formed.

1984, the US won their first medals at the Olympics in Los Angeles. The Men won the Gold, and the Women the Silver.

1986, the Women's Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was formed.

1987, the FIVB added a Beach Volleyball World Championship Series.

1988, the US Men repeated the Gold in the Olympics in Korea.

1989, the FIVB Sports Aid Program was created.

1990, the World League was created.

1992, the Four Person Pro Beach League was started in the United States.

1994, Volleyball World Wide, the first internet site on the sport of volleyball, was created.

1995, the sport of Volleyball was 100 years old!

1996, 2-person beach volleyball was added to the Olympics

SPORTS Injuries

Common Volleyball Injuries

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

The rotator cuff muscles control rotation of the shoulder. They consist of the infraspinatus, teres minor and supraspinatus muscles.These muscles are put under a great deal of strain especially in sports where your arm is above your head a lot. A sudden sharp pain in the shoulder would indicate a possible rupture of a tendon, while a gradual onset is more likely to be inflammation .... more info

Suprascapular Neuropathy

This is a condition found in Volleyball players and other 'overhead sports' where the nerve that runs along the top of the shoulder blade becomes compressed. It is thought to be caused by the "floater serve" where the player must stop the overhead follow through immediately after striking the ball.

Hand Injuries

Hand injuries are common when attempting to block a a spiked ball. Sprains and strains are most common, followed by fractures and contusions and dislocations with the thumb and little finger being most at risk. The metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb is the most commonly injured ligament in the hand (known as a thumb sprain) along with finger sprains.

Patella Tendinitis (Jumpers Knee)

A common overuse injury resulting in pain on just below the bottom of the kneecap or patella. The patella tendon (or ligament as it is sometimes called) connects the kneecap to tibia bone. Under extreme stresses such as those involved in jumping a partial rupture can occur. This can often lead to inflammation and degeneration of the tissue. Symptoms include pain when pressing in at the bottom of the patella, aching and stiffness after training and pain when you contract the quadriceps muscles or jumping..... more info

Ankle Sprain

The most common type of ankle injury is a sprain. A sprain is stretching and tearing of ligaments. (You sprain a ligament and strain a muscle). The most common damage done in ankle sprain is to the talo-fibula ligament. If the injury is worse you might also damage the calcanao-fibula ligament. In addition to the ligament damage you could well have damaged tendons as well..... more info

Back Injuries

Back injuries account for up to 14% of all Volleyball Injuries. The back is placed under a huge amount of strain when jumping, bending backwards and twisting. Back injuries can be complex in nature and require the attention of expert and experienced therapists.

Other Common Injuries

Shin Splints
Groin Strain
Hamstring Strain
Calf Strain
Plantar Fasciitis
Click Here to visit the official site of Volleyball Related Injuries

Build A Sand Volleyball Court

Net Height : Net height is 7' 11 5/8" for men and 7' 4 1/8" for women. Co-ed competition is played on a men's height net. The official height measurement is made in the center of the net. The height of the net at the sidelines can be no more than 3/4" higher than the official height. If you're playing on sand, the measurements are made with the sand raked level, and no accommodation is made for your feet sinking in the sand. If you're playing on grass, the measurements are made to the ground, and not the top of the grass. The Site: The dimensions of a volleyball court are 29'-6" wide by 59'-0" long, measured from the outside edges of the boundary lines. In addition, you should have 10' (more is even better) clear around the boundaries. The result is a complete playing area of 49'-6" wide by 79'-0" long. 

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Court Dimensions The pole may need to be longer in the northern climates. In northern climates footing should be located below the frost line. Locating the footing of the pole below the frost line will prevent "frost heave" of the footing. Check with the local building code for the frost depth.

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When planning the layout pay special attention to the direction of the court. The court should run lengthwise North/South. If the court runs East/West, the court will be virtually unusable in the early morning say, for the start of a tournament and early evenings, such as playing after work. In the morning, the team on the West side of the court stares at the morning sun and in the evening, the team occupying the East court is blinded. The area above the playing surface should be clear and free of all obstructions such as tree branches and power lines. To keep the sand in the court, where it belongs, and grass and dirt out, there are several schools of thought. The most popular solution is to line the perimeter with railroad ties. The railroad ties establish a very durable boundary, keep the sand in its place, and holds back the encroaching grass. On the downside, they pose a serious safety hazard. Some recommend padding the railroad ties with various materials such as foam pipe insulation, etc. I personally believe the simplest way to deal with the hazard is by establishing a ground rule: "If during the play of the ball, or the continuation after playing the ball, the player touches the railroad ties or leaves the playing area, the ball is dead." This is much like an indoor rule that prevents a player from wildly chasing a ball that enters an adjacent court.
  Preparing for the excavation In most areas, excavating to a depth of 3 feet will be necessary. The first and foremost safety precaution is to call your local "Diggers Hotline" and have them locate any buried power lines and utilities. Be sure to call them ahead of time, as they may need a few days notice. The best tool for the dig is a front-end loader or "bobcat" which can excavate the base evenly, remove the dirt, and also haul and spread the stone and sand. This equipment can be rented for a few hundred dollars for a weekend. If you're not up to the task of handling heavy equipment, a good landscaping company can be contracted to excavate and haul the stone and sand. Excavate the playing area to the desired depth and pitch the base to one end or corner. A drainage ditch should be dug leading away from the court at its lowest point. Once the base is excavated you can begin laying the drainage pipe. The closed end of the drainage pipe should be placed in the highest point of the excavation and should zig-zag with the open end of the pipe terminating at the lowest point. The drainage pipe should be laid with the perforated side down. This allows water to wick-in from the bottom and sides and be carried away. It is an extremely good idea to wrap the drainage pipe with landscaping fabric before laying the pipe. The landscaping fabric prevents the eventuality of sand and dirt clogging the pipe. Locate and dig the holes for the net standards. The holes should be dug at least 3' deep and set in concrete. A couple of bag mixes per standard should do the job. Some home improvement centers carry a special "post setting mix" in which all the components for the concrete can just be dumped in the hole without prior mixing. Once the standard is located in the hole, plumb the standard in two opposing directions, and fasten supports so the post cannot move as the concrete is being dumped in the hole. Repeat this process for the opposite standard.  
Filling it in Once the poles are set, cover the base and drainage pipe with gravel and spread uniformly. Roll out and cover the gravel base with landscape fabric. The landscape fabric will keep the sand from filtering its way into the gravel. The final step is to spread the sand, uniformly and evenly throughout the playing area.