Volleyball Ball

Volleyball is a dynamic team sport that originated in the United States in the late 19th century and was introduced to China in the early 20th century. Since the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, volleyball has been recognized as an official competition in the Summer Olympics, reflecting its global appeal and popularity.

The game is played on a rectangular court measuring 18 meters in length and 9 meters in width, divided by a net. The net height is set at 2.43 meters for men and 2.24 meters for women. Each team occupies one side of the court and consists of six players on the court at a time. The objective is to score points by sending the ball over the net using techniques such as serving, passing, setting, spiking, and blocking, while preventing the opposing team from returning the ball effectively.

Volleyball matches are typically played in a best-of-five format, where the first team to win three sets is declared the winner. A set (except the deciding fifth set) is won by the team that first scores 25 points with at least a two-point lead. Rally scoring is used, meaning a point is awarded after every rally, regardless of which team served. When a team wins a rally while receiving, they also gain the right to serve, and players rotate positions clockwise.

The sport is governed globally by the Fédération International de Volleyball (FIVB). In China, the sport is managed by the Chinese Volleyball Association, which operates under the All-China Sports Federation and is recognized by the Chinese Olympic Committee.

Official volleyball courts must have a clearance zone of at least 3 meters around the court, with a minimum ceiling height of 7 meters. For international-level competitions, the free zone extends to at least 5 meters from the sidelines and 8 meters from the end lines, with a minimum overhead clearance of 12.5 meters.