Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five

players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary
objective of shooting a basketball (approximately 9.4 inches (24 cm) in diameter)
through the defender's hoop (a basket 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter mounted 10 feet
(3.048 m) high to a backboard at each end of the court) while preventing the opposing
team from shooting through their own hoop. A field goal is worth two points, unless
made from behind the three-point line, when it is worth three. After a foul, timed play
stops and the player fouled or designated to shoot a technical foul is given one or more
one-point free throws. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but if
regulation play expires with the score tied, an additional period of play (overtime) is
mandated.

Players advance the ball by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling) or by

passing it to a teammate, both of which require considerable skill. On offense, players
may use a variety of shots—the lay-up, the jump shot, or a dunk; on defense, they may
steal the ball from a dribbler, intercept passes, or block shots; either offense or defense
may collect a rebound, that is, a missed shot that bounces from rim or backboard. It is a
violation to lift or drag one's pivot foot without dribbling the ball, to carry it, or to hold the
ball with both hands then resume dribbling.

The five players on each side at a time fall into five positions player positions: the tallest
player is usually the center, the tallest and strongest is the power forward, a slightly
shorter but more agile big man is the small forward, and the shortest players or the best
ball handlers are the shooting guard and the point guard, who implements the coach's
game plan by managing the execution of offensive and defensive plays (player
positioning). Informally, players may play three-on-three, two-on-two, and one-on-one.

History In early December 1891, Canadian James Naismith,[4] a physical

education professor and instructor at the International Young Men's Christian
Association Training School[5] (YMCA) (today, Springfield College)
in Springfield, Massachusetts, was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day.
He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied and at proper levels of
fitness during the long New England winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too
rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed
a peach basket onto a 10-foot (3.0 m) elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball
nets, this peach basket retained its bottom, and balls had to be retrieved manually after
each "basket" or point scored; this proved inefficient, however, so the bottom of the
basket was removed,[6] allowing the balls to be poked out with a long dowel each time.
Old style basketball with laces
Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. These round balls from "association
football" were made, at the time, with a set of laces to close off the hole needed for
inserting the inflatable bladder after the other sewn-together segments of the ball's
cover had been flipped outside-in.[7][8] These laces could cause bounce passes and
dribbling to be unpredictable.[9] Eventually a lace-free ball construction method was
invented, and this change to the game was endorsed by Naismith. (Whereas
in American football, the lace construction proved to be advantageous for gripping and
remains to this day.) The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it
was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more
visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common
use. Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to
teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was
eventually introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only
became a major part of the game around the 1950s, as manufacturing improved the ball
shape.

The peach baskets were used until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal
hoops with backboards. A further change was soon made, so the ball merely passed
through. Whenever a person got the ball in the basket, his team would gain a point.
Whichever team got the most points won the game.[10] The baskets were originally
nailed to the mezzanine balcony of the playing court, but this proved impractical when
spectators in the balcony began to interfere with shots. The backboard was introduced
to prevent this interference; it had the additional effect of allowing rebound
shots.[11] Naismith's handwritten diaries, discovered by his granddaughter in early 2006,
indicate that he was nervous about the new game he had invented, which incorporated
rules from a children's game called duck on a rock, as many had failed before it.

Frank Mahan, one of the players from the original first game, approached Naismith after
the Christmas break, in early 1892, asking him what he intended to call his new game.
Naismith replied that he hadn't thought of it because he had been focused on just
getting the game started. Mahan suggested that it be called "Naismith ball", at which he
laughed, saying that a name like that would kill any game. Mahan then said, "Why not
call it basketball?" Naismith replied, "We have a basket and a ball, and it seems to me
that would be a good name for it." The first official game was played in the YMCA
gymnasium in Albany, New York, on January 20, 1892, with nine players. The game
ended at 1–0; the shot was made from 25 feet (7.6 m), on a court just half the size of a
present-day Streetball or National Basketball Association(NBA) court.
At the time, football was being played with 10 to a team (which was increased to 11).
When winter weather got too icy to play football, teams were taken indoors, and it was
convenient to have them split in half and play basketball with five on each side. By
1897–1898 teams of five became standard.

Basketball Basics for New Players and

Coaches -- Learn the Basic Rules,
Concepts, Court Layout, and Player
Positions

The Rules
Basketball is a team sport. Two teams of five players each try to score by shooting a
ball through a hoop elevated 10 feet above the ground. The game is played on a
rectangular floor called the court, and there is a hoop at each end. The court is divided
into two main sections by the mid-court line. If the offensive team puts the ball into play
behind the mid-court line, it has ten seconds to get the ball over the mid-court line. If it
doesn't, then the defense gets the ball. Once the offensive team gets the ball over
timemid-court line, it can no longer have possession of the ball in the area in back of the
line. If it does, the defense the ball.
The ball is moved down the court toward the basket by passing or dribbling. The team
with the ball is called the offense. The team without the ball is called the defense. They
try to steal the ball, contest shots, steal and deflect passes, and garner rebounds.

When a team makes a basket, they score two points and the ball goes to the other
team. If a basket, or field goal, is made outside of the three-point arc, then that basket is
worth three points. A free throw is worth one point. Free throws are awarded to a team
according to some formats involving the number of fouls committed in a half and/or the
type of foul committed. Fouling a shooter always results in two or three free throws
being awarded the shooter, depending upon where he was when he shot. If he was
beyond the three-point line, then he gets three shots. Other types of fouls do not result
in free throws being awarded until a certain number have accumulated during a half.
Once that number is reached, then the player who was fouled is awarded a '1-and-1'
opportunity. If he makes his first free throw, he gets to attempt a second. If he misses
the first shot, the ball is live on the rebound.

Each game is divided into sections. All levels have two halves. In college, each half is
twenty minutes long. In high school and below, the halves are divided into eight (and
sometimes, six) minute quarters. In the pros, quarters are twelve minutes long. There is
a gap of several minutes between halves. Gaps between quarters are relatively short. If
the score is tied at the end of regulation, then overtime periods of various lengths are
played until a winner emerges.

Each team is assigned a basket or goal to defend. This means that the other basket is
their scoring basket. At halftime, the teams switch goals. The game begins with one
player from either team at center court. A referee will toss the ball up between the two.
The player that gets his hands on the ball will tip it to a teammate. This is called a tip-off.
In addition to stealing the ball from an opposing player, there are other ways for a team
to get the ball.

One such way is if the other team commits a foul or violation.

 Fouls and Violations:

FOULS

Personal fouls: Personal fouls include any type of illegal physical contact.

 Hitting
 Pushing
 Slapping
 Holding
 Illegal pick/screen -- when an offensive player is moving. When an offensive player
sticks out a limb and makes physical contact with a defender in an attempt to block the
path of the defender.

Personal foul penalties: If a player is shooting while a being fouled, then he gets two
free throws if his shot doesn't go in, but only one free throw if his shot does go in.

 Three free throws are awarded if the player is fouled while shooting for a three-point
goal and they miss their shot. If a player is fouled while shooting a three-point shot and
makes it anyway, he is awarded one free throw. Thus, he could score four points on the
play.

 Inbounds. If fouled while not shooting, the ball is given to the team the foul was
committed upon. They get the ball at the nearest side or baseline, out of bounds, and
have 5 seconds to pass the ball onto the court.

 One & one. If the team committing the foul has seven or more fouls in the game, then
the player who was fouled is awarded one free throw. If he makes his first shot, then he
is awarded another free throw.

 Ten or more fouls. If the team committing the foul has ten or more fouls, then the fouled
player receives two free throws.

Charging. An offensive foul that is committed when a player pushes or runs over a
defensive player. The ball is given to the team that the foul was committed upon.

Blocking. Blocking is illegal personal contact resulting from a defender not establishing
position in time to prevent an opponent's drive to the basket.

Flagrant foul. Violent contact with an opponent. This includes hitting, kicking, and
punching. This type of foul results in free throws plus the offense retaining possession of
the ball after the free throws.

Intentional foul. When a player makes physical contact with another player with no
reasonable effort to steal the ball. It is a judgment call for the officials.

Technical foul. Technical foul. A player or a coach can commit this type of foul. It does
not involve player contact or the ball but is instead about the 'manners' of the game.
Foul language, obscenity, obscene gestures, and even arguing can be considered a
technical foul, as can technical details regarding filling in the scorebook improperly or
dunking during warm-ups.

VIOLATIONS:

Walking/Traveling. Taking more than 'a step and a half' without dribbling the ball is traveling.
Moving your pivot foot once you've stopped dribbling is traveling.

Carrying/palming. When a player dribbles the ball with his hand too far to the side of or,
sometimes, even under the ball.

Double Dribble. Dribbling the ball with both hands on the ball at the same time or picking up
the dribble and then dribbling again is a double dribble.

Held ball. Occasionally, two or more opposing players will gain possession of the ball at the
same time. In order to avoid a prolonged and/or violent tussle, the referee stops the action and
awards the ball to one team or the other on a rotating basis.

Goaltending. If a defensive player interferes with a shot while it's on the way down toward the
basket, while it's on the way up toward the basket after having touched the backboard, or while
it's in the cylinder above the rim, it's goaltending and the shot counts. If committed by an
offensive player, it's a violation and the ball is awarded to the opposing team for a throw-in.

Backcourt violation. Once the offense has brought the ball across the mid-court line, they
cannot go back across the line during possession. If they do, the ball is awarded to the other
team to pass inbounds.

Time restrictions. A player passing the ball inbounds has five seconds to pass the ball. If he
does not, then the ball is awarded to the other team. Other time restrictions include the rule that
a player cannot have the ball for more than five seconds when being closely guarded and, in
some states and levels, shot-clock restrictions requiring a team to attempt a shot within a given
time frame.
Player Positions

Center. Centers are generally your tallest players. They generally are positioned near the
basket.

Offensive -- The center's goal is to get open for a pass and to shoot. They are also responsible
for blocking defenders, known as picking or screening, to open other players up for driving to
the basket for a goal. Centers are expected to get some offensive rebounds and put-backs.

Defensive -- On defense, the center's main responsibility is to keep opponents from shooting by
blocking shots and passes in the key area. They also are expected to get a lot of rebounds
because they're taller.

Forward. Your next tallest players will most likely be your forwards. While a forward may be
called upon to play under the hoop, they may also be required to operate in the wings and
corner areas.

Offensive -- Forwards are responsible to get free for a pass, take outside shots, drive for goals,
and rebound.

Defensive -- Responsibilities include preventing drives to the goal and rebounding.

Guard. These are potentially your shortest players and they should be really good at dribbling
fast, seeing the court, and passing. It is their job to bring the ball down the court and set up
offensive plays.

Offensive -- Dribbling, passing, and setting up offensive plays are a guard's main
responsibilities. They also need to be able to drive to the basket and to shoot from the
perimeter.

Defensive -- On defense, a guard is responsible for stealing passes, contesting shots,

preventing drives to the hoop, and for boxing out.

Playing regulations:

Games are played in four quarters of 10 or 12 minutes (NBA).College men's games use
two 20-minute halves,] college women's games use 10-minute quarters,[and most
United States high school varsity games use 8 minute quarters, however, this varies
from state to state. 15 minutes are allowed for a half-time break under FIBA, NBA, and
NCAA rules and 10 minutes in United States high schools Overtime periods are five
minutes in length except for high school, which is four minutes in length. Teams
exchange baskets for the second half. The time allowed is actual playing time; the clock
is stopped while the play is not active. Therefore, games generally take much longer to
complete than the allotted game time, typically about two hours.
Five players from each team may be on the court at one time. Substitutions are
unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped. Teams also have a coach, who
oversees the development and strategies of the team, and other team personnel such
as assistant coaches, managers, statisticians, doctors and trainers.
For both men's and women's teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair of shorts and
a jersey with a clearly visible number, unique within the team, printed on both the front
and back. Players wear high-top sneakers that provide extra ankle support. Typically,
team names, players' names and, outside of North America, sponsors are printed on the
uniforms.
A limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach (or sometimes
mandated in the NBA) for a short meeting with the players, are allowed. They generally
last no longer than one minute (100 seconds in the NBA) unless, for televised games, a
commercial break is needed.
The game is controlled by the officials consisting of the referee (referred to as crew
chief in the NBA), one or two umpires (referred to as referees in the NBA) and the table
officials. For college, the NBA, and many high schools, there are a total of three
referees on the court. The table officials are responsible for keeping track of each teams
scoring, timekeeping, individual and team fouls, player substitutions, team possession
arrow, and the shot clock.

Positions
Main article:

Basketball positions in the offensive zone

Although the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever, they have evolved as part
of basketball. During the early years of basketball's evolution, two guards, two forwards,
and one center were used. In more recent times specific positions evolved, but the
current trend, advocated by many top coaches including Mike Krzyzewski is towards
positionless basketball, where big guys are free to shoot from outside and dribble if their
skill allows it.[52] Popular descriptions of positions include:
Point guard (often called the "1") usually the fastest player on the team, organizes the
team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at
the right time.
Shooting guard (the "2") creates a high volume of shots on offense, mainly long-ranged;
and guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense.
Small forward (the "3") often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the
basket and dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes
plays more actively.
Power forward (the "4"): plays offensively often with their back to the basket; on
defense, plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power
forward (in man-to-man defense).
Center (the "5"): uses height and size to score (on offense), to protect the basket closely
(on defense), or to rebound.
The above descriptions are flexible. For most teams today, the shooting guard and
small forward have very similar responsibilities and are often called the wings, as do
the power forward and center, who are often called post players. While most teams
describe two players as guards, two as forwards, and one as a center, on some
occasions teams choose to call them by different designations.

Shooting

Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the

ball through the basket, methods varying with players and situations.
Typically, a player faces the basket with both feet facing the basket. A player will rest
the ball on the fingertips of the dominant hand (the shooting arm) slightly above the
head, with the other hand supporting the side of the ball. The ball is usually shot by
jumping (though not always) and extending the shooting arm. The shooting arm, fully
extended with the wrist fully bent, is held stationary for a moment following the release
of the ball, known as a follow-through. Players often try to put a steady backspin on the
ball to absorb its impact with the rim. The ideal trajectory of the shot is somewhat
controversial, but generally a proper arc is recommended. Players may shoot directly
into the basket or may use the backboard to redirect the ball into the basket.

Basketball falling through hoop

The two most common shots that use the above described setup are the set shot and
the jump shot. The set shot is taken from a standing position, with neither foot leaving
the floor, typically used for free throws, and in other circumstances while the jump shot
is taken in mid-air, the ball released near the top of the jump. This provides much
greater power and range, and it also allows the player to elevate over the defender.
Failure to release the ball before the feet return to the floor is considered a traveling
violation.
Another common shot is called the lay-up. This shot requires the player to be in motion
toward the basket, and to "lay" the ball "up" and into the basket, typically off the
backboard (the backboard-free, underhand version is called a finger roll). The most
crowd-pleasing and typically highest-percentage accuracy shot is the slam dunk, in
which the player jumps very high and throws the ball downward, through the basket
while touching it.

Slow-motion animation of a dunk

Another shot that is becoming common[citation needed] is the "circus shot". The circus shot
is a low-percentage shot that is flipped, heaved, scooped, or flung toward the hoop
while the shooter is off-balance, airborne, falling down, and/or facing away from the
basket. A back-shot is a shot taken when the player is facing away from the basket, and
may be shot with the dominant hand, or both; but there is a very low chance that the
shot will be successful.
A shot that misses both the rim and the backboard completely is referred to as an air
ball. A particularly bad shot, or one that only hits the backboard, is jocularly called
a brick. The hang time is the length of time a player stays in the air after jumping, either
to make a slam dunk, lay-up or jump shot.
Rebounding:

A player making an offensive rebound

The objective of rebounding is to successfully gain possession of the basketball after a

missed field goal or free throw, as it rebounds from the hoop or backboard. This plays a
major role in the game, as most possessions end when a team misses a shot. There
are two categories of rebounds: offensive rebounds, in which the ball is recovered by
the offensive side and does not change possession, and defensive rebounds, in which
the defending team gains possession of the loose ball. The majority of rebounds are
defensive, as the team on defense tends to be in better position to recover missed
shots.

Passing:
See also: Assist (basketball)

A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are accompanied
by a step forward to increase power and are followed through with the hands to ensure
accuracy.
A staple pass is the chest pass. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest to
the receiver's chest. A proper chest pass involves an outward snap of the thumbs to add
velocity and leaves the defence little time to react.
Another type of pass is the bounce pass. Here, the passer bounces the ball crisply
about two-thirds of the way from his own chest to the receiver. The ball strikes the court
and bounces up toward the receiver. The bounce pass takes longer to complete than
the chest pass, but it is also harder for the opposing team to intercept (kicking the ball
deliberately is a violation). Thus, players often use the bounce pass in crowded
moments, or to pass around a defender.
The overhead pass is used to pass the ball over a defender. The ball is released while
over the passer's head.
The outlet pass occurs after a team gets a defensive rebound. The next pass after the
rebound is the outlet pass.
The crucial aspect of any good pass is it being difficult to intercept. Good passers can
pass the ball with great accuracy and they know exactly where each of their other
teammates prefers to receive the ball. A special way of doing this is passing the ball
without looking at the receiving teammate. This is called a no-look pass.
Another advanced style of passing is the behind-the-back pass, which, as the
description implies, involves throwing the ball behind the passer's back to a teammate.
Although some players can perform such a pass effectively, many coaches discourage
no-look or behind-the-back passes, believing them to be difficult to control and more
likely to result in turnovers or violations.
Dribbling

A demonstration of the basic types of dribbling in basketball

Main article: Dribble

Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously with one hand, and is a
requirement for a player to take steps with the ball. To dribble, a player pushes the ball
down towards the ground with the fingertips rather than patting it; this ensures greater
control.
When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand farthest from
the opponent, making it more difficult for the defensive player to get to the ball. It is
therefore important for a player to be able to dribble competently with both hands.
Good dribblers (or "ball handlers") tend to bounce the ball low to the ground, reducing
the distance of travel of the ball from the floor to the hand, making it more difficult for the
defender to "steal" the ball. Good ball handlers frequently dribble behind their backs,
between their legs, and switch directions suddenly, making a less predictable dribbling
pattern that is more difficult to defend against. This is called a crossover, which is the
most effective way to move past defenders while dribbling.
A skilled player can dribble without watching the ball, using the dribbling motion
or peripheral vision to keep track of the ball's location. By not having to focus on the
ball, a player can look for teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid the
danger of having someone steal the ball away from him/her.
Blocking
Main article: Block (basketball)
A block is performed when, after a shot is attempted, a defender succeeds in altering
the shot by touching the ball. In almost all variants of play, it is illegal to touch the ball
after it is in the downward path of its arc; this is known as goaltending. It is also illegal
under NBA and Men's NCAA basketball to block a shot after it has touched the
backboard, or when any part of the ball is directly above the rim. Under international
rules it is illegal to block a shot that is in the downward path of its arc or one that has
touched the backboard until the ball has hit the rim. After the ball hits the rim, it is again
legal to touch it even though it is no longer considered as a block performed.
To block a shot, a player has to be able to reach a point higher than where the shot is
released. Thus, height can be an advantage in blocking. Players who are taller and
playing the power forward or center positions generally record more blocks than players
who are shorter and playing the guard positions. However, with good timing and a
sufficiently high vertical leap, even shorter players can be effective shot blockers.

Height
At the professional level, most male players are above 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and
most women above 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m). Guards, for whom physical coordination
and ball-handling skills are crucial, tend to be the smallest players. Almost all forwards
in the top men's pro leagues are 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) or taller. Most centers are over
6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall. According to a survey given to all NBA teams,[when?] the
average height of all NBA players is just under 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), with the
average weight being close to 222 pounds (101 kg). The tallest players ever in the NBA
were Manute Bol and Gheorghe Mureșan, who were both 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m) tall.
The tallest current NBA player is Sim Bhullar, who stands at 7 feet 5 inches (2.26 m). At
7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m), Margo Dydek was the tallest player in the history of the WNBA.
The shortest player ever to play in the NBA is Muggsy Bogues at 5 feet 3 inches
(1.60 m) Other short players have thrived at the pro level. Anthony "Spud" Webbwas
just 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall, but had a 42-inch (1.1 m) vertical leap, giving him
significant height when jumping. While shorter players are often at a disadvantage in
certain aspects of the game, their ability to navigate quickly through crowded areas of
the court and steal the ball by reaching low are strengths.
It should be noted that players regularly inflate their height. Many prospects exaggerate
their height while in high school or college to make themselves more appealing to
coaches and scouts, who prefer taller players. Charles Barkley stated; "I've been
measured at 6-5, 6-4 3⁄4. But I started in college at 6-6." Sam Smith, former writer
from The Chicago Tribune, said: "We sort of know the heights, because after camp, the
sheet comes out. But you use that height, and the player gets mad. And then you hear
from his agent.
Football

Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to
score a goal. Unqualified, the word football is understood to refer to whichever form of
football is the most popular in the regional context in which the word appears. Sports
commonly called football in certain places include association football (known as soccer
in some countries); gridiron football (specifically American football or Canadian
football); Australian rules football; rugby football(either rugby league or rugby union);
and Gaelic football.These different variations of football are known as football codes.
There are a number of references to traditional, ancient, or prehistoric ball games
played by indigenous peoples in many different parts of the world.

History of Football - The Origins

The contemporary history of the world's favourite game spans more than 100 years. It
all began in 1863 in England, when rugby football and association football branched off
on their different courses and the Football Association in England was formed -
becoming the sport's first governing body.

Both codes stemmed from a common root and both have a long and intricately
branched ancestral tree. A search down the centuries reveals at least half a dozen
different games, varying to different degrees, and to which the historical development of
football has been traced back. Whether this can be justified in some instances is
disputable. Nevertheless, the fact remains that people have enjoyed kicking a ball about
for thousands of years and there is absolutely no reason to consider it an aberration of
the more 'natural' form of playing a ball with the hands.

On the contrary, apart from the need to employ the legs and feet in tough tussles for the
ball, often without any laws for protection, it was recognised right at the outset that the
art of controlling the ball with the feet was not easy and, as such, required no small
measure of skill. The very earliest form of the game for which there is scientific evidence
was an exercise from a military manual dating back to the second and third centuries
BC in China.

This Han Dynasty forebear of football was called Tsu' Chu and it consisted of kicking a
leather ball filled with feathers and hair through an opening, measuring only 30-40cm in
width, into a small net fixed onto long bamboo canes. According to one variation of this
exercise, the player was not permitted to aim at his target unimpeded, but had to use
his feet, chest, back and shoulders while trying to withstand the attacks of his
opponents. Use of the hands was not permitted.

Another form of the game, also originating from the Far East, was the Japanese Kemari,
which began some 500-600 years later and is still played today. This is a sport lacking
the competitive element of Tsu' Chu with no struggle for possession involved. Standing
in a circle, the players had to pass the ball to each other, in a relatively small space,
trying not to let it touch the ground.

The Greek 'Episkyros' - of which few concrete details survive - was much livelier, as
was the Roman 'Harpastum'. The latter was played out with a smaller ball by two teams
on a rectangular field marked by boundary lines and a centre line. The objective was to
get the ball over the opposition's boundary lines and as players passed it between
themselves, trickery was the order of the day. The game remained popular for 700-800
years, but, although the Romans took it to Britain with them, the use of feet was so
small as to scarcely be of consequence.
Football (Soccer) Rules

Photo credit: Rick Dikeman (source)

Football (Soccer) is one of the oldest sports in the world and with that; it’s also one of
the most recognised. The pinnacle of the international game comes in the form the
Football World Cup. There are also tournament such as the Euro Championships, Copa
America and the African Cup of Nations. Domestically the strongest leagues come from
England (English Premier League), Spain (La Liga), Italy (Serie A) and Germany
(Bundesliga). In parts of the world the sport is also known as Soccer.

Object of the Game

The aim of football is to score more goals then your opponent in a 90 minute playing
time frame. The match is split up into two halves of 45 minutes. After the first 45
minutes players will take a 15 minute rest period called half time. The second 45
minutes will resume and any time deemed fit to be added on by the referee (injury time)
will be accordingly.

Players & Equipment

Each team consists of 11 players. These are made up of one goalkeeper and ten
outfield players. The pitch dimensions vary from each ground but are roughly 120 yards
long and 75 yards wide. On each pitch you will have a 6 yard box next to the goal
mouth, an 18 yard box surrounding the 6 yard box and a centre circle. Each half of the
pitch must be a mirror image of the other in terms of dimensions.

Essentially the equipment that is needed for a soccer match is pitch and a football.
Additionally players can be found wearing studded football boots, shin pads and
matching strips. The goalkeepers will additionally wear padded gloves as they are the
only players allowed to handle the ball. Each team will have a designated captain.
Scoring

To score the ball must go into your opponent’s goal. The whole ball needs to be over
the line for it to be a legitimate goal. A goal can be scored with any part of the body
apart from the hand or arm up to the shoulder. The goal itself consists of a frame
measuring 8 feet high and 8 yards wide.

Winning the Game

To win you have to score more goals than that of your opponents. If the scores are level
after 90 minutes then the game will end as a draw apart from in cup games where the
game can go to extra time and even a penalty shootout to decide the winner. Players
must use their feet to kick the ball and are prohibited to use their hands apart from
goalkeepers who can use any part of their body within the 18 yard box (of which more
can be found out in the next section).

Rules of Football (Soccer)

 A match consists of two 45 minutes halves with a 15 minute rest period in

between.
 Each team can have a minimum off 11 players (including 1 goalkeeper who is the
only player allowed to handle the ball within the 18 yard box) and a minimum of 7
players are needed to constitute a match.
 The field must be made of either artificial or natural grass. The size of pitches is
allowed to vary but must be within 100-130 yards long and 50-100 yards wide.
The pitch must also be marked with a rectangular shape around the outside
showing out of bounds, two six yard boxes, two 18 yard boxes and a centre
circle. A spot for a penalty placed 12 yards out of both goals and centre circle
must also be visible.
 The ball must have a circumference of 58-61cm and be of a circular shape.
 Each team can name up to 7 substitute players. Substitutions can be made at
any time of the match with each team being able to make a maximum of 3
substitutions per side. In the event of all three substitutes being made and a
player having to leave the field for injury the team will be forced to play without a
replacement for that player.
 Each game must include one referee and two assistant referee’s (linesmen). It’s
the job of the referee to act as time keeper and make any decisions which may
need to be made such as fouls, free kicks, throw ins, penalties and added on
time at the end of each half. The referee may consult the assistant referees at
any time in the match regarding a decision. It’s the assistant referee’s job to spot
offside’s in the match (see below), throw ins for either team and also assist the
referee in all decision making processes where appropriate.
  If the game needs to head to extra time as a result of both teams being level in a
match then 30 minutes will be added in the form of two 15 minute halves after the
allotted 90 minutes.
 If teams are still level after extra time then a penalty shootout must take place.
 The whole ball must cross the goal line for it to constitute as a goal.
 For fouls committed a player could receive either a yellow or red card depending
on the severity of the foul; this comes down to the referee’s discretion. The
yellow is a warning and a red card is a dismissal of that player. Two yellow cards
will equal one red. Once a player is sent off then they cannot be replaced.
 If a ball goes out of play off an opponent in either of the side lines then it is given
as a throw in. If it goes out of play off an attacking player on the base line then it
is a goal kick. If it comes off a defending player it is a corner kick.

The Offside Rule in Football

Offside can be called when an attacking player is in front of the last defender when the
pass is played through to them. The offside area is designed to discourage players from
simply hanging around the opponent’s goal waiting for a pass. To be onside they must
be placed behind the last defender when the ball is played to them. If the player is in
front of that last defender then he is deemed to be offside and free kick to the defending
team will be called.

A player cannot be caught offside in their own half. The goalkeeper does not count as a
defender. If the ball is played backwards and the player is in front of the last defender .

Volleyball

Volleyball is a popular team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by
a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court
under organized rules.[1] It has been a part of the official program of the Summer
Olympic Games since Tokyo 1964.
The complete rules are extensive[2], but simply, play proceeds as follows: a player on
one of the teams begins a 'rally' by serving the ball (tossing or releasing it and then
hitting it with a hand or arm), from behind the back boundary line of the court, over the
net, and into the receiving team's court.[3] The receiving team must not let the ball be
grounded within their court. The team may touch the ball up to 3 times, but individual
players may not touch the ball twice consecutively.[3]Typically, the first two touches are
used to set up for an attack, an attempt to direct the ball back over the net in such a way
that the serving team is unable to prevent it from being grounded in their court.
The rally continues, with each team allowed as many as three consecutive touches,
until either (1): a team makes a kill, grounding the ball on the opponent's court and
winning the rally; or (2): a team commits a fault and loses the rally. The team that wins
the rally is awarded a point and serves the ball to start the next rally. A few of the most
common faults include:

 causing the ball to touch the ground or floor outside the opponents' court or without
first passing over the net;
 catching and throwing the ball;
 double hit: two consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same player;
 four consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same team;
 net foul: touching the net during play;
 foot fault: the foot crosses over the boundary line when serving.
The ball is usually played with the hands or arms, but players can legally strike or push
(short contact) the ball with any part of the body.
A number of consistent techniques have evolved in volleyball,
including spiking and blocking (because these plays are made above the top of the net,
the vertical jump is an athletic skill emphasized in the sport) as well as passing, setting,
and specialized player positions and offensive and defensive structures.

History
Origin of volleyball

William G. Morgan

In the winter of 1895[4], in Holyoke, Massachusetts (United States), William G. Morgan,

a YMCA physical education director, created a new game called Mintonette, a name
derived from the game of badminton,[5] as a pastime to be played (preferably) indoors
and by any number of players. The game took some of its characteristics from other
sports such as tennis and handball.[6] Another indoor sport, basketball, was catching on
in the area, having been invented just ten miles (sixteen kilometers) away in the city
of Springfield, Massachusetts, only four years before. Mintonette was designed to be an
indoor sport, less rough than basketball, for older members of the YMCA, while still
requiring a bit of athletic effort.
The first rules, written down by William G Morgan, called for a net 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) high,
a 25 ft × 50 ft (7.6 m × 15.2 m) court, and any number of players. A match was
composed of nine innings with three serves for each team in each inning, and no limit to
the number of ball contacts for each team before sending the ball to the opponents'
court. In case of a serving error, a second try was allowed. Hitting the ball into the net
was considered a foul (with loss of the point or a side-out)—except in the case of the
first-try serve.
After an observer, Alfred Halstead, noticed the volleying nature of the game at its first
exhibition match in 1896, played at the International YMCA Training School (now
called Springfield College), the game quickly became known as volleyball (it was
originally spelled as two words: "volley ball"). Volleyball rules were slightly modified by
the International YMCA Training School and the game spread around the country to
various YMCAs.

Refinements and later developments

The first official ball used in volleyball is disputed; some sources say Spalding created
the first official ball in 1896, while others claim it was created in 1900. The rules evolved
over time: in 1916, in the Philippines, the skill and power of the set and spike had been
introduced, and four years later a "three hits" rule and a rule against hitting from the
back row were established. In 1917, the game was changed from requiring 21 points to
win to a smaller 15 points to win. In 1919, about 16,000 volleyballs were distributed by
the American Expeditionary Forces to their troops and allies, which sparked the growth
of volleyball in new countries.
The first country outside the United States to adopt volleyball was Canada in 1900.An
international federation, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), was founded
in 1947, and the first World Championships were held in 1949 for men and 1952 for
women.The sport is now popular in Brazil, in Europe (where especially Italy,
the Netherlands, and countries from Eastern Europe have been major forces since the
late 1980s), in Russia, and in other countries including China and the rest of Asia, as
well as in the United States.

Beach volleyball, a variation of the game played on sand and with only two players per
team, became a FIVB-endorsed variation in 1987 and was added to the Olympic
program at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Rules of the game

Volleyball court

The court dimensions

A volleyball court is 9 m × 18 m (29.5 ft × 59.1 ft), divided into equal square halves by a
net with a width of one meter (39.4 in).The top of the net is 2.43 m (7 ft 11 11⁄16 in) above
the center of the court for men's competition, and 2.24 m (7 ft 4 3⁄16 in) for women's
competition, varied for veterans and junior competitions.
The minimum height clearance for indoor volleyball courts is 7 m (23.0 ft), although a
clearance of 8 m (26.2 ft) is recommended.
A line 3 m (9.8 ft) from and parallel to the net is considered the "attack line". This "3
meter" (or "10-foot") line divides the court into "back row" and "front row" areas (also
back court and front court).[These are in turn divided into 3 areas each: these are
numbered as follows, starting from area "1", which is the position of the serving player:

Rotation pattern

After a team gains the serve (also known as siding out), its members must rotate in a
clockwise direction, with the player previously in area "2" moving to area "1" and so on,
with the player from area "1" moving to area "6". Each player rotates only one time after
the team gains possession of the serve; the next time each player rotates will be after
the other team wins possession of the ball and loses the point.
The team courts are surrounded by an area called the free zone which is a minimum of
3 meters wide and which the players may enter and play within after the service of the
ball. All lines denoting the boundaries of the team court and the attack zone are drawn
or painted within the dimensions of the area and are therefore a part of the court or
zone. If a ball comes in contact with the line, the ball is considered to be "in". An
antenna is placed on each side of the net perpendicular to the sideline and is a vertical
extension of the side boundary of the court. A ball passing over the net must pass
completely between the antennae (or their theoretical extensions to the ceiling) without
contacting them.

The ball
Main article: Volleyball (ball)
FIVB regulations state that the ball must be spherical, made of leather or synthetic leather, have a
circumference of 65–67 cm, a weight of 260–280 g and an inside pressure of 0.30–
0.325 kg/cm2. Other governing bodies have similar regulations.

Game play
Each team consists of six players. To get play started, a team is chosen to serve
by coin toss. A player from the serving team throws the ball into the air and attempts to
hit the ball so it passes over the net on a course such that it will land in the opposing
team's court (the serve). The opposing team must use a combination of no more than
three contacts with the volleyball to return the ball to the opponent's side of the
net.These contacts usually consist first of the bump or pass so that the ball's trajectory
is aimed towards the player designated as the setter; second of the set (usually an over-
hand pass using wrists to push finger-tips at the ball) by the setter so that the ball's
trajectory is aimed towards a spot where one of the players designated as
an attacker can hit it, and third by the attacker who spikes (jumping, raising one arm
above the head and hitting the ball so it will move quickly down to the ground on the
opponent's court) to return the ball over the net.The team with possession of the ball
that is trying to attack the ball as described is said to be on offense.
The team on defense attempts to prevent the attacker from directing the ball into their
court: players at the net jump and reach above the top (and if possible, across the
plane) of the net to block the attacked ball.If the ball is hit around, above, or through the
block, the defensive players arranged in the rest of the court attempt to control the ball
with a dig (usually a fore-arm pass of a hard-driven ball). After a successful dig, the
team transitions to offense.

Buddhist monks play volleyball in the Himalayan state of Sikkim, India.

The game continues in this manner, rallying back and forth, until the ball touches the
court within the boundaries or until an error is made. The most frequent errors that are
made are either to fail to return the ball over the net within the allowed three touches, or
to cause the ball to land outside the court.A ball is "in" if any part of it touches a sideline
or end-line, and a strong spike may compress the ball enough when it lands that a ball
which at first appears to be going out may actually be in. Players may travel well outside
the court to play a ball that has gone over a sideline or end-line in the air.
Other common errors include a player touching the ball twice in succession, a player
"catching" the ball, a player touching the net while attempting to play the ball, or a player
penetrating under the net into the opponent's court. There are a large number of other
errors specified in the rules, although most of them are infrequent occurrences. These
errors include back-row or libero players spiking the ball or blocking (back-row players
may spike the ball if they jump from behind the attack line), players not being in the
correct position when the ball is served, attacking the serve in the front court and above
the height of the net, using another player as a source of support to reach the ball,
stepping over the back boundary line when serving, taking more than 8 seconds to
serve,or playing the ball when it is above the opponent's court.
Scoring

Scorer's table just before a game

A point is scored when the ball contacts the floor within the court boundaries or when an
error is made: when the ball strikes one team's side of the court, the other team gains a
point; and when an error is made, the team that did not make the error is awarded a
point, in either case paying no regard to whether they served the ball or not. If any part
of the ball hits the line, the ball is counted as in the court. The team that won the point
serves for the next point. If the team that won the point served in the previous point, the
same player serves again. If the team that won the point did not serve the previous
point, the players of the serving team rotate their position on the court in a clockwise
manner. The game continues, with the first team to score 25 points by a two-point
margin awarded the set. Matches are best-of-five sets and the fifth set, if necessary, is
usually played to 15 points. (Scoring differs between leagues, tournaments, and levels;
high schools sometimes play best-of-three to 25; in the NCAA matches are played best-
of-five to 25 as of the 2008 season.)
Before 1999, points could be scored only when a team had the serve (side-out scoring)
and all sets went up to only 15 points. The FIVB changed the rules in 1999 (with the
changes being compulsory in 2000) to use the current scoring system (formerly known
as rally point system), primarily to make the length of the match more predictable and to
make the game more spectator- and television-friendly.
The final year of side-out scoring at the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball
Championship was 2000. Rally point scoring debuted in 2001, and games were played
to 30 points through 2007. For the 2008 season, games were renamed "sets" and
reduced to 25 points to win. Most high schools in the U.S. changed to rally scoring in
2003,and several states implemented it the previous year on an experimental basis.

Libero
The libero player was introduced internationally in 1998,and made its debut for NCAA
competition in 2002.The libero is a player specialized in defensive skills: the libero must
wear a contrasting jersey color from his or her teammates and cannot block or attack
the ball when it is entirely above net height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can
replace any back-row player, without prior notice to the officials. This replacement does
not count against the substitution limit each team is allowed per set, although the libero
may be replaced only by the player whom he or she replaced. Most U.S. high schools
added the libero position from 2003 to 2005.
Nowadays, libero works as a second setter, when setter dig the ball, libero will help to
set. The libero may function as a setter only under certain restrictions. If she/he makes
an overhand set, she/he must be standing behind (and not stepping on) the 3-meter
line; otherwise, the ball cannot be attacked above the net in front of the 3-meter line. An
underhand pass is allowed from any part of the court.
The libero is, generally, the most skilled defensive player on the team. There is also a
libero tracking sheet, where the referees or officiating team must keep track of whom
the libero subs in and out for. There may only be one libero per set (game), although
there may be a different libero in the beginning of any new set (game).
Furthermore, a libero is not allowed to serve, according to international rules, with the
exception of the NCAA women's volleyball games, where a 2004 rule change allows the
libero to serve, but only in a specific rotation. That is, the libero can only serve for one
person, not for all of the people for whom she goes in. That rule change was also
applied to high school and junior high play soon after.

Recent rule changes

Other rule changes enacted in 2000 include allowing serves in which the ball touches
the net, as long as it goes over the net into the opponents' court. Also, the service area
was expanded to allow players to serve from anywhere behind the end line but still
within the theoretical extension of the sidelines. Other changes were made to lighten up
calls on faults for carries and double-touches, such as allowing multiple contacts by a
single player ("double-hits") on a team's first contact provided that they are a part of a
single play on the ball.
In 2008, the NCAA changed the minimum number of points needed to win any of the
first four sets from 30 to 25 for women's volleyball (men's volleyball remained at 30 for
another 3 years, switching to 25 in 2011.) If a fifth (deciding) set is reached, the
minimum required score remains at 15. In addition, the word "game" is now referred to
as "set".
The Official Volleyball Rules are prepared and updated every few years by the FIVB's
Rules of the Game and Refereeing Commission The latest edition is usually available
on the FIVB's website.

Skills
Competitive teams master six basic skills: serve, pass, set, attack, block and dig. Each
of these skills comprises a number of specific techniques that have been introduced
over the years and are now considered standard practice in high-level volleyball.
Serve

A player making a jump serve

3D animation floating serve

A player stands behind the inline and serves the ball, in an attempt to drive it into the
opponent's court. The main objective is to make it land inside the court; it is also
desirable to set the ball's direction, speed and acceleration so that it becomes difficult
for the receiver to handle it properly.[3] A serve is called an "ace" when the ball lands
directly onto the court or travels outside the court after being touched by an opponent.
In contemporary volleyball, many types of serves are employed:

 Underhand: a serve in which the player strikes the ball below the waist instead of
tossing it up and striking it with an overhand throwing motion. Underhand serves are
considered very easy to receive and are rarely employed in high-level competitions.
 Sky ball serve: a specific type of underhand serve occasionally used in beach
volleyball, where the ball is hit so high it comes down almost in a straight line. This
serve was invented and employed almost exclusively by the Brazilian team in the
early 1980s and is now considered outdated. During the 2016 Olympic Games in
Rio de Janeiro, however, the sky ball serve was extensively played by Italian beach
volleyball player Adrian Carambula. In Brazil, this serve is called Jornada nas
Estrelas (Star Trek)
 Topspin: an overhand serve where the player tosses the ball high and hits it with a
wrist snap, giving it topspin which causes it to drop faster than it would otherwise
and helps maintain a straight flight path. Topspin serves are generally hit hard and
aimed at a specific returner or part of the court. Standing topspin serves are rarely
used above the high school level of play.
 Float: an overhand serve where the ball is hit with no spin so that its path becomes
unpredictable, akin to a knuckleball in baseball.
 Jump serve: an overhand serve where the ball is first tossed high in the air, then the
player makes a timed approach and jumps to make contact with the ball, hitting it
with much pace and topspin. This is the most popular serve among college and
professional teams.
 Jump float: an overhand serve where the ball is tossed high enough that the player
may jump before hitting it similarly to a standing float serve. The ball is tossed lower
than a topspin jump serve, but contact is still made while in the air. This serve is
becoming more popular among college and professional players because it has a
certain unpredictability in its flight pattern. It is the only serve where the server's feet
can go over the inline.

Pass

A player making a forearm pass or bump

Also called reception, the pass is the attempt by a team to properly handle the
opponent's serve, or any form of attack. Proper handling includes not only preventing
the ball from touching the court, but also making it reach the position where the setter is
standing quickly and precisely.[3]
The skill of passing involves fundamentally two specific techniques: underarm pass, or
bump, where the ball touches the inside part of the joined forearms or platform, at waist
line; and overhand pass, where it is handled with the fingertips, like a set, above the
head.[3] Either are acceptable in professional and beach volleyball; however, there are
much tighter regulations on the overhand pass in beach volleyball.

Set

Jump set
The set is usually the second contact that a team makes with the ball The main goal of
setting is to put the ball in the air in such a way that it can be driven by an attack into the
opponent's court. The setter coordinates the offensive movements of a team, and is the
player who ultimately decides which player will actually attack the ball.
As with passing, one may distinguish between an overhand and a bump set. Since the
former allows for more control over the speed and direction of the ball, the bump is used
only when the ball is so low it cannot be properly handled with fingertips, or in beach
volleyball where rules regulating overhand setting are more stringent. In the case of a
set, one also speaks of a front or back set, meaning whether the ball is passed in the
direction the setter is facing or behind the setter. There is also a jump set that is used
when the ball is too close to the net. In this case the setter usually jumps off his or her
right foot straight up to avoid going into the net. The setter usually stands about ⅔ of the
way from the left to the right of the net and faces the left (the larger portion of net that he
or she can see).
Sometimes a setter refrains from raising the ball for a teammate to perform an attack
and tries to play it directly onto the opponent's court. This movement is called a
"dump". This can only be performed when the setter is in the front row, otherwise it
constitutes an illegal back court attack. The most common dumps are to 'throw' the ball
behind the setter or in front of the setter to zones 2 and 4. More experienced setters
toss the ball into the deep corners or spike the ball on the second hit.
As with a set or an overhand pass, the setter/passer must be careful to touch the ball
with both hands at the same time.If one hand is noticeably late to touch the ball this
could result in a less effective set, as well as the referee calling a 'double hit' and giving
the point to the opposing team.

Attack
See also: Volleyball Offensive Systems

The attack, also known as the spike, is usually the third contact a team makes with the
ball.The object of attacking is to handle the ball so that it lands on the opponent's court
and cannot be defended.A player makes a series of steps (the "approach"), jumps, and
swings at the ball.
Ideally the contact with the ball is made at the apex of the hitter's jump. At the moment
of contact, the hitter's arm is fully extended above his or her head and slightly forward,
making the highest possible contact while maintaining the ability to deliver a powerful
hit. The hitter uses arm swing, wrist snap, and a rapid forward contraction of the entire
body to drive the ball.A 'bounce' is a slang term for a very hard/loud spike that follows
an almost straight trajectory steeply downward into the opponent's court and bounces
very high into the air. A "kill" is the slang term for an attack that is not returned by the
other team thus resulting in a point.
Contemporary volleyball comprises a number of attacking techniques:

 Backcourt (or backrow)/pipe attack: an attack performed by a back row player. The
player must jump from behind the 3-meter line before making contact with the ball,
but may land in front of the 3-meter line.
 Line and Cross-court Shot: refers to whether the ball flies in a straight trajectory
parallel to the side lines, or crosses through the court in an angle. A cross-court shot
with a very pronounced angle, resulting in the ball landing near the 3-meter line, is
called a cut shot.
 Dip/Dink/Tip/Cheat/Dump: the player does not try to make a hit, but touches the ball
lightly, so that it lands on an area of the opponent's court that is not being covered
by the defense.
 Tool/Wipe/Block-abuse: the player does not try to make a hard spike, but hits the
ball so that it touches the opponent's block and then bounces off-court.
 Off-speed hit: the player does not hit the ball hard, reducing its speed and thus
confusing the opponent's defense.
 Quick hit/"One": an attack (usually by the middle blocker) where the approach and
jump begin before the setter contacts the ball. The set (called a "quick set") is placed
only slightly above the net and the ball is struck by the hitter almost immediately
after leaving the setter's hands. Quick attacks are often effective because they
isolate the middle blocker to be the only blocker on the hit.
 Slide: a variation of the quick hit that uses a low back set. The middle hitter steps
around the setter and hits from behind him or her.
 Double quick hit/"Stack"/"Tandem": a variation of quick hit where two hitters, one in
front and one behind the setter or both in front of the setter, jump to perform a quick
hit at the same time. It can be used to deceive opposite blockers and free a fourth
hitter attacking from back-court, maybe without block at all.

Block
Blocking refers to the actions taken by players standing at the net to stop or alter an
opponent's attack.
A block that is aimed at completely stopping an attack, thus making the ball remain in
the opponent's court, is called offensive. A well-executed offensive block is performed
by jumping and reaching to penetrate with one's arms and hands over the net and into
the opponent's area.It requires anticipating the direction the ball will go once the attack
takes place. It may also require calculating the best foot work to executing the "perfect"
block.
The jump should be timed so as to intercept the ball's trajectory prior to it crossing over
the net. Palms are held deflected downward roughly 45–60 degrees toward the interior
of the opponents court. A "roof" is a spectacular offensive block that redirects the power
and speed of the attack straight down to the attacker's floor, as if the attacker hit the ball
into the underside of a peaked house roof.
By contrast, it is called a defensive, or "soft" block if the goal is to control and deflect the
hard-driven ball up so that it slows down and becomes easier to defend. A well-
executed soft-block is performed by jumping and placing one's hands above the net with
no penetration into the opponent's court and with the palms up and fingers pointing
backward.
Successful blocking does not always result in a "roof" and many times does not even
touch the ball. While it's obvious that a block was a success when the attacker is roofed,
a block that consistently forces the attacker away from his or her 'power' or preferred
attack into a more easily controlled shot by the defense is also a highly successful
block.
At the same time, the block position influences the positions where other defenders
place themselves while opponent hitters are spiking.

Dig

Player going for a dig

Digging is the ability to prevent the ball from touching one's court after a spike or attack,
particularly a ball that is nearly touching the ground. In many aspects, this skill is similar
to passing, or bumping: overhand dig and bump are also used to distinguish between
defensive actions taken with fingertips or with joined arms.It varies from passing
however in that is it a much more reflex based skill, especially at the higher levels. It is
especially important while digging for players to stay on their toes; several players
choose to employ a split step to make sure they're ready to move in any direction.
Some specific techniques are more common in digging than in passing. A player may
sometimes perform a "dive", i.e., throw his or her body in the air with a forward
movement in an attempt to save the ball, and land on his or her chest. When the player
also slides his or her hand under a ball that is almost touching the court, this is called a
"pancake". The pancake is frequently used in indoor volleyball, but rarely if ever in
beach volleyball because the uneven and yielding nature of the sand court limits the
chances that the ball will make a good, clean contact with the hand. When used
correctly, it is one of the more spectacular defensive volleyball plays.
Sometimes a player may also be forced to drop his or her body quickly to the floor to
save the ball. In this situation, the player makes use of a specific rolling technique to
minimize the chances of injuries.

Team play

Volleyball is essentially a game of transition from one of the above skills to the next,
with choreographed team movement between plays on the ball. These team
movements are determined by the teams chosen serve receive system, offensive
system, coverage system, and defensive system.
The serve-receive system is the formation used by the receiving team to attempt to
pass the ball to the designated setter. Systems can consist of 5 receivers, 4 receivers, 3
receivers, and in some cases 2 receivers. The most popular formation at higher levels is
a 3 receiver formation consisting of two left sides and a libero receiving every rotation.
This allows middles and right sides to become more specialized at hitting and blocking.
Offensive systems are the formations used by the offense to attempt to ground the ball
into the opposing court (or otherwise score points). Formations often include designated
player positions with skill specialization (see Player specialization, below). Popular
formations include the 4-2, 6-2, and 5-1 systems (see Formations, below). There are
also several different attacking schemes teams can use to keep the opposing defense
off balance.
Coverage systems are the formations used by the offense to protect their court in the
case of a blocked attack. Executed by the 5 offensive players not directly attacking the
ball, players move to assigned positions around the attacker to dig up any ball that
deflects off the block back into their own court. Popular formations include the 2-3
system and the 1-2-2 system. In lieu of a system, some teams just use a random
coverage with the players nearest the hitter.
Defensive systems are the formations used by the defense to protect against the ball
being grounded into their court by the opposing team. The system will outline which
players are responsible for which areas of the court depending on where the opposing
team is attacking from. Popular systems include the 6-Up, 6-Back-Deep, and 6-Back-
Slide defense. There are also several different blocking schemes teams can employ to
disrupt the opposing teams offense.
When one player is ready to serve, some teams will line up their other five players in a
screen to obscure the view of the receiving team. This action is only illegal if the server
makes use of the screen, so the call is made at the referee's discretion as to the impact
the screen made on the receiving team's ability to pass the ball. The most common style
of screening involves a W formation designed to take up as much horizontal space as
possible.

Coaching

Basic
Coaching for volleyball can be classified under two main categories: match coaching
and developmental coaching. The objective of match coaching is to win a match by
managing a team's strategy. Developmental coaching emphasizes player development
through the reinforcement of basic skills during exercises known as "drills." Drills
promote repetition and refinement of volleyball movements, particularly in footwork
patterns, body positioning relative to others, and ball contact. A coach will construct
drills that simulate match situations thereby encouraging speed of movement,
anticipation, timing, communication, and team-work. At the various stages of a player's
career, a coach will tailor drills to meet the strategic requirements of the team.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association is the largest organization in the world
dedicated exclusively to volleyball coaching.
 MODULE
IN
PHYSICAL
EDUCATION

Submitted to: Marianas Cano Submitted By: Ruby Jane Raquel

Team Sports

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