Volleyball and Handball: Rules and Techniques
Volleyball: Rules and Techniques
Volleyball is a sport where two teams face off on a smooth field separated by a central net, trying to pass the ball over the net to the opposite field’s soil. The ball can be touched or driven with clean blows, but cannot be stopped, restrained, held, or carried. Each team has a limited number of touches to return the ball to the opposite field. Usually, the ball is hit with hands and arms, but other parts of the body can also be used. One of the most unique characteristics of volleyball is that players must rotate their positions as they earn points. There are various modalities. The term “volleyball” typically identifies the method that is played on an indoor court, but beach volleyball, played on sand, is also very popular. Sitting volleyball is a variation with increasing popularity among sports for the disabled, and cachibol is widely practiced in older communities. Volleyball is one sport with great parity between male and female competitions, both in the level of competition and popularity, presence in the media, and public following.
Scoring in Volleyball
A point is scored when the opposing team fails to control the ball or commits a violation:
- Players must prevent the ball from touching the ground within their field; otherwise, it is a point for the opposing team.
- If the ball lands outside the court, either by a misguided attack on the opponent or a mistake in trying to defend, the fault is on the player and team that last touched the ball, and a point is awarded to the other team.
- Contact with the roof, audience, or any part of the pavilion, including the officials, is considered out. Contact with the net, poles, or wires outside of the sidebands is also out.
- It is a fault if a team exceeds the allowed three hits without passing the ball over the net, or if a player touches the ball twice in a row. However, if there is a block touch, that first touch is not counted towards the three-hit limit for the team or the double-touch rule for the individual. When the ball hits the net without passing over, it is common for a fourth touch to occur, resulting in a double fault or a point if the ball hits the ground.
- Lack of rotation: If, at the time of the serve, the players are positioned incorrectly (i.e., not according to the corresponding rotation), it is a fault.
- If the ball touch is incorrect and there is retention or carrying, it is a fault.
- The libero cannot participate in blocking in any way and has restrictions on attacking.
Handball: Rules and Techniques
In handball, players can advance the ball in their hands for a maximum of three steps. From that point, the player has 3 seconds to shoot, pass, or dribble the ball. If the ball is bounced with only one hand for each bounce and with the palm outstretched (unlike basketball), the player can continue moving until it stops bouncing. From that moment, another three steps can be taken, and the player must shoot or pass within three seconds, as it is not permissible for a player to throw the ball back without it touching another player or the goal.
Handball Rules
- The goal area cannot be invaded by any player except the defending goalkeeper. If an attacking player does so, the move is invalid, and the ball goes to the defending team. If a defending player invades the area, preventing a clear goal-scoring opportunity, a 7-meter throw is awarded.
- A player cannot exceed the 7-meter throwing line; at least some part of one foot must remain in contact with the ground until after the launch. Violation of this rule results in a free-kick against the offending team.
- During a 7-meter throw, all players except the thrower and the goalkeeper must remain behind the 9-meter line and 3 meters from the 7-meter line.
- If the attacking team does not show a clear offensive attitude, ‘passive play’ will be called, and the ball will be given to the defending team. There is no set time to notify or whistle ‘passive play’; it depends on the attacking team’s attitude and the referee’s judgment. This subjective aspect often leads to controversy.
Muscles (Example List)
- Deltoid: Shoulder
- Pectoral: Chest
- Biceps: Front of the arm
- Triceps: Back of the arm
- Abdominal: Stomach
- Quadriceps: Front of the leg
- Calves: Lower leg
