National Volleyball Teams

Although it's a favorite pastime at the beach and backyard barbecues, organized volleyball in America produces world-class athletes who compete in Olympic, World Cup and other FIVA-sanctioned world volleyball championships. The United States fields several teams who represent the country in different formats, events and team structures, all of whom are governed by USA Volleyball.

  1. U.S. Men's National Team

    • Competing under FIVB indoor volleyball rules, the U.S. Men's National Team has an overall 36-man roster, although no more than 12 men may be listed on a team roster for any round of volleyball. First competing in the 1964 Olympics, the team boasts three gold medal performances (1984, 1988 and 2008), as well as being crowned champions in the 1986 FIVA world championship tournament. The 2010 lineup features 14 former Olympians and is headquartered at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

    U.S. Women's National Team

    • Competing under the same rules that govern the U.S. Men's Olympic Team and also sanctioned by USA Volleyball and FIVA rules, the 2010 U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team features a 40-member roster, although it is only permitted a 12-player roster in games. Competing in Olympic volleyball since 1964, the team has yet to strike Olympic gold, though it earned silver medals in two previous Olympic Games (1984 and 2008). The 2010 roster features 12 returning Olympians.

    U.S. Beach Volleyball Team

    • The U.S. Beach Volleyball team is a coed team that fields two-member competing pairs for world class level beach volleyball. Since the sport was introduced to the Olympics in 1996, American men have taken the gold medal all but once (in 2004, when it was claimed by Brazil), and women have claimed two out of the four beach volleyball Olympic championships.

    U.S. Sitting Volleyball Team

    • Representing the United States in men's and women's sitting volleyball teams at the Paralympics, the sitting volleyball team features amputees who play six-on-a-side volleyball on a court with a three-foot-high net. These teams are also sanctioned by USA Volleyball.