Sitting Volleyball Rules

In order to become a member of the U.S national sitting volleyball team, a player must have some type of disability. Though the organization requires players to have a type of disability, other clubs offer sitting volleyball to anyone, whether disabled or not. Sitting volleyball appeals to people because it levels the field of play so that young, old, male and female can play together. A player's skill isn’t determined by her athletic ability, because all players have the same disadvantage.

  1. Court Dimensions

    • Some dimensions of the court are modified from traditional standing volleyball to give advantages while playing sitting down. According to the organization Sitting Volleyball in the United States, the top of the net is 1 meter from the ground, and the net is 10 meters long.

      The regulation size of the court is 6 meters by 10 meters. The center line divides the court in half, giving each side a 6-by-5-meter playing surface. A line is drawn parallel to the center line and two meters away from it; this is called the attack line. The zone between the center line and the attack line is the attack zone, where the forwards are positioned.

    Positioning

    • Players on the court are required to sit during play and can make contact with the ball only then. Three players are positioned closest to the net are the front row, and the other three players make up the back row. Players are also required to face the net with their left and right buttocks squared to the center line. When a team has gained the right to serve, each player rotates clockwise to the next position.

    Games

    • Each game is played to a score of 25, and the winner must win by at least two points. The winner of the match is determined by the best of five games. If a fifth game is required, the game is played until a team reaches 15 points instead of 25.

    Players

    • According to World Organisation Volleyball for Disabled, each team cannot have more than 12 players on its roster, and at least two of them must be disabled. Each team can have one coach, an assistant, an athletic trainer and a physician. Six of the 12 players must be on the court during play. All players on the court must be included in the starting lineup, and names are recorded on the roster, which is given to the referee. Players can be substituted if there is an injury or if a player has been disqualified.