Volleyball is an outdoor or indoor game played by 6 members of a team. This game was first played in the Massachusetts, United States, in the year 1895, December. It was William G Morgan who invented the game. It was basically a blend of badminton, tennis, handball, and baseball. The regulations of playing Volleyball are distinct from any of the games mentioned. It has a few sets of rules as organized by its governing body FIVB (International Volleyball Federation).
FIVB arranges World Cup tournaments, Olympic Games, world championships, and other major volleyball events. It is the body that rules the competition and the game in general. The size of the volleyball court, the zone, the positioning of the lines, the standard height of the volleyball net, the mountain guide, etc., are standardized by this governing body.
In this context, we have discussed the volleyball terms and have accurately stated the standardized Volleyball Court Measurement and the net.
Volleyball Court Measurements:
Although there is a standard court dimension for volleyball, they do vary on the place of occurrence, age of the players, and the event. The court dimension of indoor volleyball doesn’t match outdoor volleyball. We will see the different standard sizes of volleyball courts on the basis of the following conditions.
A. Indoor volleyball court.
It is the court set up inside a large room. Although it has a standard size, it can vary when there is a different event.
For the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the court size should be 60 feet in length and 30 feet in width.
For the FIVB, NCAA, the court dimension is 15 feet in width and 29.5 feet in length divided in two equal parts.
B. Outdoor (Beach )Volleyball Court.
Volleyball played on an outdoor court can either be on a plain surface or on a beach.
When played as USAVB, NCAA, or FIVB, the court should be sized at 52.6 feet long and 26.25 feet wide.
When it is a recreational game, the court dimension should be 52.5 feet long and 26.25 feet wide. It is appropriate for the volleyball played in the sand.
Indoor Volleyball Court size
- Overall Length: 60 ft. / 18.288 m
- Width: 29.5′ – 9 m
- Length: 59’ – 18 m
- Area: 1,743 ft2 – 161 m2
Indoor volleyball court zones and sizes
- Attack Line: 9’10” (10’) – 3 m from net
- Playing Area: 1,743 ft2 – 161 m2
- Free Zone | Clearance (Back): 9’10”-21’4” – 3-6.5 m
- Free Zone | Clearance (Side): 9’10”-16’5” – 3-5 m
- Area with Clearances (Minimum): 3,875 ft2 – 360 m2
- Area with Clearances (Large): 6,340 ft2 – 589 m2
Beach Volleyball Court Dimensions and sizing
- Width: 26.3′ – 8 m
- Length: 52.6’ – 16 m
- Area: 1,383 ft2 – 128 m2
What’s the Standard Volleyball Court Size in Meter
The standard volleyball size court in meters is 18m in length and 9m in width.
Volleyball court measurements in feet
The size of the volleyball court is 59 ft. lengthwise and 29.53 ft. in width.
Volleyball court size in Yards
In yards, the area of the volley court is 19.685 yards x 9.842 yards.
What is the total area of a Volleyball court?
As per the FIVB, the total area of the indoor volleyball court is 218m x 9m.
The area of the outdoor volleyball court is 16m x 8m.
Length of a Volleyball court.
The length of the volleyball court is 18m and 16m for indoor and outdoor courts, respectively.
Width of a Volleyball court
The width of the volleyball court is 9m and 8m for indoor and outdoor courts, respectively.
Types of Volleyball court
Volleyball court has variations that depend upon the court surface. There is no other basis of distinction as far as the volleyball court is concerned but its surface is a good point of difference; Basically, there are three different kinds of volleyball court surfaces.
A. Traditional hardwood volleyball courts.
B. Synthetic volleyball courts.
C. Court tile surfaces.
Let us take a look at each of the types.
A. Traditional Hardwood Volleyball Courts.
It is a classic and traditional volleyball court constructed with hardwood. It is a high-quality hardwood made by Americans. It ensures players be less prone to injuries, especially on the knees and the joints. It is quite durable and economical. But today, not every volleyball court is made of hardwood. People are adopting synthetic volleyball courts and other surfaces as well.
B. Synthetic volleyball court.
The synthetic volleyball court has synthetic flooring. It is made with a urethane surface pad and seamless pour that ensures incredible playability. Besides these, the synthetic surface provides a good grip. These are highly durable and easily repairable at a minimal cost.
C. Court Tile Surfaces.
The court tile surfaces offer seamless plain surfaces with exceptional grip. The surface makes sure the volleyball players can have a safe play. Unlike the synthetic volleyball court, other courts offer a safe game to the players. It is not much expensive and therefore can be afforded by several people and associations.
Understanding Volleyball Court Layouts:
- Attack Line
- Service Zone
- Centerline
- Free Zone
There are two different zones in the volleyball court and they are being divided by the lines. According to the game rule each of them has separate function. The players follow the regulations set by the FIVB for the lines and the zones on the court. Let us see what these lines on the court actually mean.
Attack line.
The Attack line is a line that divides both types of the court between the back zone and the front zone. The length of the attack line is the same as the width of the volleyball playing area, which is 9 meters. It runs parallel to the end line of the court. It is positioned at a distance of 3 m from the centerline.
Service zone.
The service zone is a specified area from where players start the ball before every rally. The players were supposed to stand on the service zone before they through the ball. It is 9m wide and 3 to 8m in length. This zone has a greater significance as it is extended to the end line of the free zone.
Center Line.
Centerline is the 9m line that divides the volleyball court for the playing area into two equal proportions. Above the centerline, the net of the volleyball is mounted. In specific, it plays no major role other than distinctive or dividing the court into two portions, so both the team get the same area for play.
Free Zone.
As per the regulations of FIVB, the free zone must cover an area of a minimum of 5 meters and a maximum of 6 meters. It is an area in which players are allowed to have a practice play or for free play.
The free zone is outside the volleyball playing area or the volleyball court. It is the area bounded by the end line and the sideline.
What are the Zones Inside an Indoor Volleyball Court?
When you see a volleyball court, you might observe different sidelines, baseline, Centerline, front row, back row, coach restriction zone, and many such kinds of zones. Only a person aware of the components of a volleyball court would know about the restrictions and the allowances provided inside and outside a volleyball court.
They know well where the coaches could stand, in which zone are the players allowed in the period of the timeout, where they are supposed to play, which line they should not cross, the court components, the court dimensions, and the court rules. Well, these are some of the descriptive areas to discover in a volleyball court, but the basic knowledge- zones inside indoor volleyball court must be learned.
The indoor volleyball court is split into 6 different zones known as the serving zone. Each zona is evenly spread on the volleyball court. It incorporates the front row and the back row of the volleyball court from which the players are supposed to serve.
The first three zones exist in the frontcourt.
The second three zones are in the backcourt.
Zone | Position Name |
1 | Right-back position |
2 | Right front position |
3 | Middle front position |
4 | Left front position |
5 | Left-back position |
5 | Middle back position |
For an accurate reference, see the positions of the players from their side and not yours. When they are standing on the volleyball court and ready to play, it is from their right and left that you need to consider the zones, or else it would be great confusion. The players could communicate well with the coaches during the games. The coach of the respective teams suggests to the players where to hit it. They even use their fingers to signal their players, suggesting to them the best position to serve.
Having said that, four different zones on the volleyball court are not counted as serving zone but still exist as a significant part let’s check them out.
a. Volleyball-free zone.
During timeouts, the players come to the free zone, which is the area outside the boundary of the volleyball court.
b. Volleyball substitution zone.
When the coach decides to substitute a player with the other one, the player must wait in the substitution zone, which is the front row, near the scorer’s table. As the players stand there, another player comes in and the player moves out of the court.
c. Libero replacement zone.
This is the zone of the volleyball court where the players stand. The libero layers before entering the game, please wait in the libero replacement zone, which is the head of the team bench.
d. Coach restriction zone.
Anyways the coaches are not allowed to enter the volleyball court, but the area behind the attack line on their sideline is the space for them. Across this zone, no coaches are allowed to be at their fault; it is called the coach restriction zone. We cannot step into the volleyball court during the game, or they would be penalized. In case any coach gets into the 10-foot line, the referees would show the yellow card and penalize them for their actions.
Playing surface Of Volleyball court
The playing surface of the volleyball is a flat surface surrounded by the free and service zones. It is either made with synthetic materials or wood. Volleyball court Playing area length is 18m and its width is 9m.
What is the weight of a volleyball?
There are three kinds of Volleyball appropriate for different places. According to the rule they have different weight and circumference.
But, as per the regulation of the FIVB, the standard indoor volleyball must weigh 260- 280 grams.
How many players are on a volleyball team?
On each team, there can 6 players. They rotate their position as they proceed with the game.
How long is a volleyball game?
The total time for one volleyball set is variable. There is no standard time limit fixed by the FIVB. It usually depends on how long one set would take. If a team consumes 25 minutes for scoring 25 points when it is the time required to score 25 points. If players take more than 25 minutes to score 25 points, it would be the total number of hours and minutes taken to the point. Therefore, there is no time specified for a volleyball set.
It can go for hours until the team scores a relevant point on a rally or set.
Usually, 60 to 90 minutes are required for each rally. It includes breaks and timeouts.
Volleyball Net Dimensions (Male, Female, etc.) and mounting guide.
FIVB has regulated a standard size of Volleyball net for women and men. It varies according to the height of the women and men and also the age. There is a specific volleyball net for disabled people as well.
We have a volleyball net chart that tells you the standard net size for men and women of every age.
Men’s volleyball net size and height.
The size of the net is different at the different sides of the net. Middle of the net height should not match the height at the post. So the net sizing we have on our start is different in the two columns because of the positions.
- The standard net height for men at the center of the net must be 7 feet and 11 5/8 inches. At the sides, the net should be weighted at 8 feet and 3/8 inches.
- Men with ages between 55 to 69, must play on a net that has a height of 70 feet and 9 5/8 inches. At the sides, or near the post, the height of the net should be 7 feet and 10 3/8 inches.
- Boys with age 11 and 12, must play on the net with a height of 7 feet in the center and 7 feet 3/4 inches near the post.
- The boys who are under the age of 10 are junior. The appropriate net height for them is 7 feet at the center and 7 feet 3/4 inches near the sides.
Women’s volleyball net size and height.
The standard volleyball net height for women is 7 feet and 4 1/8 inches on the center of the net.
The sides of the net must have a height of 7 feet and 4 7/8 inches.
- The women with ages more than 45, play at the volleyball net weighted at 7 feet and 2 1/8 inches. At the sides, the net height should be 7 feet and 2 1/8 inches.
- The girls who are under the age of 13 and before 11 should play at the next, which is highlighted at 7 feet and 7 feet 3/4 inches at the center and at the sides, respectively.
- The girls who are below 10 play at the net height of 6 feet and 6 inches in the center. At the sides of the net, the height should not exceed 6 feet and 6 3/4 inches.
Mounting the volleyball net to the post is an easy process.
a. Firstly, grab the winch and tighten it. Repeat the process until it is at the right height.
b. Tighten the net with the post.
c. Now tie the rope on the post.
d. Attach the antennas to the net.
Follow this step after placing the post on the holes.