volleyball assoc of ireland

A volleyball team consists of six players; two teams are separated by a net across a court that is 18m by 9m. The object of the game is to make the ball land in the opponents' court, force them to mishandle the ball or return it across the net so that it lands out of court. Play begins when the server, standing behind the back line and in the disignated service area, strikes the ball with one hand or arm sending it over the net and into the opposite court. The receiving team can hit the ball three times before returning it to the other side - but one player cannot hit the ball twice in a row. The teams "rally" until one team allows the ball to touch the ground in its own court or doesn't return it properly. If the rally is won by the serving team, they get a point. If the receiving team wins, they get to serve and all players rotate one place (clockwise) before service. Points are scored only by the serving team. The first to get to 15 points wins, but you must have a two point lead. A match is usually decided by the best of three or five sets.