sitting volleyball
HISTORY
Sitting volleyball began in the Netherlands in 1956 and originated as a combination of volleyball and Sitzball, a German sport with no net that people play while seated. Sitting volleyball was first played internationally in 1967, but it was not until 1978 that the World Organization Volleyball for Disabled was able to obtain recognition for the sport from the International Sports Organization for the Disabled. It was a “demonstration” sport in the 1976 Paralympic Games in Toronto, Canada, and was included as a competitive sport in the 1980 Arnhem Paralympics in the Netherlands. Currently, the sport is played in over 60 countries worldwide.
RULES & REGULATIONS
The court size is 6 x 10m; the centerline divides the court into two half-courts of 6 x 5m each. The net is 0.80m wide and between 6.5 and 7m long, and the height is 1.15m for men and 1m for women. The game is typically much more fast-paced than its Olympics counterpart. Like volleyball, the game is played in a best-of-five-sets format, and the first team to reach 25 points with a two-point lead wins the set. If the match goes to a fifth set, the first team to 15 points with a two-point lead wins the set.
Six players, including a defensive specialist, are allowed on each court at any given time, and at all times, an athlete’s pelvis must be in contact with the ground. Serves can be blocked..
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ELIGIBILITY
All athletes with physical disabilities are eligible, though most players tend to be athletes who are amputees. Two players on each team (but only one player on each court) may have “minimal impairment” – meaning that their disability may appear minimal but prevents them from competing in standing volleyball (e.g. missing fingers).