Volleyball - Playing Environment

Volleyball is played in a rectangular court, divided into two equal halves across the length by a net tightly stretched between two poles, fixed at either sides of the court.

Court Design

A standard international volleyball court is an indoor, rectangular in shape whose sides are 18 meters and the ends are 9 meters. The surface of the court is neither slippery nor rough, to avoid injuries. International courts have wooden or synthetic flooring.

The court is divided into two similar squares of 9 X 9 meters by a center line, one for each team. The court is further divided into the following zones −

Free zone − The playing surface is surrounded by a free zone up to 3 meters on all sides. The free zone in international courts is 5 m from the longer sides and 8 meter from the shorter sides.

Front zone − The front zone in each half extends from the center line to the attack line. It is drawn 3 meters away from the center line on both sides of the court.

Service zone − This zone is used for servicing the ball to the opponent court behind the end lines and has a width of 9 metres. The player has to be in the service zone while jumping or serving.

Substitution zone − The substitution zone lies between the scorer’s table and the attack line.

Libero replacement zone − The Libero replacement zone is a part of the free zone beside team benches and between the extended attack line and the end line.