Volleyball scoreboard, free, built for rallies

The official volleyball is a spherical leather or synthetic leather ball with a circumference of 65–67 cm and weight of 260–280 grams. Indoor volleyballs are typically white or tri-colored, while beach volleyballs are slightly larger, lighter, and have a rougher texture for better grip in outdoor conditions. Mikasa is the official ball supplier for FIVB competitions, with the V200W model used at the Olympics and World Championships.

The volleyball net spans the full 9.50m width of the court and is 1m tall, set at a height of 2.43m for men and 2.24m for women. It is held taut by steel cables and attached to adjustable metal posts positioned 0.50–1.00m outside the sidelines. The net must maintain consistent tension and height across its entire span, and the top band features a white canvas strip for clear visibility.

Volleyball shoes are specifically engineered for the sport's unique movement demands: explosive jumping, lateral shuffling, and quick directional changes. They feature gum rubber outsoles for maximum court grip, specialized cushioning systems in the forefoot and heel for impact absorption during landings, and lightweight construction to minimize fatigue. Leading brands like Mizuno, ASICS, and Nike dominate the professional market.

Knee pads are key protective equipment in volleyball, particularly for defensive specialists and liberos who frequently dive to the floor. Modern volleyball knee pads use high-density foam or gel padding with breathable, moisture-wicking sleeves that stay in place during intense play. They protect against impact injuries and floor burns while allowing full range of motion for digging and rolling.

The antennas are flexible fiberglass rods (1.80m tall, 10mm diameter) attached to each side of the net, directly above the sideline markings. They extend 80cm above the net and serve as visual boundary markers — the ball must cross the net between the two antennas for a legal play. Any ball touching an antenna or crossing outside it is ruled out. Antennas are painted in alternating red and white bands for high visibility.

Volleyball was invented on February 9, 1895, by William G. Morgan, a physical education director at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Morgan sought to create a less physically demanding alternative to basketball (invented just four years earlier by James Naismith at a nearby YMCA) for older members of his classes. He originally called the game "Mintonette," blending elements of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball into a net-based game that anyone could play.

The name was changed to "volleyball" (originally "volley ball") during a demonstration at a YMCA conference in 1896, when Alfred Halstead observed that players were volleying the ball back and forth over the net. Morgan's original rules allowed any number of players per side, unlimited contacts per possession, and a 6-foot-6-inch net height. The sport spread rapidly through the international YMCA network, reaching Canada in 1900, Asia by 1910, and Europe during World War I as American soldiers introduced the game abroad.

The Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) was founded on April 20, 1947, in Paris, France, with 14 founding member nations. The creation of the FIVB marked the beginning of standardized international volleyball rules, replacing the patchwork of regional rule variations that had developed over 50 years. The federation established the first unified rulebook, standardized court dimensions (18m x 9m), net heights (2.43m for men, 2.24m for women), and team sizes (six players per side).

The FIVB organized the first Men's World Championship in 1949 (Prague, Czechoslovakia) and the first Women's World Championship in 1952 (Moscow, Soviet Union). These inaugural tournaments demonstrated volleyball's competitive potential and laid the groundwork for the sport's Olympic ambitions. By the 1960s, the FIVB had grown to over 80 member federations, making volleyball one of the most widely played sports on Earth.

Volleyball made its Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Games, marking a watershed moment for the sport. Both men's and women's tournaments were included from the start. A rarity in Olympic history. The Soviet Union won the men's gold medal, while host nation Japan captured the women's title in a dominant performance that captivated the nation. The Japanese women's team, nicknamed the "Witches of the Orient" for their relentless defensive play, became national heroes.

The Olympic inclusion transformed volleyball from a recreational pastime into a serious competitive discipline with structured training programs, professional leagues, and national development pathways. Beach volleyball joined the Olympic program at the 1996 Atlanta Games, further expanding volleyball's global reach and mainstream visibility. The Olympic platform continues to drive investment, media coverage, and participation growth in volleyball worldwide.

The most significant rule change in volleyball history came in 1999, when the FIVB adopted rally point scoring for all sets. Under the previous side-out scoring system, only the serving team could score points, leading to matches that could last three hours or more. Rally scoring, where every rally results in a point regardless of which team served, dramatically improved the sport's pacing and television appeal. Sets now end at 25 points (or 15 in the deciding set), with a mandatory 2-point advantage.

The introduction of the video challenge system in 2012 brought technological precision to volleyball officiating. Teams can challenge referee decisions on in/out calls, touch calls, and net violations, with video replay providing definitive evidence. This system has increased fairness and reduced controversial calls at the elite level. Combined with electronic scoring systems and real-time statistics, modern volleyball has become one of the most technologically advanced team sports, while retaining the pure rally-driven excitement that has defined the game since its invention.