All about the volleyball field

To play a game of volleyball you will need a ball, a net and a regulation volleyball court. This last element is easy to paint, as long as you know the different areas of it, which mark both the game and the volleyball positions that are currently used. 

Among the different team sports that we have within our reach, volleyball is one of the most interesting. From the time the volleyball serve is made until the points are awarded, and with them the different volleyball games that choose the winner, the future of this sport develops at full speed. Something that has to do, in part, with the rules of volleyball, which favor this great speed. In this frenetic pace, the measures of the volleyball court also have a lot to do with it, which further encourage the game in all its phases.

Best of all, this sport does not require large spaces , since a regulation volleyball court has a surface area of ​​about 160 square meters. Much less space than a football field requires, for example. So that you know more about the environment in which volleyball players move, we analyze in detail each of the measurements of this terrain.

main measures

A volleyball field has main measurements of 9 meters wide by 18 long. This length is divided in half, by means of a line that establishes the two corresponding fields. Both have a square design, separately, with measures of 9 meters on each side. As you can already imagine, if you know what volleyball is, both fields are separated by a net, the measurements of which we will analyze later.

Leaving aside these main lines, there are two other important lines. These are the ones that separate the attack zone from the defense zone, in each of the playing fields. These are located three meters from the net, so the attack zone would have a rectangular design, 3 meters long and 9 meters wide. Consequently, the defense zone has dimensions of 6 meters long and 9 meters wide, thus completing each of the halves of the field. By the way, all the lines belong to the area they delimit , so if a ball touches the bottom line after a service, it would be inside the field and would be a point for the serving team.

Safety distance

In addition to the basic measures that we have mentioned for the track, there are a series of safety zones that we must consider when laying it out. Let us think that in the course of a volleyball match, the most normal thing is for the players to move all over the field and even leave the playing area that we have mentioned. For this reason, the regulations establish these free zones, to prevent players from finishing a play stamped against a wall.

The specific dimensions of this area are 3 meters on each side of the playing field. Therefore, the area in which the volleyball field is located must have a width of 15 meters (the 9 of the track plus 3 meters on each side), while the total length must be 24 meters (18 of the track plus 3 on each side). This area must be free of all kinds of obstacles, except for the structure where the chair umpire is located and the net posts, of course. Similarly, if the free space around the track is greater, much better in terms of safety.

By the way, since we are talking about measurements and others, there is a detail that not many people know. We talk about the height that should be above the volleyball court. This detail is not important when the matches are played outdoors, unless there are trees in the area, but it is important when the matches are played in closed pavilions. In this case, the height recommended by the CSD regulations establishes a minimum ceiling height of 7 meters with respect to the floor of the pavilion. This height is increased to 12 meters in the case of international competition matches. Something fundamental to guarantee a fluid game at height, without the ball colliding with the structure of the installation. 

ball measurements

Of course, to play this sport we need a volleyball ball. Using a soccer ball or basketball is a bad idea. This ball also has specific characteristics, having a diameter of 21 centimeters, a circumference of 65 to 67 centimeters and a weight of approximately 260 to 280 grams. It should also have a colorful exterior, which makes it easy to see clearly during play.

The volleyball net

To complete our analysis, it is time to talk about the volleyball net, essential for the game to make sense. This network measures 1 meter wide, 9.5 to 10 meters long and has squares of 10 x 10 centimeters on its surface. It is placed at a height of 2.44 meters for men’s matches and 2.24 meters for women’s. 

As an extra, two 1.8 meter rods are placed inside the net, which protrude about 80 centimeters above the net. These elements are the ones that mark the so-called out of rods, serving as aerial reference of the field measurements.