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Sitting (Paralympic) Volleyball

The world of sports doesn’t close its doors to those with a disability. Paralympic Volleyball, also known as sitting volleyball, is a sport for disabled athletes. It has a smaller court than regular volleyball, and also a lower net. It has a specific best-of-five set format in which it is played. The first team to reach 25 points along with a lead of two points wins the game.

There are male and female events with a requirement of six on the court at a given time. Athletes with these disabilities can compete in sitting volleyball: spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke, cerebral palsy and amputees.

the US sitting volleyball team

It is essential for an athlete to make sure that his/her pelvis is touching the ground at all times. During the game, taking steps or attempting to rise or stand is not allowed. There are only two scenarios in which a brief loss of contact is allowed. First scenario is an attempt to save the ball while making a defensive play in the back zone and the second scenario is while making a defensive play in the front zone. Service blocks are allowed.

Sitting volleyball was first featured in the Paralympic Games as a demonstration sport at the 1976 Toronto Games. It was then introduced as a medal sport in Arnhem in 1980.

Similar Sports

• Seatball — a sport like sitting volleyball for disabled and non-disabled athletes, played on a larger court and allowing for the ball to bounce once between touches (also called Sitzball or Sitball).
• Volleyball — a game for two teams of six players, in which a large ball is hit by hand over a high net, the aim being to score points by making the ball reach the ground on the opponent's side of the court.
• Para Badminton — versions of badminton for disabled athletes, either standing, in a wheelchair, or played while sitting.
• 7-a-side Football — the adaptation of association football for athletes with cerebral palsy.
• Deaf Basketball — basketball that is played by the hearing impaired. Players use sign language to communicate with each other including the refs.

Related Pages

• Sports for the Disabled
• About Paralympic Sports
• About Sitting Volleyball at the Paralympics
• Discussion of Volleyball-Type Sports
• Complete list of sports
• The Encyclopedia of Sports

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