Sitting Volleyball

Published: October 27, 2014

If you happen to be disabled and you're looking for new and exciting ways to stay fit, active, and entertained, then you've come to the right place — we can help! Sitting volleyball is not only a good way to get some exercise, but it’s also a great method to assist you with staying active and meeting new friends. Below, you'll find various facts regarding this sport. If you’re interested in joining a team or seeing what sitting volleyball opportunities are in your area, you may find calling a local gym, rec, or community center to be appropriate.

Learning the Sport

Sitting volleyball is also known as "paralympic volleyball." Yes, the name of this sport says it all. Players of sitting volleyball will actually sit on the court. In this version of the sport, a 0.8 meter-wide net is set at 1.15 meters high for men and 1.05 meters high for women. The length of the court is as follows: 10 X 6 meters with a 2-meter attack line. During the game, players must have at least one buttock in contact with the floor whenever he or she makes contact with the ball.

When it comes to grouping, there are no athlete classifications by disability, as there often are with other sports. Sitting volleyball is often approached by people who suffer from the following disabilities: amputees, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, brain injuries, and strokes.

Other Differences

One of the biggest differences between sitting volleyball versus traditional volleyball is the fact that sitting volleyball often goes considerably faster. This game is played in the best-of-five set format. The first team to reach 25 points (with at least having a 2-point lead) will win the game. Though six players are still used for one team, teams can consist of mixes of men and women.

Are You Interested?

Does sitting volleyball seem like something you'd be interested in learning more about or participating in? As mentioned, you can check with a local gym, rec, or community center to see what options are currently available in your area. If sitting volleyball doesn’t exist, then maybe you can get an event started. After all, those who aren’t disabled can participate, too!