Volleyball takes two forms at the Olympics - the indoor game played by teams of six, and beach volleyball, which is played in pairs.
And there is the sitting game for the Paralympics.
The game
Beach volleyball may be seen as more glamorous than the indoor version, but in both disciplines the object of the game is the same.
Points are won when a team manages to land the ball in the opposition's half of the court, and rallies also end when the ball is hit out of bounds or a team does not return it legally.
A team may hit the ball three times, in addition to the initial block, in trying to manipulate a point-winning play.
Getting started
If you want to get playing volleyball there are clubs and organisations all over the country.
England - English Volleyball Association
Suite B, Loughborough Technology Centre
Epinal Way
Loughborough
LE11 3GE
Tel: 01509 631 699
Fax: 01509 631 689
E-mail: general@eng-volleyball.demon.co.uk
Scotland - Scottish Volleyball Association
48 The Pleasance
Edinburgh
EH8 9TJ
Tel: 0131 556 4633
Fax: 0131 557 4314
E-mail: info@scottishvolleyball.org
Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland Volleyball Association
Nick Wright
House of Sport
Upper Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 5LA
Tel: 079 6605 6137
E-mail: nick@nivb.co.uk
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