Volleyball is one of the most loved sports in the world. Being the national game of the US, many people have so many curious questions about this game.
One of the most searched terms about volleyball is how long is a volleyball game.
If we see the information book about volleyball, we will find that a volleyball game takes almost 90 minutes to finish. But that is only information, the reality is a bit different.
To know about volleyball, you need to know the rules of the game. The rules are not so hard to understand and it is easy to learn if you are eager to know about the game.
But let me tell you first that what else you are going to know about volleyball in this article. I shall discuss –
So, let’s start.
How Long Is A Volleyball Game
How long will a volleyball game last depends on how long a team takes to defeat their opponent. The team that wins two games wins the match.
Generally, a single game takes 20 to 30 minutes, but it can take a shorter or longer time, depending on the skills of the players and how much time a team takes to completely win the game. And each game consists of sets.
How Many Sets Are In Volleyball
A player serves the ball to the opponent’s court. Once the ball crosses the net and comes to the court of a team, then the players have to send the ball to the opponent’s court within three touches.
The ball cannot touch the ground, and a player cannot touch a ball more than once. The point is won by the serving team when the opposing team fails to return the ball to the serving team’s court.
There can be either 3 or 5 sets in a volleyball game. The first 4 sets are played for 25 points, and the final set is played for 15 points. Whoever wins the maximum sets wins the game.
But if the serving team fails to send the ball to the opponent’s court, then the chance of serving the ball goes to the opponent team, and now the opponent team will be the new serving team.
Remember that a point can be won only by the serving team. A non-serving can only earn a chance to be the new serving team and the chance to earn a point in the next serve.
And the winning team must get a lead of at least 2 points in the game. That means a team cannot win by a score of 24-25. If this happens, then the game will last until a team gets a two-point lead.
How Long Does A High School Volleyball Game Last
Most high school volleyball games consist of 3 sets, and the winner is selected by the best 2 of 3 processes.
But some high school volleyball matches consist of 5 sets too, just like the international volleyball matches, and here the winner is selected by the best 3 of 5 processes.
Longest Volleyball Game
The information book on volleyball says that a volleyball match lasts for 90 minutes if it goes longer than usual. But the reality is something different. At least, the record book says so.
There is a record of the longest volleyball game in the Guinness World Record book. It lasted for 85 hours! Though it was not a single match, rather it was a tournament, but still, this is a world record.
Yes, it is not a typing mistake. The match lasted for 85 hours indeed. It was played in the month of December of the year 2011 in the Netherlands. The game consisted of a total of 338 sets of 63 matches, and the total points earned in this game were 14,635.
The longest volleyball set was played in the Men’s Czechoslovak League in the year of 1979. It was played until a team got a lead of at least two points. The set was ended when the final score became 87:85.
Volleyball Games Vs Matches
Generally, a volleyball match has 3 or 5 sets. All the international matches have 5 sets in each match. Teams have to win points to win each of the sets. Each set ends when a team reaches 25 points, but there is a condition.
The team that reaches 25 points, must have at least a lead of two points. That means, the opponent team must not have more than 23 points. Unless the set will continue until a team gets the required two-points lead.
If the match consists of three sets, then the team that wins two sets will win the match. And for the five-sets match, the team needs to win at least 3 sets to win the match.
How Long Is A Volleyball Game In High School
Though the Jr High School volleyball matches are consist of only 3 seats, once you are in high school, you have to play a match of 5 sets.
You need to win 3 sets to win the match as per the best 3 of 5 rule, and you have to win each set with at least a two-point lead.
The first 4 sets are played for 25 points, where the 5th set is played for 15 points.
How Long Is A 5 Set Volleyball Game
It varies as a set has no time limit. It is played until a team wins it with a two-point lead. And it depends on the skills of playing of the players. With two strong teams, it usually takes longer times to finish a set, as both the teams play excellent volleyball and try hard for each point.
There are breaks too during the match. After set 2 and set 3, a 5 minutes break is given as these sets are usually played for longer times. A total of 14 minutes of break are spent during the match in intervals.
How Long Is A Volleyball Net
The official size for a volleyball net is 32 feet in width and 39 inches in length. An official volleyball match cannot be played without this size of the net.
But if you want to play volleyball, you can use a net of any size.
Though the height of the volleyball net is different for men’s and women’s matches. For a men’s match, the height of the net should be 7 feet 11-5/8 inches, or approx. 8 feet; and the height of the net for women’s match is 7 feet 4-1/8 inches, or approx. 7 feet 4 inches.
How Long Is A Beach Volleyball Game
A beach volleyball match lasts for 30 minutes to 64 minutes maximum. It generally does not depend on the number of sets, on what stage is the tournament on, who the players are, what skills the players have, or the player’s gender.
It usually goes with 78-80 rallies per match for a match with two sets, and 94-96 rallies per match for a match with three sets.
How Is A Volleyball Game Won
A point can be won only by the serving team in a volleyball match.
When a team serves a ball to the opponent team, the opponent team has to return the ball to the serving team’s court within three touches.
A single player cannot touch the ball twice back to back, and the ball should not touch the ground.
If the ball touches the ground, or the team fails to send the ball back to the serving team’s court within three touches, or if a player touches the ball twice, then a point is given to the serving team.
Once the opponent team returns the ball to the serving team’s court, they have to send the ball again to the opponent team’s court following the same rules.
And this is how volleyball is played. The players of both teams have to return the ball to the opponent team’s court until the ball touches the ground once, or a team fails to return the ball.
If the serving team fails to return the ball, no point will be awarded to the opponent team, rather this time they will get the chance to serve the ball.
A point only can be won when a serving team sends the ball to the opponent team’s court and they fail to return it back. This is how points are won in volleyball.
There are 3 or 5 sets per match.
A team has to win 2 sets in a 3 set match, and 3 sets in a 5 set match. And to win a set, a team has to get 25 points and must have at least a lead of two points.
That means a team wins a set only if they reach 25 points when the score of the opponent team does not cross 23.
And if the score becomes 25-24, then the set will continue to be played until a team gets a two-point lead.
How Long Does A Volleyball Ball Last
A volleyball ball has definite measures, and it varies as the format changes. Here I am giving a table to understand the ball better.
| Type | Circumference (in inches) | Mass (in ounce) | PSI |
| Indoor ball | 25.5 – 26.5 | 9.2 – 9.9 | 4.3 – 4.6 psi |
| Youth ball | 25 – 26 | 9.2 – 9.9 | 4.3 psi |
| Outdoor ball | 26 – 27 | 9.2 – 9.9 | 2.5 – 3.2 psi |
This chart will help you to understand how a volleyball ball changes when it comes to change in the format or the age of the players.
Frankly speaking, how long a ball will last is very hard to say.
It cannot be said with proper data, as how many days a ball will last is depending on how you are keeping it. Usually, if you take care of the ball, it will last for a longer time.
Volleyball Game Rules
There are a few important rules you need to know in order to play volleyball.
Rule 1 – a point only can be won by the serving team.
Rule 2 – a player cannot touch the ball twice back to back.
Rule 3 – the ball must be returned within three touches.
Rule 4 – once the ball touches the ground, the rally ends.
Rule 5 – the ball cannot touch the net while serving.
Rule 6 – a team must have at least a lead of two points when they reach 25 points to win the set.
Rule 7 – if the serving team fails to return the ball to the opponent team’s court during the rally, the opponent team gets no point, but the chance to serve the ball next.
These are the major rules for a volleyball game. If you want to play the game, you should know these rules to begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Volleyball Best 2 Out Of 3?
The volleyball matches usually have 3 or 5 sets. The term best 2 of 3 means, when a team wins 2 sets among the 3 sets, they win the match.
How Long Is A Jr High Volleyball Game?
In Jr High volleyball games, the time limit is 45 minutes. The score is irrelevant here in this case. If the match reaches the time limit, then the match ends when the running game for the running point is earned.
But if a team wins 2 sets and there are still a few times left, then the teams have to play until the match reaches its time limit. This is to encourage the skill-building and practice of the junior players.
To Wrap It Up
Volleyball is one of the sports which needs extreme levels of physical skills and stamina. It requires physical fitness because it keeps a player physically very much engaged in the game.
If you had questions regarding this game, I think I have successfully cleared all of them. Enjoy the sport and live physically fit. All the best!
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