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Sit Volleyball

A clip of a sit volleyball game.

Sit volleyball is a sport that is played with six players per team on a smaller court than in Non-Sit Volleyball, and also with a lowered net. This version of volleyball enables double-leg amputees and individuals with spinal cord injuries, polio and various other lower-extremity disabilities to participate. Each team's goal is to pass the ball over the net and to touch the ball on the ground of the opposing team's side.

A clip showing the sit volleyball game in play.

The size of the court is reduced from 18m x 9m to 10m x 6m (where m = meters) to a court size of 10m x 6m. The height of the net is lowered to 1.15m for men and 1.05m for women. Because Sit Volleyball requires a smaller court and lower net, the game is considerably faster than the standing event. At all times the athlete's pelvis must touch the ground. When hitting, players must remain seated.

A sit volleyball player gives an introduction about sit volleyball.

The game lasts up to five sets and the winning team is the first to win three of those five sets. The team winning the set is the one to first reach 25 points, with at least a two-point lead (for example, a team cannot win 25 versus 24, but must continue on until there is a two-point difference).

The use of prosthetic or orthopedic devices is not allowed. Front-row players may not block an opponent's service.

A sit volleyball player explains the classifications in sit volleyball.

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This fact sheet was last updated on 04-19-2007.