(From Canadian Paralympic Committee Website) www.paralympic.ca
There are two forms of volleyball for disabled athletes: standing and sitting. Today, sitting volleyball is the only form of Volleyball included in the Paralympic Games. A decision was made by the IPC to remove standing Paralympic volleyball prior to the 200 Sydney Games, stating that it did not meet the criteria set for the Paralympic programme.
Sitting volleyball is played from a sitting position on the floor. The sport is governed by the same set of rules as the able-bodied game, with a few minor rule modifications. Players are allowed to block serves, but one “cheek” must be in contact with the floor whenever they make contact with the ball.
The objective is for teams to send the ball over the net through the crossing area and to ground it on the court of the opposing team. Each team is allowed to have up to three contacts with the ball before returning it to the opposing team’s side of the court.
Each game consists of a maximum of five sets. Each of the first four sets is completed once one team has earned 25 points and has a minimum lead of at least two points. In the case of a tie at 24-24, the set continues until one of the teams secures a lead of two points and declared the winner of the set. In the case of a 2-2 set draw, a fifth set is played. In the fifth set, a team only needs to win 15 points, again with a difference of at least two points over the opposing team. The winning team must win a total of three sets.
Each team has a maximum of 12 players. The initial positions of the players in the playing area are specific. These are determined and controlled during the game by the position of the buttock in relation to the ground.
In sitting volleyball, the net is about 3 feet high, and the court is 10 x 6 meters with a 2-meter attack line. The court is divided into two sides of 5m deep by 6m wide. The net height, lower than that of able-bodied or standing volleyball, is set at a height of 1.15m for men, and 1.05m for women.
Players must remain in contact with the court at all times when handling the ball. Standing, rising, or taking steps is not permitted. A short loss of contact with the court is permitted in two scenarios: when making a defensive play in the back zone to save a ball and when making a defensive play in the front zone.
The World Organization Volleyball for Disabled is the International Sport Federation, with Volleyball Canada governing at the National level.
Volleyball Manitoba does not currently organize any formal ongoing Sitting Volleyball programs but does deliver clinics from time to time and has sitting volleyball equipment available for schools or clubs interested in giving it a try and bringing more awareness to the discipline.