Playing volleyball as an adult

Scottish Volleyball describes recreational volleyball as getting on court, enjoying the game and finding a way to play that fits your life. Its recreational programmes are aimed at people new to the sport and at people returning after time away.

The game in a minute

Volleyball England sums up the aim as keeping the ball off the floor on your side of the net, while trying to land it on the other side.

An official court is 18 metres by 9. The server stands at the back and can serve overarm or underarm.

Each team has up to three touches before the ball goes back over. One player cannot touch the ball twice in a row, and the ball has to be hit, never caught.

The team that wins a point serves next. Each time your team wins the serve back, the players move round one place clockwise, so everyone takes a turn at serving.

Finding a club

Volleyball England, Scottish Volleyball and Northern Ireland Volleyball each have a club search on their websites.

Scottish Volleyball says club sessions are a common way in for adults new to volleyball, and a route back for people who have played before. Many clubs in Scotland, it adds, offer social sessions alongside their competitive teams.

Recreational leagues

Scottish Volleyball runs Local Leagues through the indoor season. Teams can be made up of friends, colleagues or club members, and the leagues are open to a wide range of abilities.

In summer it runs Summer Sets, short games on grass with mixed-ability teams. It suggests them for people trying the sport for the first time or returning after a break.

Community and leisure centres may also offer informal sessions, Scottish Volleyball notes, and colleges and universities in Scotland run student clubs and drop-in sessions.

Beach volleyball

Volleyball England says beach volleyball is usually played two a side, though it can be played by more. Matches are the best of three sets, the first two to 21 points and a third to 15 if needed.

Its venue finder marks beach courts with a yellow umbrella. Beach clubs run regular sessions.

For competition, the UK Beach Tour grades its events. One-star and two-star events are for entry-level players. In Northern Ireland, the summer beach tour at Portrush includes one-star mixed events.

Sitting volleyball

Sitting volleyball is played on a smaller court with a lower net. Volleyball England says that at club level in England, men and women, disabled and non-disabled, play on the same teams.