Sitting volleyball
What is Sitting volleyball?
Sitting volleyball is a variation of the sport of volleyball that is specifically designed for athletes with disabilities.
Sitting volleyball is played on a smaller court than standing volleyball (10m x 6m), with a 2-meter attack line and a lower net.
The game is normally faster than standing volleyball! Each team consists of six players on the court at a time, and teams can be mixed male and female. Para athletes must have their pelvis touching the ground at all times with no service blocks allowed.
The game is played in a best-of-five set format with the winner the first team to reach 25 points.
Sitting volleyball in New Zealand
A New Zealand Sitting volleyball team has not competed at the Paralympic Games to date.
Sitting volleyball is not currently delivered widely in New Zealand. Register with Paralympics New Zealand now and we will help you to find a Para sport for you in your local area!
Who is eligible to play Sitting volleyball?
This sport is played by Para athletes with a range of impairments, including spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, amputations and brain injuries.
History of Sitting volleyball
It was invented in the Netherlands by the Dutch Sport Committee in 1956 as a rehabilitation sport for injured soldiers. Since then, it has become one of the most popular Para sports in the world.
Men’s Sitting volleyball was first included in the Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games with the women’s version following in Athens 2004.
Find out more about Sitting volleyball
For more information on Sitting volleyball visit World ParaVolley.
