Wallyball is a fun and energetic sport that combines elements of volleyball and racquetball. It is typically played in a racquetball court with similar rules to volleyball.
Here’s a beginner’s guide to Wallyball:
Objective:
The objective of Wallyball is to score points by sending the ball over the net and into the opposing team’s court in a way that they cannot return it effectively. The team that reaches a predetermined number of points first (usually 25 or 15) and is ahead by at least two points wins the game.
Teams:
Wallyball is usually played with two teams, each consisting of 3 to 6 players. The minimum requirement is three players per team.
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Team Size | 3 to 6 players |
| Number of Players on the Court | 3 players |
| Maximum Substitutions | 2 per game, made after a stoppage in play |
| Team Roles | Setter, Hitter/Attacker, and potentially a Libero (defensive specialist) |
| Communication | Clear communication is crucial for coordinating plays and defense |
| Teamwork | Players work together to achieve a common goal of winning |
| Sportsmanship | Players show respect and good sportsmanship towards opponents and teammates |
| Practice | Regular practice sessions to improve skills and team dynamics |
The Court:
The court is a standard racquetball court, which is usually 40 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a net dividing it in half. The net height is typically the same as a volleyball net, about 7 feet 4 inches for men and 7 feet 2 inches for women.
| Attribute | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Length | 40 feet |
| Width | 20 feet |
| Net Height | 7 feet 4 inches (men) 7 feet 2 inches (women) |
| Service Area | 3 feet from each end of the court |
| Out of Bounds | – Ball hits the ceiling while crossing the net – Ball goes into the gallery – Ball hits the back wall of the opponent’s side – Ball hits two walls consecutively |
| Court Wall Rules | – Contacting two or more walls is allowed only by the team in possession of the ball on their own side, provided a player on that team touches the ball first. – The ball must also be touched by another player before going over on multiple wall hits. |
The Ball:
A regulation Wallyball is similar to a volleyball but may be slightly smaller and has less bounce to account for the smaller court size.
Starting the Game:
To start the game, one team serves the ball. The server stands behind the baseline and must hit the ball over the net and into the opposing team’s court. The ball must pass over the net at the first attempt. Unlike volleyball, there is no let serve (a serve that hits the net but still goes over) in Wallyball.
Scoring:
Points are scored when a team successfully lands the ball within the opposing team’s court boundaries. If the receiving team fails to return the ball or sends it out of bounds, the serving team earns a point. Both teams have a chance to serve and score points during the game.
The score is typically displayed on a scoreboard, and the team that wins a rally has their score updated accordingly.
Scoring Points: Points are earned when a team successfully sends the ball over the net and into the opposing team’s court in a way that the opposing team cannot return it effectively. If the ball hits the floor of the opposing team’s court, goes out of bounds, or the opposing team commits a violation, the serving team wins the point.
Rally Scoring: Wallyball typically uses rally scoring, which means a point is awarded after every rally, regardless of which team served the ball. This differs from traditional volleyball, where only the serving team could score a point.
Side Out Rule: In Wallyball, a “side out” occurs when the serving team fails to win a point, either by committing an error or having the receiving team successfully return the ball to the serving team’s court. When a side out happens, the receiving team earns the right to serve, and players on both teams rotate one position clockwise.
Rotation:
Wallyball follows a rotational system. When a team wins a rally and earns the right to serve, all players on that team must rotate one position clockwise. This ensures that everyone gets an opportunity to serve and play different positions.
Ball in Play:
The ball remains in play as long as it stays within the court boundaries, including touching the walls or ceiling. Players can use the walls to their advantage by bouncing the ball off them strategically.
Rules:
- Each team has up to three hits (similar to volleyball) to return the ball over the net.
- Players cannot hit the ball consecutively (no double contacts) unless it comes off the net on a serve.
- The ball must not touch the ground or floor outside of the court boundaries during the game.
Winning the Game:
Games in Wallyball are usually played to a predetermined number of points, commonly 25 or 15. The team that reaches the specified number of points first and has at least a two-point lead over the opposing team wins the game.
Best of Three:
In many cases, Wallyball matches are played as best-of-three games. The team that wins two out of three games is the overall match-winner.
Wallyball is a fast-paced and exciting sport that can be enjoyed by players of all skill levels. So, get out there, have fun, and give it your best shot!
What are the official rules for Wallyball?
- The game is played on a racquetball court with the same dimensions as a standard racquetball court: 40 feet long and 20 feet wide.
- The net height is the same as in volleyball: 7 feet 4 inches for men and 7 feet 2 inches for women.
- Each team consists of 3 players on the court at a time, with a minimum of 3 players required to start a game.
- The service area is 3 feet from each end of the court.
- Games are 30 minutes in length.
- Timeouts are called by captains only at the end of a point played, with a limit of 1 timeout per game, lasting 30 seconds each.
- Games are self-refereed, and players are responsible for calling their own fouls and violations.
- Each team is allowed up to 2 substitutions per game, made after a stoppage in play.
- Players who are not actively playing must be outside in the hallway or upstairs watching from the gallery. The door must be kept closed while the ball is in play.
- The first service or choice of court side is determined by a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
- Out-of-bounds include when the ball hits the ceiling while crossing the net, goes into the gallery, hits the back wall of the opponent’s side, or hits two walls consecutively.
- The ceiling and back wall on the serving team’s side are in bounds if a player on that team touches the ball first.
- The service must be clean in contact with the ball; pushing the ball or rolling it off the fingers (paintbrush) is not allowed.
- Rotation order must be maintained prior to serving.
- If the ball is only partly across the net, and the opponent hits it, it is considered good.
- Blockers can reach over the net to block, provided the opposing team has made its third contact of the ball.
- Blocking or attacking a serve is not allowed.
- Touching the net is not allowed by players unless the ball is driven into the net, and the net then hits the player.
- If two opposing players touch the net simultaneously, the point is replayed.
- If the ball is touched on a block, the team still has 3 hits, and the blocker can make any of these hits.
- Contacting two or more walls is allowed only by the team in possession of the ball on their own side, provided a player on that team touches the ball first. Another player must touch the ball before it goes over the net on a multiple-wall hit.
- Holding, pushing, scooping, lifting, or carrying the ball is not allowed; it must be a clean hit.
- If two players on the same team hit the ball simultaneously, it counts as one hit, and either player can play the next hit.
- A ball can hit the back wall and over the net directly when being played by your side, but if two walls are touched, another player must touch it before going over the net.
- If a ball spins across to the opponent’s side and back to yours on the 1st or 2nd hit, you can play your 2nd or 3rd hit. If it spins back on the 3rd hit, it results in a loss of points or side out.
- An open-hand dunk of the ball is illegal; it must be a paintbrush hit, a clean hit, a closed fist, a knuckle, a cobra shot, or a soft spike.
- A ball cannot be contacted below the waist.
- Rude conduct constitutes a warning, and two penalties lead to expulsions.