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Sports & Leisure

UCP’s Sports and Leisure Channel is designed for people with disabilities who are interested in sports and other leisure activities and proposes creative ideas for inclusive community recreation programs, including outdoor adventure activities for people with disabilities.

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Sports & Leisure

Sports & Team Games

Volleyball

Photo of volleyball game in playVolleyball is an activity that can be played by individuals with several different ability levels in either a recreational or competitive setting. Standing and sitting volleyball are the two main forms of this activity. Adapted versions of volleyball include walleyball and water volleyball. Volleyball is an official sport of the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA), Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA), Special Olympics International (SOI), and the United States Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF).

STANDING VOLLEYBALL

    Photo of a sitting volleyball player about to serve
  • Competitive standing volleyball is played strictly according to FIVB standard international rules. Participants with amputations participate with or without prostheses, depending on individual preferences.
  • In certain recreational volleyball settings, a beach ball or balloon can be substituted for a standard volleyball.
  • "Walleyball" is an adapted version of volleyball played on a racquetball court.

    • With the proper equipment, "water volleyball" can be played in many indoor or outdoor swimming pools.

SITTING VOLLEYBALL

  • Sitting volleyball is played with six players per team on a smaller court 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.
  • The size of the court is reduced from 18m x 9m to 10m x 6m.
  • The height of the net is lowered to 1.15m for men and 1.05m for women.
  • Photo of a game of sitting volleyballSome part of the body from the buttocks to the shoulders must remain in contact with the floor at all times. When hitting, players must remain seated.
  • The use of prosthetic or orthopedic devices is not allowed. Front row players may not block an opponent's service.
  • Sitting volleyball is also an excellent activity for physical education classes and to allow individuals with and without disabilities to participate together.

    • For more information, contact Disabled Sports, USA (DSUSA).

SPECIAL OLYMPICS VOLLEYBALL

  • Special Olympics Volleyball is offered in every US program and in over 30 countries around the world.
  • Participants are grouped in competition divisions according to their ability level, age, and gender.
  • Special Olympics also offers a modified team competition and a Unified Sports® competition.
  • Modified competition is designed for individuals with lower ability levels and allows for a smaller court with a lower net.
  • Unified Sports® team competition combines able bodied players with Special Olympic athletes.
  • Special Olympics also provides skill events which including individual skills contest, volleyball juggle, volleyball pass, volleyball toss and hit, and team skills volleyball. Rules for these events can be found in the official Special Olympics rules book.

    • For more information, contact Special Olympics International (SOI).

HEARING IMPAIRED VOLLEYBALL

  • Two organizations promote volleyball for individuals who are hearing impaired: The United States Deaf Volleyball Association (USDVA) and the American Deaf Volleyball Association (ADVA).
  • The USDVA is a governing body of the United States Deaf Sports Federation and is responsible for player development and tournament play.
  • The ADVA is a volunteer organization which serves a dedicated membership consisting of recreational and competitive volleyball players who are hearing impaired.
  • FIVB rules are used and a red flag is used as a signaling device instead of a whistle.

    • For more information, contact the United States Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) or the American Deaf Volleyball Association (ADVA).

EQUIPMENT
Gopher
(balls, nets, etc.)
www.gophersport.com
(800) 533-0446

Sportime
(sitting volleyball nets, balls)
www.sportime.com
(800) 444-5700

Flaghouse
(balls, etc.)
www.flaghouse.com
(800) 793-7900

FOR MORE INFORMATION
(also see keyword: volleyball)

American Deaf Volleyball Association (ADVA)
7582 South Rosemary Circle
Englewood, CO 80112
Attn: Karen Boyd

Disabled Sports, USA (DSUSA)
www.dsusa.org
(301) 217-0960

Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB)
www.fivb.ch
(41-21) 345-3535

Special Olympics International (SOI)
www.specialolympics.org
(202) 628-3630

USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF)
www.usadsf.org
(801) 393-7916 TTY

USA Volleyball (USAV)
www.usavolleyball.org
(719) 637-8300

Volleyball Worldwide
www.volleyball.org
(408) 358-8622

World Organization Volleyball for Disabled (WOVD)
www.wovd.com
Klein Heiligland 90
NL-2011 EJ Haarlem
The Netherlands

NOTE
The information provided here is offered as a service only. The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, University of Illinois at Chicago, the National Center on Accessibility, and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago do not formally recommend or endorse the equipment listed. As with any products or services, consumers should investigate and determine on their own which equipment best fits their needs and budget.

Source: NCPAD