Sitting volleyball, as its name implies, is played from seated positions. Players must always keep their pelvis in contact with the ground.
This team sport is played with many similarities to its conventional version, but with a few modifications such as a lower net and a smaller court.
Sitting volleyball made its Paralympic debut at the Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games after gaining popularity in Europe in the 1960s and 1970s.
Sitting Volleyball offers Men’s and women’s eight-team tournaments
Teams are composed of six players.
It is played in a best-of-five set format, and the first to reach 25 points (with at least a two-point lead) wins the set.
To Win a Point:
The team who is first to ground the ball on their opponent’s half of the court or who plays the ball in such a way that their opposition cannot legally return it, wins 1 point.
When to Rotate:
The whole team rotates one position clockwise when they win a point that the opposition served.
The Net:
Players cannot touch the net. The net height internationally is 1.15m (men) and 1.05m (women).
The Players Body:
Players can use any part of their boy to play the ball
Leaving the Floor:
One part of the player’s core (buttocks to shoulder) must be in contact with the ground when playing the ball.
The Service:
Is a one-handed shot played with buttocks sat behind the back line of their half of the court.
Blocking the Service:
Players are permitted to block the service.
Hypertonia | Impaired Muscle Power |
Ataxia | Leg Length Difference |
Athetosis | Limb Deficiency |
Impaired Passive Range of Movement |
The World ParaVolley classification system is based on the loss of locomotor function as it applies to volleyball (sitting or standing).
For illustrated explanation please click on the button below.
In Sitting Volleyball players with a physical disability compete in two sport classes:
VS1
Eligible impairment | Sport Class Profile |
Impaired muscle power | · Combined total loss of 16 or more muscle points in both lower limbs
· Combined loss of 25 or more muscle points in one upper limb · Combined Total loss of 20 muscle points in shoulder tests in one upper limb, including |
Lower limb deficiency | · Through-ankle (no calcaneus) or more proximal amputation
· Amputation of all five digits at MCP joints on one hand or more proximal amputation · Amputation of eight digits across both hands; or first three digits across both hands · Unilateral dysmelia in which the length of the affected arm measured from acromion to most distal point of affected limb is shorter than the unaffected arm measurement by 33% or more |
Leg length difference | · The difference in length between right and left legs must be more than 32% |
Hypertonia, Ataxia, Athetosis | · Athletes are hemiplegic and noticeable limp is often noticed. The dominant upper limb should have normal strength and movement. The affected upper limb is usually more apparent during activity, flat footed on affected side when running, often tilts head to one side during exertion. |
Impaired passive range of movement | · Hip stiff (ankylosed) in any position
· Knee flexion is 45º or less measured from full extension or stiff knee in any position · Shoulder abduction and/or flexion not more than 90º both sides · Elbow extension deficit of ≥90˚ or Stiff (ankylosed) elbow in 90º flexion or more · Stiff (ankylosed) wrist in position below neutral to full flexion i.e. ≤ 5˚ arc of movement within the range of neutral to full flexion |
VS2
Eligible impairment | Sport Class Profile |
Impaired muscle power | · Combined Loss of 7-15 muscle points in both lower limbs
· Shoulder flexion loss of 3 muscle grade points (muscle grade of two or less). · Loss of 3 muscle grade points in elbow extension (i.e., muscle grade of two or less) · Combined loss of 15-24 muscle points in one upper limb |
Lower limb deficiency | · Complete unilateral or bilateral Lisfranc amputation; or Equivalent congenital limb deficiency
· Unilateral dysmelia in which the length of the affected foot is less than or equal to 50% of the length of the unaffected foot as measured on the unaffected foot from the tip of the great toe to the posterior aspect of the calcaneus (this description equates closely to a Lisfranc’s amputation) · Unilateral Amputation of any 4 digits on one hand at MCP joint · Unilateral Amputation of Thumb and 2 adjacent fingers (index and long) at MCP joint · Bilateral amputation of thumbs · Bilateral amputation of index and long fingers · Unilateral dysmelia in which the length of the affected arm measured from acromion to most distal point of affected limb is shorter than the unaffected arm measurement by 25 – 32% |
Leg length difference | · The difference in length between right and left legs must be at least 7 % and less than 33% |
Hypertonia, Ataxia, Athetosis | · Mild impairment |
Impaired passive range of movement | · Hip flexion deficit of ≥ 30º i.e. 90 degrees is the maximum amount of hip flexion permissible in order to be in this sport class
· Knee flexion deficit of ≥45˚i.e. The maximum amount of knee flexion ROM that is permissible in order to meet this criterion is 90˚ · Ankylosis in one ankle (≤ 5˚ combined Ankle dorsi / plantar flexion available) · Shoulder abduction or flexion ≤ 90˚ available in the range between 0˚ and 90˚ abduction or flexion. i.e. 90˚ abduction/ flexion is the maximum amount of PROM that is permissible in order to be in this sport class · Elbow extension deficit of ≥45˚i.e. loss of extension of last 45º of elbow extension ROM · Wrist stiff (ankylosed) in position between neutral to full extension (dorsiflexion) (≤ 5˚ arc of movement within this range of movement) · Fingers on one hand stiff |
Volleyball Ireland is the National Governing Body for sitting volleyball in Ireland. If you wish to get involved in sitting volleyball, please access the National Governing Body link below.
Governing Body | |
National | Volleyball Ireland |
International | World ParaVolley |
summary
events