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            Sitting Volleyball

            Buy Tickets Here
            Riocentro - Pavilion 6
            Get ready for a dramatic show of blocks and spikes. Sitting volleyball has been thrilling Paralympic Games fans since Arnhem 1980. In Rio, eight men’s and eight women’s teams will battle to top the podium.
            Spectator's Guide - Sitting Volleyball
            • Sitting Volleyball

            About

            About

            Aim of the game

            Each side has six players separated by a low net, over which teams play a ball from a seated position, with the objective of landing the ball in the opponent’s side of the court

            Why should you watch this?

            Sitting volleyball is one of the fastest, most dynamic games in the Paralympic programme, with interceptions and blocks so swift they might just leave you breathless

            Venues

            Riocentro - Pavilion 6

            International Federation

            World ParaVolley

            Paralympic debut

            Arnhem 1980

            Rules
            • 5-1

              5-1

              The most common formation, when a team is composed of five spikers and one setter

            • Block

              Block

              Defensive move in which a player raises both hands at an attacker to try and prevent the ball getting over the net

            • Spike

              Spike

              Attacking, one-handed shot using the palm and fingers for greater accuracy

            Impress your friends

            • Sitting volleyball originated in the Netherlands in 1956 as a combination of volleyball and sitzball, a German sport with no net but seated players

              Sitting volleyball originated in the Netherlands in 1956 as a combination of volleyball and sitzball, a German sport with no net but seated players

            • Sitting volleyball was a demonstration sport at Toronto 1976 and became a medal event at Arnhem 1980. The women’s competition was added at Athens 2004

              Sitting volleyball was a demonstration sport at Toronto 1976 and became a medal event at Arnhem 1980. The women’s competition was added at Athens 2004

            • At the Athens 2004 Games, the Bosnia and Herzegovina men’s team won its first gold medal in Paralympic Games history, beating Iran to the gold

              At the Athens 2004 Games, the Bosnia and Herzegovina men’s team won its first gold medal in Paralympic Games history, beating Iran to the gold

            • At the London 2012 Games, China defeated the USA 3-1 in the women’s final and took the Paralympic gold medal for a third time

              At the London 2012 Games, China defeated the USA 3-1 in the women’s final and took the Paralympic gold medal for a third time

            • The Iranian men’s team is one of the dominant forces in the Paralympic Games, amassing five gold medals and two silvers since Seoul 1988

              The Iranian men’s team is one of the dominant forces in the Paralympic Games, amassing five gold medals and two silvers since Seoul 1988

            • The Chinese women’s team are unbeaten in Paralympic Games, winning all 17 games they have played on their way to three gold medals

              The Chinese women’s team are unbeaten in Paralympic Games, winning all 17 games they have played on their way to three gold medals

            • Sitting volleyball is a recognised sport in over 50 countries

              Sitting volleyball is a recognised sport in over 50 countries

            • Up to and including the Sydney 2000 Games, the Paralympic programme also featured a standing volleyball competition

              Up to and including the Sydney 2000 Games, the Paralympic programme also featured a standing volleyball competition

            Duration

            A game is contested in the best of 5 sets – the first team to win 3 sets wins. The first 4 sets are played to 25 points, and if necessary, the fifth is played to 15 points. A set must be won by a 2-point margin, continuing until this is achieved.

            Game

            The athlete must be in contact with the floor whenever the ball is played. Each team is allowed three consecutive passes on their own side before they have to get the ball back over the net, which is 1.15m high for men and 1.05m for women.

            Three players in the team remain close the net and three stay at the back of the court, with the two areas separated by a line. The libero is a defensive specialist, who must wear a different coloured shirt to the rest of their team and may not make any attacking moves.

            Service

            The ball must be served from the back of the court and can be blocked by the opponent’s team as soon as it has passed over the net. Whenever a team scores a point on the opponent’s serve, its players must change position, moving clockwise around the court.

            Stats

            Top Medalists

            Men
            IRI
            IRI             		5 2 0 7
            BIH
            BIH             		2 2 0 4
            NED
            NED             		2 2 0 4
            Women
            CHN
            CHN             		3 0 0 3
            USA
            USA             		0 2 1 3
            NED
            NED             		0 1 1 2

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