Volleyball originated in Massachusetts, USA in 1895, invented by William G. Morgan. Initially called "Mintonette," it soon adopted the name volleyball. Morgan was inspired by tennis for the net concept and developed a specific ball for the sport, lighter than a basketball but larger than a tennis ball.

In 1912, the number of players was set at six, and the rotation system was implemented. The scoring system changed in 1916 to points up to 15, introducing sets (best of three). Major rule modifications in 1920 limited teams to three touches and recognized blocking. Volleyball became an official Olympic sport in Tokyo in 1964. Later, in 1995, rules allowed hitting the ball with any body part, including feet. The rally point system to 25 was introduced in 1998, along with the libero player.

The fundamental skills include the serve, reception, set, attack, block, and defense. The serve initiates play, with techniques like underhand, overhand, and jump serves. Reception, often using the bump, receives the opponent's serve. The set is typically the second touch, aiming to position the ball for an attack, usually done by a setter. The attack, mostly the third touch, is often a spike. Blocking is the first defensive action at the net, while defense prevents the opponent's attack from succeeding, utilizing any body part.

Key positions are the setter (the team's 'brains' defining attacks), middle blocker/hitter (specializes in blocks and quick attacks at the net), outside hitter (attacks mainly from position 4 and is a good passer), opposite hitter (attacks from position 2, opposite the setter, and doesn't participate in serve reception), and the libero (a defensive specialist with specific limitations, such as not being allowed to attack above the net or block, and wears a different jersey).

A volleyball court is a rectangle, 18 meters (59 feet) long and 9 meters (29.5 feet) wide, with 5-centimeter (2-inch) lines. The women's net height is 2.24 meters (7.35 feet), and the men's net height is 2.43 meters (7.97 feet). The net is 1 meter (3.3 feet) wide and between 9.5 and 10 meters (31.2 to 32.8 feet) long.

A complete team has 12 players, with six on court. A match consists of a minimum of three and a maximum of five sets. A set is won by the first team to score 25 points with a two-point lead, or 15 points in a tiebreak set (if the match is tied 2-2). Players rotate one position clockwise when their team gains the right to serve. Three players occupy the front zone (positions 2, 3, 4) and three the back zone (positions 1, 5, 6).

A team can hit the ball up to three times (blocking touch doesn't count). Faults include double contact (hitting the ball twice in a row, blocking touch excepted), ball carrying (pushing or throwing the ball instead of hitting it), penetration into the opponent's court above the net (except during a block), or under the net (if it interferes with play or a foot is not on or above the center line). Contact with the net by a player between the antennae during play is a fault, but if the ball pushes the net into a player, it's not a fault. Touching posts or ropes outside the antennae is also not a fault.