Social sports club in Wimbledon, London

Glossary

Ace

A service that scores a point without the opposition being able to play the ball.

Attack

The act of playing the ball towards and over the net.

Attacker

Any player who serves, smashes or blocks the ball into the opponents' court.

Attack-line

A line on the court parallel with the net and 3m (10ft) from it. See also Front court.

Back court

The area of the court between the attack-line and the base-line.

Back-line player

Any of the three players in the back court.

Base-line

Line parallel to the net and 9m (30ft) from it. The server must serve the ball from behind the base-line & the confines of the service area (also called end-line).

Block

The act of jumping in the air and using the hands and/or upper part of the body to intercept or divert a ball coming from the opponents' court. A player who makes a block may touch the ball a second successive time without being penalized. That counts as his team's first touch.

Blocker

A player who takes part in a block.

Change of service

See Side-out

Court

The entire playing area between the base-lines.

Cover

The act of protecting any area of court to which the ball may travel.

Defensive player

Any player in the team not in possession of the ball.

Dig

The act of playing the ball below waist-height, with one or two hands.

Double hit

When a player touches the ball twice consecutively on the same play (this does not include contacting the ball after blocking). A double hit is a foul (also called double contact).

Dump

When the ball is placed over or to the side of the opposing block.

Fault

Any infringement of the rules of the game is a fault.

Foot fault

A server is foot-faulted if one of his feet touches or passes over the end-line while serving. Any other player will have a foot fault called against him if either foot passes the centre-line into the opposing court.

Formation

The alignment of players in attack or defence.

Front court

The area between the attack-line and the net.

Front-line player

The forward three players closest to the net.

Game

A period of play which is concluded when one team reaches 15 points, but with a margin of at least two points.

Held ball

When the ball is seen to be held before being played. The ball must not be caught or come to rest momentarily on any part of the player's body. If it does then it is a foul 'held ball'.

Match

A match consists of a pre-determined number of games, usually 3 or 5.

Multiple contact

When a player contacts the ball more than once in the same play. This is allowed provided no two contacts are in succession (other than after a block and on the first team contact).

Net ball

A ball which touches the net (except on the service) is a net ball. If it bounces into the opponents' court then the ball is good.

Net fault

Contact with the net is a fault only when the action of playing the ball is in the front zone.

Net serve

If a service touches the net then it is a net service and results in the service being passed to the opposing team.

Out of play

The ball is out of play (or out) if it bounces outside the court beyond the boundary lines.

Pass

When the ball is delivered from one player to another without it touching the floor or any obstruction.

Point

A point is scored by the serving team and is made when an opponent fails to play a legal serve or return the ball cleanly.

Rally

Period from the time the ball is served until play stops, and one point is scored.

Recovery

The act of a player diving or rolling to pick up successfully a hard-hit or cleverly placed attack shot.

Rotation

When a team regains service the team moves round one position clockwise. Only the serving team rotates.

Screen

An illegal act by the players of the serving team who prevent the opponents from getting a view of the server.

Server

Person who serves the ball.

Service

The act of putting the ball in play at the beginning of a game or after a dead ball.

Service area

The area, behind the base-line, from which the server puts the ball in play.

Set pass

A high pass by one player to a team-mate to enable him to play a spike/smash.

Side-out

The change of service. When the serving side fails to score a point by winning the rally then service ends and passes to the opposing team.

Simultaneous contact

Contact made at the same time by two players.

Smash

See Spike.

Spike

A powerfully hit shot with the open hand directed into the opponents' half of the court.

Tactical ball

Instead of smashing, the attacker deceives the opposing blockers by 'placing' the ball over or to the side of the block.

Volley

The basic skill of passing the ball forwards or backwards using two hands.