Ranking of men’s volleyball teams in the world in 2024

Volleyball originated in the late 19th century as “Mintonette” and has evolved into a dynamic and spectacular sport that has adapted to a variety of conditions and needs. From intense indoor games to sunny beaches and snowy courts, volleyball offers unique formats for everyone. Let’s dive into the world of this versatile sport and find out what types of volleyball there are. Maybe you’d like to try something new.

What types of volleyball are there: Classic indoor format

The basic format of the discipline, on which all other variants are based. The indoor version defines the standards regarding movement, technique, tactics, and strategy. From this point on, training begins in sports schools and the rules for international competitions are established. Of all existing volleyball variants, the indoor version ranks highest in terms of complexity, versatility, and history.

Structure and Platform

The rectangular area of ​​18x9m is divided into two equal zones by a net. The front line zone defines the three-meter-wide attack zone, which determines the right to attack. The net height is 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women. The game is played indoors with wooden, rubber, or combined surfaces.

Team Format and Rotation

Six players are on the court at once. Each game begins with a serve, after which the teams exchange points. After each point exchange, the team rotates clockwise. Play continues until 25 points are in play. The winner must have a lead of at least two points. The game consists of three, sometimes five, sets. The playoff game is played to 15 points.

Ball and Equipment

The ball weighs 260 to 280 g and has a circumference of 65–67 cm. The cover is made of synthetic leather, allowing you to control its trajectory. Players wear high-cushion shoes, knee pads, and light clothing.

International Scene

The Olympic Games, World Championships, the Nations League, and the FIFA World Cup – all of these tournaments are played indoors. The top contenders in recent years have included Brazil, Poland, the USA, Italy, and France. Olympic titles and medals are distributed among the strongest teams according to a unique system – the “best of three losses” format preserves a chance even after a group loss.

Beach Volleyball

The most well-known form of volleyball outside of the traditional indoor arena. Due to its spectacularity, dynamics, and minimalism, the format has developed into its own Olympic discipline and gained mass popularity.

The Location and the Team

The 16x8m surface is on sand – often natural, sometimes specially compacted. Two teams of two players each participate in the game. There is no three-meter line zone, but additional rules are introduced to limit attacking shots from receptions. The net height is 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women.

Rules

The game lasts up to two sets of 21 points each. If a third is needed, up to 15. The interval is at least two points. A mandatory requirement is no substitutions: the entire game is played by two players. Volleyball players freely change positions during the rally.

Conditions and Technique

Sand requires the development of leg strength, coordination, and balance. Passes are executed with a high trajectory, and the ball is lighter and larger. A shortened step before the serve, a high-arc serve, and one-handed blocks are used.

Snow Volleyball

Of all existing volleyball styles, this is considered the youngest and most experimental. It originally emerged as a show format in Austria and Eastern Europe, but has already gained recognition at continental tournaments.

Location and Conditions

The 16x8m surface is laid on compacted snow. The ball has a high shell density and weighs 400g, ensuring wind resistance. The temperature range for competition is between -10°C and 0°C. The height of the net is similar to that of the classic game. Teams consist of three players. One substitution is permitted.

Rules

Matches are played until two sets of 15 points each are won. The margin of victory must be at least two points. The conditions limit jump height and movement time. The emphasis is on passing, blocking, and endurance. Players wear thermal uniforms, spiked shoes, and gloves. Particular attention is paid to balance – on snow, the base of support is lost. Defense is achieved more through proper positioning than acrobatics.

Field Volleyball

Among the various types of volleyball available, this format occupies a position between traditional and amateur. Due to its ease of organization, easy accessibility, and minimal equipment requirements, the game on grass enjoys great popularity in schools, universities, and summer recreational sports events.

Conditions and Scope

The game is played on a level surface with dense grass or artificial turf. The recommended court size is 18 x 9 m. The net is set at a standard height, but for an amateur format, it is permissible to lower the height. The surface influences the behavior of the ball: the bounce is less predictable, and movement on slippery grass requires more control.

Team Format and Rules

They usually play in teams of six. The rules are almost the same as in the indoor format: serve, receive, combination, and finish. However, rotations are often simplified or eliminated altogether, especially in unofficial tournaments.
The number of players can vary to as few as four or eight, allowing the game to be either a fast-paced game or a large-scale, mass format.

What’s an unusual game: Sitting volleyball

An adapted sport format that has been included in the compulsory program of the Paralympic Games. Of all existing volleyball formats, this one underscores the inclusivity of the sport and the accessibility of elite competitions for people with disabilities.

Format and Venue

The playing court has been reduced to 10 x 6 m. The net height is 1.15 m for men and 1.05 m for women. Teams of six players each move around the court exclusively in a seated position. The ball retains its standard properties, but the weight is often reduced to 225–245 g to ensure optimal control with a small range of motion.

Rules

Players are not permitted to raise their buttocks off the ground while performing any play action. Active use of the arms, body, and slides are permitted. The game is played for up to 25 points, and there are three wins. At the same time, serving, blocking, and combinations—the entire spectrum of technical play—are preserved, which gives the format a sporting appeal.

Confession

At the international level, the strongest teams compete: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Brazil, and the USA. The final round of the Paralympic Games is regularly fully attended, and in many countries, this discipline is part of the core disability sports program.

2×2 and 3×3 Volleyball

Adaptations to the reduced team size provide variety in both training and competition. Among all existing volleyball formats, these formats are characterized by their conciseness, high speed, and minimal need for substitutions.

Rules and Features

The 2×2 format is most commonly used on the beach, but is also suitable for use indoors or on grass. 3×3 is used in both street and training games. The court size is 12 x 6 m. Teams play without a fixed rotation, in shortened halves: up to 21 points. The team that wins two out of three games usually wins. Participants combine all roles: there is no division into libero, diagonal, or setter. Everyone participates in receiving, attacking, and blocking.

When Used

These types are actively used to practice personal techniques and make quick decisions. They increase the demands on concentration, positioning, and passing accuracy. The ball often hits the same player in succession, creating an intense game rhythm. 2×2 and 3×3 formats are commonly used in club tournaments, student events, and team camps.

Water Format (Aqua Volleyball)

The most unusual of all volleyball formats, aqua volleyball combines classic techniques with the resistance of water, creating a completely different physical challenge. The game promotes strength, coordination, agility, and balance.

Location and Environment

The game takes place in a pool 1.2 to 1.7 m deep. The area is defined by the pool edge or special floating barriers. The net is located at a height of 2.43 m (men) or 2.24 m (women) and is stretched outside the pool on sturdy supports. The ball has an increased diameter—up to 78–80 cm. The surface is made of a water-repellent and highly visible material.

Command Structure and Rules

Typically, six players play. Each team performs standard actions—serve, receive, pass, hit, block. However, movements occur more slowly in water. The jump requires more strength, and the landing (or rather, the “dive”) often delays the reaction to the next episode. The game goes to 15 points, games – up to three wins.

Problems and Physics

Players move against the resistance of the water, increasing the strain on the core and shoulder girdle muscles. Throwing requires control of the movement with support on the chest and balance in an upright position.

Since falls are eliminated, tactical maneuvering and the ability to immediately read the opponent play an increasingly important role.

Now you know what types of volleyball there are

The variety of sport formats shows how many development opportunities a traditional discipline offers. Each game retains its basic character but adapts it to new surfaces, numbers, and mobility. A player who moves freely between multiple styles develops strength, endurance, coordination, tactics, and a range of game solutions. Skill levels expand, and interest grows.

Dynamic, strategic and exciting – volleyball has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world. But where did the history of this popular sport begin? Which country is considered the birthplace of volleyball and how did it go from being a simple sports game to an Olympic discipline that everyone knows? The answer lies at the end of the 19th century, when one man’s ingenuity led to a new kind of team competition.

Which country is considered the birthplace of volleyball?

The USA – this country is considered the birthplace of one of the most dynamic and exciting sports. In 1895 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the head of the YMCA sports club, William J. Morgan, offered the world a new game that combined elements of basketball, baseball, tennis and handball. The discipline, developed for young people looking for an alternative to basketball with less contact and less trauma, was called ‘Mintonette’.

Morgan’s main idea was to create an activity that was accessible to people of different ages and fitness levels. The ball had to roll over the net without touching the ground and teams could interact with the ball through a combination of jumping, passing and hitting. Later, the game was called ‘volleyball’, as it was obviously necessary to pass the ball over the net in the air – from the English word ‘volley’.

Since then, volleyball has become a part of American culture and has become increasingly popular outside the United States. The rules were constantly improved, making the game ever more dynamic and spectacular.

The history of volleyball: Which country is considered the cradle of volleyball?

There is a clear answer to the question of where volleyball originated: in the city of Holyoke in Massachusetts, USA. The first demonstration of the game took place in 1896 in the sports hall of the YMCA college. At this demonstration, Morgan explained the basic principles and the first rules of volleyball. The game consisted of two teams of nine players and the net was 198 centimetres high. The participants had to throw the ball over the net, making sure it didn’t fall on their side of the court.

The speed of the game and its flexibility made volleyball popular with different age groups. The first balls were made of leather and consisted of three parts, and the activity itself did not require expensive equipment or complex facilities. Within a few years, volleyball was already part of the physical education curriculum in all American YMCAs.

The first volleyball rules

The first volleyball rules, proposed by William Morgan, differed from today’s standards. The net was 198 centimetres high and the number of players per team could vary between 6 and 9. The game was played to 21 points and it was allowed to hit with any part of the body above the waist.

The rules were later adapted and clarified. In 1916, the principle was introduced that a team had to take three shots before the ball was allowed to go over the net. In the 1920s, the YMCA developed clear requirements for the size of the court and introduced the rule that the serve must be made behind the back line. These changes made the game more structured and entertaining.

Over the course of the 20th century, the rules were developed further. The net height was set at 243 centimetres for men and 224 centimetres for women. The scoring system was also changed and led to the rally scoring system, which is still used today.

Development of volleyball in the world

After its emergence in the United States, volleyball quickly spread not only in the country itself, but also throughout the world. Asia and Europe were the first countries where the game found a large audience among young people and students. During the First World War, American soldiers brought volleyball to European countries, contributing to its spread.

In 1947, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) was founded, which took on the task of standardising the rules and organising world championships. The first world championship in this discipline was organised in 1949 for men and in 1952 for women. These competitions became the most important stage in the development of the sport.

A special place is occupied by Olympic volleyball, which made its debut at the 1964 Games in Tokyo. Since then, this discipline has become one of the most popular. The development of beach volleyball in the 1990s also contributed to the popularity of the sport and made it accessible to millions of outdoor fans.

Volleyball in Russia and the USSR: which country succeeded the birthplace of volleyball?

The development of volleyball in Russia began in the 1920s thanks to sports enthusiasts who brought the game with them from Europe. In the USSR, the sport became part of physical education and quickly developed into one of the most popular sports. Soviet teams achieved excellent results in international arenas and won world championships and Olympic Games.

The USSR national team won gold medals in volleyball at the first Olympic Games in 1964 and repeated this success in 1968 and 1980. Soviet volleyball players Yuri Chesnokov and Inna Ryskal became symbols of the time and inspired a new generation of athletes.

Today, Russia continues this tradition by participating in international tournaments and developing youth leagues. The infrastructure created in the USSR still serves as a basis for training new champions.

Famous volleyball players

The history of volleyball is rich in outstanding personalities who have shaped the development and popularisation of this sport. Knowing their achievements makes it easier to understand how the game has changed over the decades and what efforts were needed to improve it.

Legends of world volleyball

There are many players in the world whose names have gone down in history forever. Their contribution to the development and popularisation of the game is invaluable. Particularly worth mentioning are:

1. Giberto Godoy Filho (Jiba) is a Brazilian volleyball player who became world champion three times and won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games. His powerful attacks and leadership qualities have made him one of the best attackers in volleyball history.
2. Kim Young-Gun is a South Korean athlete who is recognised as one of the best service players in the world. Her ability to lead the game and create ideal conditions for attacking has made her a symbol of Asian volleyball.
3. Sergey Tetyukhin is a Russian volleyball player who has been honoured as a champion of the sport. He has won four Olympic medals and is known for his consistent play and incredible physical stamina.

Which country is considered the birthplace of volleyball and why it matters

The answer to the question of which country is considered the birthplace of volleyball lies in the roots of the sport. The United States was the starting point where the game originated and developed thanks to the enthusiasm and ingenuity of William Morgan. It is important to know the origins of the sport in order to understand the path it has taken from a simple pastime in YMCA gyms to one of the most popular sports in the world.

Knowing the history helps to respect the traditions and accomplishments of athletes of the past. Every element of the game – from the rules to the tactics – has been moulded over the decades, reflecting the culture and spirit of the times. Today, volleyball unites people of all ages and nationalities and reminds us that its roots can be found in the late 19th century in Massachusetts, USA.

Conclusion

Which country is considered the cradle of volleyball? Definitely the US. It was there that William Morgan developed a new game in 1895 that combined elements of different sports and proposed a new format of team competition. Today, volleyball is an Olympic discipline loved by millions around the world.