volejbolli

Volejbolli is the Albanian term for the sport of volleyball. It refers to a team game played on a rectangular court with a central net, in which two teams attempt to ground a ball on the opponent’s side or force an error. Volejbolli is played indoors and in beach variants where players compete on sand.

The sport originated in 1895 in the United States, created by William G. Morgan as a less physical alternative to basketball. It spread rapidly worldwide, and the sport’s rules are now standardized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). Indoor volejbolli commonly features six players per side, a rally-point scoring system to 25 points (win by 2; if tied at 24–24, play until one team leads by two), and substitutions with a specialized libero position. The ball is a sphere with a circumference of 65–67 cm and a mass of 260–280 grams. Net height is 2.43 meters for men and 2.24 meters for women, though these heights can vary for different competitions.

Governing bodies include national associations—such as the Albanian Volleyball Federation, which coordinates league play, youth development, and national teams—and the international body, FIVB, which oversees global standards, rankings, and major events. Volleyball has been an Olympic sport since 1964, and major international events include the Volleyball World Championship, World Cup, and the Volleyball Nations League. Beach volleyball, a closely related discipline, features two players per side and a separate competition format.

Volejbolli remains popular worldwide and is taught at youth levels in many countries, often forming part of school and club sports programs.