Are you asking yourself what is Wallyball?
By Steve Fuhrman - A competitive wallyball and volleyball player since 1981
(Notice it is not spelled "Walleyball")
If you have any interest in a fast-paced indoor court sport, please read on.
This awesome sport adds a whole new dimension to the exciting game of Volleyball. The general concepts of wallyball are very similar to indoor volleyball. Featured in a racquetball or squash court, Wallyball provides the element of surprise as an ordinary volley can go a whole new direction with spiking the ball off the walls in many directions. Good Wallyball players use this as a key strategy to confuse and distract opponents. The result can be devastating.
Wallyball is not just volleyball played in a racquetball court. It is a separate sport with separate rules, and playing the sport requires the development of a separate set of skills. Wallyball is a faster game than volleyball and as a result, it is a harder game to master. See our rules page.
Did you know that there are wallyball tournaments throughout the world.....and that wallyball is played at most colleges?
The net is strung across the short way at the mid-point of the court. The net height is the same as it is in volleyball. The ball is of similar size to volleyball, but is made of rubber. Due to the pressure and surface of the ball, if you do get thwacked with it, it stings a bit more than a standard volleyball.
The sport of Wallyball takes into consideration hand eye coordination, balance, strength, power and agility. To excel in Wallyball, you must have a good combination of these attributes. Wallyball is a great workout and could be compared to the speed of an indoor soccer game. We think you will enjoy this sport. Just be ready for the unexpected, use your general volleyball knowledge, watch the walls and most importantly defend the corners.
The most obvious element that differs between the sports is the fact that wallyball is played in a racquetball court. The walls are a critical factor in wallyball. You cannot use more than one wall in wallyball.
Because of these walls, the serve can be used as a potent offensive weapon. Instead of just getting the ball in play over the net, there are legal ways of putting spin on the ball so that when the ball contacts the wall it rebounds at unexpected angles.
Players must develop a skill set that allows them to anticipate where the ball will be once it rebounds off the wall. They must take into consideration the arm speed and the angle of the hitter’s hand, the speed of the ball, the type of spin on the ball (if any) and the spot on the wall where the ball makes contact. (This same skill is used in the receipt of a spiked ball).
Probably the most famous wallyball players of all time were President George Bush, who gave up his horseshoes for wallyball during his presidency and his son President George W. Bush.
Today there are millions of players worldwide.
Wallyball is more than just off the wall; it's crazy, wild, and exciting!
What are the levels of play in Wallyball?
The OPEN DIVISION is the highest level of play. Players know and abide by all the game and ball handling rules of the sport. In OPEN play, a wallyball is often spiked in excess of 80 mph with defensive players able to "dig" balls traveling at that speed. Players generally have many years of experience playing wallyball and/or volleyball. They are an all around consistent player. Nearly all players at this level have played organized volleyball at the collegiate level or club level. They also have been acclimated to tournament play through years of tournament level competition. In addition to very strong volleyball skills, OPEN wallyball players generally have several years of wallyball experience as well. What often separates OPEN level wallyball players from ADVANCED level players with the same volleyball skill level is the amount of experience playing wallyball. Wallyball played at the OPEN level requires a unique skill set that is not entirely transferable from volleyball. OPEN ( A Level ) volleyball players, as a rule, DO NOT step onto a wallyball court the first several times and excel as wallyball players, but rather take months, if not years to develop into top caliber wallyball players.
The ADVANCED Division is one step down from the OPEN division. These players know and abide by most of the game and ball handling rules of the sport. At this level, players exhibit good proficiency at bumping, setting, and spiking. Players often excel at one or even two of these skills but are not as skilled all around as the OPEN player. Normally, ADVANCED players do not have as much ball control as the OPEN players or cannot set consistently.
The INTERMEDIATE Division is one step down from the ADVANCED Division. Players know and try to abide by the game and ball handling rules of the sport. Their skills are still developing, but they are considered a pretty good player. An INTERMEDIATE player is just learning the ball handling techniques.
The BEGINNER Division is one step down fron the INTERMEDIATE Division. These players are learning the game rules and ball handling skills required for the game. They are on the court to have a great time and learn the game. The BEGINNER's skills are still developing, and they are mostly a social player.
The RECREATIONAL Division is a great way to get involved with wallyball. Players in this division have played the game, know most of the rules, but would rather not worry about the rules. Each player will do the best that they can. It is “Call your own”…..There's no performance pressure here it's all about experiencing the sport in a lifestyle-charged atmosphere.
