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U.S. Soccer Federation

soccer-fa

The Football Association (FA)
Homepage: /
Rules and regulations URL: /TheFA/RulesAndRegulations/

History:
Founded in 1863, the Football Association, as the governing body of football in England, is responsible for promoting and developing the game at every level. Having built its reputation as one of the world’s senior football administrations, FA takes the lead in providing a structure for organized football in England. FA is also responsible for establishing the regulatory framework for the football in England, ensuring that the Laws of the Game, agreed internationally, are followed at every level. Specific activities of the association include running international teams, organizing cup competitions (such as the FA Cup), youth development, refereeing, coaching, medical matters, and representing the English game internationally. The Football Association has been a Limited Company since 1903, thus, amendments to its rules are subject to the approval of its shareholders.

Canadian Soccer Association

soccer-canada

Canadian Soccer Association
Homepage: /
Rules and regulations URL: /documents/CSA_Rules_and_Regulations_June2008-Amended20110515_EN.pdf

History:

Founded in 1912, the Canadian Soccer Association, in partnership with its members, is dedicated to promoting the growth and development of soccer for all Canadians at all levels. It is affiliated with FIFA, the Football Confederation (CONCACAF), and Canadian Olympic Association (COA).

To date, the Canadian Soccer Association has 10 provincial soccer associations, Northwest Territories and Yukon Association along with the A-League and National Professional Soccer League clubs. There are also approximately 825,031 registered players in 2003, a 4.5 percent growth over 2002; 73,000 registered coaches in 1999; and 23,000 registered referees in 2003.

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

soccer-uefa

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
Homepage: /
Rules and regulations URL: /uefa/mediaservices/
regulations

History:

UEFA is the governing body of football in Europe. Since its foundation in 1954, UEFA has been implementing measures to safeguard the development of European football at every level of the game and to promote the principles of unity and solidarity. Based in Nyon, Switzerland, UEFA’s current membership stands at 49 nations.

UEFA is headed by president Lennart Johansson of Sweden and general secretary Gerhard Aigner of Germany. In all its 50 years of existence, UEFA’s leadership has pursued organizational aims of good governance in European football though transparency, accountability, pride and respect for its many stakeholders. Moreover, UEFA has been working closely with its member associations, leagues and clubs to increase access and participation, without discrimination on grounds of gender, religion or race, and support growth of football in the grassroots level.

United States Youth Soccer Association

soccer-us-youth

United States Youth Soccer Association
Homepage: http://www.usyouthsoccer.org
Rules and Regulations URL: /worldfootball/lawsofthegame.html

History:

In 1974, the United States Soccer Federation officially recognized the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) as an affiliated, self-governing body for youth soccer. Conceptualized by Karl Grosch, Don Greer and Robert Nessler, the US Youth Soccer aimed to unify the worlds of youth soccer in the United States through a democratic structure that would facilitate intra-state, inter-state and international play.

Thirty years after it has been established, the US Youth Soccer remains as America’s primary organization fostering physical, mental and emotional growth and development of youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition. To date, US Youth Soccer has 3.2 million registered players, a huge leap from 100,000 players in 1974. It also boasts of over 800,000 coaches and volunteers.

More than promoting youth development trough sports, US Youth Soccer also provides a structured appeals process, and its marketing and licensing programs helps US Youth Soccer hold down player costs while providing revenue for increased services.

U.S. Soccer Federation

soccer-ussf

U.S. Soccer Federation
Homepage: /
Rules and regulations URL: /Referees/Laws-of-the-Game.aspx

Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer was one of the world’s first organizations to be affiliated with FIFA. U.S. Soccer has continued to grow in the 91 years since, and now has the largest membership among U.S. Olympic Committee national governing bodies.

Used to be known as the U.S. Football Association, U.S. Soccer’s name was changed to the United States Soccer Football Association in 1945 and then to its present name in 1974. As the governing body of soccer in the United States, U.S. Soccer has helped chart the course for the sport in the USA for 90 years. Its main goals include making soccer, in all its forms, a preeminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels.

Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

soccer-fifa

Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
Homepage: /
Rules and regulations URL:
/worldfootball/lawsofthegame.html

History:

FIFA, otherwise known as the Federation Internationale de Football Association, is the world’s top soccer governing body. Founded in May 21,1904 in Paris, France, FIFA is responsible for supervising international competitions (such as the World Cup) and safeguarding the sport against negative imagery and its rules against abuse. Now based in Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA implements development programs to promote soccer throughout the world.

To date, FIFA has 203 member national associations. Helping FIFA in coordinating with the various national associations are six trusted confederations scattered all over the world. These include the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF), Football Confederation (in North and Central America and the Caribbean), Confederacion Sudamericana de Futbol or CONMEBOL (in South America), Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), and Oceania Football Conference (OFC).

Volleyball Court Dimensions

volleyball-court-dimensions-diagram

Volleyball Court Dimensions Diagram
Click on Image for Enlarge View

Overall Dimensions

The overall measurements for a Volleyball court is 60 feet by 30 feet. Each side of the court is therefore 30 feet by 30 feet in size.

Center Line

A center line is marked at the center of the court dividing it equally into 30 feet squares.

Attack Line

The attack line is marked 10 feet on each side of the center line of the court. Some rules show the attack line at 9′ 10″ however that includes the width of the line itself (2″).

Service Line

A service line is marked 10 feet inside the right sideline on each back line. This is the area from which the server may serve the volleyball.

The Net

The net is hung directly above the center line at 7 feet 4 inches for women and 8 feet for men.

Standards

Volleyball standards should be set at 36 feet apart, 3 feet on either side of the sidelines.

Ceiling Height

The minimum ceiling height should be 23 feet. Preferably the ceilings should be higher.

VOLLEYBALL HISTORY- Page 2 of 2

The NCAA added a women’s volleyball championship in 1981. USC won the first women’s collegiate title.

The first men’s NCAA volleyball championship was played in 1970. UCLA won six of the first seven men’s volleyball titles.

NCAA Volleyball Champions (mens)

YearChampion
1970UCLA
1971UCLA
1972UCLA
1973San Deigo State
1974UCLA
1975UCLA
1976UCLA
1977Southern Cal
1978Pepperdine
1979UCLA
1980Southern Cal
1981UCLA
1982UCLA
1983UCLA
1984UCLA
1985Pepperdine
1986Pepperdine
1987UCLA
1988Southern Cal
1989UCLA
1990Southern Cal
1991Long Beach State
1992Pepperdine
1993UCLA
1994Penn State
1995UCLA
1996UCLA
1997Stanford
1998UCLA
1999Brigham Young
2000UCLA
2001Brigham Young
2002Pepperdine
2003Lewis
2004Brigham Young
2005Pepperdine
2006UCLA
2007UC Irvin
2008Penn State
2009UC Irvine
2010Stanford
2011Ohio State
2012UC Irvine
2013UC Irvine
2014Loyola Chicago
2014Loyola Chicago

NCAA Volleyball Champions (Womens)

YearChampion
1981Southen Cal
1982Hawaii
1983Hawaii
1984UCLA
1985Pacific
1986Pacific
1987Hawaii
1988Texas
1989Long Beach State
1990UCLA
1991UCLA
1992Stanford
1993Long Beach State
1994Stanford
1995Nebraska
1996Stanford
1997Stanford
1998Long Beach State
1999Penn State
2000Nebraska
2001Stanford
2002Southern Cal
2003Southern Cal
2004Stanford
2005Washington
2006Nebraska
2007Penn State
2008Penn State
2009Penn State
2010Penn State
2011UCLA
2012Texas
2013Penn State
2014Penn State

From the Gym to the Sand
In the 1940s, another style of volleyball was developing up and down the California coast. Teams of two or four players would square off on sand volleyball courts. Young and old players would form impromptu competitions on the beach. Spectators would often gather to watch the volleyball matches. Before long, the best teams were traveling up and down the coast to play in beach volleyball tournaments. The first two-man volleyball tournament was held at State Beach, California in 1943.

In 1965, The California Beach Volleyball Association was founded. It was responsible for standardizing the rules of the beach and for organizing official tournaments. By 1976, the very best players on the beach were competing for prize money as professionals. Male players formed the AVP, the Association of Volleyball Professionals, in 1983. Women beach volleyball players formed their own association in 1986.

When former college and Olympic indoor volleyball stars began playing on the beach the sport became even more popular. Beach volleyball spread from California to Florida and then to other states—even to some that don’t have beaches. In some areas, beach volleyball is played indoors in arenas filled with sand. By 1993, beach volleyball had become so popular in the United States, that tournaments were broadcast on national television.

In 1987, two-men beach volleyball teams competed in the first world championships. The first two-women’s world championships were played in 1993. Four-player beach teams became popular in the 1990s.

Volleyball Goes for the Gold
Today, men’s and women’s competition in both indoor and beach volleyball are part of the Olympic games. Indoor volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1964. The host team, Japan, won the women’s gold medal. In the first four women’s Olympic volleyball competitions, Japan and the Soviet Union met in the finals. The Soviets prevailed in 1968 and 1972. Japan won again in 1972.

In the men’s medal competition, the Soviet Union has been dominant. After winning gold at the first Olympic volleyball competition, the Soviet men won a medal in each of the next five Olympics they competed in—three golds, one silver and one bronze. The US men’s team won back-to-back gold medals in 1984 and 1988.

Beach Volleyball became on Olympic sport at the 1996 Atlanta games. The US, Brazil and Australia have been the teams to beat on Olympic sand.

Olympic Volleyball Champions

Year
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
Mens Indoor Gold
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
Japan
Poland
Soviet Union
United States
United States
Brazil
Netherlands
Yugoslavia
Brazil
United States
Womens Indoor Gold
Japan
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
Japan
Soviet Union
China
Soviet Union
Cuba
Cuba
Cuba
China
Brazile

Olympic Volleyball Champions

Year
1996
2000
2004
2008
Mens Beach Gold
United States
United States
Brazil
United States
Womens Beach Gold
Brazil
Australia
United States
Unites States

A Game for the Best
Hardly anyone watching the fast, powerful sport of modern volleyball would recognize it as a game originally designed as a less-strenuous form of recreation for middle-aged men. Today, some of the world’s very best athletes are digging, setting and spiking the ball in gyms and on beaches throughout the world.

VOLLEYBALL HISTORY- Page 1 of 2

The history of volleyball is closely linked to that of another popular court game. In fact, just eight miles and four years separate the historic development of volleyball and its cousin basketball.

A Game for the (Middle) Ages
In 1895, William G. Morgan was the education director as the Holyoke, Massachusetts, YMCA. Four years earlier, his colleague James Naismith had invented the game of basketball just down the road at the Springfield YMCA. Naismith’s game was catching on quickly but there was a drawback. Not everyone could keep up with the fast pace of basketball—and that was even before the fast break was created. Morgan needed a game that could be enjoyed by middle-aged men.

Morgan conceived a court game he originally called mintonette. He chose the name because his new sport was related to badminton. Mintonette was played on a court divided by a six-foot, six-inch net. Teams volleyed the ball back and forth across the net until one team missed. The first competitive game of volleyball was played July 7, 1896.

Things They Are a Changing…Quickly
Changes were immediately made to Morgan’s game. One of the first changes was the name itself. Alfred Halstead is credited with renaming the sport with the descriptive words “volley ball.” (Can you imagine Karch Kiraly playing for a gold medal in Olympic beach mintonette?) The number of players on each team also was limited. Originally, a team was allowed to have as many players as it could fit into its half of a 50- by 25-foot court. The number of players was set at nine per side and later reduced to six. Rotating players to various positions on the court has been part of the game from the beginning.

The number of times a team could touch the ball before it went over the net was eventually established at three. The first rules allowed an unlimited number of hits. The earliest games in Morgan’s gym were played with the rubber bladder from inside a basketball. Spalding made the first official volleyball in 1896. By 1900, the standard shape and weight of the ball were almost identical to those used today.

The height of the net was raised to make play more challenging. Today, the net is just under eight feet for men’s competition (2.43 meters) and just over seven feet (2.24 meters) for women’s. Under the original rules of volleyball, a team had to score 21 points to win a game. In 1917, that number was reduced to 15.

Giving the Game Away
YMCA workers took the game from Holyoke to US missionary schools in Asia. The game became very popular in the East as was played in the Oriental Games as early as 1913. Volleyball also caught on in Russia. When regular international competition began in the 1950s, Russia was the dominant team. During the World War I, United States troops introduced volleyball in Europe.

You know a sport has really arrived when official governing bodies are established. For volleyball, this happened in 1928 when the United States Volleyball Association was formed. The organization later became USA Volleyball. The Fédération Internationale de Volley-ball (FIVB) was founded in 1947. In 1949, the first men’s world championship tournament took place in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Not Just for Middle-Aged Men
It quickly became apparent that volleyball had appeal far beyond the middle-aged men it was originally introduced to. Colleges and high schools began to adopt the sport for both men and women. Volleyball became the competitive fall sport for girls. The first US national volleyball championships for women were played in 1949, 54 years after women began competing in the game. The first international championships for women were played in 1952 in Moscow.