The Hindu : Sport / Volleyball : Lighter balls for Beijing

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Thursday, Jul 03, 2008
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Lighter balls for Beijing

Sports Reporter

VIJAYAWADA: Soon volleyball is going to shed its weight a wee bit. As per the decision taken at the world congress of FIVB held recently at Dubai, it was agreed to reduce the air pressure in the ball to facilitate more lengthy rallies and thus make the game more viewer-friendly.

Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday, former National coach A. Ramana Rao, who attended the meeting as Volleyball Federation of India’s representative, said that the newly designed, low-pressure balls would be pressed into service for the first time at the Beijing Games.

“Earlier the inside air pressure was 0.30 to 0.325 kg/cm2. Now it has been reduced to 0.20 to 0.25 kg/cm2. The new ball will more beneficial, especially in men’s game, as the players can achieve better ball control. FIVB felt that the Beijing Games would be the perfect platform to introduce the new rule. The players will have around two months time to get used to the ball,” he said.

FIVB has also agreed to increase the number of players from the existing 12 to 14. “While six players were on the court six were kept as substitutes. Now an additional two players are added to team. To give the defence more teeth, another libero is added to the team to make the game more thrilling and racy. These changes will come into vogue in 2009,” he added.

Keen to tackle the dope menace, FIVB has made the dope tests mandatory for all official championships. “FIVB has done away with random tests. Henceforth, tests would be conducted on players before major national competitions and at national camps. The results would be submitted by the respective national federation to FIVB for necessary action. This new rule would be put to action in 2009,” he said.

The meeting discussed at length the players’ representation in various professional clubs abroad. “Under the new rule, any player, who gets into contractual obligation with a private club in any other country, should seek the permission of the respective national federation. The club should also deposit the prescribed amount with the FIVB and national federation to which the player belongs,” Mr. Rao said.

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