Volleyball

The requirements of this schedule apply to the teaching of volleyball skills, team training and competition matches conducted by schools.

As part of the process of safety self-regulation, all persons engaging in this activity should identify the hazards, assess their significance and manage the potential risks including any additional hazards not mentioned here.

Hazards that may be encountered in volleyball include items of equipment (e.g. net posts, guy wires).

The categorisation of these conditions is subjective and offered as a starting point for risk management planning. The actual degree of risk is best ascertained by persons with intimate local knowledge present at the site of the activity.

Participation in volleyball involves medium risk (level 2).

One adult present should have knowledge of, and an ability to perform, first aid procedures.

If an adult other than a registered teacher is engaged for instruction, a teacher should be present to take overall responsibility.

The qualifications listed in this section are minimums for each type of situation. Leaders are encouraged to seek training to raise their qualification level above the minimum listed.

The leader should be:

• a registered teacher with experience (previous involvement) in the teaching of volleyball
• an adult who has Level 1 coaching qualifications from the Australian Volleyball Federation

A first aid kit should be available at all venues where lessons and competitions are conducted.

Initial introduction of the activity should include:

• appropriate warm-up and warm-down activities
• rules, safety procedures and prerequisite skills before students play the game
• progressive and sequential skill development
• modified games that match skill and fitness levels of students

Teachers should ensure students cut or tape long fingernails to prevent any injury to any participants.

Students are to wear footwear appropriate to the playing surface.

The playing area should be level and free from obstacles and loose objects.

Indoor facilities should have adequate lighting and ventilation. The lights should be protected.

The court surface should be non-slip.

A minimum space of two metres should surround each court.

Courts should be sited in a north-south direction to limit visual interference from the sun.

For beach volleyball courts:

• sand depth should be at least 30 centimetres
• sand should extend beyond the court by at least two metres
• court area should be dug and raked before use
• base of portable posts should be covered with sand

Equipment, including net posts, should be checked for damage before play commences and removed from use where necessary.

Net posts should be 50 to 80 centimetres from the sidelines.

Nets should be supported by flexible cable.

Guy wires should not be used to support posts. If schools elect to use these, they should be clearly visible to players and be covered with protective pads.

Winch handles on posts should be removable. Any non-removable winding equipment on posts should be padded.

Lines for outdoor courts should be of flexible, non-injurious material (e.g. cords or webbing). Wood, metal or other solid material should not be used.

Referee stands and chairs for linespeople should be positioned with regard to player safety.

Procedures should be adopted to minimise loose balls entering the playing area and safety procedures should be established for their removal.

Net play should be closely supervised at all times.

• HLS-PR-013: Developing a Sun Safety Strategy
• SCM-PR-002: School Excursions
• HLS-PR-005: Injury, Illness and Dangerous Event Recording and Reporting
• HLS-PR-003: First Aid for Schools and Non-school Locations