Photo courtesy of USA Volleyball/Bill Kauffman

THE GAME OF BASKETBALL, ON WHEELS

SITTING VOLLEYBALL: A TEAM SPORT WITH A SUPER FAST PACE

THE BASICS For Regan, he loves the speed of USA Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team the game. “It is a small court (six since 2016, suggests you can get into You are on the floor. Your opponent meters x ten meters), so you don’t have the sport with some basic clothing hits the ball over the net right at you. much time to respond,” he said. “Your items and pads. “Tighter clothes help You have little time to react, but must competitive nature kicks in … you get with sliding around (the floor) better. return it back over the net and land it one or two swings in and adrenaline Knee pads and baseball sliders will in the opposing team’s half of the court kicks in. I lost my leg, but I didn’t lose also provide additional padding and to score a point. This is the objective my competitive drive.” help to prevent floor burn. “You are for the sport of sitting volleyball. Another element that players enjoy sliding around the floor on your rear Sitting volleyball is pretty much the about the sport is the camaraderie. end. If you turn your legs to the side, it same as standing volleyball, with some It is, indeed, a team sport. “I love my will also help you avoid floor burn.” minor adaptations. In particular, it is a teammates,” said Nichole Millage, a In terms of the game itself, Walker great game for individuals with lower member of the U.S. National Women’s says other than the court being limb loss or limitations. Recreationally Sitting Volleyball Team who is hoping smaller, the net being lower, and the though, it is a fantastic inclusive game, to play in her fourth Paralympic Games athletes sitting on the floor, everything as able-bodied athletes are playing the in 2020. “We are all different but come else is the same as standing volleyball. sport as well. together. It’s like having another Matches are played over a best of five If you’ve never watched a game family in my life.” sets format with each set won by the of sitting volleyball, it may appear first team to reach 25 points (with at different. “When I first saw it, I thought least a two-point lead). A match is won it was actually silly,” said Warfighter WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW by the team that wins three sets. If a Dan Regan, a member of the U.S. Unlike a number of adaptive sports decisive fifth match is necessary, the National Men’s Sitting Volleyball that have a high cost of entry due first team to reach 15 points with a two- Team. “But once I watched it at the to the adaptive equipment that is point lead wins. competitive level, it changed my needed to participate, sitting volleyball Teams have up to three contacts perception. I’m glad I sat down and requires very little. with the ball before it must go over the tried it.” Greg Walker, the head coach for

CHALLENGE 16 WINTER 2019 Photos courtesy of USA Volleyball/Bill Kauffman

net. A team scores a point by successfully ADAPTATIONS more about improving individual skills grounding the ball on the opponents’ and as a team. Regan suggests you can If you have a prosthetic leg, it is playing court; when the opponent team do so by watching video of yourself recommended to not wear it when commits a fault; or when the opponent and opponents and make adjustments playing sitting volleyball. It could limit team receives a penalty. (A team commits accordingly. one’s speed and movement abilities a fault by making a play contrary to the Once you move from the recreational during play. Additionally, if an athlete or rules.) At the moment of contacting the to the competitive level, there are teammate falls on it, it could cause injury ball, a player’s bottom must be in contact tournaments and competitions you can to them or damage the prosthesis. Users with the floor. enter. A number of collegiate programs of a prosthetic arm can use it to pass, If it is your first time out on the court, are also available for interested athletes. serve, and block. Walker suggests you learn how to move In fact, both the Men’s and Women’s Regarding your body positioning on around the floor. “It is an easy transition National Team is based at the University the floor, the position of each player for people who have seen the game of Central Oklahoma, a chapter of is determined and controlled by the before,” he said. “Players should try to Disabled Sports USA located in Edmond. position of their bottoms. This means use their legs. Often they want to use Athletes interested in competing at that the hand(s) and/or leg(s) may cross their arms first.” He also encourages that elite level have the opportunity to the service, attack, and center lines, athletes to chamber their legs to one side. pursue full-time resident housing and the provided they do not interfere with an New players should also focus on ball training center at UCO. In addition, they opposing player. A player’s “bottom” is handling. can also attend the college as well. “Not a defined as the upper part of the body, Because it is a short court, it makes day goes by that I don’t enjoy what I do,” from the shoulder to one’s buttocks. the game superfast. “I like that it is quick Regan said. “I get to play volleyball.” Players are not allowed to lift his/her paced,” Millage said. “You have to think bottom from the court when executing two or three steps ahead.” Therefore, the any type of attack-hit. Additionally, it is WHERE TO PLAY game also involves a bit of strategy, and forbidden to stand up, raise the body or Regan encourages anyone to give teams can work on controlling the speed take steps to play a ball. sitting volleyball a try. “I would or pace of the game. “You have to see In addition to the differences encourage people to get out and try something happen before it happens,” mentioned earlier regarding court size things. For me, it was volleyball,” he she said. and net height there is also a difference said. About a dozen Disabled Sports Like with any sport, practice makes regarding the serve. Unlike standing USA chapters offer sitting volleyball as perfect. It takes time to get the hang of volleyball, it is permitted to block or either a recreational or competitive sport. things. “When I started, I was horrible,” attack an opponent’s serve. You can find that listing at https://www. Millage said. At first, she found it to disabledsportsusa.org/chapters/location- be really hard, thinking “I don’t know TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL map/. Parasport clubs would also be an if I can do this, maybe it is not for me.” option to explore. That obviously changed. Now, “sitting As the team’s skill level progresses, volleyball is where it is at for me. It is teams can focus on offense and defense tough to sit on the sidelines and watch systems of serving the ball, attacking, everyone else play.” and other strategies. Then it becomes

CHALLENGE WINTER 2019 17