Sports like volleyball: Are there any sports that are similar to volleyball?

Sports like volleyball: Are there any sports that are similar to volleyball?

Kevin Omuya
April 10, 2024 at 9:35 AM

Volleyball matches are enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. The game has tremendously changed, leading to many exciting sports like volleyball. Players sometimes develop entirely new rules and strategies, and other times, they completely rethink the game.

Volleyball
Female volleyball players enjoy a game on a volleyball court. Photo: FG Trade, Simonkr/Getty Images
Source: UGC

Table of Сontents:

Even though the game has come a long way, people are still creative enough to develop many different versions of outdoor volleyball. Trying these other ways to play volleyball is fun because it makes the game more interesting.

Sports like volleyball

Several sports are similar to volleyball regarding rules, goals, or gameplay. The following are some instances of the other sports;

Game

Mostly played in

Indoor volleyball

Poland, US, Italy, Russia, Turkey

Beach volleyball

US, Brazil, Australia

Sepak Takraw

Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, India, Philippines, Brunei, USA, Pakistan

Footvolley

Brazil

Fistball

Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Brazil

Biribol

Brazil

Equa-volley

Colombia, the United States and Europe

7. Indoor volleyball

Indoor volley
Steven Charles Rotter of the Philippines competes in the Men's Volleyball Preliminary Round Pool F match against Japan on September 21, 2023. Photo: Yi Fan/VCG
Source: Getty Images
  • Year founded: 1895
  • Type: Indoor
  • Place of origin: United States
  • Prominence: Poland, US, Italy, Russia, Turkey

William Morgan is widely recognized as the inventor of indoor volleyball, states India Today. The typical setting for the classic volleyball game is the gym floor, which features a vast court with a central net. This sport can be played by two teams going head-to-head in rallies, with the winning team reaching 25 points first.

Although participants can use any part of their bodies to touch the ball, the hands are often used in this sport. Also, players cannot keep it in their hands unless they are serving, and each side gets three chances to touch it before giving it back to the other.

6. Beach Volleyball

Beach volley
A group of friends play beach volleyball in Huntington Beach, California, USA, on March 31, 2021. Photo: Mark Rightmire
Source: Getty Images
  • Year founded: 1895
  • Type: Outdoor
  • Place of origin: Hawaii
  • Prominence: US, Brazil, Australia and Australia

Beach volleyball style first appeared in Hawaii around the turn of the twentieth century, and its popularity has skyrocketed since then. However, the conventional indoor gym is replaced with sandy beaches for the game.

Each team plays to score a point by having a player's ball land on an opponent's side. Although the version is tweaked, the fundamental physics and gameplay are identical to the original variant.

5. Sepak Takraw

Sepak Takraw
Thailand's Wassana Soiraya (centre R) kicks the ball against South Korea's team on September 29, 2023. Photo: Hector Retamal
Source: Getty Images
  • Year founded: 1500s
  • Type: Indoor
  • Place of origin: China
  • Prominence: Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, India, Philippines, Brunei, USA, Pakistan.

The Southeast Asian variant of volleyball known as Sepak Traw emerged before the turn of the twentieth century. "Takraw" means a rattan ball weaved, whereas "Sepak" means a kick in Thai. So, "kicking the woven rattan ball" is possibly an unofficial translation of Sepak Takraw.

Sepak Takraw is played on a rectangular court with a net in the centre. The goal of each set is to score as many points as possible. The maximum number of touches allowed by either team before the ball is sent to the opponent.

4. Footvolley

Footvolley
Rafael Longo (R) and Bruno Barros (L) in action during Footvolley World Stars 2018. Photo: Marco Canoniero
Source: Getty Images
  • Year founded: 1965
  • Type: Outdoor
  • Place of origin: Brazil
  • Prominence: Brazil

Footvolley combines elements of beach volleyball and football. Most of the regulations are the same as those for the beach game, except that players can not use their hands to touch the ball. Originating in Brazil in the 1960s, when public beaches were off-limits to soccer, this variant quickly gained traction.

Footvolley is distinct from other variants, with a 2.15-meter net and two players per side. This variant is played throughout the United States, Europe, and South America. The European Footvolley League is available in Europe, whereas the Pro Footvolley Tour is an annual event in the United States.

3. Fistball

Fistball
A volleyball player spikes a volleyball during a match. Photo: Simonkr
Source: Getty Images
  • Year founded: 1960
  • Type: Outdoor
  • Place of origin: Germany
  • Prominence: Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Brazil

The German-speaking countries of Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Brazil are the central locations for fistball matches, which have their roots in Europe. Teams compete to see who can hit the ball over the net, much like in volleyball, but there are many vital rules and differences.

The German national team is supreme in men's fistball, having won the respective titles in the 2023 and 2022 World Games. In women's fistball, Germany also won the title in 2021.

2. Biribol

Russia vs Brazil men's volleyball competition
Russia's Dmitry (in red) hits the ball in the direction of Brazil's team in the men's volleyball match on July 28, 2021. Photo: Angela Weis
Source: Getty Images
  • Year founded: 1960s
  • Type: Indoor/Outdoor
  • Place of origin: Brazil
  • Prominence: Brazil

It is similar to volleyball but played in the water. The Brazilian professor Dario Miguel Pedro created it in the 1960s. Approximately 8 meters in length, 4 meters in breadth, and 1.30 meters deep is the pool used to play Biribol.

In the centre of the pool, you can see a net. A smaller version of the water polo ball is utilized in Biribol. Two teams of four players each play the game, or two teams of two can play doubles.

In most sports like volleyball, all matches are determined in best-of-three or best-of-five sets, each with 21 points. Any portion of the player's body is fair game for making contact with the ball. There are similarities between most of its regulations and those of volleyball.

1. Ecua-volley

Ecuavolley
A group of men playing ecua-voley on April 29, 2015. Photo: Juan Cevallos
Source: Getty Images
  • Year founded: 1895
  • Type: Outdoor
  • Place of origin: Ecuador
  • Prominence: Colombia, United States and Europe

Played by teams of three, ecuavóley is a sport and a game like volleyball that originated in Ecuador. It is similar to volleyball but with a higher net. Originating in Ecuador, it is currently most popular there, but it is quickly catching on in Colombia, as well as in some areas of the US and Europe.

In contrast to the 2.43 m net used in volleyball, the Ecuavoley net stands at 2.80 m. The setter, flyer, and server are the three members of each team.

Frequently asked questions

Provided here is a list of sports like volleyball. These sports are the subject of the following frequently asked questions.

What sport is volleyball most similar to?

In fistball, a team sport played outside, the ball is hit with the fist or the arm, but never with open hands. The ball can also bounce once after each touch, unlike volleyball. The ball can also move if you play Football, Tennis, or Jokgu.

What sport resembles volleyball?

The sport of Biribol is similar to volleyball, which is played in the water. The first person to do it was Prof. Dario Miguel Pedro in the city of Birigüi in Brazil in the 1960s.

What are the complementary sports to volleyball?

Cross-country running and track and field are great sports to play together to build cardio for the game, which needs a lot of fitness. Sports like basketball, dancing, and lacrosse require jumping, moving quickly, and coordinating your hands and eyes.

Final word

The adaptability of volleyball makes it a fascinating and engaging activity for many players. These other sports, like volleyball, showcase variations of volleyball's core elements while offering unique twists and cultural influences.

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Authors
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Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.