Version control: Original 1990 / Updated 1999 / Updated 2003 / Updated 2015/ Updated February 2023/ Updated March 2023
Introduction
You must refer to the Requirements for All Sport and Physical Activity (PDF 466KB) to understand your overall compliance responsibilities.
Where considered appropriate, for example inclusion in a school sport program, parents or caregivers must be informed of full details of the location, supervision to be provided and activities to be undertaken when seeking their written permission.
Where outdoor courts are used, students are to be instructed to use adequate sun protection, e.g. an SPF50+, broad spectrum, a water resistant sunscreen reapplied regularly.
Teacher/Instructor Qualifications and Experience
An appropriate level of expertise and/or training in the teaching/coaching of volleyball will be dependent on whether the teacher's/instructor's role is one of supervision, instruction or coaching. Other factors to be considered are the nature of the activity, the age, ability and experience of the students involved.
Volleyball Australia offers the following appropriate accreditation courses:
A teacher must be present who has recognised current training in emergency care.
Specific sport support for volleyball is provided in the Teacher resource hub.
Equipment
Where the nets are held up by freestanding poles, there must be a weighting system to prevent the poles from falling over. No part of the pole or base is to protrude onto the court. All posts/poles must be padded.
Winch handles on posts should be removable. Any winding equipment on posts must be padded.
Guy wires to support posts should be avoided if possible. Where schools elect to use these, they must be clearly visible to players and covered with protective pads.
Referee stands and chairs for lines people must be positioned with regard to player safety.
A well-equipped medical kit must be readily available.
Venues
The court surface must be free of obstructions and loose objects. Courts must be positioned well clear of walls and roof support structures.
Where beach volleyball is conducted, the court area must be carefully inspected for solid or sharp objects prior to the activity commencing. The recommended minimum depth of sand is 50cm.
The immediate surrounds of the court perimeter must have a space clear of any objects or obstacles, e.g. equipment.
Lights at indoor facilities must be covered with metal guards or similar.
Safety
Students should tape or cut long fingernails.
Students must remove jewellery and other ornaments likely to cause injury.
Students must wear footwear which is appropriate for the playing surface.
Spectators, non-participants, players and belongings must be positioned well clear of the court boundary to avoid interfering with the safe movements of the players.
Play must not be allowed on wet or slippery surfaces.
Warm-up and cool-down are vital elements in preventing injury and should be included before and after all training and competition sessions. Stretching activities performed in the warm-up should move the muscles through the full range of movement to be performed during the session and be interspersed throughout the warm-up.
The warm-up should be continuous and lead into the training session. It should be fun and include games/activities relevant to the session to be performed.
Where possible, ice should be available for the treatment of injuries.