If you’re a fan of volleyball, one question that may come to mind is how long does a volleyball game last? The answer to this question isn’t straightforward since the duration of a volleyball match depends on several factors. In this post, we’ll discuss how long a volleyball game lasts based on the different types of volleyball matches.
Indoor Volleyball
Indoor volleyball is the most popular type of volleyball played globally. It involves two teams of six players each playing in a designated court. A standard indoor volleyball game is played in five sets, and the first team to win three sets is declared the winner. Each set in an indoor volleyball match has a time limit of 15 minutes, and the team with the highest points at the end of the 15 minutes wins the set. If no team attains the required number of points (25 points) at the end of the 15 minutes, the set continues until one of the teams gets a two-point lead.
Therefore, an indoor volleyball match lasts between one to two hours, depending on the length of the sets. If each set lasts exactly 15 minutes and it takes four sets for a team to win, the match will last for one hour. However, if all five sets are played and each set takes an average of 20 minutes, the match’s duration will be approximately two hours.
Beach Volleyball
Beach volleyball, also known as sand volleyball, is another popular variant of volleyball played worldwide. It is played by two teams of two players each competing in a sand court. The objective of the game is to score 21 points, and the team with the highest points wins the set. A beach volleyball match is typically played in three sets, and the first team to win two sets wins the match.
The time taken to complete a beach volleyball match depends on various factors such as the climate, the skill level of the players, and the pace of the game. Typically, a beach volleyball game lasts between 45 minutes to an hour. If each set takes 15 minutes to complete, then an entire match should take approximately one hour.
International Volleyball Matches
International volleyball is played at the highest level by professional athletes representing their respective countries. The game’s rules and regulations are the same as those in indoor volleyball, and matches are typically played in five sets.
However, there are slight differences in the duration of an international volleyball match compared to indoor volleyball. Each set has a time limit of 25 minutes instead of 15 minutes, but the rules of the game are the same. If a team scores 25 points before the 25 minutes elapse, they win the set, similar to indoor volleyball. However, if the 25 minutes elapse, the team with the highest points wins the set.
Therefore, an international volleyball match usually takes between two to three hours, depending on the number of sets played and the duration of each set. Suppose each set takes 25 minutes to complete, and four sets are played; in that case, the game will last for approximately two hours and forty minutes.
In conclusion, the duration of a volleyball game depends on several factors such as the type of volleyball, the number of sets played, and the set length. Indoor volleyball games last between one to two hours, beach volleyball games last between 45 minutes to an hour, while international volleyball games last between two to three hours.