Bump, set, spike
Volleyball is all about teamwork and timing, and this word search gathers its essentials. You'll track down the three-touch rhythm — the BUMP, the SET and the SPIKE — plus the SERVE that starts each RALLY and the BLOCK at the NET that ends it.
Each puzzle pulls a fresh selection from the list, so the court changes every time you play — gentle on Easy, and a Hard-mode rally once the diagonals and backwards words appear.
Positions and pro moves
The game has its own language, and it's here. Meet the SETTER who feeds the SPIKER, the defensive LIBERO who never spikes, and learn the ROTATION every team follows. There's the unreturnable ACE, the SIDEOUT, the powerful KILL, the tricky FLOATER serve, the ANTENNA at the net edge, a JOUST above it, and the warm-up game of PEPPER — on an indoor COURT or the sandy BEACH.
One ball, two teams, three touches
Volleyball was invented in 1895 by an American gym teacher named William Morgan, who wanted a gentler indoor game than basketball — one with no hard contact between players. The clever rule at its heart is that each team gets a maximum of three touches to send the ball back over the NET, which is exactly where the famous BUMP, SET and SPIKE rhythm comes from.
Indoor volleyball is played six-a-side, with players moving round one spot in the ROTATION each time they win the serve. Its sun-soaked cousin, beach volleyball, is played just two-a-side on sand and is one of the most popular sights at the Summer Olympics — proof the game travels from the school COURT to the world stage.
Great for a PE topic
It pairs perfectly with a volleyball lesson or club, indoor or beach — Easy mode keeps the grid small with no diagonals or reverse words. Play online, print a PDF pack, or use our Make Your Own tool to build a grid from your own volleyball terms.