Special Olympics volleyball is offered in every US program and in over 30 countries around the world. Athletes in volleyball benefit from the camaraderie of a team sport, and the athletic training enabling them to successfully serve and return a volleyball. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to the athletes' ability level, age and gender. Volleyball, invented in the United States, has wide international appeal in Special Olympics. Take, for example, participation in the 1999 World Games, more than 475 athletes from 51 countries competed, comparing that to the four female teams and eleven male teams in the 1987 World Games.

Volleyball is one of the sports that encourages the development of Special Olympics Officials Program for Athletes®. This program involves interested Special Olympic athletes who want to become certified volleyball officials. These athletes take the same course and meet the same requirements set forth by the United States Volleyball Association for all volleyball officials and are then certified to officiate volleyball competitions.

Volleyball is in the winter sports schedule for Special Olympics Texas with statewide competition at the Winter Games in December. The following events are sanctioned by Special Olympics Texas and are to be offered at all local, area and chapter competitions. The actual events scheduled and conducted at local, area and chapter competitions will be determined by a minimum number of entries in each event. An athlete may enter team competitions, Unified Team or one of the individual skills groups.

Events
Team competition
Unified Team
Individual Skills I
Individual Skills II

Related Sites
Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (rule book)
United States Volleyball Association (rule book)