Street-style sports continue to be popular for a good reason. They’re easy to pick up and anyone can join a game or two without being a professional. Street basketball is no different, and while you’ll still need a basketball and a hoop, that’s pretty much all you’ll need to get started.
Street-style rules are very different compared to official NBA rulebooks, so don’t worry too much about that. Here’s how you and your friends can enjoy some street basketball even if you’ve never played basketball before.
Flexible Rules
What are the rules you should worry about when playing street-style basketball? While there are no set rules, the rules of your particular game will be whatever you decide on with your friends. Want to play up to 30 points in a 3-set game? Why not! Want to play with 1-point rules instead of traditional 2/3-point rules? Do it! Here are a few rules you can tinker with before you start playing:
- How big is your court going to be?
- How many players will play per team?
- How many sets are you playing?
- What does the winner get?
Playing street ball is about having fun more than anything else. And while there certainly are basketball leagues out there that play “street” basketball, they’re far closer to traditional sport. Set your custom game rules before you start and make sure that everyone is on the same page about what goes and what doesn’t.
Lenient Equipment Needs
The most enjoyable street basketball is the one you never plan for too much. To that end, you don’t need anything more than a basketball to start playing and enjoy every minute of it. You and your friends can wear anything from hoodies, sweatpants, shorts, and t-shirts depending on the weather and what you’re comfortable with.
However, you should still wear stable footwear and avoid playing basketball barefoot or in open-top shoes such as sandals to avoid injuries. This makes street ball very approachable since anyone can plug into your game for a few minutes and then walk away, making space for someone else to pitch in.
Basic Play Tips Still Apply
Despite street basketball being more approachable than its traditional counterpart, some moment-to-moment play tips still apply. The way you use the ball to score points for your team and the way you dribble around your opponents will be similar to what you’ll see in traditional basketball. Here are a few tips you should keep in mind:
- Always keep your distance from the hoop in mind
- Pass the ball to your teammates often
- Plan your shots and don’t rush into it
- Don’t keep the ball to yourself for too long
- Focus on a single opponent to block
When it comes down to it, these are some common-sense rules you can use in any street-style sport. The most important thing is that you respect your teammates and your opponents equally while playing. You are, after all, here to have some fun and not win a tournament or prove a point.
Risk of Injury
We’ve touched on the fact that street ball is played on street-style surfaces and courts. However, this is a more dangerous option compared to traditional basketball as you can easily get hurt. You can scrape your knees, bruise yourself, or tackle an opponent clumsily and injure them in a matter of moments.
This is because street-style basketball is played on concrete most of the time, and it’s also why it’s usually played with smaller team comps and court sizes. The general rule is that you shouldn’t get too invested in your game and always keep your mind on the people around you. Be respectful to those around you and they’ll do the same toward you, despite you being opponents looking to win the game at the moment.
Embracing Street Basketball
You don’t have to try very hard to enjoy street-style basketball. All you need is a ball similar to the ones used in traditional basketball, a hoop, and you’re good to go. Make sure that you’re careful about which surface you play on, since playing on concrete means that you have to be more careful about your footwork and potential injuries.
Regardless, street basketball is a less planned-out, more spontaneous version of the game you might already be familiar with. If you have a group of friends who you’d like to play ball with but don’t have a standard court to work with, street-style basketball is just as viable of an option for you.
Volleyball stands out as a unique sport primarily because players are required to rebound the ball, unlike other major sports where players can hold or pause with the ball during play. In football, for example, if a player drops the ball, others scramble across the field, trying to secure it. In basketball, when a player is unsure or the play falters, they can simply hold onto the ball and regroup before passing it. Imagine if a volleyball hitter facing a massive block could say, “That’s too big!” and then pass the ball back to their team for a redo with as many hits as needed. But in volleyball, players must “better the ball,” making the next play superior to the last, without complaint. By the third hit, no matter the circumstances, the ball must clear the net and land in the opponent’s court. There’s no room for a second attempt.
Almost all other sports involving rebounds provide players with tools to help control the ball. For example, my mom's new tennis racket has a much larger head than her old one, and she’s been playing better because of it. But in volleyball, you can’t buy improved arms for passing or enhanced hands for setting. Want to block better? Unfortunately, you can’t purchase “extended” arms for that either. The only way to improve is to dedicate time to the game and gain experience through repetition.
Another unique aspect of volleyball is that at lower levels, less-skilled teams often win! Yes, at this stage, the worst team can come out on top. While beginners should focus on three touches per side as they develop, teams that only aim to get the ball back over the net quickly can win on the scoreboard. Patience, then, is key.
Volleyball’s court is the largest in the world once the ball is in play. After the serve, the boundaries extend far beyond the actual court lines, restricted only by walls or other obstacles. Most sports keep players confined within specific areas, but volleyball players must chase down errant balls, covering substantial ground to keep the play alive, all while adapting to varying conditions such as low ceilings or harsh lighting. Volleyball players are often the ones to find hidden badminton birdies or lost balloons in gym ceilings.
One critical feature of the game is the net, which players can never touch while the ball is in play. And to ensure this, not one but two referees keep a close eye on the net, monitoring every movement. On this smaller-than-average court, volleyball also features a high player density, making it one of the most crowded team sports. With 12 players squeezed into a 162-square-meter space, things get tight. You have to get along with your teammates. Imagine if volleyball had fouls: after a strong block, a frustrated player might lash out, causing a penalty. Thankfully, that’s not part of the game!
Volleyball can be played on virtually any surface: sand, grass, asphalt, wood, or even mud or snow. However, no matter the surface, the ball is never allowed to touch the ground, which is legal in most other sports. For a humorous perspective on this, try watching a game upside down; you’ll see how the ball constantly fights gravity, racing toward the floor.
The range of a player’s contacts varies from just off the ground to the peak of their jump. The ball’s trajectory can go as high as the playing area allows, and players must be prepared to dig a ball one second and then jump as high as possible the next. The ball's speed varies drastically, too, ranging from slow to over 100 kilometers per hour in international play. Despite these challenges, volleyball players typically wear minimal protective gear, often just kneepads. And let’s be honest—how often do those kneepads even get hit?
A unique requirement of volleyball is the consecutive maximum efforts needed to be a good spiker. Players must jump as high as possible and, while in the air, hit the ball as hard as they can. Imagine a pro baseball or softball player needing to jump before swinging at the ball. This is the expectation for every third hit in volleyball.
Receiving serves is another major challenge, comparable to baseball or softball. In baseball, a batter who hits .300 is considered successful. But in volleyball, if a player misses two-thirds of the serves, they wouldn’t make the team. On top of that, players don’t get the luxury of calling balls and strikes. Even if the ball grazes the net, it’s still in play, and players are expected to make the perfect pass to the setter.
Beginners and experienced players alike often return the ball in less-than-ideal forms, given the limitation of only three contacts. Every touch is scrutinized by referees, making ball control paramount. Imagine basketball players needing to shoot from wherever they are on the court after the second pass—this is what volleyball demands.
The game also requires a wide variety of skills, regardless of the player’s position. Volleyball players rotate to new positions after each change in possession, forcing them to adapt and play from different spots on the court. Imagine if, after a touchdown, the quarterback switched to tight end, or in baseball, the pitcher rotated to catcher after an out. Volleyball players must be well-rounded, able to perform effectively all over the court.
Despite the constant action, players receive little positive feedback. Only aces and spiking kills are considered rewards. Defensive success, on the other hand, often goes unnoticed. Blockers can do a great job without ever touching the ball by directing it to their teammates or causing opponents to make errors. Coaches play a vital role here, offering feedback and encouragement.
Volleyball has no time limit, and you can’t win by just one point—you must win by at least two. Other sports allow coaches to bring in lesser-skilled players when the clock winds down and the game is virtually won. But in volleyball, even a lead of 20 points can disappear if players lose focus. At the most recent Olympics, one of the top 12 players on the U.S. team played only one point during the entire competition, just to officially earn the title of “Olympian.”
In volleyball, the process of learning the fundamentals is complicated further by the rotation. Smaller team sizes, such as two-, three-, or four-person teams, reduce the number of positions to learn and increase opportunities to touch the ball. That’s how you learn—not by watching, but by playing. The rapid switching between offense and defense often happens in less than a second, sometimes multiple times within the same rally.
Lastly, every play starts with the same skill: serving. Regardless of what happens during a rally, the point begins with the serve. And unlike most other sports, a point is scored nearly every time the ball is in play. Yet, volleyball differs from sports where a lead of one point can secure victory. In volleyball, you must always win by two.
The complexity of volleyball makes it a unique and challenging sport. Beginners quickly realize that the ball never comes to them perfectly, even during teammate-to-teammate play. Reading and anticipation are the most critical skills, more important than the six core volleyball techniques. Ninety-nine percent of the game is spent moving into better positions rather than actually touching the ball.
It’s a sport that constantly challenges both the body and the mind.