Sitting volleyball
Sitting volleyball is volleyball for six a side, played sitting on the floor. Players must keep the body between buttocks and shoulders on the floor when playing the ball. A team may have at most two players with a minimal impairment, only one of them on court.
Checked 20 October 2026
New to sitting volleyball? Start here
How long
Best of five sets to 25 points; a fifth set to 15
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Paralympic Games (sitting volleyball)The top title in sitting volleyball.Every 4 years · Holder: Men's: Iran · Women's: United States
- 2World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World ChampionshipsThe sport's own world title.Every 4 years (to check) · Holder: Women 2026, Hangzhou: the United States
- 3Asian Para Games (sitting volleyball)Asia's para multi-sport title, held after the Asian Games in the same city.Every 4 years · Holder: 22 sports, 501 events
India
India has no Paralympic medal and is not named in the saved World Championships results [the two pages].
- Sitting volleyball at the Paralympic Games: No medal
- World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships: Not named in the saved results
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- IranSitting volleyball at the Paralympic Games: 8 golds, 2 silvers (latest 2024); World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships: 8 golds, 1 silver, 2 bronzes (latest 2022)
- NetherlandsSitting volleyball at the Paralympic Games: 3 golds, 3 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2008); World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships: 6 golds, 1 silver, 3 bronzes (latest 2006)
- Bosnia and HerzegovinaSitting volleyball at the Paralympic Games: 2 golds, 4 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2024); World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships: 3 golds, 3 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2022)
- ChinaSitting volleyball at the Paralympic Games: 3 golds, 3 silvers (latest 2024); World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships: 2 golds, 1 silver, 2 bronzes (latest 2026)
- United StatesSitting volleyball at the Paralympic Games: 3 golds, 2 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2024); World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships: 1 gold, 3 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2026)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | World ParaVolley, Official Sitting Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 |
| International federation | World ParaVolley |
| In India | Paralympic Volleyball Federation of India (PVFI), which runs the sitting volleyball national championships |
Where and when it is played
On a court 10 by 6 metres with a net 1.15 metres high for men and 1.05 metres for women. The big events: the Paralympic Games every four years and the World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships.