Volleyball is an activity.
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net . It has been a part of the official program of the Summer Olympic Games since 1964 . But simply , play proceeds as follows : a player on one of the teams begins a ` rally ' by serving the ball ( tossing or releasing it and then hitting it with a hand or arm ) , from behind the back boundary line of the court , over the net , and into the receiving team 's court . The ball is usually played with the hands or arms , but players can legally strike or push ( short contact ) the ball with any part of the body .