The Hot Chair strategy is considered one of the cooperative learning strategies that relies on interactive dialogue and discussion among students to enhance cognitive understanding. This study aimed to identify the effect of the Hot Chair strategy on developing cognitive achievement in volleyball rules among female students. The study adopted a quasi-experimental approach using a two-group design (experimental and control) with pre-tests and post-tests. The study sample consisted of 60 female students from the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the University of Baghdad during the 2025–2026 academic year. The experimental group included 30 students who were taught using the Hot Chair strategy, while the control group consisted of 30 students who were taught using the traditional discussion method. To measure cognitive achievement, a Cognitive Achievement Test for Volleyball Rules was developed. The test was a multiple-choice exam consisting of 20 items covering key topics related to volleyball rules. The test items were designed according to the curriculum content and relevant scientific references to ensure their suitability and validity. The results showed statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in favor of the experimental group. These findings indicate the effectiveness of the Hot Chair strategy in improving students’ cognitive achievement in volleyball rules. The strategy provides an interactive learning environment based on dialogue, discussion, and active participation, which helps students better understand and comprehend the legal concepts of the game. Accordingly, the study recommends adopting the Hot Chair strategy in teaching volleyball rules in colleges of physical education and sports sciences and encouraging the use of active learning strategies in teaching different sports subjects.