Volleyball for Parents: A Quick Guide

Volleyball is a team game where two sides of six players try to ground the ball on the other side of a net, using at most three touches to send it back. Your child does not need you to know every rule. What helps most is understanding the basics of scoring, knowing what a good youth program looks like, and being a calm, encouraging presence. This page gives you the short version and points you to deeper guides on age, clubs, tryouts, watching a match and safety.

Players on court

6 per side

Touches allowed

3 per side (a block doesn't count)

Set wins at

25 points, win by 2

Deciding set

15 points, win by 2

Net height (adults)

2.43 m men, 2.24 m women

The game in one minute

• A rally starts with a serve from behind the end line.
• Each team gets up to three touches to return the ball: usually a pass, a set and an attack (a “hit” or “spike”).
• A player may not touch the ball twice in a row (a block is the exception — it doesn't count as a touch).
• The rally ends when the ball lands, goes out, or someone makes a fault, like touching the net or carrying the ball.
• Every rally scores a point, no matter who served. This is called rally scoring.
• When a team wins the serve back, its players rotate one spot clockwise. That is why your child moves to a new position on the court during a match.

Want the full rulebook version? See Volleyball Rules for Beginners.

How scoring works

Sets are played to 25 points, and a team must win by 2. In a best-of-five match, the fifth set goes to 15 (still win by 2). Youth tournaments often use shorter formats to fit many matches into a day, so check the event schedule or ask the coach how many sets each match will be.

What to watch for

• The first contact. A good pass to the setter sets up everything else. If your child is a passer, a “perfect pass” is just as valuable as a kill.
• Communication. Players should be calling “mine!” or “help!” on every ball. Talking on court is a skill coaches love to see.
• Effort after mistakes. Every player shanks passes and misses serves. Watch how quickly your child resets for the next rally.
• The odd jersey. One player may wear a different-colored shirt. That is the libero, a back-row defensive specialist. See How to Watch a Match for more.

How to support your child

• Cheer for the team and for good effort, not just for points.
• Leave the coaching to the coach. Two voices telling a player different things is confusing mid-rally.
• After a game, try “I love watching you play” instead of a replay of mistakes. Let your child bring up the details.
• Help with the basics that sit outside practice: sleep, food, water bottles, knee pads and getting there on time.
• Learn the positions so you can follow your child's role: Volleyball Positions Explained.

Your parent guide

Deep dive: Indoor, beach and grass — which one is my child playing?

Most youth club and school volleyball is indoor six-a-side on a court 18 m by 9 m, though younger children often play smaller formats. Beach volleyball is usually played two against two on sand, with a slightly smaller court and some different rules — read Beach Volleyball. Grass volleyball is often played in small teams at parks and outdoor tournaments. The skills — passing, setting, attacking, serving — carry over between all three, so playing more than one style is a great way to keep things fresh.

Frequently asked questions