Volleyball Rules for Beginners
Volleyball is played by two teams of six players on an 18 m × 9 m court divided by a net. Each team may touch the ball up to three times to send it back over the net, and the aim is to land the ball on the opponent's court. Under rally scoring, every rally wins a point, a set is played to 25 points (win by two), and the first team to win three sets wins the match.
- Players per side
- 6
- Court
- 18 m × 9 m
- Net height
- 2.43 m men / 2.24 m women
- Set
- 25 points, win by 2
- Match
- Best of 5 sets
- Touches per side
- Up to 3
How a point is played
Every rally starts with a serve from behind the back line. The receiving team tries to control the ball in up to three touches — usually a pass, a set, and an attack — and send it back over the net. The rally continues until the ball lands in or out of the court, or a team commits a fault. The team that wins the rally scores a point and serves next.
Scoring and sets
- Rally scoring: a point is scored on every rally, whichever team wins it — you do not have to be serving to score.
- A set is played to 25 points, and a team must lead by at least two points to win it (so a set can go past 25, e.g. 26–24).
- A match is best of five sets. The first team to win three sets wins.
- If a fifth set is needed, it is played to 15 points (still win by two).
Rotation basics
Each team has six players arranged in two rows: three in the front row (near the net) and three in the back row. When a team wins back the serve from the opponent (a side-out), its players rotate one position clockwise, and a new player moves to the back-right corner to serve.
Common faults
- Double hit: one player contacts the ball twice in a row (not allowed except on a single first team contact).
- Lift / carry: the ball comes to rest in the hands or is thrown rather than cleanly hit.
- Four hits: a team touches the ball more than three times before returning it.
- Net touch: touching the net during the action of playing the ball.
- Foot fault: the server steps on or over the back line before contacting the ball.
- Overlap (positional fault): players are out of their correct rotational order at the moment of the serve. See Overlap Rules Explained.
Deep dive: rules worth knowing next
Three touches — and the block exception
A team is allowed a maximum of three touches to return the ball. A block — contacting the ball above the net to stop an attack — does not count as one of those three touches, so a team that blocks still has three touches afterwards. A single player may not touch the ball twice in a row, except when their first contact is a single team touch (for example, when passing a hard-driven ball the ball may briefly touch two parts of the body in one action).
In, out, and the antennae
A ball landing on any part of a boundary line is in. The ball must also cross the net between the two antennae (the thin rods on the sides of the net) to be legal. A served ball that touches the net and still crosses over is legal and in play.
Crossing the net and the centre line
Reaching over the net to attack the ball before the opponent has played it is a fault (you may follow through over the net after your own attack, and you may block a ball that is breaking over to your side). Stepping completely over the centre line so there is no contact with your own side is also a fault, though touching the line is allowed.
Back-row attack rule
A back-row player may not hit the ball above the height of the net while taking off from in front of the attack line (the line 3 m from the net). They may still attack if they jump from behind that line. This is why back-row attacks start further from the net.
The libero and substitutions
Most teams use a libero, a back-row defensive specialist who wears a contrasting jersey, cannot attack the ball from above the net, and cannot block. Teams also have a limited number of substitutions per set. For who stands where and does what, see Volleyball Positions Explained.
Frequently asked questions
How many players are on a volleyball team on court?
Six players per side are on the court at once — three in the front row near the net and three in the back row.
How does scoring work in volleyball?
Volleyball uses rally scoring, so a point is scored on every rally. A set is played to 25 points and must be won by at least two points, and the first team to win three sets wins the match. A deciding fifth set is played to 15 points, still win by two.
How tall is a volleyball net?
Under the FIVB Official Volleyball Rules the net is 2.43 m high for men and 2.24 m for women, on a court 18 m long and 9 m wide.
How many times can a team touch the ball?
A team may touch the ball up to three times before sending it back over the net. A block does not count as one of those three touches, and the same player may not hit it twice in a row (except on a single first team contact).
What is a rotation or overlap fault?
At the moment the server strikes the ball, players must be in their correct rotational order relative to their neighbours. Being out of order is an overlap (positional) fault and gives the point to the other team. After the serve is contacted, players may move anywhere.
Can you touch the net in volleyball?
Touching the net during the action of playing the ball is a fault. Incidental contact that does not interfere with play may be allowed, but reaching into or leaning on the net is not.