Volleyball Rules Quiz: 20 Questions
This 20-question quiz checks how well you know the official FIVB indoor volleyball rules (2025–2028 edition). Questions mix easy, medium and hard. Each answer has a one-line explanation, and where US high school, college or USA Volleyball rules differ, we say so.
- Questions
- 20
- Rulebook
- FIVB 2025–2028
- Levels
- Easy, medium, hard
- US differences
- Noted where they matter
The quiz
Pick an answer to see whether you're right, with a short explanation. “US note” marks where US rules differ. Nothing you choose is sent anywhere.
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1. (Easy) How many players does each team have on court in indoor volleyball?
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Answer: C) 6 Indoor volleyball is six against six.
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2. (Easy) To win a regular set, a team must reach how many points?
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Answer: C) 25, win by 2 Sets one to four go to 25 with a two-point lead; there's no cap.
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3. (Easy) In a best-of-five match, the deciding fifth set is played to:
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Answer: A) 15, win by 2 The tie-break fifth set goes to 15 with a two-point lead.
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4. (Easy) A ball lands on the boundary line. What's the call?
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Answer: B) In The lines are part of the court, so a ball touching any part of the line is in.
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5. (Easy) When a team wins the serve back from the opponent, its players:
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Answer: B) Rotate one position clockwise The player in zone 2 rotates to zone 1 and serves; everyone moves one spot clockwise.
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6. (Easy) Not counting the block, how many times can a team touch the ball before sending it over?
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Answer: B) 3 Three team contacts are allowed, and indoors a block touch doesn't count as one of them (in beach and most grass doubles it does).
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7. (Medium) A serve clips the top of the net and lands in the opponent's court. What happens?
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Answer: C) Legal serve, play continues A serve may touch the net as long as it crosses through the crossing space between the antennas.
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8. (Medium) The ball touches the antenna during a rally. What's the call?
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Answer: A) Out The antenna is treated as outside the crossing space, so touching it makes the ball out.
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9. (Medium) After the referee whistles for the serve, the server has how long to hit the ball?
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Answer: B) 8 seconds The server must hit within 8 seconds of the whistle; NCAA rules use the same 8 seconds.
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10. (Medium) Can a front-row player block the opponent's serve?
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Answer: C) No, blocking a serve is a fault Blocking the service is forbidden for every player.
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11. (Medium) A player's foot crosses the center line under the net, but part of that foot is still on the line. Is that a fault?
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Answer: B) No, as long as they don't interfere with the opponent A foot may touch the opponent's court if some part of it stays on or above the center line and there's no interference.
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12. (Medium) Under FIVB rules, which of these can the libero NOT do?
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Answer: C) Serve The FIVB libero may not serve, block or attack a ball entirely above the net. US note: USA Volleyball, NCAA and high school (NFHS) rules let the libero serve in one rotation.
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13. (Medium) A receiver passes the serve and the ball hits her forearms and then her shoulder in one motion. Is that legal?
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Answer: A) Yes, on the team's first contact if it's one action On the team's first hit, the ball may touch different body parts in a row as long as it's one action.
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14. (Medium) Can you legally play the ball with your foot?
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Answer: C) Yes, the ball may touch any part of the body Any body part may contact the ball, as long as it's a clean hit and not a catch or throw.
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15. (Medium) How many timeouts does each team get per set under FIVB rules, and how long are they?
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Answer: B) 2 timeouts, 30 seconds each Each team gets two 30-second timeouts per set. US note: NCAA timeouts default to 75 seconds and high school (NFHS) timeouts are 60 seconds.
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16. (Hard) What is the maximum number of substitutions per team per set under FIVB rules?
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Answer: B) 6 FIVB allows six team substitutions per set. US note: NCAA and USA Volleyball allow 15, and NFHS high school allows 18.
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17. (Hard) Under the FIVB 2025–2028 rules, which team must be in correct rotational order when the ball is served?
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Answer: C) Only the receiving team New FIVB Rule 7.4 frees the serving team's positions; only the receiving team must be in order. US note: USA Volleyball, high school and college rules still require both teams (except the server) to be in order. See Overlap Rules.
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18. (Hard) A back-row player jumps from in front of the attack line and spikes a ball that is completely above the net. Is it legal?
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Answer: B) No, it's an illegal back-row attack A back-row player may attack from the front zone only if part of the ball is below the top of the net; otherwise they must take off from behind the attack line.
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19. (Hard) A blocker lands after a block and brushes the net between the antennas while the ball is still in play. What's the call?
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Answer: A) Net fault Under FIVB rules, the action of playing the ball includes the landing, so touching the net then is a fault. US note: NCAA treats the action as finished once the player moves to the next action, while high school (NFHS) rules make almost any net contact a fault.
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20. (Hard) During the serve, which of these is NOT allowed for the serving team's players under FIVB 2025–2028 rules?
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Answer: B) Raising their hands above their heads until the ball crosses the net The serving team may not screen, and the new rule also forbids raising hands above the head during the serve until the ball passes the net. US note: check your league's current rulebook, as US rule sets may word screening differently.
Your score
- 18–20: Referee-ready. Try reading the full rules on Volleyball Rules for Beginners.
- 13–17: Solid. Brush up on Overlap Rules and libero rules.
- 8–12: Good start. Read Volleyball Rules for Beginners and the Glossary.
- 0–7: Start with Volleyball Rules for Beginners and Court Zones, then try again.
Deep dive: why US rules don't always match FIVB
The FIVB writes the international rules used in the Olympics and most countries. In the US, USA Volleyball adapts FIVB rules for club play, while high schools (NFHS) and colleges (NCAA) publish their own rulebooks. Most basics match — court size, scoring, three contacts — but details like substitutions, timeout length, libero serving and positional faults can differ. When in doubt, use the rulebook for the league you're playing in.
Frequently asked questions
Which rulebook is this quiz based on?
The official FIVB Volleyball Rules 2025–2028. Where US rules differ, the explanation says so.
Do US high schools use FIVB rules?
No. US high schools use the NFHS rulebook, which differs from FIVB on several details.
Is it a fault if the serve touches the net?
No. Under FIVB rules, a serve that touches the net and crosses between the antennas is legal.
Why does the rotation question have different answers in the US?
The FIVB changed Rule 7.4 for 2025–2028 so only the receiving team must be in order, but US rulebooks kept the older rule for both teams.