Men's volleyball team in blue jerseys huddling on court before a match

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; “US note” marks where US rules differ. Nothing you choose is sent anywhere.

Rules on this page checked on 5 October 2026 against: FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025–2028; NCAA women’s volleyball rules; NCAA men’s volleyball rules and modifications; USA Volleyball indoor rules; NFHS volleyball rules (not checked online: the rulebook is not freely available).

  1. 1. (Easy) How many players does each team have on court in indoor volleyball?

    • A) 4
    • B) 5
    • C) 6
    • D) 7
    Show answer

    Answer: C) 6 Indoor volleyball is six against six.

  2. 2. (Easy) To win a regular set, a team must reach how many points?

    • A) 15, win by 1
    • B) 21, win by 2
    • C) 25, win by 2
    • D) 25, win by 1
    Show answer

    Answer: C) 25, win by 2 Under FIVB rules, sets one to four go to 25 with a two-point lead; there's no cap.

  3. 3. (Easy) In a best-of-five match, the deciding fifth set is played to:

    • A) 15, win by 2
    • B) 21, win by 2
    • C) 25, win by 2
    • D) 11, win by 2
    Show answer

    Answer: A) 15, win by 2 The tie-break fifth set goes to 15 with a two-point lead.

  4. 4. (Easy) A ball lands on the boundary line. What's the call?

    • A) Out
    • B) In
    • C) Replay
    • D) Depends on the side
    Show answer

    Answer: B) In The lines are part of the court, so a ball touching any part of the line is in.

  5. 5. (Easy) When a team wins the serve back from the opponent, its players:

    • A) Rotate counterclockwise
    • B) Rotate one zone clockwise
    • C) Stay in place
    • D) Choose a new server
    Show answer

    Answer: B) Rotate one zone clockwise The player in zone 2 rotates to zone 1 and serves; everyone moves one spot clockwise.

  6. 6. (Easy) Not counting the block, how many times can a team touch the ball before sending it over?

    • A) 2
    • B) 3
    • C) 4
    • D) Unlimited
    Show answer

    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).

  7. 7. (Medium) A serve clips the top of the net and lands in the opponent's court. What happens?

    • A) Re-serve
    • B) Fault, point to receiving team
    • C) Legal serve, play continues
    • D) Fault only in the fifth set
    Show answer

    Answer: C) Legal serve, play continues A serve may touch the net as long as it crosses through the crossing space between the antennas.

  8. 8. (Medium) The ball touches the antenna during a rally. What's the call?

    • A) Out
    • B) In
    • C) Replay
    • D) In if it lands in the court
    Show answer

    Answer: A) Out The antenna is treated as outside the crossing space, so touching it makes the ball out.

  9. 9. (Medium) After the referee whistles for the serve, the server has how long to hit the ball?

    • A) 5 seconds
    • B) 8 seconds
    • C) 10 seconds
    • D) No limit
    Show answer

    Answer: B) 8 seconds Under FIVB rules (rule 12.4.4), the server must hit within 8 seconds of the first referee's whistle.

  10. 10. (Medium) Can a front-row player block the opponent's serve?

    • A) Yes, always
    • B) Only if the ball is above the net
    • C) No, blocking a serve is a fault
    • D) Only the libero can
    Show answer

    Answer: C) No, blocking a serve is a fault Blocking the service is forbidden for every player.

  11. 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?

    • A) Yes, always
    • B) No, as long as they don't interfere with the opponent
    • C) Only if it touches the opponent
    • D) Only during a block
    Show answer

    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.

    Close-up of the center line under the net, seen from the side. Your court is on the left.

    1. The foot crosses the center line, but part of it stays on the line: legal (FIVB), as long as there’s no interference.
    2. Now the whole foot is past the center line, in the opponent’s court: fault.

  12. 12. (Medium) Under FIVB rules, which of these can the libero NOT do?

    • A) Pass a serve
    • B) Replace a back-row player
    • C) Serve
    • D) Dig an attack
    Show answer

    Answer: C) Serve The FIVB libero may not serve, block or attack a ball entirely above the net. US note: USA Volleyball, NCAA women's and high school (NFHS) rules let the libero serve in one rotation; NCAA men's rules do not.

  13. 13. (Medium) A receiver passes the serve and the ball hits her forearms and then her shoulder in one motion. Is that legal?

    • A) Yes, on the team's first contact if it's one action
    • B) No, it's a double contact
    • C) Only if it goes over the net
    • D) Only for the libero
    Show answer

    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.

  14. 14. (Medium) Can you legally play the ball with your foot?

    • A) No, never
    • B) Only on serve receive
    • C) Yes, the ball may touch any part of the body
    • D) Only the libero may
    Show answer

    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.

  15. 15. (Medium) How many timeouts does each team get per set under FIVB rules, and how long are they?

    • A) 1 timeout, 60 seconds
    • B) 2 timeouts, 30 seconds each
    • C) 3 timeouts, 30 seconds each
    • D) 2 timeouts, 75 seconds each
    Show answer

    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.

  16. 16. (Hard) What is the maximum number of substitutions per team per set under FIVB rules?

    • A) 3
    • B) 6
    • C) 12
    • D) 15
    Show answer

    Answer: B) 6 FIVB allows six team substitutions per set. US note: USA Volleyball and NCAA women's Division I allow 15, NCAA women's Divisions II and III (from 2026) and high school (NFHS) allow 18, and NCAA men's rules allow 8 in National Collegiate play (from 2026–27) and 12 in Division III.

  17. 17. (Hard) Under the FIVB 2025–2028 rules, which team must be in correct rotational order when the ball is served?

    • A) Both teams
    • B) Only the serving team
    • C) Only the receiving team
    • D) Neither team
    Show answer

    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 (NFHS) and NCAA women's rules still require both teams (except the server) to be in order; in NCAA men's play from 2026–27, players may leave their positions once the server's motion begins. See Overlap Rules.

    FIVB

    USAV / NFHS / NCAA women

    Orange receives, blue serves.

    The numbers are rotational positions; blue 1 is the server. Tinted zones = the receiving team.

    FIVB

    1. When the ball is served, the receiving team (orange) must be in rotational order.
    2. Under the FIVB 2025–2028 rules, the serving team may line up anywhere on its own court: here blue 6 stands in front of blue 3.
    3. The serve is legal: only the receiving team’s order is checked.

    USAV / NFHS / NCAA women

    1. USA Volleyball, NFHS and NCAA women’s rules: the receiving team (orange) must be in rotational order when the ball is served.
    2. The serving team must be in order too, except the server. Blue 6 in front of blue 3 is an overlap fault.
    3. Blue 3 and blue 6 move back into order: 3 in front of 6.
    4. Now the serve is legal under these rules. In NCAA men’s play from 2026–27, players may leave their positions once the server’s motion begins.

  18. 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?

    • A) Yes
    • B) No, it's an illegal back-row attack
    • C) Yes, if the ball goes in
    • D) Only in the fifth set
    Show answer

    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.

    Side view of the net and the attack line. Player 1 is a back-row player.

    1. Back-row player (zone 1) approaches. The green line is the attack line, 3 m from the center line.
    2. Takes off from behind the attack line and hits the ball above the net.
    3. Legal: landing in front of the line after the hit is allowed.
    4. Now the take-off foot is on or in front of the attack line, and the ball is completely above the net.
    5. Fault: back-row attack.

  19. 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?

    • A) Net fault
    • B) No fault, the block is over
    • C) Replay
    • D) Fault only if the ball was touched
    Show answer

    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: high school (NFHS) rules are stricter, treating almost any net contact as a fault.

  20. 20. (Hard) During the serve, which of these is NOT allowed for the serving team's players under FIVB 2025–2028 rules?

    • A) Standing still in the front row
    • B) Raising their hands above their heads until the ball crosses the net
    • C) Calling out the serve target
    • D) Lining up in any order on their own court
    Show answer

    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.

Your score

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 and high schools follow the NFHS rulebook. In college, NCAA women's volleyball has its own rulebook, while NCAA men's volleyball uses the USA Volleyball rules with NCAA modifications. Most basics match — court size, scoring, three contacts — but details like substitutions, timeout length, libero serving and positional faults can differ, including between NCAA men's and women's play and between divisions. When in doubt, use the rulebook for the league you're playing in. For a side-by-side table of the main differences, see FIVB vs US rules on the beginner rules page.

Frequently asked questions

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.

Do both teams have to be in rotational order when the ball is served?

Under the FIVB rules for 2025–2028, only the receiving team must be in rotational order; the serving team may line up anywhere on its own court. US note: USA Volleyball, high school (NFHS) and NCAA women's rules still require both teams, except the server, to be in order; in NCAA men's play from 2026–27, players may leave their positions once the server's motion begins.