Basic Rules:
Volleyball can be played indoors and outdoors, with multiple variations and rules but these are general rules.
- Teams and Players:
- A volleyball team consists of six players on the court at a time.
- Each team can have additional players as substitutes.
- Players must rotate positions in a clockwise direction when their team wins the serve from the opposing team.
- Scoring:
- A point is scored when the ball lands in the opponent’s court or when the opponent commits a fault.
- Games are played to 25 points (rally scoring system), and a team must win by at least two points.
- If the match reaches a fifth set (if applicable), it is played to 15 points.
- Starting the Game:
- The game begins with a serve from the back-right position.
- The server must stand behind the end line and can serve from anywhere along the back boundary.
- Rotation:
- Players must rotate positions clockwise each time their team wins the serve from the opposing team.
- The player in the back-right position rotates to the serving position.
- Serve:
- The server must hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court.
- The serve must be underhand or overhand, and it must clear the net and land in the opponent’s court. Players at the competitive level must overhand serve.
- If the ball hits the net but goes over, it is considered a legal serve.
- Volleying:
- Each team has three consecutive contacts (hits) to return the ball to the opponent’s court.
- The contacts are usually a bump (forearm pass), a set, and a spike (attack).
- A player cannot hit the ball twice in succession, except during a block.
- Scoring Rotation:
- Points are scored regardless of which team served.
- If the serving team commits a fault, the serve is transferred to the opposing team.
- Faults:
- Common faults include hitting the ball out of bounds, touching the net during play, and committing foot faults during the serve.
- If a player touches the net while the ball is in play, the opponent is awarded a point.