The Rules of Volleyball

What is volleyball?

Volleyball is an exciting team sport played with a big, light ball and a high net. 🏐 Two teams stand on either side of the net. The aim is to hit the ball over the net so it lands on the other team's floor, while stopping them from doing the same to you.

In standard indoor volleyball, each team has six players on the court. Nobody is allowed to catch or hold the ball, so it must keep flying through the air. That is what makes volleyball so fast and fun!

The aim of the game

Your goal is to make the ball land inside the court on the other team's side. You also win a point if the other team hits the ball out of bounds, into the net, or breaks a rule.

The ball must always stay in the air during play. If it touches the floor on your side, the other team scores.

The three-hit rule

This is the most important rule in volleyball. Each team can touch the ball up to three times before it must go back over the net.

Teams usually use all three touches like this:

1. Bump (or dig) — the first hit, using your forearms held together, to control the ball.
2. Set — the second hit, using your fingertips, to lift the ball high for a teammate.
3. Spike (or hit) — the third hit, sending the ball powerfully over the net.

You do not have to use all three, but you cannot use more than three. Also, the same player cannot hit the ball twice in a row.

Serving

Every point starts with a serve. The serving player stands behind the back line and hits the ball over the net to start play.

1. Stand behind the back line of the court.
2. Hit the ball over the net into the other team's side.
3. The ball must go over the net and land in bounds.

If the serve goes out or into the net, the other team scores a point and it becomes their turn to serve.

What is not allowed (faults)

Volleyball has clear rules to keep it fair. These are faults:

• Catching or holding the ball — you must hit it cleanly.
• Hitting it more than three times as a team.
• Touching the net while you play the ball.
• Letting the ball land out of bounds off your team.
• The same player hitting the ball twice in a row.

When a team makes a fault, the other team scores a point.

Rotating

After a team wins back the serve, the players rotate. This means everyone moves round one position, like turning a clock. Rotating is fair because everyone gets a turn at serving and playing in each part of the court.

Scoring and sets

Volleyball is played in sets. A team wins a set by being the first to a target score (often 25 points) with at least a two-point lead. The first team to win enough sets, usually three, wins the whole match.

Teamwork wins

Volleyball is all about working together. Because you only get three touches, players must talk, call "Mine!", and help each other. One player bumps, another sets, and another spikes. A team that talks and trusts each other is very hard to beat!

An activity to try

With friends and an adult, practise the bump pass:

1. Stand in a small circle.
2. Hold your forearms together flat in front of you.
3. Gently bump a soft ball up to each other, using your arms, not your hands.
4. See how many bumps you can do without the ball touching the floor.

This builds the most important skill in the game: controlling the ball with a clean bump.

Now you know the rules!

You understand scoring, the three-hit rule, serving, faults and rotating. Grab a ball, set up a net, and have fun!

Want more sports rules? Read The Rules of Basketball. And before you play, learn Why Warming Up Matters.