The BASIC RULES in
VOLLEYBALL
Playing the Game
1. 6 players on the floor at any one time (3 in the
front row and 3 in the back row).
2. Maximum of three hits per side.
3. Player may not hit the ball twice in succession (A
block is not considered a hit).
4. Ball may be played off the net during a volley
and on serve.
5. A ball touching any part of the boundary line is
considered in.
6. A legal hit is contact with the ball by any part of
the players body which does not allow the ball to
visibly come to a rest.
7. A player must not block or attack a serve.
The Serve
1. Server must serve from behind the restraining line (end
line) until after contact.
2. Ball may be served underhand or overhand.
3. Ball must be clearly visible to opponents before serve.
4. Served ball may graze the net and drop to the other
side.
5. First game serve is determined by a coin toss. Game 2 will
be served by the receiving team in game 1. If match goes
to a 3rd game, new coin toss will determine serving team.
6. If best of 5 game match: Game 2, 3, an 4 will trade off
between teams. If teams go to game 5, serve will go to
winner of a new coin toss.
7. Serve must be returned by a pass or set only. Serve can
not be blocked or attacked.
Scoring
1. Rally scoring, which means there will be a
point awarded on every won rally.
2. Offense will score on a defensive miss, out of
bounds hit, or blocker touches the top of the
net.
3. Defense will score on an offensive miss, out
of bounds hit, serve into the net or hitter
touches top of the net.
4. Game will be played to 25 pts. Game 3 is
played to 15.
5. Must win by 2 points, unless a point cap has
been placed.
Rotation
1. Team will rotate after each sideout. A
sideout is when the team on serve receive
wins the point to earn the right to serve.
2. Players shall rotate in a clockwise manner.
3. There shall be 6 players on each side.
Basic Violations
1. Stepping on or over the line on a serve.
2. Failure to serve the ball over the net
successfully.
3. Hitting the ball illegally ( Carrying, Palming,
Throwing, etc. ).
4. Touches of the top of the net only with any part
of the body while the ball is in play. Players may
contact the net below the top of the net (the
tape) at any time. If the ball is driven into the net
with such force that it causes the net to contact
an opposing player, no foul will be called, and the
ball shall continue to be in play.
5. Blocks or spikes from a position which is clearly not
behind the 10-foot line while in a back row position.
Basic Violations
6. Reaching over the net, except under these conditions:
1 - When executing a follow-through.
2 - When blocking a ball which is in the opponents court
but is being returned ( the blocker must not contact the
ball until after the opponent who is attempting to
return the ball makes contact). Except to block the
third play.
7. Reaches under the net ( if it interferes with the ball or
opposing player ).
8. Failure to serve in the correct order.
9. A players foot may not completely cross the midline at
any time. However, if the rest of the body crosses it is
legal unless interferes with a player on the other side of
the net.
Substitution
1. Coaches only have 12 substitutions per game in
club.
2. Once a player subs in for a rotational position,
they can only sub in for that rotational
position.
References:
THE BASIC RULES OF VOLLEYBALL. (2020). Retrieved 3 September 2020,
from http://www.951elitevb.com/parents/the-basic-rules-of-volleyball
