Volleyball Rules 2025: A Practical, Complete Guide with Real Examples

Volleyball is a team sport where two teams of 6 players face each other separated by a net.

Fundamental Concepts

• Each team has 6 players on court
• The objective is to send the ball to the opponent's court and have it touch the floor
• Each team can touch the ball up to 3 times before returning it
• The same player cannot touch the ball twice consecutively (except on block)
• Points are scored when the ball touches the opponent's court floor or the rival commits a fault

Common Violations

• Four hits: Team touches the ball more than 3 times
• Double contact: A player touches the ball twice in a row
• Lift/carry: Ball is held or pushed instead of hit
• Net: A player touches the net during play
• Foot fault: A player completely crosses the center line under the net

Court Dimensions

• Size: 18 meters long x 9 meters wide (divided into two 9x9 courts)
• Net height: 2.43m for men, 2.24m for women
• Attack line: Located 3 meters from the net in each court
• Service zone: Area behind the end line, 9 meters wide

The Ball

• Circumference: 65-67 cm
• Weight: 260-280 grams
• Internal pressure: 0.30-0.325 kg/cm²

Rally Point System

Modern volleyball uses the rally point system, meaning each rally awards a point, regardless of who served.

• Sets are played to 25 points (with minimum 2-point difference)
• The deciding set (5th set) is played to 15 points (also with 2-point difference)
• Matches are played best of 5 sets (3 sets won)
• No point limit if tied (play continues until 2-point advantage)

How Points Are Won

• Ball touches opponent's court floor
• Opposing team commits a fault
• Opposing team receives a penalty
• Opponent's serve goes out
• Opposing team touches the net during play

Rotations are one of the most confusing aspects for beginners, but they're essential to keep the game fair.

Rotation Rules

1. Players rotate clockwise when their team wins the right to serve
2. Each player must maintain their relative position before serve
3. Back row players cannot attack from the attack zone
4. After the serve, players can move freely

Overlaps

Before the serve, players must respect these positions:

• Front row players must be closer to the net than their corresponding back row players
• Side players must be on their correct side relative to the middle player
• Only foot position is checked at the moment of contact with the ball on serve

The libero is a specialized defensive player who wears a different colored uniform.

Libero Rules

• Cannot attack the ball above the net
• Cannot serve (except in some US youth leagues)
• Cannot block or attempt to block
• Can only play in back row positions
• Can replace any back row player without counting as a substitution

Libero Restrictions

• If hand sets from the attack zone, attackers cannot spike above the net
• Must be a complete rally between two libero entries
• Cannot be team captain

Substitution Rules

Substitutions are regular player changes that count toward the team limit.

• Maximum 6 substitutions per set per team
• A player can exit and return only once per set
• Player must return to their original position
• Substitutions are made when ball is dead

Libero Substitutions

Libero substitutions are special and don't count toward the limit:

• Don't count as regular substitution
• Made unlimited times
• Must be made when ball is out of play

Scenario 1: Back Row Attack

A back row player jumps from behind the 3-meter line but lands inside the attack zone. Is it legal?

Ruling: YES, it's legal

Explanation: What matters is where the player jumps, not where they land. As long as the player takes off from behind the 3-meter line, they can land inside the attack zone.

Scenario 2: Block Counts as Touch

A player blocks the ball, it falls to their side, and the same player touches it again immediately. Is it a fault?

Ruling: NO, it's legal

Explanation: The block touch doesn't count as one of the team's three touches. The same player can touch the ball after blocking it without it being considered a double contact.

Scenario 3: Foot Penetration Under Net

A player completely passes their foot under the net to the opponent's court. Is it a fault?

Ruling: IT DEPENDS

Explanation: It's a fault only if it interferes with the opponent's play. If the foot crosses but doesn't interfere (e.g., after the play ends), it's not a fault. Complete center line invasion is a fault only with interference.