Volleyball rules & scoring, explained

The basics

Volleyball is played by two teams of six players on a court divided by a high net. The aim is to send the ball over the net and land it inside the opponents' court, while stopping them doing the same to you. The classic rhythm is bump, set, spike — dig the ball up, set it for a teammate, and attack it over.

The three-touch rule

• Each team may contact the ball a maximum of three times before it must cross the net (a block does not count as one of the three).
• The same player may not touch the ball twice in a row (again, except immediately after a block).
• The ball may be played with any part of the body and must be hit cleanly — not caught, held or thrown.

Rotation and serving

Players occupy six positions and rotate clockwise by one spot each time their team wins back the serve from the opponents. Serving is done from behind the end line. Rotation is what makes players learn every position — front-row attacking and back-row defending.

Rally scoring explained

Modern volleyball uses rally scoring: a point is awarded on every rally, no matter which team served. (In the old “side-out” system you could only score on your own serve.) That makes scoring fast and predictable:

• A set is won by the first team to 25 points, with a two-point lead (so 25–23 wins, but 24–24 plays on).
• A match is best of five sets — first to three sets wins.
• The deciding fifth set is played to 15 points, still win-by-two.

The libero

The libero is a back-row defensive specialist who wears a different-coloured shirt. The libero can enter and leave freely without counting as a substitution, but cannot attack the ball above the top of the net or serve in most rule sets. It is the position built for great digging and passing.

Common faults

• Four hits: the team touches the ball more than three times.
• Double hit / carry: the ball is held, lifted or contacted twice in one action.
• Net touch: a player touches the net during play.
• Foot fault: the server steps on or over the end line before contact.
• Back-row attack: a back-row player attacks the ball above net height from inside the front zone.