Volleyball Court Rules & Regulations

In any sport, the rules and regulations of the playing area are essential to the play of the game. The volleyball court makes for very important techniques, plays, and player decisions. Knowing the court rules and regulations keeps the player from overshooting or undershooting and allows them to know where they are on the court without looking down.

  1. Full Court

    • A full volleyball court is 59 feet long and 29.5 feet wide. The court is divided horizontally into two equal sections.

    Volleyball Net

    • The standard volleyball net is 40 inches long and is situated so the top of the net is 7 feet 11 5/8 inches from the ground in men's competitions and 7 feet 4 1/8 inches in women's.

    Attack Zone

    • Parallel lines are marked directly under and 10 feet in front of the net on each side. These lines signify the division between the "front row" and the "back row."

    Rows

    • Though not officially marked on the court, each row is divided into three separate areas, totaling six on each side. These areas are designated for the six players on both teams.

    Free Zone

    • Behind the 10-foot attack zones are 10-foot free zones that extend from the sides of the court, 10 feet out of bounds. These free zones designate areas the ball can be played after service.

    Out of Bounds

    • Though it differs from court to court, there is an out of bounds area---usually between 10 and 25 feet behind each half of the court. This area is also used to play balls after service.

    Rotation

    • On each side, the team is to rotate players in a clockwise direction after each change of possession. The positions are numbered 1 through 6, starting with the server position in the back right.