The Official Rules for Volleyball in the Olympics

Volleyball matches in the Olympics are governed by the International Federation of Volleyball (FIVB), which is based in Switzerland and has 220 member nations. Most of the rules are the same as those enforced by USA Volleyball, the American sanctioning body, but some specifications are unique to the FIVB.

  1. Courts

    • Indoor courts measure 59 feet long and 29½ feet wide. FIVB rules stipulate that approved courts be made of wood or synthetics. A center line runs parallel to and directly beneath the net, and an attack line is positioned 10 feet back from the net on both sides, also running parallel. All court lines must be white. The net height for women is 7 feet 4? inches and 7 feet 11? inches for men. <br /><br /><br /><br />Beach courts are 52½ feet long and 26¼ feet wide. Nets heights are the same. There is no center line or attack line. Boundary lines must be "ribbons made of a resistant material" and the color must contrast with the sand.

    Teams and Players

    • Olympic indoor volleyball competitions are played between two teams of six players; beach games are doubles. Players rotate one position clockwise after each change of possession in indoor games, so that a new player serves. In beach games, players alternate. A libero player--a defensive specialist for indoor games only--may come into the game as a substitute for any back-row player, but he may not serve. The FIVB requires the libero to wear a uniform color that contrasts with teammates. Liberos may not attack the ball and may not rotate into the front row.

    Scoring and Matches

    • Olympic volleyball matches follow rally scoring, meaning the team that wins a rally gets a point, regardless of which team served. Indoor matches are best three games out of five. The first four games are played to 25 points, with a two-point advantage required; the tie-breaking fifth game is played to 15, again with a two-point edge required.<br /><br /><br /><br />Beach matches are best two games out of three. The first two games are played to 21, and the tie-breaking third game is played to 15. These also require a two-point advantage.