Volleyball Timekeeping Rules

Although volleyball has developed into a well-known sport, especially since the booming popularity of beach volleyball, it is typically not one you might associate with rules regarding time. Basketball, for instance, has a time clock, and football has a two-minute warning, but volleyball appears to be a game all about scoring without regard for time. However, those who have immersed themselves in the game know that time can make the difference between success and failure.

  1. Serve

    • The server has eight seconds to put the ball into play once the referee blows her whistle. If the player takes too long, the opposing team gains the serve. In rally scoring, in which every serve scores a point regardless of which side serves, the opposing team also scores a point if the server exceeds the eight-second rule. If the server puts the ball into play before the referee blows the whistle, the player must re-serve.

    Timeouts

    • The United States Association of Volleyball (USAV), which oversees national competitions, allows two 30-second timeouts per set. In world competitions governed by the International Federation of Volleyball, such as the Olympics, referees automatically call two technical timeouts in the first four sets when the leading team scores point eight and 16. These timeouts last 60 seconds.

    Between Sets

    • Breaks between sets last three minutes, during which time teams change sides and score sheets reflect the lineups for the next set. If the organizer of the match requests it, the break time between the second and third sets can be as long as 10 minutes.

    Substitutions

    • The substitution of one player for another may take only as long as it takes to record the substitution on the score sheet for the players to change places. Referees can penalize any delay. If a player is injured, he can use a three-minute recovery time, or a substitute can take his place.

    Long Interruptions

    • If one or more interruptions force a stoppage in play that lasts less than a total of four hours, the main referee and organizer can decide how to proceed. Options are continuing play, postponing it or moving it to another site. If interruptions exceed four hours, the teams must replay the match.

    Delay Sanctions

    • Any action by either team that delays play, such as slowing a substitution or not returning to the court after a timeout has expired, will result in a team sanction. The first sanction is a warning without penalty. The second sanction is a penalty; the opposing team receives a point and the serve.