USA Volleyball Rules

Volleyball is a competitive, collegiate, Olympic sport. Indoor volleyball is played with two teams of six players each. The teams are separated by a high net, over which which the players must hit the volleyball. The game takes skill, power and speed. A game is won when a team scores 25 points. USA Volleyball rules are the standards by which U.S. teams play.

  1. Position

    • Three players will be positioned in the front and three players stand in back, all behind the net. The front players mainly block and score while the back players mostly pass the ball.

    The Serve

    • The serve may be done overhand or underhand, with the server's feet behind the end line until contact with the ball has been made. The ball must be visible before taking a serve, the ball may touch, tip, or graze the net before reaching the other side. A first serve must be returned by a bump (pass).

    Scoring

    • Rally scoring is used. A point is scored after each serve. Game is played until either side scores a total of 25 points and the winning team must win by two points.

    Rotation

    • Team players must rotate clockwise every time a serve is won. Four to six players must be on each side at all times.

    Playing the Volley

    • There may not be more than three hits per side during a volley. Players cannot hit the ball twice, a ball touching the boundary line is good, a player must not attack (spike or block) a serve.

    Violations

    • A violation occurs when a server steps over or on the line during a serve, when a serve does not make it over the net, when reaching under the net, carrying the ball, palming the ball, throwing the ball or touching the net with any body part. A player can only reach over the net when following through on execution and when blocking a ball in an opponent's court that is being returned.