Volleyball Scoring Rules

There are two basic forms of volleyball: hard court and beach. While the hard court version has been around since 1895, the two-man game played in the sand got its start in California in the 1940s. Both have changed considerably since their starts, even in the way teams score.

  1. Identification

    • Hard court volleyball is usually played by two teams of six players. Beach volleyball is most commonly a contest between doubles partners. The courts are the same size: 60 feet long, 30 feet wide. They are divided lengthwise by a net that is about 8 feet high for men's games and just under 7 1/2 feet for women's.

    Side Out Scoring

    • Volleyball was originally played with what is known as side out scoring. This means that only the team that is serving can score points. If the serving team loses a rally, the opposing team gets to serve but doesn't get a point.

    Rally Scoring

    • Rally scoring became popular in the 1990s and has since been the standard for all games at the professional level. In rally scoring, whichever team wins a rally gains a point.

    Rationale

    • Side out scoring in volleyball means that games can go on for a long time. The team receiving the serve is the first team to go on offense, so it often wins the rally and takes over serving. But since only the serving team can score in side out scoring, there can be many long exchanges of the serve without a point being awarded.

      Rally scoring makes for much faster games. Offense and defense are equally important, since either can earn a point for a team. A hard-driven spike can score a point, but so can a defensive block of a spike.

    Games and Matches

    • Hard court games are usually played to 25 points, but the winning team must be ahead by two. Matches are best of five, although if a fifth game is necessary, it is typically shortened to 15 points, win by two.

      Beach matches are typically best of three, with the first two games to 21 and the third, if necessary, to 15. Again, teams must win by two.