School Volleyball Rules

Volleyball is played at all level of schooling, from recreational play in the early grades to clubs and competitive teams at higher levels. Although coed games can often be found among adults, schools typically have separate boys and girls teams.

  1. Court

    • An indoor volleyball court at any level of play is 60 feet long and 30 feet wide. It is divided in half lengthwise by a net that is 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches high for boys and 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches high for girls. There are boundary lines around the perimeter and a line parallel with and 10 feet back from the net on both sides of the court.

    Teams and Play

    • Teams consist of six players per side with three players along the net (front-row players) and three players along the baseline (back-row players). Before a serve, these players cannot move outside of their positions that would overlap another player. Once a ball is in play, players may move anywhere on the court.

      For the most part, only front-row players may attack (spike) the ball; however, a back-row player may attack as long as he hits the ball behind the 10-foot line--he may jump before the 10-foot line, make contact with the ball and land into the front-row area.

      A ball must be returned to the opposition's court after no more than three hits.

    Serving and Scoring

    • A player must stand outside the back boundary of the court to serve. A jump-serve is legal as long as the player jumps before touching or crossing the boundary line--he may land inside the court after making contact.

      Rally scoring is universal in school volleyball, although side-out serving can still be found in recreational games. Rally scoring means a point is scored by whichever team wins a rally. Side-out scoring means only the serving team can score.

    Matches

    • High school matches are best two out of three or three out of five. The first two games are played until one team has at least 25 points and a two-point lead. The third is to 15 with at least a two-point lead.

      Middle school matches can vary from one area to another. Many play matches as best two out of three, with games going to 15 points.

    Other Differences

    • Although pros and colleges often use multicolored balls, many high schools and middle schools still require a white ball for games.

      Some schools do not allow players to play a serve with anything except a bump; hand passing, like that in pros and colleges, is not allowed.

      Some middle schools allow one team a limited number of consecutive serves.

      Because of space and equipment limitations, some schools provide special rules for things that would not occur at higher levels, such as a ball being replayed if it makes contact with a low-hanging light.