Official Rules for Youth Volleyball

Volleyball is a fun sport that pits six players against each other with only a tall net dividing them. The goal is to hit the ball over the net and trick the other team into taking a bad shot or to place the ball in a spot the other team cannot reach it. Youth volleyball is where the game is first learned and fundamentals are developed.

  1. Players

    • Each team must have six players on the court at all times. Three players stand horizontally in front of the net and the other three players stand horizontally on the back of the court.

    Games

    • Youth volleyball is played in a best-of-five game setting. The first team to win three games wins the match. Some leagues also use a best-of-three game scenario so the players do not tire as much.

    Rally Scoring

    • Rally scoring means a point is awarded to a team on every serve. In traditional volleyball, points are only awarded when the team that serves is successful. In rally scoring, the game is sped up because a point is awarded on every single possession, no matter who serves.

    Substitution

    • Subs are highly recommended especially in youth volleyball, to make sure all your players get an even amount of playing time.

    Winner of each Game

    • The first four games are played to 25 points and the team that reaches 25 first must win by two points. That means if the score is 25-24, the game will continue until one of the two teams wins by a margin of two points. The fifth and final game (if necessary) is only played to 21 points.

    Dimensions

    • For boys, the height of the net for age 12 and under is 7 feet. For girls, age 12 and under, the net stands at 6 feet 6 inches.

    Ball

    • A lot of youth volleyball leagues use a smaller, official youth volleyball. The smaller ball allows players to hit it easier with their smaller hands and forearms.