Water volleyball is a fun game to play in the pool at parties, at your local swim club or with a group of friends. It involves the same rules as volleyball--hitting a ball over a net--except you are in a pool instead of on a hardwood floor or a beach. Although most people enjoy simply playing around and having fun, water volleyball is indeed a competitive sport played in many capacities. Understanding the rules to this game can aid you in performing to the fullest of your potential.
Serving
After the official blows the whistle, the server is allowed to begin. A server has 5 seconds to make a legal serve or his team loses control of the ball. He may toss the ball and catch it if it is a bad throw, as long as he has not attempted to hit the ball over the net. The ball must clear the net and must fall in the water and between the out-of-bounds lines. If the ball hits the net but does not go over, it is an illegal serve and a point is awarded to the opposing team. If the ball hits the net but goes over to the other side, it is a legal ball and is considered in play.
Playing the Ball
There are many rules having to do with the style of play in water volleyball. Each team can touch to ball only three times while the ball is on their side of the net. The ball may be hit by any part of a player's body, as long as the ball remains in motion at all times. A player may not hit the ball twice in succession or the play shall be called dead and the opposing team is awarded the point. No player is allowed to screen a member of the opposing team. Screening involves deliberately distracting or blocking the view of the ball by waving your arms in front of an opponent's face. Net fouls occur when and part of a player's body makes contact with the net. The ball and point are awarded to the opposing team if this happens. Illegal hits occur when the ball comes to a rest or makes too much contact with one player. This can include pushing the ball, rolling, lifting, catching, throwing or holding the ball.
Scoring
Each team is awarded one point for every volley they win. The first team to get 25 points wins the set. The sets are conducted using rally scoring, meaning a point is awarded on every throw, regardless of which team served the ball. If two teams are tied at 24-24, the game continues until a team wins by two points. The first team to win two sets wins the match, but if each team wins one set, the third set is played to just 15 points. In that third set, the "win by two" rule is in effect until the 17th point, in which the winner will be declared once they reach 17 points, regardless of the opponent's score.
Additional Rules
A coin toss occurs before every match. The winner of the coin toss determines if they want to serve first or choose their side of the pool. Teams switch side after the first game, but a coin toss determines the third game if it occurs. Two timeouts are given to each team per set. If the score reaches 24-24, each team is given one additional timeout.
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