In volleyball, each team has six players on the court at a time. The players collaborate to return the ball to the opponent's side of the court in three hits or fewer. USA Volleyball, or USAV, serves as the governing body for the sport of volleyball in this country. The USAV rulebook follows the International Federation of Volleyball rules with some exceptions.
Court and Net
The volleyball court's playing surface measures 59 feet long and 29 feet 6 inches wide. The court's exterior boundary lines include the sidelines and the end lines. The center line divides the court into two equal halves, each measuring 29 feet and 6 inches by 29 feet and 6 inches. The center line's width belongs to both sides of the court. The net runs across the court above the center line. In official men's competition, the net measures 7 feet 11 5/8 inches. In official women's competition, the net measures 7 feet 4 1/8 inches. The net also has antennae on either side that extend 32 inches above the top of the net. Attack lines run parallel to the net and 9 feet 10 inches behind it on each side of the court. These lines divide the front zone from the back zone on each side of the court.
Serving
The server must stand behind the end line and between the imaginary extensions of the sidelines to serve. The server must not touch the end line with either foot during the serving motion, but she can land on or beyond the end line after contacting the ball. The same player serves continuously until his team loses a point.
Playing the Ball
Each time the ball crosses the net toward one team's side of the court, that team can hit the ball three times. Players can contact the ball with any part of their body as long as they do not catch, carry or throw the ball. No one player can contact the ball twice in succession. Blocks do not count toward the team's three hits.
Scoring
Teams win a point whenever they hit the ball in bounds to the floor of their opponent's side of the court. Teams also win points if the opposing team commits a fault or error. Teams can win points on their own serve as well as on the opponent's serve. To win a set, a team must earn 25 points with a two-point margin. To win a match, a team must win three sets. In a fifth deciding set, one team must only win 15 points with a two-point margin to win the set and the match.
Rotation
Each team must submit a starting line-up before each set, indicating the six players who will start and their rotation order. Players must maintain the same rotational order throughout the set. The rotational order includes three front-row positions and three back-row positions. The player in the right back-row position occupies position number 1. The position numbers increase in a counterclockwise order, with position 2 at the right front-row, position 3 at the center front-row and so on. Each time a team gains the right to serve, its players rotate one position clockwise. For example, the player in position 2 at the right of the front-row would rotate to position 1 to serve. If a starting player leaves the game, he can only reenter in the same position in the rotation.
Libero Player
USA Volleyball introduced the Libero player before the 1999-2000 season. The Libero player, a defensive specialist, wears a jersey that contrasts with her teammates' jerseys. The Libero must remain in a back-row position throughout the match and cannot serve or block the ball. Libero players can never attack the ball above the net.
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