In volleyball, each team has six players on the court at a time. These players work together to keep the ball in play by saving it before it hits the ground and returning it over the net in three hits or fewer. USA Volleyball, the governing organization for the sport in this country, follows all International Federation of Volleyball, or FIVB, rules in competition. These rules provide a standard for volleyball competition around the world.
Court and Net
The standard volleyball court measures 59 feet long and 29.6 feet wide, with a center line dividing the court into two equal halves. The net runs over the center line, and measures 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches high for men's competition and 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches high for women's competition. Attack lines run 9 feet, 10 inches behind the net and parallel to the net on each side of the court.
Teams and Players
Each team must have 6 players on the court at a time. These players must follow a specific rotational order. The rotational positions include three front-row positions and three back-row positions. All players on a team must rotate clockwise one position each time that team gains the serve. Players must remain in their rotational position until the server contacts the ball. Players can then move freely about the court, but back row players cannot attack or block the ball above the net in front of the attack line. The Libero player acts as a defensive specialist and must always remain in a back row position.
Starting Play
The captains of both teams meet the referee for a coin toss before the game. The winner of the toss can choose to serve or receive first or to start on a particular side of the court. The other captain gets to make the other choice. To begin the game, the server stands behind the end line to serve. The server must toss the ball in front of her and hit it out of the air.
Points
Each team can hit the ball three times before returning it over the net. No one player can hit the ball twice in succession. Blocks do not count as a team hit, and a player who blocks right after hitting the ball has not illegally hit the ball twice in succession. Teams win points by hitting the ball to the floor of the opponent's court within bounds. Teams also win points when the opposing team makes an error. For example, a team wins a point when the opposing team makes more than three hits, hits the ball into the net or hits the ball out of bounds. USAV and FIVB rules follow rally scoring, meaning that teams can win points on their own serve and on the opposing team's serve. When a team loses a point on its own serve, it becomes the other team's turn to serve. When a team wins a point on its own serve, the same server continues to serve.
Violations
If an individual player commits a violation, his team loses the point. Common violations include attacking the ball in front of the attack line while in a back row position; hitting the ball twice in succession; palming or carrying the ball; catching the ball; and touching the net with any part of the body.
Winning
A team must win 25 points with a two-point margin of victory to win a set. A team must win the best of five sets to win the match. In a fifth set, one team must win only 15 points with a two-point margin of victory to win the set and match.
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