In indoor volleyball, each team has six players on the court at a time. These players work together to return the ball over the net and to the other team's court in three hits or fewer. The net must meet certain official standards for height and components. USA Volleyball follows all International Federation of Volleyball rules regarding net standards.
Placement
The net must run across the court directly over the center line. The center line divides the court into two equal halves, each measuring 29 feet 6 inches by 29 feet 6 inches.
Height
The net must measure 7 feet 11 5/8 inches high for men's competition and 7 feet 4 1/8 inches for women's competition, according to International Federation of Volleyball Rules. Court inspectors should measure the net's height from the center of the playing court. The net's height at the sidelines must not exceed its height at the center by more than ¾ inch, according to International Federation of Volleyball Rules. USA Volleyball rules allow younger and older age groups to play with slightly different net heights. For example, girls 10 years old and under can play with a net that measures 6 feet 6 inches high, and boys ages 10 and under, as well as male and female children ages 11 and 12, can play with a net that measures 7 feet high.
Bands
A white horizontal band runs along the top of the net to make its full height clearly visible to players and rules officials. White side bands also run along the sides of the net over each sideline. International Federation of Volleyball rules require that nets for official competition have these bands, while USAV rules deem them optional.
Antennae
The indoor volleyball net has antennae on either side. These antennae measure 5 feet 11 inches long. They each extend 32 inches above the net. These antennae mark the outer edges of the legal crossing space above the net. If a player hits the ball outside of the antennae, the ball counts as out of bounds.
Space Above Net
The International Federation of Volleyball and the USA Volleyball rulebooks call for a certain amount of space above the court to allow sufficient space for competitors to play the ball and pass it back and forth over the net. Free space above the court's surface must measure at least 23 feet high, according to International Federation of Volleyball rules.
Net Violations
Players cannot reach over the net to contact the ball while it remains on the opposing team's side of the net. Players can reach over the net to follow through on a shot made on their own team's side or to block a ball without interfering with an opponent's play. Players may touch the net or net posts as long as this contact does not interfere with play. Players cannot place their feet completely under the net and onto the opposing team's court.
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