In volleyball, two teams of six players each stand on opposite sides of a net. Each team tries to win points by grounding the ball on the opposing team's side of the court. Each point begins with a serve, and then each team must return the ball over the net in three hits or fewer. USA Volleyball, the governing body for the sport of volleyball in the United States, provides the standard rules for domestic volleyball competitions.
Court and Net
The volleyball court measures 59 feet long and 29 feet, 6 inches wide, according to USA Volleyball rules. A free zone measuring at least 9 feet, 10 inches must surround the court on all sides. A net divides the court into two equal halves, each measuring 29 feet, 6 inches wide and 29 feet, 6 inches long. For men's competition, the net must measure 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches high. For women's competition, the net must measure 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches high. Each side of the court has an attack line that runs parallel to the net and 10 feet behind it. The attack line separates the front and back zones.
Players and Positions
Each team must have six players on the court at a time. These players each occupy one of six positions, including three front-row positions along the net and three back-row positions behind the attack line. The front-row positions include, from left to right, positions 4, 3 and 2. The back-row positions include, from left to right, positions 5, 6 and 1. Until the server contacts the ball, each back-row player must remain further back than each front-row player, and front-row players and back-row players must remain positioned in the correct order laterally. After the serve, players can move freely, but back-row players cannot attack the ball from the front zone while the ball remains above the net. The Libero player, a defensive specialist, can play only back-row positions.
Rotation
Players must maintain the same rotational order throughout each set, as determined by the team's starting lineup. Each time a team gains the right to serve, that team's players must rotate clockwise one position. For example, the player in position 2 at the front-right of the court must rotate to position 1 at the back-right of the court. The player in position 1 then serves for the team from behind the court's end line.
Scoring
Teams win points by hitting the ball to the floor of the opposing team's court within bounds. Teams also win points when the opposing team makes an error, such as hitting the ball out of bounds or making more than three hits. Teams can win points on their own serve or on the opposing team's serve. To win a set, a team must reach 25 points with a two-point lead. To win the match, a team must win three sets. If the match goes to a fifth and final set, the first team to reach 15 points with a two-point lead wins the match.
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