USA Volleyball is the sanctioning organization for most volleyball competition in the United States. However, much of grade school volleyball will be played in gym classes, or other unofficial venues. Although most people who organize this kind of play will set up the rules to conform to USA Volleyball standards, you can expect more variation at this level than at other ages of play.
Basic Mechanics
Kids play volleyball in two teams, each on one side of a court separated by a net. The teams take turns passing the ball back and forth over the net. Each team can come into contact with the ball a maximum of three times before it must pass over the net. If they fail to do this, the other team scores a point. The other team can also score a point for other "faults," including a single player touching the ball twice in a row, touching or passing the net or hitting the ball out of bounds.
Scoring
At one time, only the serving team could score points in USA Volleyball sanctioned games. Under current rules, either team can score a point regardless of who is serving. Whenever a team commits a fault, the other team scores a point. In addition, if the team that committed the fault was serving the ball, the other team gets to serve the ball. Play continues until one team reaches a specifically named score, but a team must win by a lead of at least two points.
Touching the Ball
Players may not hold or carry the ball. Instead, they must strike it with a closed fist or flat palm. In grade school play, officials are often more lenient about this rule than in play among older children. To hit a ball legally, the player touching the ball must not have either foot on the ground out of bounds. It is legal to strike the ball while out of bounds if both you and the ball are airborne.
Teams
Officially sanctioned play consists of two teams of six, arranged in a rectangular formation on either side of the net. When a team receives the right to serve the ball, all players rotate one position counterclockwise and the player in the right, rear corner serves. In grade school play, teams are often much larger to allow each child more time to be involved.
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