The scoring rules in Olympic volleyball are not that different from other organized volleyball competitions. Teams are comprised of six players on a side and each side can strike the ball only three times before the ball must be hit over the net to the opponent's side. The International Volleyball Federation oversees all rule changes and interpretations for Olympic volleyball, both for indoor and two-player beach volleyball.
When Is a Point Scored?
As with any level of volleyball, Olympic volleyball keeps the rules pretty simple. A point is scored when the ball fails to go over the net after a maximum of three hits or goes out of bounds. A point can also be scored if the ball is hit to the opponent's side and the opponent cannot return the ball over the net. If a player commits a violation while seeming to score a point, such as holding the ball or moving the net while spiking the ball, a point will be awarded to the team that did not commit the violation.
1998 Changes
Prior to 1998, a volleyball team could score a point only if it served to start the rally. If the team that won the point hadn't served, it would be known as a "side out" and that team would take control of the ball and get to serve. But in 1998, the governing organization of international volleyball, the FIVB, changed the rules to award a point on every rally. This speeds up the game and makes every rally that much more important because someone will get a point.
Match Format
In men's and women's Olympic volleyball, teams play best-of-five matches. The first four games are played to 25 points. The final game is played to 15 points, but teams must win by two points to take the set. A final game, therefore, could have a score of 36-35, and the two sides would still be playing to determine a winner.
Olympic Beach Volleyball
Olympic beach volleyball rules follow a slightly different scoring procedure. Instead of a best-of-five match, beach volleyball uses a best-of-three set. The first two games are to 21 points, while the third is to 15 points, with the same win-by-two-points rule in effect. And instead of six players on a side, men's and women's beach volleyball in the Olympics features two-player teams.
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