Volleyball rules have changed quite a bit in recent years. Many traditional violations have been eliminated, such as net serves, stepping under the net, hitting the net below the white tape and many types of double hits. Rally scoring has replaced sideout scoring in most competition. Players getting back to the game for the first time in many years will need a refresher course in the basics.
Legal Teams
Volleyball teams play six players at a time, three in the front row and three in the back row. After the serve, front-line players are allowed to switch positions at the net. Players must rotate and cannot serve out of turn. Teams may substitute a libero for one of its back row players. A libero, a back-row specialist wearing a special uniform, can enter and exit between serves without the coach requesting a substitution.
Legal And Illegal Hits
Players can contact the ball with any part of their body, but cannot catch, throw, lift or carry the ball. Double-hitting the ball used to be strictly against the rules. Now double hits on first contacts are allowed, as are double hits on "athletic plays." Teams may not hit the ball more than three times before putting it back over the net, but a block does not count as a hit. Attacking the ball before it crosses the plane of the net is illegal. Back row players can attack only if they jump from behind the 10-foot/3-meter line. Players cannot block or attack the serve at the net.
Balls In and Out Of Play
A ball that lands on any part of the boundary line is in, as is a ball that hits an opposing player in the court and lands outside the court. A ball that lands outside the boundaries, hits the antennas or hits supporting cables outside the net is out. At some levels, balls that hit the ceiling over the court are in play but balls that hit the ceiling outside the court are out of play.
Legal and Illegal Serves
Serves that hit the top of the net and then clear the net are legal. Serves that go outside either antenna are not legal. Servers used to serve from a designated corner spot but now serve from anywhere behind the back line. Stepping on the back line is not allowed. Double-hitting the serve is not allowed.
Play at the Net
Officials at the high end of volleyball allow players to step under the net as long as they don't interfere with opponents. Contacting the net isn't an automatic violation at those levels, but contacting the white tape on top of the net is a violation. A ball may be played off the net as long as it stays between the two antennas at either end of the net. Back row players are not allowed to block at the net. Blockers may reach over the net to contact the ball if the opponent has used its three touches.
Sand Volleyball Vs. Beach Volleyball
Many of the principles of indoor volleyball carry over to beach volleyball, but sanctioned beach volleyball features two-player teams with no substitutes instead of six-player teams with substitutes. Teams are allowed three touches while returning the ball, including the block. Dink shots and open-hand tips are not allowed. FIVB rules call for best-of-three matches, with the first team to 21 points winning each set. Sets must be won by two points. If needed, the third set goes to 15, win by two.
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