Federation Internationale de Volleyball, the governing body for indoor and beach volleyball, changed the rules in 1998 to attract fans. New rules added the libero defensive specialist position and rally point scoring, which awards a point for every kill -- a shot that lands on the opposition's court -- and fault or error. "Attack hits" are attempts to score. Attack hits may result in kills or faults or remain in play. Attack hits have restrictions.
Rules
Indoor volleyball is played by two teams of six players on a court divided by a net. Beach volleyball teams have two players. The ball is served over the net and rallied, or kept aloft and hit back and forth across the net until a point is awarded. Either the receiving team wins the service along with a point or the serving team retains the serve along with a point.
Zones
Two sidelines and two end lines define the court. A center line under the net divides the court into two equal playing areas. Indoor courts require attack lines 3 meters from either side of the center line to separate front and back rows. The area within the front row is the attack zone.
Positions
Beach rules do not require positions. Non-serving players may stand anywhere on their court. Indoor players line up with three players in the front row and three in the back. Players may change positions after the ball is served, and a libero may replace one back-row player. Liberos are not allowed to serve or block, and rules restrict their ability to hit and set the ball with overhand finger passes to an attacking teammate.
Restrictions
Attack hit restrictions are positional and apply to indoor volleyball only. Front- and back-row players may attack from any height as long as they are in position at the time of contact. Players may land out of position. A back-row player may attack from the front zone if the ball is below the top of the net. A libero may attack from the back row if the ball is below the top of the net. A libero may set, but the teammate receiving the set may attack only from below the top of the net. Players are restricted from attacking an opponent's serve if the ball is above the top of the net and crossing the front zone.
Faults
Out balls and attacks made from an opposing team's area are faults. Violations of indoor volleyball's attack hit restriction are faults. Beach volleyball players may not attack an opposing team's serve while the ball is above the top of the net, nor may players use an open-handed tip to direct the ball with their fingers. A beach player who attacks with an overhand pass is called for a fault unless the ball travels in a perpendicular direction from his shoulders and his teammate does not play it as a set.
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