Volleyball Rules

What Kind of Clothes Should I Wear to Volleyball?

Volleyball at a picnic, the beach or at the youth level just requires T-shirts or tank tops and shorts. Putting together your uniform for high school or college league play on an indoor court requires a bit more preparation but remains straightforward. The Federation Internationale de Volleyball, the governing body of volleyball worldwide, adds its own apparel requirements for Olympic and other international play, if your gifts take you to the highest level.

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All About Volleyball Rules

What Is an Overpass in Volleyball?

The action in volleyball gets furious at times, with players jumping and diving about in an effort to prevent the ball from touching down. When the speed of play picks up and pressure mounts, mistakes happen. Sometimes players ...

What Is the Purpose of the Attack Line in Volleyball?

Volleyball rules dictate an official court must measure 29 feet and 6 inches wide and 59 feet long. Aside from the tall net dividing it in half widthwise, the court's simple rectangle shape features little else in the way of ma...

The Difference Between Volleyball and Wallyball

Most everyone is familiar with volleyball, a popular indoor or outdoor sport featuring two teams hitting a ball over a tall net in an effort to score points. While similar in name and spirit, wallyball places a unique twist on ...

5 Rules to Hitting a Volleyball

Volleyball players hit the ball in five competitive scenarios: Serving, digging or passing, setting, attacking and blocking. Different hitting techniques are used in each situation, and volleyball rules govern this contact. Ill...

How to Improve on Anticipating the Ball in Volleyball

With the running, striding, collecting yourself for a jump and hitting the ball that are crucial to volleyball, anticipation proves key to your offense. Defenders also must anticipate what the hitter plans to do -- it's most li...

Four Ways to Score Points in Volleyball

However, there are many ways to score a point. If a team or a player commits a variety of faults or is penalized in accordance with the rules and regulation of the game, the opposing team scores.

What Is the Speed of a Volleyball?

Fast and accurate volleyball hits make it hard for the other team to counterattack. Trajectory matters as well because the ball must arc high enough to pass over the net. But if a player tries to generate too much speed while h...

MSHSL 9th Grade Volleyball Rules

This includes ninth grade volleyball -- also called sub-varsity -- that uses many of the same rules as varsity high school volleyball players. These rules include the game format, number of players on the team and state high sc...

Is it Illegal to Hit Overhead in Volleyball?

Although some rules exist regarding how you can hit a volleyball, no rules prohibit shots taken above the head. Many volleyball shots take place overhead, since you must hit the ball over top of the net. As long as you get the ...

Objectives of Volleyball

Volleyball is a game that's played between two teams with six players on the court at the same time -- three in a front row and three in a back row. As with all sports, there is an overall objective -- which is usually to win -...

Overlapping in Volleyball

Volleyball features constant player movement as the teams serve, receive the serve, pass, set, attack and defend. But after each point, the teams must take the time to align properly for the serve. If they don't, the referee ma...

Volleyball Rules for Middle School Girls

Morgan, is one of the fastest growing Jr. High sports in the United States according to the American Sport Education Program. Take charge on the court by knowing the rules for middle school volleyball, from serving and passing...

The Most Important Facts of Volleyball

The most important facts of volleyball are those that come up the most often during a game and affect your play. While a scholastic or national team may need to observe arcane rules, such as an indoor captain's jersey featuring...

Legal & Illegal Hits in Volleyball

The basic rules of volleyball are well-known in terms of legal and illegal hits. However, there are special situations that have led to the creation of new rules to define what is and is not an acceptable hit. Volleyball rules ...

Objectives of Playing Volleyball

While volleyball features many intricacies, its scoring system remains very simple to learn. As you learn the basics, the sport will look much clearer and you will see why players move the way they do on the court. To win a vol...

Regulations & Violations in Volleyball

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 ...

Rules for a Volleyball Rally for Boys

A volleyball rally is when your team and the opposing team keep sending the ball back and forth to each other. The rules are no different for boys volleyball than for girls, but there is a difference in net height: Boys volleyb...

Volleyball Overarm Pass Rules

Players use overarm, or overhead, sets to pass the ball into position for decisive spikes. Yet USA Volleyball and the Federation Internationale de Volleyball follow a strict set of rules for overarm passing, with the standards ...

Volleyball Rules of 2009

Like any established sport, volleyball rules are under constant review by the various organizing bodies of the game to ensure that all play is fair and in accordance with modern equipment and playing techniques. From the intern...

Illegal Types of Hits in Volleyball

Players may contact the ball with any part of the body during a hit, but if they violate other rules about playing the ball, they risk losing points for their team. Rules set by USA Volleyball and the International Volleyball F...

International Volleyball Rules

Scholastic, recreational and professional volleyball leagues have unique rules to help their organizations operate in the best interests of their players. For example, rules governing student athletes might focus more on eligib...

Official Volleyball Rules for a Libero

Each team at that year's world championships would designate a libero -- one defensive player that would spend the entire match on the back row. The rule revolutionized the sport and changed game planning for teams in the Unite...

Volleyball Front-Row Rules

According to USA Volleyball, Federation of International Volleyball and National Collegiate Athletic Association rules, this is the only place players can attack the ball or block opposing attacks.

Official Volleyball Rules for Middle School

USA Volleyball sanctions most competitive volleyball within the United States, and its rules conform to Olympic regulations. Even if your school district doesn't report to USA Volleyball, it's likely the rules will be close. Bu...

Libero Position Rules for Volleyball

International Federation of Volleyball rules allow volleyball teams to designate up to two players as defensive specialists known as Liberos. USA Volleyball rules allow teams to designate one Libero per set. Teams must designat...

Volleyball Rules for High School Girls

Understanding basic volleyball rules for high school girls is essential for both players and coaches who are looking to excel in the sport. While basic rules help to structure overall gameplay, there are advanced rules that hel...

Volleyball Rules on Blocking

One or more players can attempt to block at the same time. USA Volleyball, the governing body for volleyball in the United States, follows all rules set by the International Volleyball Federation regarding blocking.

Dimensions and Rules for a Volleyball Court

The volleyball court resembles courts for several racquet sports, such as tennis and badminton. Official volleyball competitions must use courts that meet the rules and regulations set by USA Volleyball, the governing body for ...

Volleyball Rules for Touching the Net

Each team occupies one side of the court. After the serve, teams attempt to win points by returning the ball over the net in three hits or fewer. USA Volleyball, the sport's governing organization in the United States, follows ...

US Volleyball Rules

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 d...

Volleyball Uniform Basics

Volleyball doesn't require much in the way of apparel. On the beach, you don't even need shoes or socks. When it comes to organized volleyball play, you may find restrictions on what you can wear. To make sure you know the bas...

The Rules for Blocking in Volleyball

Successful blocks can deflect the ball either onto the blocker's own court, making it easier for her teammates to return, or onto the opponent's court. In either scenario, a number of rules determine whether a block is valid.

King & Queen 2 Volleyball Rules

Usually king and queen tournaments are played outdoors and often they are played as beach volleyball events. The tournaments feature specific rules that are often unique to beach, outdoor and co-ed volleyball.

Rules for a Side Out in Volleyball

Volleyball teams like to keep control of the serve due to the potential of an ace and to keep the other team on the defensive. International and U.S. rules both use rally scoring, which means you can score without serving the ...

Hand Signals & System of Scoring in Volleyball

Volleyball scoring can seem unusual at first, with officials using a variety of hand signals to indicate points and infractions. Four officials work each volleyball game. The first referee sits atop a chair high above one end o...

Basic Volleyball Game Rules for Kids Vs. Staff

The sport of volleyball is a game that is filled with leaping, spiking, diving and it is fun for all ages. Volleyball games have specific rules that are used to keep score, keep order and keep the game fair even in a fun game w...

The History & Rules of Volleyball

Volleyball is a 116-year old sport as of 2011, rich in tradition and innovation. Created in the United States as an alternative to basketball, volleyball spread first across the Pacific, then to Latin America and Europe to grow...

U.S. Volleyball Rules

National volleyball rules in the U.S. are governed by USA Volleyball, a division of the United States Olympic Committee. Volleyball rules govern how many players can be on the court during game play and what actions constitute ...

American Volleyball Rules

Since its creation by William Morgan in 1895, volleyball has become one of the most widely played sports in the world. Innumerable leagues are now throughout the world, each with slightly varying rules and restrictions. More th...

Official Junior Olympic Volleyball Rules

These teams include the United States Olympic teams, youth national teams and junior Olympic teams. While junior Olympic volleyball teams follow similar playing rules as collegiate competitions, they also have specific rules re...

What is the Difference in Volleyballs?

Manufacturers make volleyballs from several materials. Indoor volleyballs commonly come in leather and synthetic leather. Purchase outdoor volleyballs made from neoprene or rubber. The specifications of the volleyball you play ...

Volleyball Referee Rules & Hand Signals

Children as young as 7 years old can begin playing this sport as well as adults. League volleyball has increased in popularity since the 1990s and college volleyball is watched by many. You should be aware of a number of rules ...

What Are the Official Volleyball Court Size Requirements?

Volleyball originated in the United States in 1895, when an instructor at a Holyoke, Massachusetts YMCA, William Morgan, raised the net used for tennis and used a basketball to invent a game that focused on volleying the ball b...

Official Volleyball Rules for Grade School

Volleyball is one of several winter sports often practiced in elementary school physical education classes. Although there is no centralized authority dictating the rules of gym class games, most coaches agree on the same basic...

Mud Volleyball Rules

Mud volleyball, as the name indicates, is essentially volleyball played within a pit of mud. Mud volleyball provides a messy deviation from the norm and a quality workout. Standard volleyball rules apply with a few exceptions.

Basic Volleyball Facts

Volleyball is played from elementary school to the professional level. Played by volleying a ball over a net in an attempt to keep the ball in the air on your side of the net while also trying to get the ball to hit the ground ...

Dimensions of the Volleyball Court

The International Federation of Volleyball was founded in 1947. This organization continues to serve as the governing body for the sport of volleyball, providing standardized rules and specifications for volleyball courts. USA ...

Volleyball Court Specs

USA Volleyball, the governing body for volleyball in the United States, follows most FIVB rules regarding the court's dimensions, net and other specifications.

Unusual Facts About Volleyball

Volleyball has changed significantly since its invention in 1895. The sport, originally called "mintonette" by its inventor, William G. Morgan, has evolved from a recreational sport played at YMCAs to an internationally popular...

NCAA Volleyball Rules & Scorekeeping

For more than a century, volleyball followed a side-out scoring system in which teams could only win points on their own serve. If a team lost a rally on its serve, the opposing team would gain the right to serve, but not a poi...

Volleyball Rules About Stepping On the Line

There are four crucial game lines on a volleyball court. These lines include the center line, service line, sideline and attack line. Each line has its own set of rules regarding foot violations.

Volleyball Rules for Using Your Foot

In volleyball, a team of six players must work together to return the ball to the other side of the net in three hits or fewer. Players bump, set and spike the ball with their hands, without ever catching or throwing the ball. ...

Junior Volleyball Rules & Regulations

Whether you're playing on a high school team, on the beach with a group of friends or on the U.S. Olympic team, volleyball is a popular sport. For teens and children, volleyball can help teach teamwork, sportsmanship and a love...

Size of a Volleyball Court

Volleyball courts used in official competitions must meet certain standards set by the International Federation of Volleyball. USA Volleyball, the governing body for the sport in this country, follows all FIVB rules regarding c...

USA Outdoor Volleyball Rules

Volleyball began in 1895 when William G. Morgan, an instructor with the Young Men's Christian Association, or YMCA, thought to create a sport combining handball, tennis, basketball, and baseball, creating a game less demanding ...

Early Volleyball Rules

The sport was created as a blend of basketball, tennis and handball that would have less physical contact than other sports, thus making it well suited for older businessmen. The early rules of the game borrowed from other spor...

Basic Volleyball Information

You play volleyball indoors on a court or outdoors on the sand. Beach volleyball usually has two people on each team, but it follows the basic rules of the original indoor court game. Volleyball is a recreational pastime for th...

English Volleyball Rules

Volleyball in England is much the same game as it is elsewhere in the world. In fact, the rules of English volleyball that are laid out by the International Federation of Volleyball, of which England is a part, are founded on A...

Online Volleyball Rules

Volleyball is a fun sport that offers much to its players, no matter your ability level. Volleyball is a great way to get some exercise, be part of a team and make new friends. The rules of volleyball are extensive and at times...

Volleyball Rules on One-Handed Setting

Volleyball requires explosive jumping, strategy and precise hitting. When the game is played at the highest levels, referees demand that players hit the ball precisely and at no point may a player carry a ball. This can be an i...

Rules for Volleyball Uniforms

As with any sport, volleyball requires that uniforms must meet specifications to be approved for wear during play. Rules may vary between styles, such as indoor and beach volleyball, and levels, such as junior leagues, high sch...

Rules for Volleyball Tourneys

Volleyball tournaments follow set rules depending on the level of competition. The National Federation of State High School Associations sets rules for high school volleyball tournaments, and the National Collegiate Athletic As...

Rules for Junior High Volleyball

Volleyball played at the junior high school level is similar to the game played at the high school, college, professional and Olympic levels. However, there are some differences in the number of games that young players at this...

The Rules for Double Elimination Volleyball

Double elimination volleyball tournaments are designed to give all teams a chance to compete even if they lose a match at some point in the tournament. The double-elimination format allows teams to play without the pressure of ...

Volleyball Rules for Obstructions

Though the center court division is necessary to play the game, these objects can sometimes obstruct the ball from freely moving between the competing teams. Therefore, both indoor and outdoor versions of the game have rules di...

Ground Rules in Volleyball

The ground rules of volleyball include the rules that dictate the structure of the game and team format. The International Volleyball Federation drafts the ground rules to ensure that the various volleyball leagues across the U...

Libero Rules in Volleyball

The libero is a specialized position in volleyball used in international, collegiate and high school competition. The position was officially adopted into the Federation of International Volleyball in 1998. A libero is largely ...

Classic Eight Volleyball Rules

The Classic Eight Conference is a competitive high school volleyball league consisting of eight Wisconsin high schools: Arrowhead, Catholic Memorial, Kettle Moraine, Mukwonago, Pius XI, Waukesha North, Waukesha South and Waukes...

General Volleyball Rules

Morgan as a less physically demanding alternative to basketball. Volleyball became quite popular in its formative years as rule changes were introduced to refine the game. Finally in 1928, the United States Volleyball Associati...

4S Volleyball Rules

The games can be played either on indoor courts or on outdoor sand courts. There are either two separate leagues, a female league and a male league, or a single co-ed league. The game rules are official USA Volleyball rules in ...

College Co-Ed Volleyball Rules

In co-ed volleyball, men and women compete together on the same team. Co-ed volleyball typically follows all standard USA Volleyball rules. Players must also follow certain gender rules specific to co-ed volleyball. These

Basic Volleyball Rules & Regulations

Competitive volleyball is played in teams of six players. Your team is allowed three touches to send the ball to the other team on the opposite side of the net. Your team must not let the ball touch the ground, and the players ...

How to Apply Volleyball Game Rules

cording to USA Volleyball, the national governing body of the sport, volleyball is "one of the most successful and popular competitive and recreational sports in the world." The international association for volleyball, FIVB, n...

Volleyball Rules for PE

Classrooms that get overly competitive or rule-focused tend to alienate children who don't naturally gravitate toward physical activity. Splitting children into volunteer-based competitive and recreational groups can help allev...

Volleyball Rules for Elementary Grades

Because elementary students ages 5 to 12 vary greatly in physical development and motor learning, modify the rules of volleyball to meet the needs of your classroom. Prepare yourself for flexibility--depending on level of stud...

Rules & Regulation in Playing Volleyball

Team members work together to return the ball over the net in three hits or fewer, and to win points by hitting the ball to the surface of the opposing team's court. Official volleyball rules have changed frequently over the pa...

Volleyball Rules & Scoring System

Whether you're a new coach trying to understand the game better or an official volleyball scorekeeper, understanding the rules of volleyball when it comes to scoring is essential to understanding the way the game works. Volleyb...

Volleyball Rules & Violations

If you've ever been to a volleyball match, you may have wondered what all the gestures and hand signals by the referee mean during the game. Some of those hand signals indicate certain violations committed by the server, player...

Official Outdoor Volleyball Rules

Originating in the 1920s in Santa Monica, California, outdoor volleyball has grown in popularity and is now played around the world. The growth of the sport has led to specific rules that may overlap or differ from indoor volle...

Volleyball Signal Rules

A volleyball official's job is not only to make official rulings on the rules of the game, but also to make hand signals in order to indicate certain goings-on in the game, including ball in or out of bounds, violations and sub...

Volleyball Rules on Feet

However, the winning team must achieve a two-point lead, even if that means playing beyond the maximum number of points. In the United States, USA Volleyball is the national governing body for the sport and provides an official...

Basic Rules in Playing Volleyball

These players work together to keep the ball in play by saving it before it hits the ground and returning it over the net in three hits or fewer. USA Volleyball, the governing organization for the sport in this country, follows...

Volleyball Rules & Tips

If you are interested in playing volleyball or getting the most out your volleyball watching experience you should learn a few of the basic volleyball rules.

Volleyball Rules Regarding Serve and Receive Positions

Each position has offensive and defensive roles during the game. As they play, team members work together to return serves and deliver attack hits. The USA Volleyball organization sets rules for player position at the time of s...

Volleyball Officials and Their Duties

As in most sporting competitions, volleyball employs referees in order to control the flow of the game and enforce the rules. The volleyball referee team includes the first referee, the second referee, the scorer and two line j...

Rules for Power Volleyball

Accuracy is an important aspect of the game, but power volleyball can destroy an opponent. Players must abide by the rules of the game that concern hitting and player formations. Rules for power volleyball also declare the play...

Volleyball Rules Regarding Lifts

A volleyball team, which is comprised of two to six players, has a maximum of three hits to return the ball over the net into an opponent’s court. These hits must be done cleanly off the body and no single player can hit ...

Wheelchair Volleyball Rules

Wheelchair volleyball, also known as "chair volleyball" or "sitting volleyball," is similar to traditional volleyball. The first international sitting volleyball match was played in 1957, and the sport was among those played at...

Official Rules for Women's Volleyball

The height of the net differs in men’s and women’s volleyball. However, leading world volleyball associations such as USA Volleyball and Fédération Internationale de Volleyball do not provide different...

The Volleyball Rules for a Grounded Ball

With hard-hitting serves and strategic spikes, players try to score points by grounding the ball inside the opponent's court. Rules regarding grounded balls determine which side scores and when ball possession changes. Players ...

Volleyball Practice Rules

Crisp practice sessions build discipline, improve skills, and foster team camaraderie. To ensure players get the most of out of each practice, volleyball coaches should implement a few simple rules to govern the proceedings.

Time Rules for Volleyball

In regular tournament play, teams win a volleyball match by winning two out of three sets. Game length varies because some point rallies may take longer. Governing volleyball associations, such as the Federation Internationale ...

Mini Volleyball Rules

Mini volleyball is an increasingly popular, miniaturized version of standard volleyball. The objective of the sport is to introduce children aged eight to 12 to the concepts, rules, tactics and strategy of regular volleyball, b...

Nine Man Volleyball Rules

Chinese sports enthusiasts developed it after volleyball was introduced to them by Western missionaries in the 1920s. Today, the North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament (NACIVT) is the highest-level nine-man v...

Volleyball: Coaches & Team Rules

Volleyball teams and coaches must follow certain rules during competition. USA Volleyball, the governing body for the sport in this country, follows most International Federation of Volleyball rules regarding team composition a...

Volleyball Recruiting Rules

Given the highly competitive nature of matching qualified athletes to the available scholarships, recruiting rules govern college coaches' contact with high school students to help protect the process.

Volleyball Floor Rules

Both versions use the same basic skills, but because court volleyball use additional players during game play, and because beach volleyball takes place in sand, some of the floor rules vary between the two versions.

Modified Volleyball Rules

When teaching volleyball to young children or children with diverse abilities, emphasize a fun atmosphere and skill-development rather than focusing on the rules of the game. As you coach, make adjustments to the rules in order...

Team Rules for Jr High Volleyball

Volleyball rules remain the same from the youth to the Olympic levels, so kids in junior high can cement their volleyball foundation when they learns rules and regulations at their age level. Team rules require that players and...

Volleyball Rules

Volleyball can be a physically demanding sport and coupled with the rules required to learn, it can be a mental challenge as well. Several rules, including how many players are allowed, which players can attack within the 10-fo...

Volleyball Carry Rules

One of the unique characteristics of volleyball compared with other net sports is that the ball is in constant motion. The Federation Internationale de Volleyball is the governing body of volleyball and it sets the rules that m...

Volleyball Rules for Kids

Volleyball, invented by a YMCA teacher in Holyoke, Massachusetts, is one of the world's most popular sports. Kidzworld reports that volleyball is played by more than 800 million people at least once a week. The object of the ga...

Volleyball Match Rules

Official volleyball matches must follow specific rules and regulations. The format of volleyball matches has changed significantly since the first official set of rules was published in 1897. In 1897, volleyball games consisted...

Volleyball Referee Rules

An official volleyball match requires a variety of rules officials. Different rules officials take responsibility for different aspects of the match. The USA Volleyball rulebook follows all International Federation of Volleybal...

Pool Volleyball Rules

In pool volleyball, however, players attempt to keep the ball from hitting the surface of the pool rather than the floor. You can play with a real volleyball, an inflated beach ball or any other type of pool ball. Pool volleyba...

Original Volleyball Rules

The first set of volleyball rules appeared in the Official Handbook of the Young Men’s Christian Associations of North America, or the YMCA, in 1897. The rules presented a concept similar to the one that volleyball follow...

Rules to Girls Volleyball

Girls volleyball is played in schools and colleges and leagues around the United States. Aside from all the participants being women, the rules for girls volleyball don't differ much from the male version. The height of the net...

Volleyball Jersey Rules

In competition, volleyball teams must wear matching jerseys, and each player's jersey must have a number. The International Federation of Volleyball, or FIVB, provides specific rules regarding players' jerseys and numbers. USA ...

Six Man Volleyball Rules

Volleyball is a popular recreational and competitive sport. On the recreational level, leagues are often set up among friends, co-workers and neighbors. As a competitive sport, the game is played at the high school, college, pr...

Rules for Girls' Volleyball

A girls' volleyball team is composed of six players, with the goal of causing the opposing team to let the ball touch the ground. A team scores a point if the opposing team does not return the ball after contacting it a maximum...

Standard Volleyball Rules

USA Volleyball rules outline the dimensions of the court, team composition, how to serve, rotations of players and how many points are need to win a game.

What Is Palming in Volleyball?

In volleyball, "palming" refers to an illegal contact in which the ball comes to rest on a player's palm. Players can touch or hit the ball with their palms, but they must follow specific rules regarding contact with the ball. ...

United States Volleyball Rules

The players collaborate to return the ball to the opponent's side of the court in three hits or fewer. USA Volleyball, or USAV, serves as the governing body for the sport of volleyball in this country. The USAV rulebook follows...

Volleyball Spiking Rules

The word "spiking" refers to an attack hit directed toward the floor of the opponent's side of the court. Certain rules and restrictions govern the spike, with the USA Volleyball rulebook provides a standard for domestic compet...

Rules for Kicking the Volleyball

In volleyball, players usually keep the ball in play by hitting it with their hands or forearms rather than with other parts of the body. However, the USA Volleyball Rules of the Game Commission adopted many new rules in the 1...

New Rules in Volleyball

In the 1990s, the Rules of the Game Commission of USA Volleyball, the governing organization for the sport in this country, decided to adopt many new rules that altered the format of the sport significantly. Learning about thes...

Volleyball Skills & Rules

There are several basic skills for beginning volleyball players to master as well as understanding the rules of the game. Basic volleyball skills involve passing, setting, serving and attacking the ball. Understanding the rotat...

Volleyball Roster Rules

These players collaborate to return the ball to the opponent's side of the court with only three hits. USA Volleyball, the governing organization for volleyball in this country, describes specific rules regarding volleyball tea...

Rules for Sitting Volleyball

Although sitting volleyball originated in Holland in the 1950s, it's now played all over the world, with qualifying teams participating in the Paralympic Games. To qualify for the U.S. National Sitting Volleyball Team or to pla...

Volleyball Rules & Rubrics

The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball is based in France and its rules govern international play. USA Volleyball has its headquarters in the United States and publishes a set of rules that govern domestic play i...

Men's Volleyball Rules

Volleyball is a team sport where the aim is to send the ball over the net to the opposite side using just your hands or arms. As a team, you are allowed three touches of the ball, and you must not catch or hold the ball or let ...

Rules for the Game Volleyball

Volleyball is an Olympic sport comprised of two teams of six players each. The object of the game is to score more points than the opposition. Teams score points by either knocking the volleyball down on the ground side of the ...

Volleyball Rules & Guidelines

Over the years, the sport has become popular through volleyball clubs, bar leagues and intramural teams. USA Volleyball, the NCAA and other organizations use rules that are very similar to govern their games. Before setting foo...

Intramural Volleyball Rules

Although the number of players may vary and the scoring method can be different from one school to the next, there are some general rules that can be used to govern most games of intramural volleyball.

Volleyball Hand Rules

In volleyball, players keep the ball in play by hitting it primarily with their hands, rather than with a racket or paddle. They must follow certain rules about contacting the ball with their hands. USA Volleyball, the governin...

Volleyball Overlapping Rules

In indoor volleyball, players on the court must observe strict rotational and positional rules. The phrase "overlapping" refers to a positional violation. USA Volleyball, the governing body for the sport of volleyball in the Un...

Volleyball Game Rules Regarding the Overhand

In volleyball, the phrase "overhand" can refer to an overhand serve, an overhand finger pass or set or an overhand attack hit. USA Volleyball (USAV) provides specific rules regarding all three of these types of hits in its offi...

Volleyball Playing Rules

Championship volleyball games have one to six players on the court. The less players on the court, the more intense the workout will be. On the world stage, volleyball championships follow the rules set by the Fédérat...

Volleyball Antenna Rules

Standard volleyball nets have an antenna on each side. USA Volleyball, the governing organization for volleyball in the United States, provides specific rules regarding the antennae in its official rulebook. Learn these rules t...

Volleyball Service Rules

Teams can win points on their serve or on the opposing team's serve. USA Volleyball, the governing body for the sport in the United States, sets a standard of rules regarding the serve in its official rulebook. Review these rul...

Seated Volleyball Rules

Seated volleyball is a variation on the conventional game of volleyball that developed as a sport for the disabled. The Dutch Sports Committee established the formal game of seated volleyball in 1956. Seated volleyball was an i...

Volleyball Rules for a Double Hit

The USA Volleyball (USAV) domestic competition regulations describe specific rules regarding double hits, simultaneous contacts and contact violations and penalties. Learn these rules to avoid committing a violation and losing ...

Volleyball Rules for Players

USA Volleyball sets the rules for domestic play, but the regulations set by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball govern World Championship play. The first volleyball world championship games were held in 1949 f...

Volleyball League Rules

For those who take it more seriously than simple camaraderie, it is important to know all of the rules. A shoulder shrug and calling "do-over" is fine on the beach among friends, but it's a no-go on the hardwood. The

Easy Volleyball Rules

The basics of the game are easy to learn and understand. Knowing the main rules will help get you started enjoying a mainstay activity at corporate picnics, backyard barbecues and church socials.

Rules for Doubles Volleyball

Volleyball is an American-born sport that attained worldwide popularity as a six-person team sport, becoming a popular high school, collegiate and Olympic sport. The recreational side of the game flourished with any number of p...

Official Rules in Volleyball

The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, located in France, sets the official rules and regulations for internationally sanctioned games. USA Volleyball on the other hand, creates the official rules and regulation...

Rules for Timing a Volleyball Game

However, particular periods within a match, such as the warmup or timeouts, do have time limits. The United States Association of Volleyball (USAV) provides guidelines for referees in its official domestic competition rulebook....

Volleyball Rules and Positions

In indoor volleyball, each team must have six players on the court at all times. These players must rotate their positions on the court according to specific rules. If your team fails to follow position and rotation rules, you ...

Volleyball Rules on Hand Signals

Volleyball rules officials use hand signals to indicate their rulings on events, interruptions and violations throughout the match. The United States Association of Volleyball provides the rules governing these hand signals, as...

Volleyball Rules for Contact With the Feet

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) official volleyball rules do not prohibit contact with the feet. The official rules do describe many guidelines for contacting the ball during a volleyball match. If you fail ...

Information About Volleyball Rules

There are two main volleyball associations in the world. USA Volleyball is based in the United States and sets the official rules for domestic, officially sanctioned games. The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball ...

Court Volleyball Rules

The teams hit the ball to each other across a net, each team attempting to hit the ball in-bounds to the floor of the opponent's court. This article addresses the official rules of the United States Association of Volleyball (U...

Volleyball Rules for Children

Volleyball for youth is called mini-volleyball, and is played according to rules that are simplified from the adult version of the game. Mini-volleyball rules may be modified for use in physical education classes, where space m...

Volleyball Substitution Rules

In indoor volleyball, each team has six players on the court at all times. A team can substitute players on the bench for players on the court, but it must follow the substitution rules. Failure to follow substitution rules wil...

Chair Volleyball Rules

Senior citizens, those confined to a wheelchair and young children in daycare facilities are just some of the people who play chair volleyball. The game is played with a beach ball, which travels at a slower speed, making it ea...

Rally Scoring Rules for Volleyball

Volleyball is one of the world's most popular sports, played in high schools and colleges, professionally indoors and outdoors, at church picnics and backyard barbecues and in the International Olympics. The sport traditionally...

Rules for Legal Contact in Volleyball

Unlike in racquet sports, volleyball players use their hands, wrists and forearms to attack the ball. Specific rules dictate the types of contact you can legally make with the ball. If you make an illegal contact, your team wil...

Regulation Volleyball Rules

USA Volleyball and Federation International of Volleyball, FIVB, both publish their own official regulation volleyball rules. USA Volleyball rules govern domestic competitions. The FIVB has its headquarters in France and offers...

Simple Rules for a Volleyball Game

Volleyball is a popular sport played by both men and women. Volleyball can be a recreational or a competitive sport. But no matter how you play it, you need to understand the basic rules of the sport. The simple volleyball rule...

Volleyball Setter Rules

Setting requires specialized training and practice. As a setting specialist or a player often relied upon to set, you should remain informed about all rules that apply to setting.

Simple Rules for Volleyball

Volleyball is a sport where two teams face each other across a raised net and hit, or volley, a large ball back and forth to each other. Volleyball is governed by a set of official rules that ensure a fair match for each team. ...

Basic Rules in Volleyball

It is also a competitive sport that is played on various levels internationally, including the Olympics. It features speed, quickness, athletic ability, a talent for jumping, coordination and teamwork. In order to play the game...

Volleyball Terms & Rules

According to Volleyball.com, in 2009 there were more than 46 million Americans who played volleyball and more than 800 million players across the world that played at least one day a week. Furthermore, just knowing some of the ...

Volleyball Foot Rules

In the past, if the volleyball touched any part of your body below the waist it was considered a foul. In 1998, the rules changed to allow players to be able to hit the ball with any part of their body. This includes allowing t...

Volleyball Blocking Rules

It is usually performed at the net, within the attack zone. Players must follow several rules while blocking in order to avoid a violation and a free point to the other side.

Four Volleyball Rules

While traditional volleyball features six players per side, the fluid nature of the game allows for a reduction in the number of participants without a significant loss in quality of play. One common variation is four-on-four v...

Junior Volleyball Rules

Junior volleyball is played by boys and girls under the age of 18. Players from high school teams who dominate at their level may be given the opportunity to try out and play in national competitions for junior age-group teams....

Outdoor Volleyball Rules

Beach volleyball and grass volleyball are played by many of the same rules. Volleyball enthusiasts who do not have easy access to a gymnasium setting or who prefer the fresh air and sunshine of an outdoor court enjoy playing ou...

Collegiate Volleyball Rules

Collegiate volleyball is played by men and women as a varsity sport. It is a sport that is dependent on the rules. As an example: A team can dominate play and end a rally with a tremendous kill shot, but if the player's finger ...

Four-on-Four Volleyball Rules

The size of a team can refer to the number of players on the court or the number of members on the team roster, and team size affects the positioning and rotation of the players throughout the game. Although many rules are univ...

Basic Volleyball Rules for Six Players on a Side

The players try to score by hitting the ball to the opponent's court so that it hits the floor before the opponents can retrieve it. Players must also prevent the ball from hitting the floor on their side of the court. You can ...

Volleyball Rules for Boys

Volleyball is a competitive sport at the middle school, high school and college levels. As in any sport, players must follow the rules of the game. That includes knowing that they can't go over the top of the net to return a sh...

Grass Volleyball Rules

Grass volleyball is similar to beach volleyball in many ways and is played by many of the same rules. The game is popular among volleyball enthusiasts for whom a beach is not readily available, and among players who simply pref...

Basic Volleyball Rules & Statistics

It may look like a moving mass of mayhem, but volleyball players are actually operating under strict rules and trying to achieve specific goals. The object of the game, after all, is quite simple: Hit the ball into your opponen...

Rules for Women's Volleyball

Volleyball is a game of speed, quickness and precise movements. Players and coaches are charged with knowing the specific rules of the game and the correct way to bring substitutes into the game.

Rules of the First Game of Volleyball

William G. Morgan might have been a sports innovator, but he wasn't a picky man. After inventing volleyball in 1895, he wrote the first rules in 1897. The size of the court and the number of players were flexible, depending on ...

Pro Volleyball Rules

Professional volleyball is a sport played by highly trained and skilled athletes. Volleyball involves hitting the ball over the net and trying to place it in such a manner that your opponent cannot return the ball successfully ...

Volleyball Team Rules

There are two sets of sanctioned volleyball team rules for official competitive play in the United States: the USA Volleyball Domestic Competition Regulations and the slightly different team rules of the Federation Internationa...

Volleyball Officiating Rules

Without rules, a volleyball game is nothing more than a group of people hitting a ball over a net. Without someone to enforce and interpret those rules, chaos can ensue. That is why officials are so important to competitive vol...

Simplified Rules in Volleyball

This makes it a popular sport for recreational leagues and an easy sport to teach young children. Volleyball can be played without much effort put into learning the rules--the basics can often be explained in just a few minutes...

Recreation Volleyball Rules

Volleyball is played competitively and recreationally at many age levels. It features simple game rules for recreational play, helping players learn the fundamentals of the game easily. Volleyball is a popular recreational spor...

Water Volleyball Rules

Water volleyball is a fun game to play in the pool at parties, at your local swim club or with a group of friends. It involves the same rules as volleyball--hitting a ball over a net--except you are in a pool instead of on a ha...

Common Volleyball Rules

Easily transportable, all you need is a net, a ball and some space. This flexible sport can be played by individuals or a team of players. The official volleyball rules are long, but an abbreviated list of common rules is all y...

Elementary Volleyball Rules

Sand volleyball offers a soft surface that allows for diving with a low risk of injury. Both types of volleyball go by the same basic set of rules, and these rules are easy to learn.

Three Volleyball Rules

Volleyball is a simple game taught at youth levels and played all the way through professional and Olympic levels. It is a popular noncontact sport that is governed by fairly simple, easy-to-learn rules. The ease of learning th...

Volleyball Rules & Regulations

Volleyball is a game in which players hit a ball back and forth across a net. Like every sport, games must follow a formal set of rules that control many factors, including the number of players, equipment, size of the court an...

Official Volleyball Rules

William G. Morgan, an instructor at the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), wanted to create a sport that would be easier for the regular man to play, with less contact involved. Today, volleyball is a popular sport for ...

Co-Rec Volleyball Rules

Morgan at a Massachusetts YMCA as a recreational pastime that would demand less contact than basketball. Co-rec volleyball is played in intramural college, parks and recreation and community programs throughout the nation. Rule...

National Volleyball Rules

Volleyball is a popular team sport played throughout the United States. Volleyball in the U.S. follows the rules created by the International Federation of Volleyball, the governing body of international volleyball. Regardless ...

Co-Ed Volleyball Rules

Volleyball is popular team sport that can be played both competitively and for recreation. It is common for volleyball leagues to be co-ed, meaning teams with both male and female players. Rules for co-ed volleyball are the sam...

Simple Volleyball Rules

Volleyball is a team sport that can be played indoors or out, and is often played on sand at the beach. The game is played on a court that measures 29 feet, 6 inches wide by 59 feet long, according to Volleyball.com. The court ...

Rules on Volleyball Lifts

Volleyball is a net sport with two to six players on each team. Each team has three hits to get the ball over the net and onto the other side. Players can bump, spike or set the ball over the net. What players cannot do is "lif...

Volleyball Rules at School

Volleyball consists of two teams hitting a large ball back and forth across a raised net. Competitive games follow a basic set of rules that govern official game play, size of the court, equipment specifications and the number ...

Quick Volleyball Rules

Bikinis, sun tans and sports don't usually mix, but with the basic understanding of how to play volleyball, there is no reason why they can't. If you are not interested in tan lines, you can have just as much fun playing volley...

Volleyball Facts & Rules

According to Athleticscholarships.net, William G. Morgan invented volleyball in 1895. Morgan meant volleyball as a combination of other sports, including baseball, tennis, basketball and handball. Volleyball includes the hitt...

Rally Volleyball Rules

There are two prominent types of scoring systems in volleyball, the rally scoring system and the side-out scoring system. When volleyball was first created, the side-out system was the most effective way to score a match. Howev...

Changes to Volleyball Rules Since it Originated

Since its invention in 1895, the rules for volleyball have been altered numerous times. The game was created by YMCA physical education instructor William G. Morgan of Holyoke, Massachusetts, who named it "mintonette." The game...

Important Volleyball Rules

You may even be asked to join a game, so knowing a few of the more basic rules will help you figure out not only how to play, but even where to stand.

9-Man Volleyball Rules

Labor Day brings nine-man volleyball teams from throughout the United States and Canada together for the North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament (NACIVT). The rules for nine-man volleyball emerged in Asia afte...

Basic Volleyball Game Rules

Play volleyball in the gym, on the field and at the beach. This sport gives participants an opportunity to work as a team, take leadership roles and get some exercise. The annual rules of volleyball are published by USA Volleyb...

Volleyball Rules Using Your Feet

Is this a legal play? What about the situation where a player cannot reach the ball and slides like a soccer player to kick it to a teammate? Players, coaches and other teachers have varying opinions of what the rule is, yet th...

What Are the Rules for Playing Volleyball?

International volleyball is governed by the International Federation of Volleyball (FIVB). The FIVB creates and dictates all the rules in competitive volleyball. While there may be slight differences depending on discipline or ...