Developed in 1895 by American educator William G. Morgan, volleyball was created as an alternative to basketball. Designed to be played by businessmen, the sport was originally called ‘mintonette,’ which was later renamed to suit its ‘volley’ play style.

Now more popular than ever, volleyball has become more global since its conception in the late 19th century, with a steady increase in participation. Second only to track and field, the number of female athletes in volleyball totaled over 470,000 in the US between 2022 and 2023, making it one of the nation’s fastest-growing female sports.

Amidst growing popularity, avid enthusiasts must understand the basic rules of play to become successful at the sport. This article will answer fundamental questions about what the rules of volleyball are, and debunk common misconceptions.

What are the Rules in Volleyball?

Volleyball has several core conventions, varying depending on the level of play; let’s start with team composition and volleyball court dimensions.

The Court

A standard volleyball court is 18m long and 9m wide. The court is split in two by a net, each side having a front and backcourt – distinguished by an “attack line” or 3-meter line.

Players and Positions

Each side has six players – three positioned on the front of the court and three behind the 3-meter line. Upon determining which side is serving (usually decided by a coin toss), a server looks to initiate a rally by hitting the ball over the net from the baseline to the opposing team’s side of the court.

The Setter

Normally, each time will have a designated “setter” who is most skilled at setting the ball to players for an ideal spike or hit over the net to the opposing team.

The Libero

Likewise, teams will often designate a libero, who is the player most skilled at receiving the opposing team’s spikes or hits over the net. They are often the first player to touch the ball after receiving it from the opposing team.

Rallies

Once received, players will attempt a bump (pass) using their forearm to direct the ball to a teammate – strategic timing is key here, with only three passes available per side before the ball must be returned to the opposite team – starting a rally of defense and attack.

Points and Scoring

When a team scores, they get to serve. Points are awarded if an opposing team cannot return the ball after a legal shot or if they fault, for example, with an out-of-bounds play or if they touch the net.

Every time a service is won, players must rotate clockwise around the court, with each player only being able to score from their respective side of the 3-meter line and executing a single nonsuccessive hit to pass.

Faults

During a serve, the serving player must hit the ball behind the service line and cannot step over it

Players cannot catch the ball

There is a legal “set” move which looks as though a players hold the ball momentarily before pushing the ball forward with their hands

Players cannot throw the ball

When a player hits a ball out of bounds, the opposing team is awarded a point and the service

However, stepping out of bounds to hit the ball is allowed

Players cannot touch the net with any part of their body

The ball, however, may touch the net

Referees may also fault a player for unsportsmanlike conduct such as swearing during a match, taunting the other team, etc.

To learn more about volleyball, explore our video courses on the ISNation app, by volleyball coach Lucy Grenda.

How Many Sets are in Olympic Volleyball?

At the Olympics, matches consist of the best of five sets, each with a 25-point total. If both teams are tied at two sets each, a fifth and final set is played, with teams contesting for 15 points. In this conclusive set, teams must have a two-point lead over their opponents to win the match.

Due to there being no maximum score a team can achieve in the fifth set, games can be lengthy, taking up to a couple of hours of play. The longest-recorded volleyball game in history stands at 85 hours, with 338 sets and 14,635 points played by the SVU Volleyball team members in the Netherlands.

Can You Touch the Net in Volleyball?

Touching the net is an automatic fault and a rule violation when a rally has started, leading to an opposing point being awarded.

However, there are exceptions: a player’s hair brushes the net, the net is touched outside the antenna, and a point is won before the net is touched – for instance, a powerful hit causes a player to land into the net just after a score.

It is also legal to touch the net when not in play, such as when changing positions on the court.

Can You Use Your Feet in Volleyball?

Commonly misinterpreted as a foul, players can return the ball utilizing their entire body, including their feet, as long as the ball does not rest upon impact.

Feet can be used to pass to a teammate or return fast shots that require quick reaction times.

While using a foot in volleyball can be opportunistic, these shots are not for the faint-hearted, requiring players to have skill, precision, and control. A poorly controlled footshot could lead to a point for the opposing team if handled incorrectly.

Learning More About Volleyball Rules and Tips

The rules of volleyball can often be confusing, especially for beginners wanting to get into the sport. For novices and experienced players, this article has provided a useful guide to the fundamentals of volleyball, shedding light on its origins, crucial rules to follow and disproving some common conceptions about the rules of play.

If you want to learn more about volleyball, check out our courses on the ISNation App.

You can learn about:

How to Balance Life and Volleyball with Assistant Varsity Coach for Westfield High School, Lucy Grenda

The Power of Words by Shedrick Elliott III, Head Coach at Rowan University.

Developing strength and conditioning with the owner of Resistance Fitness and three-time US Lacrosse gold medalist Kelly Berger.

That’s not all; the app also provides free mental wellness content for athletes, coaches, and parents to help you be the best you can be, in and out of your sport.