Rules of the game
Net heights, court dimensions, faults and referee signals: the rules explained.
Volleyball rules: all the rules of the game at a glance (2026)
All the volleyball rules in one place: scoring, sets, rotation, positions, net faults, substitutions and the libero.
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How high does a volleyball net hang? All net heights
How high does a volleyball net hang? All the official net heights in one place: men 2.43 m, women 2.24 m, plus the USA Volleyball and NFHS youth heights and beach volleyball.
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Dimensions of a volleyball court: all the lines and zones
All the dimensions of a volleyball court explained: 18 by 9 meters, the three-meter line, the service zone, the free zone and what each line means for the game.
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How many sets does a volleyball match have (and to how many points)?
How many sets does a volleyball match have? Best-of-five to 25 points, the fifth set to 15 and always a 2-point margin — the set format fully explained.
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Position numbers 1 to 6 in volleyball: who stands where?
Position numbers 1 to 6 in volleyball explained: who stands where on the court, how the rotation turns and what the numbers mean for your lineup.
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May a back-row player attack? The three-meter-line rules
May a back-row player attack in volleyball? Yes — but with rules: take off behind the three-meter line and never block.
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Net fault in volleyball: when is touching the net a fault?
When is touching the net a fault in volleyball? The net-fault rules explained: net contact during the action, the center line, the antennas and what is simply allowed.
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Double contact, carried ball and more technical faults explained
Double contact, carried ball, four touches: all the technical faults in volleyball explained, with the exceptions many coaches do not know.
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Referee hand signals in volleyball: all the signals explained
All the referee hand signals in volleyball explained: from serve and point to net fault, double contact and rotation fault.
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Indoor volleyball vs beach volleyball: the most important differences
Indoor and beach volleyball differ in more than just sand: court, scoring, number of players, block rules and technique — all the differences in one place.
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How Many Seconds Do You Have to Serve in Volleyball?
Eight seconds, counted from the referee's whistle rather than from your toss.
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Can You Step on the Line When Serving in Volleyball?
Can you step on the line when serving in volleyball? No.
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Can a Libero Be Team Captain? How That Rule Works Now
Since the rule was revised the libero can be team captain, but there is one practical catch the moment the libero leaves the court.
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What If the Ball Goes Outside the Antenna in Volleyball?
Usually the ball is out the moment it passes outside the antenna, but in one situation you are still allowed to bring it back around.
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Can a Back Row Player Block in Volleyball? The Setter's Trap
Can a back row player block in volleyball? No, but only a block that touches the ball is a fault.
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What Happens If You Serve Out of Order in Volleyball?
What happens if you serve out of order in volleyball? Point and serve to the opponent, and every point you scored after the fault can be wiped off the board.
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Can You Play Volleyball With 5 Players? What the Rules Say
Can you play volleyball with 5 players? Officially not: your team is declared incomplete.
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What Happens If the Ball Hits the Ceiling in Volleyball?
What happens if the ball hits the ceiling in volleyball? Officially the ball is out.
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What Is a Joust in Volleyball? The Ball Above the Net
Two players push against the ball above the net at the same time: that is a joust.
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What Happens If a Volleyball Player Gets Injured Mid-Match?
What happens if a player gets injured during a volleyball match? Three minutes of recovery time, the exceptional substitution, and the rules with no sub left.
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Can a Libero Set the Ball Overhand? The Front-Zone Rule
Can a libero set the ball overhand? Yes — but if they do it in the front zone, their team-mate may not attack that ball above net height.
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Does a Block Count as a Hit in Volleyball?
Does a block count as one of the three hits? No: after a block touch your team still has three full contacts.
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Can You Block a Serve in Volleyball? And Can You Spike It?
Can you block a serve in volleyball? Never.
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Does a Serve That Hits the Net Count in Volleyball?
A serve that clips the net and still goes over: valid or not? Since 2000 the net serve simply counts.
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Can You Kick the Ball in Volleyball? The Feet Rule
Yes, and you have been allowed to since 1995: any part of the body may touch the ball.
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Is the Line In or Out in Volleyball? The Ball on the Line
Is the line in or out in volleyball? In: the lines are part of the court.
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Can You Reach Over the Net in Volleyball? Block vs Attack
Can you reach over the net in volleyball? On the block yes, on the attack never.
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What Does a Yellow Card Mean in Volleyball? Card Sanctions
What does a yellow card mean in volleyball? A formal warning with no loss of points.
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Can the Libero Serve in Volleyball? The League Decides
Can the libero serve in volleyball? Not under the FIVB rules, so not in international play.
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Can a Libero Spike the Ball or Block in Volleyball?
Can a libero spike the ball or block? Blocking never, attacking only when the ball is not entirely above the net.
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How long does a volleyball match last? Plan your day
How long does a volleyball match last? Ninety minutes to two hours of play, but two and a half hours door to door.
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Refereeing volleyball: your first match, step by step
Refereeing volleyball: the rules you really need, the plan from thirty minutes before the toss to after the last ball, and what to say when a captain protests.
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Becoming a volleyball referee: the three routes
Becoming a volleyball referee: what you may officiate without a qualification, how your federation's entry course works and how to share the duties out fairly.
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New volleyball rules 2026: what has actually changed
New volleyball rules 2026: the six real changes from the FIVB 2025-2028 cycle, what is only being called differently, and what your team has to do about it.
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How many times can you touch the ball in volleyball?
How many times can you touch the ball in volleyball? Three per team and never twice in a row by the same player, plus the four exceptions.
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How many challenges in volleyball, and when to use one
How many challenges you get per set in volleyball, which decisions can be reviewed and when one is worth spending.
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The coaching zone: what are you allowed to do?
The volleyball coaching zone: where you may stand, when you sit, how to request a time-out or a substitution, and why only your captain speaks to the referee.
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4v4 beach volleyball rules: what changes on the sand
The rules of 4v4 beach volleyball: court, contacts after the block, setting, serving order and switching ends, plus what to ask at every tournament desk.
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Second referee duties in volleyball: step by step
All the second referee's duties in volleyball, in the order of your shift: net check, lineup sheets, allowing and counting substitutions, and time-outs.
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Mixed volleyball rules: three men and three women, alternating
Mixed volleyball rules in a row: men and women alternating in the rotation, the compulsory women's touch on two or more contacts, the net height and substituting.
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