Volleyball
OFFICIALS,
RULES,AND
REGULATION
Rules and Regulation: B
ASICS
Each team is composed of six players
– Three players in the front row and
three players in the back row.
Rules and Regulation: B
ASICS
The game begins with a serve – The
serve comes from behind the end line
on the volleyball court.
Rules and
Regulation: B A
SICS
Each team gets three
touches – Each team is
allowed to touch the ball
three times before it must
return to the other side of
the net. If contact is made
for a fourth time, the play is
dead and the other team
will receive a point. Teams
CAN hit it less than three
times if they wish to do so.
Rules and Regulation: B
ASICS
Hit the floor to score – Points are
scored when the volleyball lands “in”,
on the opposing team’s side of the
court (“in” means that the ball
traveled over the net and landed
within the court of play).
Rules and Regulation: B
ASICS
The line is “in” – If the ball hits the
court boundary, it is considered to be
“in”.
Rules and Regulation: B
ASICS
Points are also scored when the
opposing team hits the ball “out”. The
ball is considered “out” if it lands out of
the court boundaries, hits the antenna,
or makes contact with the ceiling.
Rules and Regulation: B
ASICS
You can play the ball off of the net – If
the ball is driven off of the net, you can
continue to play it as long as it is
within your team’s three contacts.
Rules and Regulation: B
ASICS
If the team that served wins the
point, they will continue to serve. If
they lose the point, the opposing
team will become the servers.
Rules and Regulation: B
ASICS
Teams rotate clockwise when they
become the servers – This means that
one front row player will become a
back row player and vice versa.
Rules and
Regulation: B A
SICS
A standard volleyball match
consists of best of-five sets.
Each of the first four sets is
played to 25 points, with the
winning teamneeding to
achieve a two-point advantage.
If the score reaches 24-24, play
continues until one team gains
a two-point lead. The fifth
anddeciding set (if necessary)
is played to 15points, also with a
two-point advantage required
to win.
Rules and Regulation: C
OURTVIOLATIONS
Individual players cannot hit the ball
two consecutive times.
Rules and Regulation: C
OURTVIOLATIONS
Contact must be instantaneous –
Players cannot catch or hold the
volleyball.
Rules and Regulation: C
OURTVIOLATIONS
Double hit – hitting the ball twice
during the same action. You can only
double hit if it occurs during the
team’s first contact (during serve
receive or after an opponents attack).
Rules and Regulation: C
OURTVIOLATIONS
Players cannot assist a teammate
with hitting the ball – This means that
you can’t help a teammate by
throwing them into the air or allowing
them to jump off of your back in an
effort to hit the volleyball.
Rules and
Regulation: C O
URTVIOLATIONS
Under the net violation –
Players cannot cross the
center line inside the court of
play. This is a tricky one
because thereare certain
rules surrounding an “under”
violation. The rule states that
your entirefoot needs to be
under the net (meaningyour
whole body can be over the
line aslong as your foot isn’t
and you aren’t effecting the
play) but it is ultimately upto
the referees discretion.
Rules and Regulation: C
OURTVIOLATIONS
Out of rotation – This can occur if you
serve out of rotation as well as if you
are not in rotation during the opposing
team’s serve.
Rules and Regulation: C
OURTVIOLATIONS
Back row attack – This is when a
player attacks the ball over the net
while they are in the back row
(according to their rotation).
Rules and Regulation: C
OURTVIOLATIONS
Libero cannot:
Attack the ball over the net
regardless of where they are
on the court.
Overhand set a front row attack
while they are standing
in front of the ten foot line.
Block. Ever.
Rules and Regulation: N E
TVIOLATIONS
You cannot block a serve – You must
allow the opposing team’s serve to
come over the net. Blocking the serve
is illegal and will result in a point for
the serving team.
Rules and Regulation: N E
TVIOLATIONS
Over the net violation – You cannot
penetrate the net unless the opposing
team is attacking. This means that
you are not allowed to block a set
from the opposing team
Rules and Regulation: N E
TVIOLATIONS
The ball must be inside the antenna –
If you hit the ball outside of the
antenna (or if it hits the antenna) it is
considered to be out of play
regardless of where it lands.
Rules and Regulation: N E
TVIOLATIONS
Net violation – You cannot make
contact with the top of the net during
an action such as an attack or block.
You CAN make contact with the net if
it does not effect the play (referee’s
discretion).
Rules and Regulation: N E
TVIOLATIONS
Screening – You cannot create a wall
of players to “screen” the opposing
team while you are serving.
Rules and Regulation: S
UBSTITUTIONS
How many substitutions are allowed in
volleyball?
Volleyball substitution rules vary
significantly depending on the level of
play.
Rules and Regulation: S
UBSTITUTIONS
How many substitutions are allowed in
volleyball?
Volleyball substitution rules vary
significantly depending on the level of
play.
Rules and Regulation: S
UBSTITUTIONS
High school and collegiate volleyball:
15 substitutions are allowed in each set.
With this many subbing options, teams
frequently replace bigger hitters and
blockers in the back row with players
whose strengths are passing and
defense.
Rules and Regulation: S
UBSTITUTIONS
Club volleyball:
12 substitutions per set. That’s still a lot of
subbing options, coaches have to be
somewhat selective — especially when
running a 6-2 offense, where you replace a
front-row setter with an opposite.
Rules and Regulation: S
UBSTITUTIONS
International volleyball
Six substitutions per set. At the highest level of the game,
players have to be well-rounded because six substitutions
per set doesn’t allow for much specialization.
Rules and Regulation: S
UBSTITUTIONS
How does a sub enter a match?
To sub into a match, a player on the bench gets up and
enters the substitution zone — a space outside the court
but inside the 10-foot line. If a second player is entering
the match at the same time,
she/he stands outside the court but behind the 10- foot
line. After the first player goes in, the second player goes
to where the first sub was standing, then enters the court.
Rules and Regulation: S
UBSTITUTIONS
How many substitutions are allowed in volleyball?
Any player except the libero can sub in for anyone in
the match, but once they have subbed in or out for a
player at a certain position, they can only sub in
again for that same player at the same position for
the rest of the set.
Rules and Regulation: S
UBSTITUTIONS
For example, if #7 comes off the bench to replace #1, the only way #1
can get back in the match is to replace #7 at her original position.
Otherwise, #1 would be penalized as an illegal substitute.
The exception to this rule is for libero substitution. Liberos can only go
in for back-row players, but they can enter the match as often as
they like, as long as it’s between points. A libero substitution doesn’t
count as a team substitution.
Rules and Regulation: O
FFICIALS
1. First Referee (R1):
Positioned on an elevated stand at one end of the net.
Has the final authority over all decisions.
Controls the flow of the game, signals for points,
substitutions, time-outs, and misconduct.
Makes judgment calls on faults like touches, net
violations, and carries.
Rules and Regulation: O
FFICIALS
2. Second Referee (R2):
Stands at floor level, opposite R1, facing the scorer's
table.
Primarily responsible for monitoring the actions under
the net and signaling for center line and foot fault
violations.
Assists R1 in managing substitutions and time outs.
Oversees the conduct of the teams and their benches.
Rules and Regulation: O
FFICIALS
3. Line Judges (2):
Positioned at opposite corners of the court.
Watch for ball in/out situations along the sidelines and
end lines.
Signal touches on block attempts or if the ball lands
on the line.
Help R1 and R2 monitor for other faults along their
respective lines.
Rules and Regulation: C
ARDS
Yellow Card: Warning for unsportsmanlike behavior or
misconduct. This could be for arguing with the referee,
delaying the game, or showing disrespect towards
opponents or officials.
Consequence: No immediate penalty, but a second yellow
card results in a red card.
Rules and Regulation: C
ARDS
Red Card: Penalty for serious misconduct or repeated
unsportsmanlike behavior. This can be given for persistent
arguing, offensive language, or aggressive behavior.
Consequence: The player is disqualified from the set in
progress and must leave the playing area. The team loses
the rally, and the opponent receives a point.
Rules and Regulation: C
ARDS
Yellow and Red Card Held Simultaneously: Disqualification
and expulsion for severe misconduct, including physical
violence, threatening behavior, or extreme
unsportsmanlike conduct.
Consequence: The player is expelled from the entire match
and must leave the venue. The team loses the rally and the
opponent receives a point. Depending on the tournament
rules, further sanctions may apply.
Move the hand to
indicate the direction
of service.
Extend the arm to the
side of the team that will
serve.
Raise the forearms front and
back, and twist them around
the body.
Place the palm of one hand over the
fingers of the other, held vertically
(forming a “T”), and then indicate
the requesting team.
Circular motion of the
forearms around each
other
Show a yellow card
for a warning; red
card for a penalty.
Show both
cards jointly for
explosion.
Show red and yellow
cards separately for
disqualification.
Cross the forearms in
front of the chest,
hands open.
Lift the extended arm,
the palm of hte hand
facing upward.
Raise eight
fingers, spread
open.
Raise both arms
vertically, palms
forward.
Make a circular motion
with the forefinger.
Point the arm and
fingers toward the
floor.
Raise the
forearms
vertically, hands
open, palms
toward the body.
Slowly lift the
forearm, palm of the
hand facing upward.
Raise two
fingers, spread
open.
Raise four
fingers, spread
open.
Indicate the
respective
side of the net
Place a hand above the
net, palm facing
downward
Make a downward motion with the
forearm, hand open.
Point to the center
line or to the
respective line.
Raise both thumbs
vertically.
Brush with the palm of one hand the
fingers of the other; held vertically;
USAV: Brush fingers of opposite hand
once over palm of vertical hand.
Cover the wrist with a yellow
card (warning) and with a red
card (penalty).
Lines: Point
down with
flag
Lines: Raise
flag vertically.
Lines: Raise flag and
touch the top with the
palm of the free hand.
Lines: Wave flag over the head
and point to the antenna or the
respective line.
Raise and cross both
arms and hands in front
of the chest.
