Volleyball: rules at-a-glance

Six players per side, three touches max, get the ball over the net. The rules of indoor volleyball in five minutes.

Field/court setup

Rectangular court divided by a net. Court is 18 × 9 meters. Net height is 7'4" at 12U, 7'11.625" at 13U+ for girls (8' for boys). Attack line 3 meters from the net.

Game length

Best of 5 sets. Sets played to 25 points (must win by 2). The deciding set (5th) is played to 15. No game clock — sets continue until someone wins.

Scoring basics

— Rally scoring: every play results in a point for one team.
— Point scored when the ball lands in bounds on the opponent's side, hits the floor, or the opponent commits an error.
— Sets played to 25 (deciding 5th set to 15), must win by 2.

Calls you'll see

— Net violation: player touches the net. Point to the opponent.
— Foot fault: player crosses the centerline under the net or steps over the service line. Point to the opponent.
— Double hit: same player hits the ball twice in a row (with one exception: first contact off a serve receive can be doubled).
— Carry/lift: ball is lifted or pushed rather than cleanly hit. Point to the opponent.
— Four hits: team uses more than 3 contacts before sending the ball over.
— Out of rotation: player serves out of order. Point to the opponent.
— Back-row attack: back-row player attacks the ball above the net while in front of the attack line.
— Service fault: serve goes out, hits the net, or doesn't cross.

Three things parents most often get wrong

— The libero is a defensive specialist who wears a different-colored jersey. Liberos cannot serve (in some rule sets they can in one rotation), cannot attack, and substitute freely with back-row players outside normal substitution rules.
— The block does not count as one of the three hits. After a block, the team has three more touches to send the ball over.
— Three touches is the max, not the requirement. A team can return the ball on one or two touches if they choose.

A few specifics.

Position rotation. Players rotate clockwise after winning a sideout (winning the right to serve). Each player serves until the team loses the rally. Rotation order matters; serving out of rotation is a violation.

Six positions on the court. Three at the net (front row): outside hitter, middle blocker, opposite hitter. Three in the back row: setter, defensive specialists, libero (when in the back row). Setters can play in front or back row depending on rotation.

Beach volleyball. Played 2v2 on sand. Different scoring (typically best-of-3 sets to 21). Different rules (no specialized positions, every player must do everything). Now an NCAA sport with growing scholarship opportunity.

Net height by age and gender.

12U girls and boys: 7’4”
13U-14U girls: 7’4 1/8”; boys: 7’11 5/8”
15U+ girls: 7’4 1/8”; boys: 7’11 5/8”

Tournament format. Most club volleyball tournaments are pool play in the morning followed by bracket play in the afternoon. Long days; pack snacks.

The shoulder. Volleyball involves more overhead motion than any other youth sport. The body hub on growth plates and shoulder care applies directly. Year-round play without a real off-season is the path to chronic shoulder issues.

Last updated April 2026.