2012 S2-08 S&W Blog: Volleyball Basic Rules

Hello All,

Of the 6 players 3 are to the front and 3 to the back, with the back player at the left being the server.

Serve from behind the back line.
The volleyball must be served with the hand.
The serve is allowed to clip the net on the way over, but must not touch the antenna nor pass over or outside the antenna.
Once the ball has been served, any player can move anywhere on court and even chase the ball out of court if needed.
If the serve is going out leave it to hit the floor - if you touch it before it lands then you must play the ball back.

Hitting the ball

The ball may be hit with any part of the body (hand, head, chest, even the foot! . . .) with the exception of the serve which must to be hit with the hand.
The hit has to be clean - no scoops, catch-and-rethrows, dunks etc.
Your team have up to 3 touches to return the ball over the net - although it can be returned by the 1st or 2nd touch.
A player mustn't have 2 consecutive hits - but having the 1st and 3rd hit is OK.

Players must not touch the top of the net.
The only part of a player's body that is allowed to land on the opponent's court is the foot, and then only if part of it is above the centre line.
The ball mustn't touch the roof, walls or posts.
The ball CAN touch the net on the way over providing it does not touch the antenna.
The ball is allowed to go into the net and bounce out - the rally continues and this does not count as one of the 3 touches.
If the ball touches the court floor on the opposite side your team wins the point.
If the ball touches one of the opposition players and then the floor/wall your team wins a point.
If one of your players hits the ball out of court, the others can chase the ball and hit it back into court or over the net.
If the other team hits the ball more than 3 times, your team wins a point.

Blocking

Blocking = jumping at the net with the arms outstretched to stop the ball coming over the net.
Remember, players mustn't touch the net.
Blocking a serve isn't allowed.
A back court player mustn't take part in a block - even if they don't touch the ball.
A block does not count as a regular hit - so your team still have 3 more hits, also if you block then you ARE also allowed to make the 1st hit.

Attack = whilst in the attack zone, hitting the ball from above the height of the net towards the other side
A back court player is not allowed to attack.
A back court player IS allowed to hit the ball from BELOW the height of the net whilst in the attack zone.
A back court player IS allowed to hit the ball from above the height of the net whilst in the DEFENCE zone.
If PART of the ball is over the net then it's OK to attack the ball (even if it's mostly on the other side).
If ALL of the ball is on the other side of the net then the only shot that can be played is a block (ie not a hit).

Every time your team wins the serve from the other team all your players rotate their position on court - clockwise.
If you loose the serve your team doesn't rotate.
If you keep the serve your team doesn't rotate.

Up to 6 substitutions per set
Substitutions take place before the serve
Once player A has replaced player B then player B can only be substituted by player A

The winner is the 1st team to reach 25 points (by 2 clear points)
If you serve and get the point you keep the serve, if you don't get the point, the other team gets the serve AND also a point. (ie the score changes EVERY time there is a serve)
Note: if the opposition only need one point to win and you mess up a serve, they win without even touching the ball.