Volleyball rules for beginners

The goal of the game

Two teams are separated by a net. Each team tries to send the ball over the net and make it touch the floor on the other side, while keeping the ball from touching the floor on its own side. Each time a team wins a rally, it scores a point. The first team to reach the target score wins a set, and the team that wins enough sets wins the match.

How a rally works

Every rally starts with a serve. The server stands behind the end line and hits the ball over the net to the other team. After that, the teams volley the ball back and forth until it hits the floor, goes out of bounds, or someone makes a mistake.

• A ball that lands on a boundary line is in.
• A team may touch the ball up to three times before it must go over the net. A typical sequence is a pass, a set and an attack.
• The same player may not hit the ball twice in a row, with a few exceptions such as a block touch. Your league or coach can explain the details.
• The ball must be hit cleanly. Catching, holding or throwing it is a fault, and so is pushing or lifting it so that it visibly comes to rest.

Scoring and winning

Volleyball uses rally scoring: a point is awarded at the end of every rally, no matter who served. If the serving team wins the rally, it scores and the same player serves again. If the receiving team wins, it scores a point, earns the right to serve (a side-out) and rotates.

In standard indoor rules, sets are played to 25 points and a team must win by two. A match is usually best of three or best of five sets, and a deciding final set is often shorter (commonly to 15). Youth leagues often change these numbers, so check the format with your league and age group.

Rotation

Six players are on the court for each team in standard indoor rules, three in the front row at the net and three in the back row. Each time a team earns the serve back, its players rotate one spot clockwise. Because of this, every player takes a turn serving and playing both front and back row. Teams must be in rotation order at the moment the ball is served (players may move to their usual spots right after), and a rotation mistake gives the point and the serve to the other team.

Common faults

• Net fault: touching the net during play in a way that interferes with the play.
• Foot fault: stepping on or over the end line (or into the court) while serving.
• Four hits: a team uses more than three touches.
• Double contact: one player hits the ball twice in a row.
• Out of rotation: players are not in the proper order when the ball is served.
• Back-row attack: in standard rules, a back-row player hits the ball over the net while the ball is above the top of the net and the player is in front of the attack line. Back-row players also may not block.

Beginners make many of these mistakes while learning, and referees at young ages are often lenient. Do not worry if a call surprises you. For the lingo, see volleyball terms for new parents, and for who stands where, see volleyball positions explained.

What changes in youth volleyball

Younger divisions often adapt the game so more rallies last longer. Net height (which often differs by age and between girls' and boys' or women's and men's play), court size, ball type, serving rules and set lengths all vary by league and age group, and some beginner programs allow underhand serves or tossing the ball to start a rally. Ask your league for its rules sheet so you know what to expect. The hub page at BlackForge volleyball guides collects our other volleyball guides.

Watching your first match

The easiest way to follow a match is to watch the ball and count the touches. Listen for the first contact, usually a pass, then the set, then the attack. Notice who wins each rally and whether the serve changes sides. Do not worry about catching every fault. Referees and coaches handle the rules, and your job is to cheer for good effort. After a few matches, the rhythm of serve, pass, set and attack will feel natural, and you will start to anticipate what comes next.

It also helps to ask your child to explain one rule after each match. Kids are often proud to teach their parents, and the habit keeps you learning together as the season goes on.