Rules & Scoring
Rally point scoring, set and match format, the rotation rule, and the common faults every player and fan should recognize.
7 articles
Rules & Scoring
Rally Point Scoring Explained
Every rally awards exactly one point to the team that wins it, whether or not that team served — the system that has governed every set of top-level volleyball since 1999.
July 25, 2026 · 2 min read
Rules & Scoring
Sets and Match Format
Indoor matches are won by the first team to take three of five sets, each played to 25 points (15 in the decider); beach matches are won two sets of three, each played to 21 (15 in the decider) — always by a two-point margin.
July 22, 2026 · 2 min read
Rules & Scoring
The Rotation Rule
Every time a team wins the right to serve after not having served the previous rally, its six players rotate one position clockwise — the mechanism that forces every player to eventually serve and to play both front row and back row.
July 19, 2026 · 2 min read
Rules & Scoring
Net Touches and Foot Faults
Touching the net during play and stepping over the end line while serving are two of the most common faults called in volleyball — both result in an immediate loss of the rally.
July 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Rules & Scoring
Carrying, Lifting and Double Contact
A carry (or lift) happens when a player's contact with the ball is too prolonged rather than a clean strike; a double contact happens when the same player touches the ball twice in a row — both are faults, with one important exception.
July 13, 2026 · 2 min read
Rules & Scoring
The Four-Hit Rule and the Back-Row Attack Rule
A team may touch the ball at most three times before sending it back over the net (a block does not count), and a back-row player may only attack a ball above net height while jumping from behind the three-meter attack line.
July 10, 2026 · 2 min read
Rules & Scoring
Libero Rules, Timeouts and Substitutions
The libero is a defensive specialist who plays under special substitution rules and cannot attack or block, while each team gets two 30-second timeouts and up to six regular substitutions per set.
July 7, 2026 · 2 min read