Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 Notes

PART 1: PHILOSOPHY OF RULES AND REFEREEING

  • Volleyball is presented as one of the world’s top sports by many metrics: federations, TV figures, social media followers, registered players, etc.
  • Core elements retained over time (shared with other net/ball/racquet games): service, rotation, attack, defense, net play, ability to play at the net and in the back court.
  • Advancements to attract modern audiences in recent years: liberalising ball handling criteria, introduction of up to two specialist defensive players (Libero), technology (Video Challenge System), and policies promoting flowing play for spectator entertainment.
  • The Rules Text aims at a broad volleyball public (players, coaches, referees, spectators, commentators) to enable better play and satisfaction: better team structure and tactics, and clearer alignment between written rules and on-court actions.
  • Volleyball’s dual nature: recreational (fun, healthy living) and competitive (ability, creativity, fighting spirit).
  • Key framing idea: rules are designed to allow both the enjoyment and the competitive integrity of the game to flourish.

THE REFEREE WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK

  • The essence of a good referee is fairness, justice, and consistency; the referee is positioned centered between the two playing courts as a symbol of balance.
  • The referee should be a facilitator, not a controller; an orchestra director and promoter of fair play rather than a punitive overlord.
  • By understanding why rules exist (the purpose behind each rule) and aligning decisions with the show-like nature of the game, the referee contributes to a positive, fulfilling competition.
  • The rules should be viewed as a current state of development of a great game; involvement, understanding of the game, and engagement are encouraged.

PART 2: SECTION 1: GAME

  • CHAPTER 1: FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

    • 1 PLAYING AREA includes the playing court plus free zone; rectangular and symmetrical.
    • 1.1 DIMENSIONS: the playing court is 18 m x 9 m; free zone minimum width around the court is 3 m on all sides; the free space above the playing area must be clear to a minimum height of 7 m.
    • For FIVB, World and Official Competitions: free zone measurements are 5 m from side lines and 6.5 m from end lines; free zone height minimum is 12.5 m.
    • 1.2 PLAYING SURFACE: surface must be flat, horizontal, uniform; indoor surfaces must be light-colored; lines must be white and clearly distinguishable; outdoor court slope permitted at 5 mm per metre for drainage; court lines cannot be solid materials; surface approval required by FIVB.
    • 1.3 LINES ON THE COURT: lines are 5 cm wide, light color distinct from floor and other lines; boundary lines are drawn inside the court; centre line divides into two 9 m x 9 m courts; attack line behind the centre line axis with specific extensions for FIVB competitions (broken lines, short segments, spacing).
    • 1.4 ZONES AND AREAS: Front zone, Attack line, Service zone, Substitution zone, Libero Replacement zone, Warm-up area; front zone extension considerations for the sides and free zone; service zone dimensions and extension details; substitution and Libero replacement zones defined.
    • 1.5 TEMPERATURE: minimum 10°C (50°F); maximum temperature determined by the match’s Technical Delegate for FIVB/official events.
    • 1.6 LIGHTING: general minimum of 300 lux; for FIVB/World/Official competitions, lighting not less than 2000 lux measured 1 m above the surface.

  • CHAPTER 2: NET AND POSTS

    • 2.1 HEIGHT OF THE NET: top of the net is at 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women, measured from the center of the playing court; heights must be equal on both sides and not exceed official height by more than 2 cm.
    • 2.2 STRUCTURE: net is 1 m wide; length 9.50–10 m with side extensions; 10 cm square black mesh; top band (7 cm) and bottom band (5 cm) with cords and a central cable to tauten the net; horizontal bands at top and bottom with attachment hardware.
    • 2.3 SIDE BANDS: white bands above each side line, 5 cm wide, 1 m long; considered part of the net.
    • 2.4 ANTENNAE: 1.80 m long fiberglass rods at outer edges of each side band; top 80 cm above the net marked with contrasting color stripes; delimit crossing space.
    • 2.5 POSTS: placed 0.50–1.00 m outside the side lines (or 1 m in official competitions) and padded; height ~2.55 m; must be rounded and fixed to ground without wires.
    • 2.6 ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: other equipment as determined by FIVB regulations.

  • CHAPTER 3: BALLS

    • 3.1 STANDARDS: spherical ball of leather or synthetic leather with bladder; circumference C:65extcmextto67extcmC: 65 ext{ cm} ext{ to } 67 ext{ cm}; weight W:260extgextto280extgW: 260 ext{ g} ext{ to } 280 ext{ g}; inside pressure P:0.30extto0.325extkg/cm2P: 0.30 ext{ to } 0.325 ext{ kg/cm}^2 (equivalently 4.26extto4.61extpsi4.26 ext{ to } 4.61 ext{ psi}); color and surface as per FIVB standards.
    • 3.2 UNIFORMITY OF BALLS: all balls in a match must match in circumference, weight, pressure, type, color, etc.
    • 3.3 BALL RETRIEVAL SYSTEM: for FIVB/World/Official competitions, five balls are used; six ball retrievers stationed at court corners and behind each referee.

  • CHAPTER 2: PARTICIPANTS

    • 4 TEAMS
    • 4.1 TEAM COMPOSITION: up to 12 players plus coaching staff (one coach, up to two assistant coaches) and medical staff (one team therapist, one medical doctor); those listed on the score sheet may enter the Control Area and participate in warm-up and match; for seniors in FIVB/World/Official comps: up to 14 players may be recorded on the score sheet and play; maximum five staff on bench (including coach) chosen by coach and listed on score sheet; team manager or journalist may not sit on bench in Control Area; medical staff must be part of official delegation; medical staff may be seated outside bench but inside competition control area or as per the Specific Competition Handbook if not listed on bench; team therapist may assist during warm-up until official net warm-up; events have a Specific Competition Handbook.
    • 4.1.2 One player is the team captain, who shall be indicated on the score sheet.
    • 4.1.3 Only players on the score sheet may enter court and play; after coach and captain sign the score sheet, no changes to roster can be made.
    • 4.2 LOCATION OF THE TEAM: players not in play sit on bench or warm-up area; coaches sit on bench; benches are beside scorer’s table outside the free zone; players not in play may warm up without balls in specified manners; warm-up rules during time-outs and set intervals.
    • 4.3 EQUIPMENT: uniform components (jerseys, shorts, socks) must be uniform within team (except Libero); shoes must be light with non-heell soles; jerseys numbered 1–20, front and back; numbers must be visible and comply with size rules; captain’s jersey must include an 8 x 2 cm stripe underlining the chest number; players must not wear disallowed objects; glasses may be worn at own risk; compression pads allowed if color-consistent with uniform.
    • 4.4 CHANGE OF EQUIPMENT: coach authorization for barefoot play, uniform changes when damaged, or training-suit play if same color/design and numbered accordingly.
    • 4.5 FORBIDDEN OBJECTS: no dangerous objects; glasses allowed at own risk; padded protection devices allowed if same color as uniform or neutral colors used by all players.
    • 5 TEAM LEADERS: captain and coach responsible for team conduct; Libero can be team or game captain.
    • 5.1 CAPTAIN: roles before and during match; signs the score sheet; can protest through the game captain; may authorize changes to equipment and verify positions; end-of-match duties include thanking referees and ratifying results, and may file an official protest if notified in due time.
    • 5.2 COACH: directs play from outside the court; selects starting line-ups and substitutions; communicates with 2nd referee; signs and checks lineup pre-match; during match, provides line-up sheets; may give on-court instructions within allowed zones and without delay.
    • 5.3 ASSISTANT COACH: sits on the team bench with no on-court intervention right; may assume coach’s duties if the coach is absent (with referee confirmation).

  • CHAPTER 3: PLAYING FORMAT

    • 6 TO SCORE A POINT, TO WIN A SET AND THE MATCH
    • 6.1 TO SCORE A POINT
      • A point is awarded for: landing the ball on opponent court; opponent fault; penalty against opponent.
      • If two or more faults are committed successively, only the first counts; if faults by both teams occur simultaneously, a DOUBLE FAULT is called and rally is replayed.
      • Rally and completed rally: a rally is the actions from service hit until ball is out; a completed rally awards a point.
      • If serving team wins rally, they score and continue to serve; if receiving team wins rally, they score and gain the right to serve.
      • Key references: 8.1, 8.2, 12.2.2.1, 15.2.3, 15.11.1.3, 19.3.2.1, 19.3.2.9, 21.3.1.
    • 6.2 TO WIN A SET
      • A set (except deciding 5th) is won by the first team to reach 25 points with a minimum lead of 2 points; if tied at 24-24, play continues until a 2-point lead is achieved (e.g., 26-24; 27-25; etc.).
    • 6.3 TO WIN THE MATCH
      • The match is won by the team that wins three sets; in the case of a 2-2 tie, the deciding 5th set is played to 15 points with a minimum lead of 2.
    • 6.4 DEFAULT AND INCOMPLETE TEAM
      • If a team refuses to play after being summoned, they are defaulted 0-3 for the match and 0-25 for each set; if a team does not appear on time, default is 0-3 with the same scores; if a team is incomplete for a set or match, they lose that set/match with the opponent gaining the necessary points/sets.
    • 7 STRUCTURE OF PLAY
    • 7.1 THE TOSS: before the match, the 1st referee performs a toss to decide first service and court sides; if a deciding set is played, a new toss occurs; the toss occurs in the presence of team captains.
    • 7.2 OFFICIAL WARM-UP SESSION: standard warm-up time is 6 minutes if a court was exclusive prior, otherwise 10 minutes; for FIVB/World/Official comps: 10 minutes together at net; separate warming up permitted with 3 or 5 minutes per team depending on structure; if consecutive warm-ups, order of service/gym rights established.
    • 7.3 TEAM STARTING LINE-UP: six players must be in play; starting lineup indicates rotational order; lineup sheet must be submitted before each set; non-starting players are substitutes for that set; no changes to lineup after sheet submission except by regular substitution; discrepancies between lineup and on-court positions are managed with specified rectifications and potential consequences.
    • 7.4 POSITIONS: at the moment the server hits, teams must be in court positions; serving team may occupy any service hit position; back-row and front-row positions defined; feet-determined positioning rules.
    • 7.5 POSITIONAL FAULT: occurs if any player is not in correct position at the moment of service hit; consequences include point to opponent and service; server faults counted with priority; rectification required.
    • 7.6 ROTATION: teams rotate clockwise when gaining the right to serve; order is tied to lineup and service order.
    • 7.7 ROTATIONAL FAULT: if service not made according to rotation, scorers stop rally, opponent gains a point and next service; if determined after rally, point only is given and rotation adjusted; if moment cannot be determined, a point and service to opponent only sanction.

  • CHAPTER 4: PLAYING ACTIONS

    • 8 STATES OF PLAY
    • 8.1 BALL IN PLAY: from the service hit; continues until out of play; 12, 12.3 references.
    • 8.2 BALL OUT OF PLAY: whistled fault or ball out-of-play situation.
    • 8.3 BALL “IN”: ball touches the court boundary lines; the ball is in if any part touches the boundary lines.
    • 8.4 BALL “OUT”: conditions for out-of-bounds calls, including touching outside lines, ceiling, or antennas; crossing space considerations.
    • 9 PLAYING THE BALL
    • 9.1 TEAM HITS: three hits allowed to return ball (plus a block contact).
    • 9.1.1 CONSECUTIVE CONTACTS: cannot hit ball twice in succession; exceptions apply.
    • 9.1.2 SIMULTANEOUS CONTACTS: multi-player touches count as multiple hits; simultaneous touches by opponents can lead to extra ball hits for the other team; collision between players does not constitute a fault.
    • 9.1.3 ASSISTED HIT: no support from teammates or objects to hit the ball; exception during the prevention of a fault when a teammate stops/holds another from violating a rule.
    • 9.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HIT: ball may touch any part of the body; ball cannot be caught or thrown; rebound can occur in any direction.
    • 9.3 FAULTS IN PLAYING THE BALL: four-hits; assisted hit; catch/throw; double contact; penalties.
    • 10 BALL AT THE NET
    • 10.1 BALL CROSSING THE NET: the ball must go over the net within the crossing space; crossing space defined by the top of the net, antennae/gap, and ceiling; rules about ball crossing back into own or opponent space.
    • 10.2 BALL TOUCHING THE NET: permitted while crossing.
    • 10.3 BALL IN THE NET: ball driven into the net is recoverable within three hits; if mesh tears down, rally is cancelled and replayed.
    • 11 PLAYER AT THE NET
    • 11.1 REACHING BEYOND THE NET: allowed in blocking if not interfering with opponent’s attack; after attack, hand may pass beyond the net if contact occurred in own space and ball not caught/thrown.
    • 11.2 PENETRATION UNDER THE NET: permitted as long as it does not interfere with opponent’s play; special allowances for touching opponent’s court with feet or body under/over the center line.
    • 11.3 CONTACT WITH THE NET: hitting the net between antennae during playing action is a fault; contacting the post/rope outside antennae may be allowed if not interfering with play.
    • 11.4 PLAYER’S FAULTS AT THE NET: touching the ball or an opponent in the opponent’s space before opponent’s attack; penetrating under the opponent’s space; feet entering opponent’s court; interfering with play by touching the net; rules on use of the net for leverage; typical “on-ball” situations for near-net players.
    • 12 SERVICE
    • 12.1 FIRST SERVICE IN A SET: first service of the set and deciding 5th set determined by toss; subsequent sets start with the other team’s service.
    • 12.2 SERVICE ORDER: players must follow the service order in the lineup sheet; after first service, serving player rotates; if serving team wins, same server continues; if receiving team wins, the next server is the player moving to the back-right.
    • 12.3 AUTHORIZATION OF THE SERVICE: the 1st referee authorizes service after confirming readiness.
    • 12.4 EXECUTION OF THE SERVICE: server hits the ball with one hand/arm after ball is released; only one ball release allowed; no contact with court during service hit and jump take-off; may step/land outside service zone after hit.
    • 12.5 SCREENING: server must not screen the flight path of the ball; arms/hopping to hide the service is forbidden and may lead to cautions.
    • 12.6 FAULTS MADE DURING THE SERVICE: serving faults lead to service change; faults after the serve have specified consequences; crossing-line/interference matters.
    • 12.7 SERVING FAULTS AND POSITIONAL FAULTS: distinguishes service faults from subsequent positional faults; sequence of sanctions.
    • 13 ATTACK HIT
    • 13.1 CHARACTERISTICS: all attack hits except serve and block; tipping allowed if clean and not caught/thrown.
    • 13.2 RESTRICTIONS: front-row/back-row restrictions on where hits can be completed; specific rules for Libero and back-row hits; restrictions on attacks on opponent’s service.
    • 13.3 FAULTS OF THE ATTACK HIT: ball hit inside opponent’s playing space, or ball going out; back-row hit restrictions; special cases for Libero.
    • 14 BLOCK
    • 14.1 BLOCKING: front-row players only; height relative to top of the net; block endpoints and collective blocks.
    • 14.2 BLOCK CONTACT: continued contacts by blockers during one action allowed.
    • 14.3 BLOCKING WITHIN OPPONENT’S SPACE: arms can extend over net if they do not interfere with opponent’s play.
    • 14.4 BLOCK AND TEAM HITS: block contact not counted as a team hit; three hits allowed after a block; first hit after the block may be by any player.
    • 14.5 BLOCKING THE SERVICE: blocking an opponent’s service is forbidden.
    • 14.6 BLOCKING FAULTS: foul conditions for blockers, including back-row/libero involvement and blocking from outside antennae.

  • CHAPTER 5: INTERRUPTIONS, DELAYS AND INTERVALS

    • 15 INTERRUPTIONS: regulatory framework for regular game interruptions (timeouts and substitutions).
    • 15.1 NUMBER OF REGULAR GAME INTERRUPTIONS: each team may request up to two time-outs and six substitutions per set.
    • 15.2 SEQUENCE OF REGULAR GAME INTERRUPTIONS: requests may follow, with rules on consecutive requests and substitutions; must have a completed rally between separate substitution requests; forced substitutions permitted in injury/expulsion scenarios.
    • 15.3 REQUEST FOR REGULAR GAME INTERRUPTIONS: regular interruptions may be requested by coach or designated substitutes; regular substitution before a set allowed.
    • 15.4 TIME-OUTS: time-out requests require signaling when ball is out of play; time-outs last 30 seconds; in FIVB/official comps length may be adjusted; buzzer plus hand signal required to request; during time-outs players must retreat to free zone near bench.
    • 15.5 SUBSTITUTION: formal definition of substitution (non-libero players replacing others); may be triggered due to injury with corresponding signals.
    • 15.6 LIMITATION OF SUBSTITUTIONS: time-bound rules on how many substitutions and re-entry; back-and-forth substitution restrictions.
    • 15.7 EXCEPTIONAL SUBSTITUTION: for injury/illness/expulsion when regular substitution limits cannot cover; non-re-entry allowed; must be recorded; exceptions depend on Libero status.
    • 15.8 SUBSTITUTION FOR EXPULSION OR DISQUALIFICATION: immediate substitution rules; otherwise team may enter exceptional substitution; scoreboard notes.
    • 15.9 ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION: penalties for illegal substitutions and steps to rectify; penalties include point and service to opponent and reversed substitutions.
    • 15.10 SUBSTITUTION PROCEDURE: where substitutions take place; substitution zone; the time window; the process to start substitution; penalties for delays or late readiness.
    • 15.11 IMPROPER REQUESTS: rules about improper requests; penalties for repeated improper requests; monitoring by score sheet.

  • CHAPTER 6: GAME DELAYS

    • 16 GAME DELAYS: types of delays and corresponding sanctions (delay warnings and penalties).
    • 16.1 TYPES OF DELAYS: list of delay types including deferring resumption, prolonging interruptions, illegal substitutions, repeated improper requests, etc.
    • 16.2 DELAY SANCTIONS: delay warning or delay penalty; sanctions apply for the rest of the match; all delays must be recorded on score sheet.

  • CHAPTER 7: EXCEPTIONAL GAME INTERRUPTIONS

    • 17.1 INJURY/ILLNESS: serious injury stops play; rally replay; recovery time rules; if player cannot recover, team may be declared incomplete.
    • 17.2 EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE: play stopped; rally replayed.
    • 17.3 PROLONGED INTERRUPTIONS: measures to re-establish normal conditions; rules for resuming match on same or different court; potential full replay if interruptions exceed four hours.

  • CHAPTER 8: INTERVALS AND CHANGE OF COURTS

    • 18 INTERVALS: three-minute intervals between sets; end of 5th set change court rules; interval durations and changes approved by competition body.
    • 18.2 CHANGE OF COURTS: after each set; in deciding set, teams change courts once leading team reaches 8; if not done timely, changes occur when detected.

  • CHAPTER 6: THE LIBERO PLAYER

    • 19 DESIGNATION OF THE LIBERO: up to two Liberos; mandatory two Liberos if more than 12 players are listed in seniors’ score sheets; Liberos must be recorded on the score sheet.
    • 19.2 EQUIPMENT: Liberos wear distinct uniforms (or jackets/bibs) with contrasting color; Liberos must have numbers; re-designated Libero attempts to keep a consistent style, where possible.
    • 19.3 ACTIONS INVOLVING THE LIBERO: replace back-row players; restricted to back-row; cannot attack from the front zone if ball entirely higher than top of net; cannot serve or attempt to block; Libero rules about attacking hits from front/back zones depending on ball height.
    • 19.3.2 Libero Replacements: Libero replacements are unlimited but require a completed rally between replacements; regular replacement players may substitute with each Libero; Libero replacements must be recorded; illegal Libero replacements carry penalties; Libero replacements must be in Libero Replacement Zone and recorded on Libero control sheet.
    • 19.4 RE-DESIGNATION OF A NEW LIBERO: re-designation rules when Libero becomes unable to play; single or multiple re-designations allowed; process to inform the 2nd referee; consequences on subsequent re-designations limited to the match; number of the re-designated player must be recorded.
    • 19.5 SUMMARY: Libero expulsions or disqualifications have implications for replacements or re-designations.

  • CHAPTER 7: PARTICIPANTS’ CONDUCT

    • 20 REQUIREMENTS OF CONDUCT: sportsmanlike conduct; acceptance of referees’ decisions; no attempts to influence refereeing decisions; on-field communication allowed within fair play lines.
    • 21 MISCONDUCT AND ITS SANCTIONS: definition of minor misconduct; sanction scale; sanctions for misconduct (penalty, expulsion, disqualification) and escalation rules; misconduct before and between sets.
    • 21.1 MINOR MISCONDUCT: verbal warnings (Stage 1) followed by yellow card (Stage 2) for formal warning in match.
    • 21.2 MISCONDUCT LEADING TO SANCTIONS: categories of misconduct (Rude, Offensive, Aggression) with sanctions; a table of sanctions with corresponding cards and consequences.
    • 21.3 SANCTION SCALE: penalties range from point and service to opponent to expulsion or disqualification; specifics for each category and progression rules.
    • 21.4 APPLICATION OF MISCONDUCT SANCTIONS: sanctions are individual and apply for the entire match; repetition leads to heavier sanctions; expulsions/disqualifications may occur without prior sanction.
    • 21.5 MISCONDUCT BEFORE AND BETWEEN SETS: sanctions apply in the following set; cross-referencing with interval rules.
    • 21.6 SUMMARY OF MISCONDUCT AND CARDS: visual mapping of warnings and card outcomes.

  • PART 2: SECTION 2: THE REFEREES, THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND OFFICIAL HAND SIGNALS

    • CHAPTER 8: REFEREES
    • 22 REFEREEING TEAM AND PROCEDURES: composition includes 1st referee, 2nd referee, Challenge referee, reserve referee, scorer, assistant scorer, line judges; for FIVB/World/Official competitions, challenge referee (if Video Challenge System is used) and reserve referee and assistant scorer are compulsory.
    • 22.2 PROCEDURES: whistle usage restricted to 1st and 2nd referees; signals for service and end-of-rally; authority to call faults; procedures for requests and sanctions; signals after rally completion.
    • 23 1st REFEREE
    • 23.1 LOCATION: stands at one end of the net; approx 50 cm above net; standard field of view.
    • 23.2 AUTHORITY: directs the match; final decisions; can overrule other referees if mistaken; oversees ball retrievers and moppers; can replace team referees if misperforming; no discussion about decisions; may provide explanation upon request by game captain.
    • 23.3 RESPONSIBILITIES: pre-match inspection of playing area, balls, equipment; conduct toss; control warm-up; during match issue warnings and sanctions; decide faults including server faults and positions; decide net faults and attack-hit faults by Libero/back-row; decide block faults; manage ball crossing and server contact rules; supervise match end score sheet.
    • 24 2nd REFEREE
    • 24.1 LOCATION: outside the court, opposite the 1st referee; near a post.
    • 24.2 AUTHORITY: assistant to 1st referee; can replace 1st referee if needed; judges faults outside their range; manages scorers and warm-up controls; controls time-outs and substitutions; authority in injury recovery times; checks floor conditions and balls.
    • 24.3 RESPONSIBILITIES: monitor lineup consistency with sheets; whistle and signal faults such as crossing the court, player net contact, block faults, etc.; end-of-match score sheet validation.
    • 25 CHALLENGE REFEREE: compulsory if Video Challenge System is used; location in challenge booth; responsibilities include supervising challenges, sign-off on faults, and final score sheet.
    • 26 RESERVE REFEREE: compulsory in FIVB/World/Official comps; location outside the main court; responsibilities include replacing 2nd referee and overseeing substitution paddles, tablet checks, and team bench management; supports in managing Libero replacements and match balls.
    • 27 SCORER: location at scorer’s table; responsibilities include recording points, signaling serve order, handling substitutions and time-outs, recording misconduct warnings, assessing intervals, and final match result; multiple requirements at pre-match and post-match.
    • 28 ASSISTANT SCORER: location beside scorer; responsibilities include Libero replacement recording; assisting with official duties and backup if scorer unavailable; pre-match and post-match duties aligned with the scorer.
    • 29 LINE JUDGES: location (two or four depending on system); responsibilities include signaling “in” and “out”; touches on lines; calls for ball crossing the net; stepping out of court at service hit; signals for antenna touching and other edge cases; line judge signals are essential.
    • 30 OFFICIAL SIGNALS: signals include Referees’ hand signals (faults or requests), Line Judges’ flag signals.

  • PART 2: SECTION 3: DIAGRAMS

    • Diagram 1a: COMPETITION/CONTROL AREA
    • Diagram 1b: THE PLAYING AREA
    • Diagram 2: THE PLAYING COURT
    • Diagram 3: DESIGN OF THE NET
    • Diagram 4: POSITION OF PLAYERS
    • Diagram 5a: BALL CROSSING THE VERTICAL PLANE OF THE NET TO THE OPPONENT COURT
    • Diagram 5b: BALL CROSSING THE VERTICAL PLANE OF THE NET TO THE OPPONENT FREE ZONE
    • Diagram 6: COLLECTIVE SCREEN
    • Diagram 7: COMPLETED BLOCK
    • Diagram 8: BACK ROW PLAYER’S ATTACK
    • Diagram 9: WARNINGS AND SANCTIONS SCALES AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES
    • Diagram 10: LOCATION OF REFEREEING TEAM AND THEIR ASSISTANTS
    • Diagram 11: REFEREES’ OFFICIAL HAND SIGNALS
    • Diagram 12: LINE JUDGES’ OFFICIAL FLAG SIGNALS

  • PART 3: DEFINITIONS

    • Competition/ Control Area: corridor around the playing court and free zone; includes spaces up to outer barriers.
    • ZONES: sections like Front Zone, Service Zone, Substitution Zone, Free Zone, Back Zone, Libero Replacement Zone.
    • AREAS: floor sections outside free zone with a designated function (e.g., warm-up area).
    • LOWER SPACE: space between bottom of net and cords to posts; side boundaries; bottom by playing surface.
    • CROSSING SPACE: defined by top net band, antennae and extensions, and the ceiling; ball must cross to opponent court through this space.
    • EXTERNAL SPACE: vertical plane of net outside of crossing/ lower spaces.
    • SUBSTITUTION ZONE: the free zone portion used for substitutions.
    • FIVB STANDARDS: technical specifications or limits defined by FIVB for equipment.
    • FAULT: a playing action contrary to the rules or a rule violation other than a playing action.
    • DRIBBLING: bouncing the ball (or other preparatory ball handling) before serving.
    • PROTOCOL: events before match start (toss, warm-up, team and referee presentations) described in the Specific Competition Handbook.

  • INDEX (selected topics)

    • Actions involving the Libero – 42
    • Ball at the net – 29
    • Ball crossing the net – 29
    • Ball in/out – 27
    • Ball retrieval system – 16
    • Net/poles/antennae – 14–15
    • Libero rules and re-designation – 42–46
    • Substitution and timeout procedures – 37–40
    • Misconduct sanctions – 46–48
    • Diagram signals and referee responsibilities – 73–81
    • Definitions and terminology – 82–85

  • NUMERICAL AND FORMULAS SUMMARY (key rule-based figures)

    • Court dimensions: 18imes9extm18 imes 9 ext{ m}
    • Free zone minimum width: 3extm3 ext{ m} per side; in official events, free zone width is effectively 5extm5 ext{ m} from side lines and 6.5extm6.5 ext{ m} from end lines.
    • Free space height: minimum 7extm7 ext{ m} (general); for FIVB/World/Official Competitions, minimum height is 12.5extm12.5 ext{ m}.
    • Net height: 2.43extm2.43 ext{ m} (men) and 2.24extm2.24 ext{ m} (women).
    • Net width: 1extm1 ext{ m}; length: 9.50$–$10 ext{ m}; top band: 7extcm7 ext{ cm}; bottom band: 5extcm5 ext{ cm}; side bands and antennae specifics apply.
    • Ball specifications: circumference C<br/>ange[65,67]extcmC <br /> ange [65, 67] ext{ cm}, weight W<br/>ange[260,280]extgW <br /> ange [260, 280] ext{ g}, pressure P<br/>ange[0.30,0.325]extkg/cm2P <br /> ange [0.30, 0.325] ext{ kg/cm}^2 or approximately 4.26ext–4.61extpsi4.26 ext{–}4.61 ext{ psi}.
    • Scoring (Rally Point System): rally wins award a point to the team; sets to 25 points with a 2-point lead (except deciding set); deciding set to 15 points with a 2-point lead; best-of-five match (3 sets to win).
    • Time-out duration: 30 seconds (standard), with possible adjustments by organizers for certain competitions.
    • Substitution limits: up to 6 substitutions per set in normal play; 2 time-outs per set; 1 starting lineup for the set; legal replacement processes require substitution zone and score-sheet verification.

  • CONNECTIONS TO FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES

    • The rules reflect a balance between competitive integrity and spectator enjoyment by codifying fair play, standardized equipment, and clear officiating roles.
    • The Libero concept and Video Challenge system illustrate a shift toward preserving rally flow while maintaining fair, evidence-based decisions.
    • The separation of zones (Front Zone, Service Zone, Libero Replacement Zone) supports precise tactical constraints (blocking eligibility, service restrictions) and structured substitutions.
    • The emphasis on the referee as facilitator aligns with the goal of a smooth, entertaining performance rather than punitive micromanagement.

  • ETHICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL, AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

    • Fair play and respect for referees are foundational to the sport and emphasized through Conduct rules and sanctions.
    • Transparency of decisions via official hand signals and the potential for protests emphasizes accountability within the competition framework.
    • The Libero’s restrictions aim to protect players and maintain game integrity while expanding defensive specialization.

  • PRACTICAL EXAMPLES AND SCENARIOS

    • Scenario: A back-row Libero attacks from behind the front zone when the ball is entirely higher than the net is generally forbidden; exception rules apply depending on the Libero’s position and the attack type (front/back zone conditions).
    • Scenario: A player commits a rotational fault during the service hit; if determined, the opponent gains a point and the next service is awarded; if the fault is determined after the rally’s completion, sanctions depend on timing of the fault.
    • Scenario: On a long interruption due to external interference lasting several events, the competition organizers and officials decide on continued play versus cancellation and replay, with the potential of replaying sets or the entire match depending on duration.

  • LaTeX SUMMARY OF KEY EXPRESSIONS

    • Court and ball specs: extCourt:18imes9extm,extFreezonewidth:3extm(min),extNetheight:h<em>extmen=2.43extm,h</em>extwomen=2.24extm.ext{Court: } 18 imes 9 ext{ m}, ext{ Free zone width: } 3 ext{ m (min)}, ext{ Net height: } h<em>{ ext{men}} = 2.43 ext{ m}, h</em>{ ext{women}} = 2.24 ext{ m}.
    • Ball: circumference Co[65,67]extcm,extweightWo[260,280]extg,extpressurePo[0.30,0.325]extkg/cm2.C o [65, 67] ext{ cm}, ext{ weight } W o [260, 280] ext{ g}, ext{ pressure } P o [0.30, 0.325] ext{ kg/cm}^2.
    • Scoring:
    • Set win condition: extfirstto25extwithextlead≥2.ext{first to } 25 ext{ with } ext{lead} \ge 2.
    • Tiebreak: if 24-24, continue until a lead of 2 points is achieved.
    • Fifth set (deciding): to 1515 points with a lead of 22.
    • Time-out: 30 seconds.