Volleyball Official Rules 2025-2028 Summary

Game Characteristics

Volleyball: A sport played by two teams on a court divided by a net.
Objective: Ground the ball on the opponent’s court and prevent the opponent from doing the same.
Team hits: Three hits are allowed for returning the ball (plus block contact).
Service: Initiates play by hitting the ball over the net to the opponents.
Rally: Continues until the ball is grounded, goes out, or a team fails to return it properly.
Scoring: Rally Point System - team winning a rally scores a point.
Rotation: When the receiving team wins a rally, they gain a point, the right to serve, and rotate clockwise.

Philosophy of Rules and Refereeing

Volleyball is a top sport with many federations, viewers, players, and a positive image.
Key elements: Service, rotation, attack, defense for both net and back-court players.
Modern adaptations: Liberalized ball handling, Libero players, Video Challenge System.
Rules: Understanding the rules helps in better play, coaching, and officiating.
Recreational sport: Promotes fun and a healthy life.
Competition: Exhibits ability, creativity, freedom, and fighting spirit.
Referee's role: Facilitator, promoter, and should use rules to make the competition fulfilling.

Facilities and Equipment

Playing area: Includes the playing court and free zone, rectangular and symmetrical.
Dimensions:
- Court: 18 x 9 m, free zone minimum of 3 m wide.
- Free playing space: Minimum 7 m in height.
- FIVB Competitions: Free zone of 5 m (side lines) and 6.5 m (end lines), 12.5 m free playing space height.
  *Playing Surface:
- Flat, horizontal, uniform, and safe.
- FIVB Competitions: Wood or synthetic surface approved by FIVB.
  *Court lines:
- 5 cm wide, light color, different from floor color.
- Boundary lines: Side and end lines within court dimensions.
- Center line: Divides court into two 9 x 9 m courts.
- Attack line: 3 m from the center line, marking the front zone. For FIVB, extended with broken lines.
  *Zones and Areas:
- Front zone: Limited by the center line and the attack line, extending beyond side lines.
- Service zone: 9 m wide area behind each end line.
- Substitution zone: Extension of attack lines up to the scorer's table.
- Libero Replacement zone: Part of the free zone on the side of team benches.
- Warm-up area: Approximately 3 x 3 m, located outside the free zone.
  *Temperature: Minimum 10° C.
  *Lighting: Minimum 300 lux. For FIVB, minimum 2000 lux at 1 m above the playing area.
  *Net and Posts:
- Net height: 2.43 m (men) and 2.24 m (women).
- Structure: 1 m wide, 9.50 to 10 m long, 10 cm square black mesh.
- Side bands: Two white bands fastened vertically to the net above each side line, 5 cm wide and 1 m long.
- Antennae: Flexible rod, 1.80 m long, 10 mm in diameter, placed at the outer edge of each side band.
- Posts: Placed 0.50-1.00 m outside the side lines, 2.55 m high. For FIVB, 1 m outside the side lines, padded.
  *Balls:
- Spherical, flexible leather or synthetic leather case.
- Circumference: 65-67 cm, weight: 260-280 g, pressure: 0.30 to 0.325 kg/cm2.

Participants

Team Composition:
- Up to 12 players, coach, up to two assistant coaches, team therapist, and medical doctor.
- FIVB Competitions: Up to 14 players recorded on the score sheet.
- Team Captain: Indicated on the score sheet.
  *Only players on the score sheet may play.
  *Team Location:
- Players not in play sit on the bench or in the warm-up area.
- Benches are located beside the scorer's table, outside the free zone.
  *Equipment:
- Jersey, shorts, socks, and sport shoes.
- Uniform color and design for the team (except Libero).
- Jerseys numbered from 1 to 20. For Seniors, might be extended.
  *Forbidden Objects:
- Objects that may cause injury or give an artificial advantage are forbidden.
  *Team Leaders:
- Captain and coach are responsible for the team's conduct.
- Liberos can be team or game captain.

Scoring and Structure of Play

Point - Scored by:
- Landing the ball on the opponent’s court.
- Opponent committing a fault or receiving a penalty.
Fault - A team commits a fault by violating the rules, referees judge faults.
Rally - Playing actions sequence from service hit until the ball is out of play.
Set - Won by the team which first scores 25 points with a minimum lead of two points.
Match - Won by the team that wins three sets.
Toss - Determines first service and sides of the court in the first set.
Warm-up - Teams have a 6-minute warm-up period together at the net (10 minutes for FIVB).
Starting Line-up - Must have six players per team, rotational order must be maintained.

Playing Actions

Ball in Play - From the moment of the service hit.
Ball out of Play - At the moment of the fault or the whistle.
Ball "In" - If any part of the ball touches the court, including boundary lines.
Ball "Out" - When all parts of the ball are completely outside the boundary lines.
Team Hits - Maximum of three hits (plus blocking) to return the ball.

Player Conduct and Responsibilities

States of Play - Defines when the ball is in or out, and what constitutes "in" and "out".
Playing the Ball - Rules for team hits, consecutive contacts, simultaneous contacts, and assisted hits.
Ball at the Net - Covers rules for crossing the net, touching the net, and balls in the net.
Player at the Net - Includes reaching beyond the net and penetration under the net.
Service - Defines how the serve is executed, including order, authorization, and faults.
Attack Hit - Characteristics, restrictions, and faults of attack hits.
Block - Guidelines for blocking, including contact, blocking within the opponent’s space, and faults.
Interrupts - Time-outs and substitutions.
Intervals - Change of courts.
Libero Player - Rules regarding designation, equipment, and actions of the Libero.
Participants’ Conduct - Requirements for sportsmanlike conduct and fair play.
Misconduct and Sanctions - Categories of misconduct and the corresponding sanctions.
Referees - Responsibilities and procedures of the refereeing team.