Simplified Volleyball Rules

Presented here are a simplified set volleyball rules to help beginners start enjoying the game without forcing them to go through the intricacies of the full rules.

• 6 players on court.
• 1st team to 25 points wins.

Positions

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

Serving

• Serve from behind the back line.
• The serve must to be hit with the hand.
• After serving the server moves back onto court to help their team.
• 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.
• The serve is not allowed to touch the roof.

Hitting the ball

• The ball can 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 can't have 2 consecutive hits - but hitting it 1st and 3rd is OK.

In the rally

• Players can't touch the net.
• The only part of a players body that is allowed to land on the opponents court is the foot, and then only if part of it is above the centre line.
• The ball can'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 you win the point.
• If the ball touches one of the opposition players and then the floor/wall you win 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 you win a point.

Blocking

• Blocking = jumping at the net with the arms up to stop the ball coming over the net.
• Remember, players can't touch the net.
• Blocking a serve isn't allowed.
• A back court player can'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.

Attacking

• Attack = whilst in the attack zone,
          hitting the ball from above the height of the net
          to 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)

Rotation - everybody gets to play in every position

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

Substitution

• 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

Time-Outs

• Up to 2 time-outs per set of 30 seconds each
• Time-outs take place before the serve

Winning

• The winner is the 1st 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