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Scoring system, player positions, rotation rules, and match structure
Volleyball uses rally scoring. Every rally ends with a point, regardless of who served.
A team scores when:
A fault is any action that breaks the rules. When you fault:
If faults happen back-to-back, only the first one counts. If both teams fault at the exact same moment, it's a double fault and the rally replays.
A Rally is a sequence of playing actions that starts with a serve and ends when the ball is out of play.
A Completed Rally is a sequence of playing actions which ends with a point.
Win a set by reaching 25 points with at least a 2-point lead. Tied at 24-24? Keep playing until someone leads by 2 (26-24, 27-25, 30-28, etc.).
Matches are best of five sets. First team to win three sets takes the match.
If it goes to a deciding 5th set, that set is played to 15 points (still need a 2-point lead). Teams also switch sides at 8 points.
| Situation | Result |
|---|---|
| Team refuses to play | 0-3 loss (0-25 each set) |
| Team doesn't show up | 0-3 loss |
| Team can't field 6 players | Loses the set/match; opponent gets needed points |
Before the match, captains meet the referee for a coin toss. The winner picks one:
The loser gets whatever's left. A new toss happens before a 5th set.
In rec leagues, usually will do a rally so one team tosses the ball to the other to start then whoever wins the rally gets to serve first or choose their preference.
Teams share the net for warm-up:
Either captain can request separate warm-ups instead: 3 or 5 minutes each, one team at a time. The team serving first warms up first.
At the moment of serve, every player (except the server) must be in their correct position on their side of the court.
| Position | Zone | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back Right | Right Back / Server |
| 2 | Front Right | Right Side / Opposite |
| 3 | Front Center | Middle |
| 4 | Front Left | Outside / Left |
| 5 | Back Left | Left Back |
| 6 | Back Center | Middle Back |
At the moment the server contacts the ball, players must maintain two alignments:
Each back-row player must have at least part of one foot further from the center line than the front foot of their corresponding front-row player.
The pairs:
Right-side players must have at least part of one foot closer to the right sideline than center players. Left-side players must be closer to the left sideline than center players.
In the front row: Position 2 is right of 3, Position 4 is left of 3. In the back row: Position 1 is right of 6, Position 5 is left of 6.
Position is based on where your feet touch the floor at serve contact. Overlap happens at the feet, not the body. After the serve, move wherever you want.
This is why teams "stack" or "bunch up" before serves. They're staying legal while getting ready to move to their actual playing positions. This is usually determined by the type of rotation the team runs, like 5-1, 6-2, 4-2, etc.
If any player is out of position when the server contacts the ball, it's a positional fault.
Consequences:
If the server faults at the same moment (foot fault, bad toss), the serving fault counts first. If the serve goes out after contact, the positional fault counts instead.
When the receiving team wins a rally, they:
The serving team doesn't rotate when they win a rally. Same server goes again.
Everyone shifts one spot clockwise:
Your starting lineup locks in your rotation order for the entire set. The service order follows this rotation. Whoever is in position 1 serves.
A rotational fault happens when the wrong player serves.
Consequences:
The scorer watches for this and will buzz to stop play when they spot it.
Before each set, the coach submits a lineup sheet showing who starts where.
The starting lineup sets your rotation order for the set. Players not starting are substitutes (except Liberos, who work differently).
| When Caught | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Before the set starts | Fix it, no penalty |
| After play begins | Fix it, opponent keeps their points and gets a point plus serve |
If a player on court isn't on the lineup sheet at all, it gets worse. The team loses all points scored since that player entered.
Learn rotation strategies and offensive systems (5-1, 6-2, 4-2)