Basic Gameplay (Indoor)
Basic gameplay in volleyball is not very complicated, although there are some rules and regulations that must be learned. For example, three touches are allowed on a side, but a touch off of the block is not considered a touch.
- There are six players on a team, three on the front row and three on the back row.
- There must be six players on each side of the court, within bounds, when the server serves.
- There is a maximum of three touches per side.
- Any given player may not hit the ball twice in succession, although a touch on the block is not considered a hit.
- The ball may be played off the net during a volley and on a serve.
- If the ball hits any part of the sideline or endline, it is considered in.
- A ball is out if it hits an antennae, the floor completely outside the court, any of the net parts or cables outside the antennae, the referee stand or pole, the ceiling above a non-playable area
- It is legal to contact the ball with any part of a player’s body.
- It is illegal to catch, hold, or throw the ball. This is usually up to the discretion of the referee.
- A double contact is permitted on the first contact over the net.
- Any player can not block or attack a serve from on or inside the ten-foot line.
- After the serve, front row players may switch positions at the net, and back row players positions in the back row.
- At higher competition, the officiating crew is made up of two referees (and upper referee and a lower referee), two line judges, a scorer, a bookkeeper, and a libero tracker.