Question 1

Can a libero serve in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Under FIVB international rules, the libero may not serve. USAV, NCAA and NFHS (high school) rules all allow the libero to serve in one rotational position per set.

Question 2

When does a team rotate in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

A team rotates clockwise when it wins a rally while the opponent was serving (sideout). The serving team never rotates when it wins a rally.

Question 3

How many substitutions are allowed per set in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

FIVB allows 6 substitutions per team per set. USAV allows 15, NFHS allows 18, and NCAA allows 15 in Division I or 18 in Divisions II and III. Libero replacements never count as substitutions.

Question 4

What is rally scoring in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Rally scoring means a point is awarded on every single rally, regardless of which team served. The first team to 25 points (with a 2-point lead) wins the set. It replaced the old sideout scoring system, in which only the serving team could score.

Question 5

Can a libero attack the ball in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

The libero cannot complete an attack hit where the ball is entirely above the top of the net, from any position on the court. This applies under all major rulesets.

Question 6

What is a rotation fault in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

A rotation fault occurs when a team serves out of the correct order. The opponent scores a point, gets the serve, and all points scored by the faulty team since the error are cancelled.

Question 7

How many players are on the court for each team in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Six players per team are on the court at a time, for a total of 12 players on the court during play.

Question 8

How many sets are in a volleyball match?

Accepted Answer

Most volleyball matches are best of 5 sets, so the first team to win 3 sets wins the match. Some formats use best of 3, where the first team to win 2 sets wins. In most formats, sets are played to 25 points and the deciding set to 15.

Question 9

What happens if the ball hits the net on a serve?

Accepted Answer

If the served ball hits the net and still crosses into the opponent's court, the serve is legal and play continues. This is called a let serve or net serve. If the serve hits the net and does not cross, it is a service fault and the opponent scores.

Question 10

What is an overlap fault in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

An overlap fault (positional fault) occurs when receiving-team players are out of their rotational positions at the service hit. Under the 2025-2028 FIVB rules the serving team may stand anywhere. The opponent scores a point and gains the serve.

Question 11

How does a libero replacement work in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

The libero can replace any back-row player without it counting as a substitution. Replacements are unlimited, but a completed rally must come between two of them, and the exchange happens through the Libero Replacement Zone while the ball is out of play.

Question 12

When do teams switch sides in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Under FIVB rules, teams change courts after each set, and in the deciding set they change once the leading team reaches 8 points. Before the deciding set, a new toss decides the sides. US rules differ: NFHS teams change courts between sets but not during the deciding set, USAV teams stay on the same side all match unless the organizer decides otherwise, and NCAA teams change sides only after set 2.

Question 13

Can a libero set with overhand finger action in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

The libero may set overhand from behind the attack line, and teammates may attack that set. But if the libero uses an overhand finger set from in front of the attack line, no player on the team may complete an attack hit on that ball above net height.

Question 14

How many challenges (video review requests) does a team get in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Under NCAA women's rules, each team starts a match with 2 challenges where the Challenge Review System is used. At FIVB events, the number of challenges is set by the FIVB challenge regulation in force, not by the rulebook. NFHS and USAV do not use video review.

Question 15

Can a player touch the net during volleyball play?

Accepted Answer

No. Touching the net between the antennae during the action of playing the ball is a fault. Under FIVB rules, contact outside the antennae is not a fault, and a player who is not playing the ball faults only if the contact interferes with play. NFHS high school rules are stricter: any net contact while the ball is in play is a fault.

Question 16

What is the libero replacement zone in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

The libero replacement zone is the part of the free zone on the team-bench side, between the extension of the attack line and the end line. The libero and the replaced player must enter and leave the court through this zone while the ball is out of play.

Question 17

When is a player called for a lift in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

A lift (also called a carry) is called when the ball visibly comes to rest or is caught and thrown rather than cleanly rebounded. Per FIVB Rule 9.2.2, the contact must be clean and the ball must not be held.

Question 18

What constitutes a double contact in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

A double contact is when a player hits the ball twice in succession or the ball contacts different body parts one after another. Under FIVB rules it is a fault except at blocking and on the team's first hit, where consecutive contacts are allowed during one action. USAV, NCAA and NFHS also allow them on the second hit if a teammate plays the ball next.

Question 19

What is a screening violation in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

A screening violation occurs when the serving team blocks the receiving team's view of both the service hit and the flight path of the ball. It is judged from the service hit until the ball reaches the vertical plane of the net, and a serve that passes over a screen is a fault that gives the opponent a point and the serve.

Question 20

What are the back-row attack rules in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

A back-row player may attack from behind the 3-meter line, but not a ball entirely above the net after taking off at or in front of the line. Jumping from behind the line and landing in front is legal, and a ball partly below the top of the net may be attacked from anywhere.

Question 21

How does the 5-1 rotation work in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

In a 5-1 system, one designated setter always sets regardless of whether they are in the front row or back row. This gives the team up to three front-row hitters when the setter is in the back row, and two hitters plus a setter dump option when the setter is front row.

Question 22

What is a foot fault in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

A foot fault occurs when the server touches the court (end line included) or the floor outside the service zone at the moment of the service hit. The same applies at take-off for a jump serve. It is a service fault and the opponent scores a point.

Question 23

How many points does it take to win a set in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Sets 1-4 require 25 points with a 2-point lead. The deciding set (set 5) requires 15 points with a 2-point lead. FIVB, USAV, NFHS and NCAA rules have no point cap.

Question 24

Can a player reach over the net to block in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but only after the opponent's attack hit. A blocker may reach beyond the net but may not touch the ball on the opponent's side before the opponent's attack hit or otherwise interfere with the opponent's play. Doing so is a fault.

Question 25

What is the antenna rule in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

The ball must cross the net entirely between the two antennas and their imaginary extensions. A ball that touches the antenna or passes outside it is out, and the opponent scores a point and gains the serve.

Question 26

What is a crossing line fault in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Under FIVB rules, a crossing line fault (centerline violation) occurs when a player's foot crosses completely into the opponent's court. A foot may touch the opponent's court if some part of it stays in contact with or directly above the centre line. Other parts of the body, including the hands, may touch the opponent's court as long as they do not interfere with the opponent's play. US domestic rules differ, so check which ruleset applies.

Question 27

What is the attack line in volleyball and who can cross it?

Accepted Answer

The attack line (3-meter line) divides the front zone from the back zone. Front-row players may attack and block anywhere. Back-row players may only complete attacks above net height if they take off from behind the line.

Question 28

Can the setter attack the ball in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A front-row setter may attack (dump) on the second contact from anywhere in the front zone. A back-row setter may not attack above net height from in front of the 3-meter attack line.

Question 29

What happens when both teams commit a fault simultaneously in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

When both teams commit a fault simultaneously (double fault), the rally is replayed with the same server. Neither team scores a point.

Question 30

How many timeouts does each team get per set in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Each team gets 2 timeouts per set under FIVB, USAV, NFHS, and NCAA rules. They last 30 seconds under FIVB and USAV, up to 60 seconds under NFHS, and 75 seconds by default under NCAA. Unused timeouts do not carry over.

Question 31

What is a sideout in volleyball?

Accepted Answer

A sideout is when the receiving team wins a rally, earning both a point and the right to serve. The receiving team then rotates before serving.

Question 32

What are the main differences between FIVB, USAV, NFHS, and NCAA volleyball rules?

Accepted Answer

The rulesets differ most on substitutions, libero serving, and timeout length. Substitution limits are FIVB 6, USAV 15, NFHS 18, and NCAA 15 in Division I or 18 in Divisions II and III. USAV, NCAA and NFHS all let the libero serve in one rotation while FIVB does not, none of the four caps set scores, and timeout length ranges from 30 seconds (FIVB, USAV) to 60 seconds (NFHS) and 75 seconds by default (NCAA).

Question 33

What is the libero rule in high school (NFHS) volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Under NFHS rules, the libero may serve in one rotational position per set, as under USAV and NCAA rules (FIVB prohibits libero serving). From 2026-27, an NFHS team may designate up to two liberos per set, with only one on court at a time. All other standard libero restrictions apply (no attacking above net height, no blocking, no front-row play).

Question 34

How many players are on the court in snow volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Snow volleyball is played 3 versus 3, unlike indoor volleyball (6 per side) or beach volleyball (2 per side).

Question 35

How is snow volleyball scored?

Accepted Answer

Matches are best-of-3 sets. Every set, including the deciding set, is played to 15 points with a minimum 2-point lead and no point cap.

Question 36

Does snow volleyball have a libero?

Accepted Answer

No. Snow volleyball has no libero position; all players on the 3-player roster play both offense and defense.

Question 37

How many substitutions and timeouts are allowed in snow volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Snow volleyball allows up to 2 substitutions and 1 timeout per set, fewer than indoor FIVB rules (6 substitutions, 2 timeouts per set).

Question 38

How many players are on the court in beach volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Beach volleyball is played 2 versus 2, with no substitutions and no libero. Each roster is exactly two players.

Question 39

How is beach volleyball scored?

Accepted Answer

Matches are best-of-3. Sets 1 and 2 are played to 21 points and the deciding set to 15, each won by a minimum 2-point lead with no cap.

Question 40

When do teams switch sides in beach volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Teams change ends every 7 points in sets 1 and 2, and every 5 points in the deciding third set.

Question 41

How many substitutions and timeouts are allowed in beach volleyball?

Accepted Answer

Beach volleyball allows no substitutions at all, and 1 timeout of 30 seconds per team per set.

Question 42

Does beach volleyball have a libero?

Accepted Answer

No. Beach volleyball has no libero. With two players per side, both serve, both attack, and both defend.

Volleyball Rules Answered.

Common Volleyball Rules Questions.