What is a sideout in volleyball?

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.

Full Explanation

A sideout occurs when the receiving team wins a rally under the current rally scoring system. The term has historical roots: in the old sideout scoring system, winning a rally as the receiver only gave your team the "side" (serve), not a point. Under modern rally scoring (FIVB Rule 6.3), when the receiving team wins a rally they score a point AND earn the serve. Per FIVB Rule 7.6.1, they must rotate clockwise before the next service. The term "sideout percentage" or "sideout rate" is a key performance statistic, measuring how often a team scores a point when receiving.

Rulesets covered: FIVB/USAV/NFHS/NCAA  |  Rule Reference: FIVB Rule 6.3; FIVB Rule 7.6.1