What is an overlap fault in volleyball?
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.
Full Explanation
Per FIVB Rule 7.4, at the moment the server hits the ball, each team must be within its own court (except the server), and the players of the receiving team must be in their rotational order. The players of the serving team are free to occupy any position at the service hit. Positions are judged by where the feet touch the floor (FIVB Rule 7.4.3): (1) each back-row player must be level with, or have at least part of one foot further from the centre line than, the front foot of the corresponding front-row player; (2) each right-side player must be level with, or have at least part of one foot closer to the right sideline than, the foot of each other player in that row that is further from the right sideline; (3) the same applies on the left side, toward the left sideline. A positional fault results in a point and service for the opponent, and the players' positions are corrected (FIVB Rule 7.5.4).
Rulesets covered: FIVB | Rule Reference: FIVB Rule 7.4; FIVB Rule 7.5
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