Section 5: Rules of Play
5.1 Playing Actions — The Rally (Rule 11)
A rally is the sequence of playing actions from the moment of the service hit by the server up to the moment the ball is out of play (Rule 11.1). If the serving team wins a rally, it scores a point and continues to serve. If the receiving team wins the rally, it scores a point and gains the right to serve; its players rotate one position clockwise before serving.
The ball may touch any part of the body (Rule 11.2). The ball must be hit, not caught or thrown; it may momentarily come to rest on any part of the body (Rule 11.2). The ball may touch the net, including while crossing it (Rule 11.3.1). The ball that touches a post, ropes, or any other object outside the net's side bands is considered out. A ball sent to the opponent's court must pass over the net within the crossing space — the area between the antennae and their imaginary extensions (Rule 11.3.2).
5.2 Team Hits (Rule 12)
Each team is entitled to a maximum of 3 contacts with the ball to return it to the opponent's side (Rule 12.1). If more contacts are made, a fault of "Four Hits" is called. The contacts allowed per team include a block contact (Rule 12.2):
- A block contact does not count as a team's first contact; the blocked team retains its 3 hits.
- The first contact of a team may be made by any part of the body.
- The ball may contact various parts of the body sequentially, provided the contacts occur simultaneously (Rule 12.3).
Double contact (Rule 12.4): A player hits the ball twice in succession or the ball contacts various parts of his/her body in succession. Exception: during the first hit of a team (including a block), simultaneous contacts with different body parts are permitted.
5.3 Service (Rule 13)
Service is the act of putting the ball into play by the right back-row player, who hits the ball with one hand or any part of the arm from the service zone (Rule 13.1). The server must hit the ball within 8 seconds after the first referee's whistle for service (Rule 13.2.1). At the moment of contact with the ball, the server must not touch the end line or the playing court, nor the ground outside the service zone; after the hit, they may step or land outside the service zone (Rule 13.2.2).
The ball must be tossed or released from the hand(s) and hit with one hand or any part of the arm before it touches the ground. Only one toss is allowed; the ball may be re-tossed or moved only if no attempt at service is made (Rule 13.2.3). The server may move freely within the service zone. Flying service (jump serve) is permitted.
Service faults include: violation of service order, service faults during execution (foot fault, illegal contact), and service that goes into the net, under the net, out of bounds, or touches a player of the serving team before crossing the net.
5.4 Attack Hit (Rule 14)
An attack hit is any action directing the ball toward the opponent except a service or block (Rule 14.1). When the ball is entirely above the top of the net, any player may complete an attack hit except:
- A back-row player must take off from behind (and not touching) the attack line to hit the ball when it is entirely above the top of the net (Rule 14.2).
- The Libero may not complete an attack hit if the ball is entirely above the height of the net at the moment of contact (Rule 14.3).
- No player may attack a ball on the opponent's side of the net (Rule 14.4).
5.5 Block (Rule 15)
Blocking is the action of players close to the net to intercept the ball coming from the opponent by reaching higher than the top of the net (Rule 15.1.1). Only front-row players are permitted to complete a block; a back-row player or Libero who completes a block commits a fault (Rule 15.1.3). A block attempt is when a player attempts to block without contacting the ball. Multiple players may participate in a block simultaneously.
A block contact is not counted as a team hit (Rule 15.1.2). After a block, the team is entitled to 3 hits to return the ball. The first hit after the block may be by any player, including the one who executed the block.
Blocking faults (Rule 15.4) include: blocking the ball in the opponent's space (Rule 15.4.1); blocking the ball beyond the antennae (Rule 15.4.2); screening (deliberately blocking the line of sight or the path of the ball to the opponent's court during service — Rule 15.4.3).
5.6 Timeouts and Technical Timeouts (Rules 18–19)
Each team is entitled to a maximum of 2 timeouts per set (Rule 18.1), each lasting 30 seconds (Rule 18.2). In FIVB World and Official Competitions, in addition to the 2 regular timeouts, two Technical Timeouts of 60 seconds each are applied automatically when the leading team reaches the 8th and 16th points in sets 1–4 (Rule 19.1). No technical timeouts are used in the deciding set (set 5); only the two regular timeouts apply.
5.7 Intervals and Change of Courts
Intervals between sets last 3 minutes (Rule 20.1). During this time, teams change courts. In the deciding (fifth) set, teams change courts when one team reaches 8 points without interrupting the continuity of service and rotation (Rule 20.2). An interval between the fourth and fifth set may be extended up to 5 minutes at the request of a team, by decision of the FIVB or World Confederation (Rule 20.1).