Section 6: Scoring
6.1 Rally Point System (Rule 6, FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025–2028)
Volleyball uses the rally point system: a point is scored on every rally regardless of which team served. The team that wins a rally scores a point (Rule 6.1.1). When the receiving team wins a rally, it scores a point and gains the right to serve (side-out), with all players rotating one position clockwise (Rule 6.2).
6.2 Structure of a Match (Rules 5–6)
A match is played in the best of five sets (Rule 5.1). A team wins the match by winning three sets. Sets 1–4 are won by the first team to reach 25 points, with a minimum lead of 2 points; there is no set point cap — play continues until one team achieves a 2-point lead (Rule 6.3). The deciding set (set 5) is played to 15 points, with a minimum 2-point lead (Rule 6.4).
If a match is forfeited by a team before it starts, the opponent wins the match 3–0, and each set 25–0 (Rule 6.5). If a team is incomplete for a set, the opponent wins that set (Rule 6.5). If a match is forfeited during play, the result as it stands is recorded if the score meets the minimum requirements, or the opponent wins 3–0 and each incomplete set is scored 25–0 (Rule 6.5).
6.3 Point, Set, and Match Awards
A point is awarded when (Rule 6.1):
- The ball is grounded on the opponent's playing court.
- The opponent commits a fault.
- The opponent receives a penalty.
For ranking purposes in tournaments, teams receive:
- Match won 3–0 or 3–1: 3 points for the winner, 0 for the loser.
- Match won 3–2: 2 points for the winner, 1 for the loser.
Ranking in group play is determined in order by: match points, set ratio, point ratio, and then results between tied teams (FIVB competition regulations, applied alongside Rule 6).
6.4 Determining Set and Match Winners
The first team to win 3 sets wins the match. If both teams have won 2 sets, the deciding (fifth) set is played to 15 points with a 2-point lead. There is no maximum score in any set — play continues until one team leads by 2 points. Teams change courts in the deciding set when the first team reaches 8 points (Rule 20.2).