Videos
Handpicked videos to help you master the basics quickly.
Handpicked videos
A selection of clear English-language tutorials and explainers on volleyball.
Live Justice
Volleyball Basics — Bump, Set, Spike Tutorial
The three basic volleyball touches explained in one clear video.
Volleyball Tutorial
How to Bump Set a Volleyball (Volleyball Tutorial)
Step-by-step breakdown of the forearm pass.
Volleyball Coaching
How to Underhand Serve a Volleyball
Perfect for beginners: the underhand serve step by step.
Get The Pancake
4 Steps to Master the Underhand Serve
Four clear steps to nail the underhand serve.
Volleyball Explained
Volleyball for Beginners Made Easy with Simple Rules
The core rules of volleyball, explained simply and quickly.
Volleyball Rules
Volleyball Rules for Beginners
A compact overview of volleyball rules for new players.
Tips & Technique
Volleyball is easy to understand, but the technique takes practice. Start with these fundamentals.
BEGIN HIER
The bump (forearm pass)
Stand with your knees bent and form a platform with your forearms. Contact the ball with the underside of your arms, not your hands. Direction comes from your legs and shoulders, not from swinging your arms.
TIP
The set (overhead pass)
Catch the ball above your forehead with both hands at once in a short, controlled motion. This is the pass that sets up the attacker — precision matters more than power.
TIP
The serve
Start with the underhand serve: strike the ball with a flat hand from hip height over the net. Once that's reliable, move on to the overhand serve for more speed and placement.
TIP
The attack (spike)
Take a short approach, jump straight up and contact the ball at your highest point with a straight arm. Snap your wrist to direct the ball downward instead of just hitting it hard.
TIP
Blocking
Stand close to the net with your hands up. Jump at the same time as the attacker and reach your hands over the net to deflect the ball back into the opponent's court.
Rules
Volleyball has a clear rule system. Here's what you really need to know.
01
The court
A volleyball court is 18 by 9 metres, divided by a net into two halves of 9 by 9 metres. The net hangs at 2.43m (men) or 2.24m (women) in the middle.
02
Six against six
A team has six players on court: three at the front (attackers/middle blockers) and three at the back (passers/libero). Substitutes may rotate in following set rules.
03
Three touches
A team may touch the ball a maximum of three times before it must cross the net. One player may not touch the ball twice in a row (except at a block).
04
Rotation
On every change of serve, the team rotates one position clockwise. This ensures every player has to play in every position.
05
The serve
You serve from behind the back line. The ball must cross the net and land within the opponent's court to be valid.
06
In and out
A ball is out if it lands outside the lines, passes under the net, or if a player outside the court touches it last before it hits the ground.
Scoring System
| Points | Name | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 25 points | Set | The team that first reaches 25 points, with at least a 2-point lead, wins the set. |
| Rally point | System | Every rally scores a point, regardless of which team served. |
| 3 sets | Match | Most matches are played to 3 won sets (best of 5). |
| Fifth set | Tiebreak set | At 2-2 in sets, the fifth set is played to 15 points. |
| Deuce | Extension | At a tied score, a team must win by a 2-point margin. |
Drills
Most volleyball drills can be done alone or with a partner.
01
Overhead pass against a wall
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Stand 1-2 metres from a wall and continuously play the ball overhead against it. Focus on a soft, controlled touch.
- Stand with your knees slightly bent.
- Catch the ball above your forehead.
- Play it straight back against the wall.
- Count consecutive touches, aim for 20+.
- Repeat with the bump (forearm pass).
02
Partner passing drill
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Stand facing your partner 3-4 metres apart and continuously play the ball back and forth with the overhead pass.
- Start close and gradually increase the distance.
- Alternate between overhead and forearm passes.
- Try 15 in a row without dropping the ball.
- Add a side step for extra challenge.
03
Serving practice
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Practise the underhand serve from the back line toward a target zone on the court.
- Stand with your non-dominant foot forward.
- Drop the ball at hip height.
- Strike through the ball with a flat hand.
- Aim for a specific zone on the court.
- Try to land 10 serves in a row inside the court.
04
Three-touch rally
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Play a rally with at least three players, trying to combine pass-set-attack every time.
- Player 1 receives the ball with a pass.
- Player 2 sets the ball up.
- Player 3 attacks or plays the ball back.
- Rotate roles after every rally.
- Focus on communication ('mine!').
05
Block jumping
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Practise blocking technique together with a partner on either side of the net.
- Stand with your hands at shoulder height.
- Jump straight up, not forward.
- Extend your arms over the net at your highest point.
- Land under control on the same spot.
- Repeat 10 times.
Glossary
Volleyball has its own vocabulary. Find all the terms you'll encounter as a beginner.
Progress
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