Volleyball looks fast, but the basics are simple. Once you understand the court, the rules, scoring and the six basic skills, you can play within an afternoon. This guide walks you through it.
Never played? Start with getting started with volleyball. Coach? See our drill library for coaches.
The court and the rules in short
- The court is 18 by 9 metres, split by a net. Net height is 2.43 m (men) and 2.24 m (women); the attack line is 3 m from the net.
- Two teams of six players face each other.
- A team may touch the ball up to three times — the classic pattern is pass – set – attack. The same player can't touch it twice in a row (except after a block).
Scoring and rotation
Volleyball uses rally scoring: every rally is a point. Sets go to 25 (win by two); a deciding fifth set goes to 15. Matches are usually best of five. Win back the serve and everyone rotates one spot clockwise; the serve comes from position 1 (back-right). More in positions and rotation.
The 6 basic skills
Serve, pass (bump), set, attack (spike), block and dig. Teams also often have a libero: a defensive specialist in a different shirt who only plays in the back row and doesn't attack or serve. You don't need everything on day one — passing and serving already let you play a real game. Go deeper on the skills in the forearm pass and improving your attack.
"Learn to pass and serve first. That's enough for your first rally."
How to get better
You don't have to work through a solo plan. Join a club or beginners' group, take the odd training, and play a lot — small games (3-v-3) give the most ball contacts. Are you a coach looking for worked-out drills with court diagrams? They're in our drill library for coaches.
Common mistakes
- Catching the ball instead of playing it — every ball has to go straight back out.
- Standing too upright; stay low and ready.
- Forgetting to rotate or turning the wrong way.
- Touching the ball twice in a row.
Reliable sources
The official rules are at the FIVB (the world federation). Want to play smart? Read the tactical tips.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a volleyball court?
18 by 9 metres, split by a net; the attack line is 3 metres from the net.
How high is the net?
2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women.
How many players are there?
Six per team, so twelve on court.
How does scoring work?
Rally scoring: every rally is a point. Sets to 25 (win by two), deciding set to 15, usually best of five.
What does the libero do?
A defensive specialist who only plays in the back row, doesn't attack or serve and wears a different shirt.