Volleyball 101: How the Game Works 1 – Court & Game Setup

Serving up the basics for every future player and fan.

Whether you’re new to the game or just want to brush up on the rules, this quick guide will walk you through how volleyball is played, how the court is set up, and what each player does on the team. Let’s break it down!

The Court & Setup

A standard indoor volleyball court is a rectangle measuring 18 meters long and 9 meters wide, divided by a net in the middle. Each side of the court is split into front and back rows.

• Net Height:
  - Men’s: 2.43 m (7 ft 11 ⅝ in)
  - Women’s: 2.24 m (7 ft 4 ¼ in)

• Lines on the Court:
  - Center Line – Splits the court under the net.
  - Attack Line (3-meter line) – Separates front and back rows. Back row players must - jump from behind this line to attack.
  - Service Line – Where the player stands to serve.

Basic Rules & Scoring

Volleyball is played between two teams of six players. The goal is to score points by sending the ball over the net and landing it in the opposing team’s court.

• Each team gets up to 3 touches to return the ball (usually a bump, set, and spike).
• A team wins a rally if the opposing team:
  - lets the ball hit the ground
  - hits the ball out of bounds commits a fault (e.g., net violation, double touch, etc.)
• Scoring:
  - Rally scoring system: Every rally ends in a point.
  - A set is played to 25 points (must win by 2).
  - Matches are usually best of 5 sets.

Next up: Learn about player positions, rotations, and common game rules!