Basics
Volleyball is a fast-paced team sport where the primary objective is to ground the ball in the opponent's court or force them into an error. A standard indoor match consists of two teams of six players each, separated by a net, who must rotate positions clockwise every time they win back a service. Play begins with a serve from behind the baseline, after which teams have a maximum of three contacts—typically a pass (bump), a set, and an attack (spike)—to return the ball over the net. Matches are generally played as a best-of-five series, where the first four sets are played to 25 points (winning by at least two), and a deciding fifth set is played to 15 points. Standard rules prohibit a single player from hitting the ball twice in succession and strictly forbid catching, holding, or carrying the ball.
Rules
In volleyball, two teams of six players compete to ground the ball on the opponent's side of the court while adhering to strict touch and movement regulations. Each play begins with a serve from behind the baseline, after which the receiving team has a maximum of three hits to return the ball over the net. Individual players are prohibited from hitting the ball twice in a row, though a block does not count as one of the three team hits. Points are scored on every rally—known as rally-point scoring—regardless of which team served, and the winning team of a rally rotates their positions clockwise before the next serve. Matches are typically played as the best of five sets; the first four sets go to 25 points, while a potential fifth set is played to 15 points, with all sets requiring a minimum two-point lead to win.