Sports
Quiz: do you know the counterintuitive rules of volleyball?
Rotation, block touches, the attack line and scoring: some volleyball rules surprise people who only watch. See how many you get right.
✓ Reviewed by HumaneviInterpretation
Short answer: several volleyball rules defy intuition: a block touch does not count as one of the team's three touches, rotation follows a fixed order, and back-row players may not attack in front of the three-metre line. This quiz helps you check what you know and understand what happens on court.
How to use it
Read each situation, pick the answer that seems right and check the explanation that follows. Keep track of your correct answers to read your result at the end.
Questions
- How many touches can a team take before sending the ball back? Answer: up to three, plus a block touch. A block touch does not count, so the team still has three touches after it.
- Can the same player touch the ball twice in a row? Answer: as a rule, no. The exception is the team's first touch, when consecutive contacts in the same action are tolerated, and the block touch.
- How does rotation work? Answer: when a team wins back the serve, players rotate one position clockwise. The player in the serving spot changes and another one serves.
- Who can attack from behind the three-metre line? Answer: back-row players may attack as long as they jump from behind the line. They cannot finish in front of it with the ball above net height.
- Is a serve that touches the net out? Answer: no. If it crosses to the other side, play continues.
- How many points is a set? Answer: 25, with a minimum two-point lead. A deciding set, when there is one, usually goes to 15.
- Does only the serving team score? Answer: no, it is rally scoring. Whoever wins the rally scores, even without having served.
- Can the libero attack? Answer: not fully. The libero cannot attack the ball above net height.
- Is touching the net always a fault? Answer: not always. It is a fault when the touch interferes with play.
- What is the starting position? Answer: the order in which players stand on court when the serve is taken. Overlap rules apply between them until the serve.
How to read your result
- 8 to 10 correct: you follow the rule details well.
- 5 to 7 correct: you know the basics and could review rotation and positions.
- 0 to 4 correct: it is worth going over the rules calmly before the next match.
Notes
Rules vary by category and competition, and federations update their regulations. For official questions, check the current rulebook of the competition.