Volleyball Official Rules 2025-2028

• The "Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028" are approved by the 39th FIVB World Congress 2024.
• The rules to be implemented in all competitions beginning after January 1st, 2025.
• These rules were published by FIVB in 2025 on www.fivb.com.

Volleyball Characteristics

• Played by two teams on a court divided by a net.
• Different versions exist for specific circumstances.
• The object is to ground the ball on the opponent's court while preventing them from doing the same.
• A team has a maximum of three hits to return the ball, excluding block contact.
• The ball is put in play via a serve, and the rally continues until the ball is grounded, goes out, or a team fails to return it properly.
• The team that wins a rally scores a point, known as the Rally Point System.
• When the receiving team wins a rally, it gains a point, the right to serve, and its players rotate one position clockwise.

Playing Area

• Includes the playing court and the free zone, is rectangular and symmetrical.
• The playing court is 18 x 9 meters, surrounded by a free zone at least 3 meters wide on all sides.
• Minimum free playing space height of 7 meters above the playing surface.
• For FIVB, World, and Official Competitions:
  • Free zone measures 5 meters from the sidelines and 6.5 meters from the end lines.
  • Free playing space height minimum of 12.5 meters.

Surface and Lines

• The surface must be flat, horizontal, uniform, and safe, no dangerous or slippery surfaces allowed.
• For FIVB, World and Official Competitions, only wooden or synthetic surfaces are allowed with prior FIVB approval.
• Indoor courts must be of a light color.
• For FIVB, World and Official Competitions, lines must be white, court and free zone must be different colors, and the front and back zone may have differentiating colors.
• Outdoor courts may have a slope of 5mm per meter for drainage.
• Court lines cannot be made of solid materials.
• All lines are 5 cm wide and of a light color, different from the floor and other lines.
• Two sidelines and two end lines mark the playing court dimensions.
• The center line divides the court into two 9 x 9 meter courts, extends from sideline to sideline beneath the net.
• The attack line, with its rear edge, is 3 meters from the center line, marks the front zone.
• For FIVB, World and Official Competitions the attack line is extended by broken lines from the side lines, with total length of 1.75 m.

Zones and Areas

• The service zone is 9 meters wide behind each end line, laterally limited by 15 cm short lines 20 cm behind the end line and extends to the end of the free zone.
• The substitution zone up to the scorer's table.
• The Libero Replacement zone is a side of the team benches, is limited by the attack line up to the end line.
• Warm-up areas for FIVB, World and Official Competitions located in the bench-side corners outside the free zone, or behind the bench tribune starting above 2.5 meters from the court surface, and are approximately 3 x 3 meters.

Temperature and Lighting

• Minimum temperature should be 10° C (50° F).
• For FIVB, World and Official Competitions, the maximum temperature shall be determined by the FIVB Technical Delegate.
• Lighting should be no less than 300 lux.
• For FIVB, World and Official Competitions the lighting should be no less than 2000 lux measured at 1 m above the playing area.

Net and Posts

• The net is placed vertically over the center line, with the top set at 2.43 meters for men and 2.24 meters for women.
• Height: measured from the center of the playing court and must not exceed the official height by 2 cm.
• Net Dimensions: 1 meter wide (± 3 cm) and 9.50 to 10 meters long (with 25 to 50 cm on each side of the side bands), made of 10 cm square black mesh.
• For FIVB, World and Official Competitions, the mesh may be modified to facilitate advertising according to marketing agreements.
• Horizontal Bands: 7 cm wide at the top; 5cm wide at the bottom.
• Side Bands: two white bands fastened vertically to the net directly above each side line, 5 cm wide and 1 meter long.
• Antennae: flexible rod, 1.80 meters long and 10 mm in diameter, made of fiberglass or similar material, is fastened at the outer edge of each side band and placed on opposite sides of the net with 80cm extending above the net, marked with 10 cm stripes and are part of net to laterally delimit space.
• Posts: distance of 0.50-1.00 meters outside the side lines, 2.55 meters high, must be padded and preferably adjustable.

The Ball

• Spherical, made of flexible leather or synthetic leather case with a bladder inside, made of rubber or similar material which weighs 260-280g and has a circumference of 65-67 cm and an inside pressure 0.30 to 0.325 kg/cm².
• Its color may be a uniform light color or a combination of colors. Synthetic leather material combinations should comply with FIVB standards.
• Approved balls must be used for Championships.
• Balls must have the same standards
• For FIVB, World and Official Competitions, five balls shall be used.
• Six ball retrievers are stationed at each corner of the free zone and one behind each referee.

Teams

• A team consists of up to 12 players, plus one coach, a maximum of two assistant coaches, one team therapist and one medical doctor.
• For FIVB, World and Senior competitions, up to 14 players may be recorded.
• Only those are allowed into competition/Control Area.
• The maximum five staff members on the bench are chosen by the coach and must be listed on the score sheet as registered on the O-2(bis).
• Other Staff may only intervene if invited by the referees.
• One of the players is the team captain.
• Only these can enter the court: the players, coach, the team captain.
• Team lists cannot change.
• There six players per team in play.

Violations

• Wearing different colours.
• Can't wear items that cause harm.

Equipment

• Player equipment: jersey, shorts, sport shoes, socks.
• The colour and design for jerseys, shorts and socks must be uniform and clean.
• Jerseys must be numbered from 1 (one) to 20 (twenty).
• The captain's jersey must feature a stripe 8 x 2 cm underlining the number.