Volley Tennis Rules
Rules on playing the ball:
1. The ball must be clearly and cleanly contacted with either a bump,
set, dink, or ground stroke.
2. The ball may be touched a maximum of three times before it must go over the net.
3. It is considered only one hit if two or more players hit the ball at the same time.
4. A ball that hits the net and goes over is considered good.
5. A ball hit into the net may be played off the net providing no contact is made by the player with
the net.
6. A ball touching a boundary line is considered good or in.
7. A player may not touch the net with any part of his/her body or clothing.
8. A player may not reach over the net onto the other side of the court to hit a block or a ball.
9. The ball is allowed to bounce once after every hit for a maximum of three times on each side. The
ball is not allowed to bounce over the net (one bounce in between every hit).
Game Etiquette:
 Hand the ball over the net to the server after the play has ended
 Before serving, call out the score and “service” so that the other team can prepare themselves.
 Do not mistreat the equipment by hanging on the net or kicking the volleyballs.
How to be a good player:
 Use two hands for a pass.
 Move to the ball; anticipate where it is going.
 Yell “Mine” when the ball is between you and your teammate.
Positions:
 All players must stand inside the boundaries of the court except the player who is in the act of
serving.
 The server may stand anywhere behind the white line to serve the ball.
 All players must be in their correct position when the ball is being served.
 A player may leave the court to play the ball.
 When a team earns a side-out (possession of the volleyball), each player rotates clockwise one
position.
Scoring:
 Rally scoring. Either the serving team or the receiving team will earn a point after every play.
 The winning team must have at least a two-point advantage when they reach 25 points.
 The first team to serve alternates each game.
 Teams rotate sides after every game.
Legal Serves:
 The server may hit the ball directly from their hand
 The server may hit the ball with an open or closed hand
 The server must hit the ball underhand.
Illegal Serves:
 A ball that is not definitely hit (but pushed or thrown).
 A ball that is helped over the net by a teammate.
 When the server steps on or over the white line before contacting the ball on a serve.