Official volleyball rule...

The objective of the game is for each team to throw the ball over the net and try to ensure that the opponents cannot reach it, causing the ball to dribble. The right, back-row player begins the game. He ‘serves’ the ball by hitting it over the net to the opponent’s part of the court. A team can hit the ball thrice, before it is thrown over to the other side. No single player can hit the ball consecutively twice, except when attempting a ‘block’. This continues till the ball gets ‘grounded’, goes out of the court, any team fails to return the ball to the opponent’s court or the referee declares a default.

The courts: According to the official rules for indoor volleyball the courts measure 18 m x 9m, as decided by the FIVB and USAV standards. This includes an attack area, marked by a line, 3m behind the centerline. The official rules for beach volleyball lays down the sand court measure of 16m x 8m, according to the FIVB and AVP standards and 60” by 30”, according to CBVA. The free zone, around the court, should be of a minimum width of 2m. The main court should be free from any obstructions to a height of 7m from the court surface.

Net Height: The height of the net, measured from the center of the court, should be 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women. The two ends of the net should be secured at similar height, not exceeding the official height by more than 2 cm. The net height may vary according age group of the players.

Ball: Generally, the ball should have a circumference of 65 to 67 cm. The weight should not exceed 260 to 280 grams and the inside pressure should be 0.30 to 0.325 kg/cm2.

The Scoring Systems: There are two scoring systems, the Rally Point Scoring and the Side Out Scoring. In the former, the team winning a rally scores a point, while in the latter, only the ‘serving’ team can score a point, except in the deciding game, where the rally-point scoring is implemented.

Official Beach Volleyball Rules: The official rules for Beach Volleyball specifies that the game is played with two players in each team. The play follows the same rule of one player ‘serving’, while the other tries to win the ‘rally’ or ‘side-out’. There is also a pattern of dig, set and spike that needs to be ensured within the three touches allowed. Beach volleyball matches are played with the ‘best of three’ rally point system. The first two sets are played for 21 points and the final deciding set is played for 15 points. Only two players share the entire 81sq.m. of sand.

Official Indoor Volleyball Rules: The official rules for Indoor volleyball lay down that it is played between two teams of six players each. Each of the players moves position clockwise, every time the team wins back ‘service’ from the opponents. Only the three players at the net position can jump and spike or block near the net. The backcourt players hit the ball over the net only if they are able to do so, jumping from behind the 3 m attack line. Each player gets one chance to ‘serve’. A team can ‘touch’ thrice on its side of the net, with the usual patterns of dig, set and spike. A block into the same side of the court is not counted as a ‘touch’.

Official Rules For Referees: According to the official rules for referees, the 1st referee must focus on the line and not on the ball. Focus should also be on the part of the body that contacts the ball. The ball should be closely noticed for mishandling, when it is spiked or hit hard. As second referee, he should focus on the net and not on the blocker. As an exception to the rule, the ball has to be watched only when the contact is not visible to referee. He should have the ability to judge any given situation.
The official rules for the 2nd referee is that he must not watch the ball. He should focus on the net. At the beginning of a game, he must stand at a position from where he can watch both teams and the 1st referee. When the ball is served, he has to identify a fault in the player’s position, if any. The 2nd referee is expected to assist the 1st referee and mirror his signals at the end of a rally. During the game, he must be alert for misconduct at the net and watch the players when they block and spike. He is expected to pay attention to their movements. He also supervises the scoreboard when the 1st referee does not require his assistance. The 2nd referee is also in charge of handling delay requests and substitution.

Conclusion: Volleyball is a complex game played with simple skills. Even with such varied rules and regulations, the play has globally gained popularity.