Volleyball
Sets to 25, no score sheet.
One tap per rally won. The serve and the sets follow on their own.
Score a matchOne rally, one tap.
Tap the color that won the rally: it scores, and it serves. Try it!
- Sets to 25, win by 2
- 3 sets to win
- Set 5 to 15
- Pick volleyball, name the two teams, and choose who serves first.
- After each rally, tap the color that won it. The serve changes hands on its own.
- At 3 sets, the match ends. The referee calls the score, serving team first, and every set point.
The rules, in short.
What the FIVB official rules say, and nothing more.
- 25
To win a set
The set goes to the first team to 25 points with a 2-point lead. At 24-24, play goes on: 26-24, 27-25, and so on.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rule 6.2 - 3
To win the match
The match goes to the team that wins 3 sets. At two sets all, set 5 is played to 15 points, still with a 2-point lead.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rules 6.3.1 and 6.3.2 - 1
One rally, one point
Every rally gives a point to the team that wins it, whether it serves or receives. If it was receiving, it gains the serve and rotates one position.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rules 6.1.3 and 12.2.2.2 - Fault
Faults that give away the point
A fault by your team gives the point, and the serve, to the other team: ball out, four hits, a caught or thrown ball, a double contact, touching the net while playing the ball, a faulty serve. If both teams commit a fault at the same moment, the rally is replayed.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rules 6.1.1, 6.1.2.2, 6.1.3, 8.4, 9.3, 11.4.4 and 12.6 - Serve
Who serves
A coin toss decides who serves in set 1 and in the deciding set. In the other sets, the team that did not serve first in the previous set serves first.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rules 7.1, 12.1.1 and 12.1.2 - 2
Time-outs
Each team gets 2 time-outs of 30 seconds and six substitutions per set.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rules 15.1 and 15.4.1 - 8
Switching sides
Teams switch courts after each set, except before the deciding set. In that one, they switch as soon as the leading team reaches 8 points.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rules 18.2.1 and 18.2.2
Or keep your hands on the ball.
One press per rally won, on your watch or the three buttons on your earbuds: ⏮ for pink, ⏭ for yellow. ⏯ undoes the last point.
The questions people ask.
How many points do you need to win a volleyball set?
25, with at least a 2-point lead. Set 5, if it’s needed, is played to 15.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rules 6.2 and 6.3.2How many sets are in a volleyball match?
The match is won with 3 sets, so it has five at most. There are no ties and no overtime.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rule 6.3What happens at 24 all?
The set goes on until one team leads by 2 points: 26-24, 27-25, and so on. There’s no cap.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rule 6.2How many time-outs does each team get in a volleyball set?
2 per team per set, 30 seconds each.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rules 15.1 and 15.4.1Who serves at the start of each set?
In set 1 and in the deciding set, the team chosen by the coin toss. In the others, the team that did not serve first in the previous set.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rules 12.1.1 and 12.1.2What happens after a rotation fault?
The other team wins a point and the serve, and your team goes back to the correct order. Points your team scored since the mistake are cancelled; the other team’s points stand.
FIVB, Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 (French edition), Rules 7.7.1 and 7.7.2