Volleyball Game Rules – on the Game Situation

Read about volleyball game rules and learn how to apply them in the match.

The purpose of this section is to help you to understand rules and using them on the court for your advantage.

If you were looking for the very basic volleyball rules, go to Basic Volleyball Rules section from the Home Page. These cases are more complex.

Volleyball Game Rules Scenario I:
Libero Attack

It is NOT ALLOWED for a libero, defensive specialist to attack the ball which is COMPLETELY above the net.

Volleyball Rules Case: Libero Spiking the Ball

In junior volleyball it is very common that players are not able to swing the ball completely above the net level. That has led to situations that liberos are attacking and hitting the ball behind 10 feet (3 meter) line.

The reason why: It is ALLOWED as long as the ball is NOT COMPLETELY above the net. If at the hitting moment the ball is completely above the net, the libero’s attack becomes illegal.

At very young age groups, you see liberos with the good arm swing and top spin being very effective on their offense, even without jumping up into the air. According to rules it is OK - as long as the ball is not completely above the net.

Volleyball Game Rules Scenario II:
Setter vs. Blocker

The scenario is setter is setting the ball, which is completely on the setter's side.

Rule: Blocker is not allowed to contact the ball, if the ball has not broken the plane (if it is still completely on the opponent’s side).

Volleyball Rules Case: Setter vs. Blocker

This situation is from the setter’s view. We assume the ball is completely on the setter's side.  Any time setter notices blockers jumping to him/herself with their hands up, setter can try to set the ball to the hands of the blocker.

If a blocker touches the ball, it is blocker’s fault, every time, if the ball is completely on the setter’s side.

Fast, "shooting" volleyball pass to the setter

This incident happens often when the ball is passed and “shot” quickly towards the setter, in the manner that ball probably would fly over the net without setter touching it.

That ball often triggers blockers automatically getting up to the ball. Setter needs to make sure the ball is completely on the own side, then blockers won’t have right to touch the ball - and just “set” the ball the way it touches the blocker’s hands.

Extremely tight ball to the setter

Often when the ball is passed extremely tight to the net - it gives the setter a clear sight to the blockers hands reaching over the net – and opportunity to set the ball to the blockers hands. 

Often setter's reach is not as high as the blockers, therefore it often gives even better opportunity to see the arms reaching over and put the ball to blockers' hands.

Once again, the blockers commit to a mistake if they contact the ball, which was completely on the setter’s side.

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How to Use Rules to Win Rallies?

Basic Volleyball Rules Cases

Volleyball Setter's Trick

If you would like to know about setter's trick, scroll on the bottom of the following page:

Rules of Volleyball
Setter vs. Blocker at the net.  Tips for back row setter.  Tips for the middle blocker to beat the setter at the net.

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“Volleyball Game Rules" Related Pages

To read about simple and plain volleyball rules, go to Basic Volleyball Rules section.