Editing Volleyball (section)

== Basic play ==
The [[Volleyball rules|complete set of rules]] is extensive,<ref name=LatestRules>{{cite web | url=http://www.fivb.org/EN/Refereeing-Rules/documents/FIVB-Volleyball_Rules_2017-2020-EN-v06.pdf | title=Official Volleyball Rules, 2017–2020 | access-date=2019-01-11 |publisher=[[Fédération Internationale de Volleyball|35th FIVB World Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2016]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205014730/http://www.fivb.org/EN/Refereeing-Rules/documents/FIVB-Volleyball_Rules_2017-2020-EN-v06.pdf |archive-date=2017-02-05 |url-status=live }}</ref> but play essentially proceeds as follows: a player on one of the teams begins a 'rally' by serving the ball (tossing or releasing it and then hitting it with a hand or arm), from behind the back boundary line of the court, over the net, and into the receiving team's court.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/volleyballfundam0000dear|title=Volleyball fundamentals|last=Joel.|first=Dearing|date=2003|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=0736045082|location=Champaign, IL|oclc=50643900|url-access=registration}}</ref> The receiving team must not let the ball be grounded within their court. The team may touch the ball up to three times to return the ball to the other side of the court, but individual players may not touch the ball twice consecutively.<ref name=":1" /> Typically, the first two touches are used to set up for an attack. An attack is an attempt to direct the ball back over the net in such a way that the team receiving the ball is unable to pass the ball and continue the rally, thus, losing the point. The team that wins the rally is awarded a point and serves the ball to start the next rally. A few of the most common faults include:

* causing the ball to touch the ground or floor outside the opponents' court or without first passing over the net;
* catching and throwing the ball;
* double hit: two consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same player;
* four consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same team;
* net foul: touching the net during play;
* foot fault: the foot crosses over the boundary line when serving or under the net when a front row player is trying to keep the ball in play.

The ball is usually played with the hands or arms, but players can legally strike or push (short contact) the ball with any part of the body.<ref name=feet>Originally, only the upper body was allowed to touch the body and kicking the ball was penalised ({{Cite web|title=Can You Use Your Feet in Volleyball?: (What's the Rules)|date=4 October 2023|url=https://volleyballvault.com/can-you-use-your-feet-in-volleyball/|access-date=2023-12-07|publisher=volleyballvault.com|archive-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207192345/https://volleyballvault.com/can-you-use-your-feet-in-volleyball/|url-status=live}}) In 1993 ([[Fédération Internationale de Volleyball|FIVB]]) and 1999 ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]], respectively, the rules were amended to allow for touching the ball with any part of the body. 
({{Cite web|title=Are You Allowed To Use Your Feet In Volleyball|date=5 May 2022|url=https://volleyballedge.com/are-you-allowed-to-use-your-feet-in-volleyball/|access-date=2023-12-07|publisher=volleyballedge.com|archive-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207192346/https://volleyballedge.com/are-you-allowed-to-use-your-feet-in-volleyball/|url-status=live}}), ({{Cite web|title=Is using your feet legal in volleyball?|url=https://sportsmanist.com/is-using-your-feet-legal-in-volleyball|access-date=2023-12-07|publisher=sportsmanist.com|archive-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207192346/https://sportsmanist.com/is-using-your-feet-legal-in-volleyball|url-status=live}})</ref>

A number of consistent [[#Skills|techniques]] have evolved in volleyball, including ''spiking'' and ''blocking'' (because those plays are made above the top of the net, the [[vertical jump]] is an athletic skill emphasized in the sport) as well as ''passing'', ''setting'', and specialized player positions. Offensive and defensive structures are also key plays.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Volleyball – NCVA|url=https://ncva.com/info/general-info/history-of-volleyball/|access-date=2021-04-29|publisher=ncva.com|archive-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407203659/https://ncva.com/info/general-info/history-of-volleyball/|url-status=live}}</ref>