Editing Volleyball (section)

== Scoring ==
[[File:Mesa de anotadores de voleibol.jpg|thumb|A scorer's table shown just before a volleyball game]]
A point is scored when the ball contacts the floor within the court boundaries or when an error is made: when the ball strikes one team's side of the court, the other team gains a point; and when an error is made, the team that did not make the error is awarded a point, in either case paying no regard to whether they served the ball or not. If any part of the ball hits the line, the ball is counted as in the court. The team that won the point serves for the next point. If the team which won the point served in the previous point, the same player serves again. If the team that won the point did not serve the previous point, the players of the team acquiring the serve rotate their position on the court in a clockwise manner. The game continues, with the first team to score 25 points by a two-point margin awarded the set. Matches are best-of-five sets and the fifth set, if necessary, is usually played to 15 points. (Scoring differs between leagues, tournaments, and levels; high schools sometimes play best-of-three to 25; in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] matches are played best-of-five to 25 as of the [[2008 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament|2008]] season.)<ref name="ncaa.org">{{cite web |url=https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/resources/file/ebcecd09e29bb24/Summaryofchanges-final_post-PROP.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |title=2008 Major Rules-Change Proposals |access-date=2008-10-12 |date=2008-07-14 |work=ncaa.org |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |archive-date=2021-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814044401/https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/resources/file/ebcecd09e29bb24/Summaryofchanges-final_post-PROP.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Before 1999, points could be scored only when a team had the serve (''side-out scoring'') and all sets went up to only 15 points. The FIVB changed the rules in 1999 (with the changes being compulsory in 2000) to use the current scoring system (formerly known as ''rally point system''), primarily to make the length of the match more predictable and to make the game more spectator- and television-friendly. The final year of side-out scoring at the [[NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament|NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship]] was [[2000 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament|2000]]. Rally point scoring debuted in [[2001 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament|2001]],<ref name="vsunewrl">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4ZhXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6990%2C2462398 |newspaper=Spokesman=Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Kraus |first=Hillary |title=Volleyball serves up new rules |date=August 25, 2001 |page=C7 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814194212/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4ZhXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6990%2C2462398 |url-status=live }}</ref> and games were played to 30 points through [[2007 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament|2007]]. For the [[2008 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament|2008]] season, games were renamed "sets" and reduced to 25 points to win. Most high schools in the U.S. changed to rally scoring in 2003,<ref name="rlchevwr">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YA0hAAAAIBAJ&pg=2180%2C801441 |newspaper=The Hour |location=(Norwalk, Connecticut) |last=Bosak |first=Chris |title=Rule changes everyone will recognize |date=April 4, 2003 |page=E1 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-date=August 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813183320/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YA0hAAAAIBAJ&pg=2180%2C801441 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="atmes">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5hklAAAAIBAJ&pg=753%2C61663|newspaper=Arlington Times|location=(Washington)|last=Chandler|first=Rob|title=H.S. volleyball makes big changes|date=May 14, 2003|page=B2|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=August 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813065852/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5hklAAAAIBAJ&pg=753%2C61663|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ronrsha">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sWZWAAAAIBAJ&pg=3414%2C1732472 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Derrick |first=Chris |title=Ready or not, rally scoring has arrived |date=September 4, 2003 |page=C1 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814214032/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sWZWAAAAIBAJ&pg=3414%2C1732472 |url-status=live }}</ref> and several states implemented it the previous year on an experimental basis.<ref name="wndofch">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VUkuAAAAIBAJ&pg=4485%2C5382065 |newspaper=McCook Daily Gazette |location=(Nebraska) |last=Stamm |first=Diane |title=Winds of change blowing through volleyball world |date=October 10, 2002 |page=10 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-date=August 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813140901/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VUkuAAAAIBAJ&pg=4485%2C5382065 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In beach volleyball, The first scoring match rules are:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-20 |title=Beach Volleyball Rules {{!}} Wilson Sporting Goods |url=https://www.wilson.com/en-us/blog/volleyball/how-tos/beach-volleyball-rules?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2oW-BhC2ARIsADSIAWr2QrZBNGzQ-WbpfgBKFOoobnjz5aVgtnf_xy7BhvYT35WtSF1830gaAnsfEALw_wcB&ef_id=Cj0KCQiA2oW-BhC2ARIsADSIAWr2QrZBNGzQ-WbpfgBKFOoobnjz5aVgtnf_xy7BhvYT35WtSF1830gaAnsfEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!15981!3&utm_source=g&utm_medium=ps%7Ctxt%7Csn&utm_campaign=wilson_volleyball_sn_g_dsa_general_dsa&cmpid=ps%7Ctxt%7Csn%7Cg%7Cwilson_volleyball_sn_g_dsa_general_dsa%7Cvolleyball&gad_source=1 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.wilson.com}}</ref>

* First to 21 points
* Must win by 2
* No cap
* When playing a game to 21, teams switch sides of the court after 7 points

The 2nd and 3rd match rules are:

=== Best 2 Out of 3 ===

* First to 21 points. If a third game is needed, it is played first to 15 points
* Must win by 2
* No cap
* When playing a game to 21, teams switch sides of the court after 7 points. In games to 15 teams switch after 5 points.
* *If a 3rd game is needed, the first team to 15 points wins.

=== Libero ===
The libero player was introduced internationally in 1998,<ref>The term, meaning "free" in Italian, is pronounced LEE-beh-ro (although many players and coaches pronounce it lih-BEAR-oh). The American NCAA introduced the libero in 2002.{{cite web |url=http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/governance/sports_and_rules_ctees/playing_rules/volleyball/changes_memo |title=Rules changes for the 2002 season |access-date=2007-01-12 |last=Pettit |first=Terry |author2=Potts, Kerri |date=2002-02-28 |publisher=NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules Committee |quote=The NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules Committee [...] approved several rules changes for the 2002 women's volleyball season including the use of the libero player |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319110921/http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/governance/sports_and_rules_ctees/playing_rules/volleyball/changes_memo |archive-date=2007-03-19 }}</ref> and made its debut for NCAA competition in 2002.<ref name=vlotmnewlk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ylEeAAAAIBAJ&pg=4703%2C4692256 |newspaper=Times Daily |location=(Florence, Alabama) |last=Bean |first=Josh |title=Volleyball gets new look with 'libero' |date=August 30, 2002 |page=6C |access-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816225924/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ylEeAAAAIBAJ&pg=4703%2C4692256 |url-status=live }}</ref> The libero is a player specialized in defensive skills: the libero must wear a contrasting jersey color from their teammates and cannot block or attack the ball when it is entirely above net height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row player, without prior notice to the officials. This replacement does not count against the substitution limit each team is allowed per set, although the libero may be replaced only by the player whom he or she replaced. Most U.S. high schools added the libero position from 2003 to 2005.<ref name=atmes/><ref name=tnknsas>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sxZUAAAAIBAJ&pg=3289%2C2152977 |newspaper=The Mirror |location=(Tonganoxie, Kansas) |last=Linenberger |first=Shawn|title=Volleyball players adjusting to libero role |date=October 5, 2005 |page=1B }}</ref>

The modern-day libero often takes on the role of a second setter. When the setter digs the ball, the libero is typically responsible for the second ball and sets to the front row attacker. The libero may function as a setter only under certain restrictions. To make an overhand set, the libero must be standing behind (and not stepping on) the 3-meter line; otherwise, the ball cannot be attacked above the net in front of the 3-meter line. An underhand pass is allowed from any part of the court. The libero is, generally, the most skilled defensive player on the team. There is also a libero tracking sheet, where the referees or officiating team must keep track of whom the libero subs in and out for.

Under FIVB rules, a libero is not allowed to serve. By contrast, a libero can serve in NCAA volleyball, but only in a specific rotation. That is, the libero can only serve for one person, not for all of the people for whom he or she goes in. That rule change was implemented in 2004 and applied to high school and junior high play soon after.

Under FIVB rules, each team can designate two liberos at the beginning of play, only one of whom can be on the court at any time, and each libero can serve in one specific rotation. This rule was implemented in NCAA women's volleyball, effective with the fall 2024 season.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.ncaa.org/news/2024/2/20/media-center-double-contacts-approved-in-womens-volleyball.aspx |title=Double contacts approved in women's volleyball |publisher=NCAA |date=February 20, 2024 |access-date=February 24, 2024 |archive-date=February 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224002050/https://www.ncaa.org/news/2024/2/20/media-center-double-contacts-approved-in-womens-volleyball.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Recent rule changes ===
Other rule changes enacted in 2000 include allowing serves in which the ball touches the net, as long as it goes over the net into the opponents' court. Also, the service area was expanded to allow players to serve from anywhere behind the end line but still within the theoretical extension of the sidelines. Other changes were made to lighten up calls on faults for carries and double-touches, such as allowing multiple contacts by a single player ("double-hits") on a team's first contact provided that they are a part of a single play on the ball.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2021 |title=Official Volleyball Rules |url=https://www.fivb.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/FIVB-Volleyball_Rules_2021_2024_pe.pdf |publisher=37th FIVB World Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina}}</ref>

In 2008, the NCAA changed the minimum number of points needed to win any of the first four sets from 30 to 25 for women's volleyball (men's volleyball remained at 30 for another three years, switching to 25 in 2011). If a fifth (deciding) set is reached, the minimum required score remains at 15. In addition, the word "game" is now referred to as "set".<ref name="ncaa.org" />

The ''Official Volleyball Rules'' are prepared and updated every few years by the FIVB's Rules of the Game and Refereeing Commission.<ref>{{cite web | title=FIVB Structure | url=http://www.fivb.org/EN/FIVB/RotG_Refereeing_Commission.asp | publisher=FIVB | access-date=2019-01-11 | archive-date=January 11, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111175421/http://www.fivb.org/EN/FIVB/RotG_Refereeing_Commission.asp | url-status=live }}</ref> The latest edition is usually available on the FIVB's website.<ref name=LatestRules />