VOLLEYBALL SERVE RULES
Read here about all of the Volleyball Serve Rules and understand what can and cannot be done when it comes time to Serve in Volleyball.
What is a Serve in Volleyball?
The Serve is the act that starts a Volleyball match and each “rally” during the game. For this reason, it is important that we know the Volleyball Serving Rules.
THE FIRST SERVE OF A VOLLEYBALL GAME
The 1st Serve of a Volleyball match is determined by a toss. The same team serves in the deciding 5th, in case it happens. From the second to the fourth set, the Serve alternates between teams, that is, the team that started receiving the Serve in the first set serves in the second set, and so on.
THE VOLLEYBALL SERVICE ORDER
The players must follow the service order according to the line-up sheet recorded in the scorer’s table.
After the first service of the set, the server is determined in the following manner:
- When the serving team wins the rally, the server (or player that substituted him or her) serves again;
- When the receiving team wins the rally, it gains the right to serve and rotates before serving again. The player that rotates from the right side of the front line (position 2) to the right side of the back line (position 1) is the one to serve.
- ATTENTION! If you do not understand what a Volleyball rotation is, check out our Volleyball Rotation article.
SERVICE AUTHORIZATION IN VOLLEYBALL
The 1st referee is responsible for authorizing the service after checking whether both teams are ready to play and whether the server is in possession of the ball.
SERVICE EXECUTION RULES
- After being released or tossed from the hand or hands, the ball must be hit with one hand or any part of the arm.
- Only one ball release or toss is allowed.
- Bouncing or moving the ball between hands is allowed.
- At the moment of the service hit or of the momentum gain for jump service, the server is not permitted to touch the court (including the end line), nor the floor region outside the service zone.
- After the hit, the player may step on or fall outside of the service zone or within the playing court.
- The server must serve within 8 seconds after the 1st referee whistles authorizing the serve.
- The service performed before the whistle of the referee is canceled and then repeated.
SCREENING
The players of the serving team are not allowed to prevent the adversaries from seeing the server and the ball’s trajectory, be it through an individual or collective action, that is, creating a barrier.
Screening is characterized by the following actions:
- waving the arms;
- jumping or moving from side to side during the service execution;
- or gathering in groups in order to hide the server and the ball’s trajectory until the ball crosses the vertical plane of the net.
FALTAS NA EXECUÇÃO DO SAQUE
As seguintes faltas acarretam a troca do Saque mesmo se o adversário está fora de posição. Caso o sacador:
-
viole a ordem de saque (não respeite o rodízio);
-
Não execute o saque corretamente.
Após a bola ser golpeada corretamente, o saque torna-se faltoso (exceto se um jogador está fora de posição) se a bola:
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toca um jogador da equipe sacadora ou não cruza completamente a rede por cima da borda superior (espaço de cruzamento);
-
vai “fora” da quadra de jogo adversária;
-
passa sobre uma barreira (falta de barreira).
FAULTS MADE DURING SERVICE EXECUTION
The following faults result in a change of service even if the opponent is out of position, when the server:
- violates de order of service (disregarding the rotation).
- Does not perform the service correctly.
After the ball has been hit correctly, the service becomes faulty (except if the the player is out of position) if the ball:
- touches a player of the serving team or fails to cross the vertical plane above the top edge of the net completely (crossing space);
- is sent outside the opponent’s court;
- passes over a screen (screening).
ROTATIONAL FAULT X SERVING FAULT
- If the player commits a fault at the moment of the serve hit (improper execution, wrong order of rotation, etc.) and the adversary is out of position, the fault in the Serve will be sanctioned.
- If the service execution has been done correctly but the serve has become faulty afterwards (went outside of the court, passed over a screen, etc.) the positional fault has been committed first and is therefore sanctioned.