How to play volleyball

The basics

• Each team gets up to three touches to send the ball back over the net; one player may not touch it twice in a row.
• Every rally scores a point. Sets go to 25 (15 in a deciding set, 21 on the beach) and must be won by 2.
• The ball may not be caught or thrown: bump, set or spike it.
• Players rotate one position clockwise each time their team wins back the serve.
• Touching the net or stepping over the centre line loses the point.

What you need

• Indoor shoes with gum soles, or bare feet on sand.
• Knee pads for indoor play.
• A ball: indoor and beach balls differ, so bring the right one.

How a pickup game works

Pickup volleyball usually runs on the "kings court" or rotating teams: teams of 4 to 6 form on the spot, the winning team stays, and the next team waits by the court. In gyms, drop-in sessions mix players into new teams every few games.

Pickup etiquette

• Call "mine" or "yours" loudly; most collisions happen when nobody talks.
• Call your own net touches and the ball in or out on your side.
• Roll the ball under the net to the server after a point.
• Encourage teammates after mistakes: volleyball is a mood sport.

Your first games

• Learn the bump (forearm pass) first: it starts almost every rally.
• Stand ready with knees bent, not upright.
• Join a beginner drop-in to learn rotations without pressure.

Questions