• Learning the basic rules of volleyball is quick and simple.volleyball girl image by alice rawson from Fotolia.com
  
  Most people are exposed to the sport of volleyball at a young age. One of the more popular physical education activities, the sport promotes good fitness and motor skills while providing players with an engaging experience. Whether playing for the first time or the 1,000th time, volleyball is an easy sport to play and equally simple to follow.
  
  

The Serve

• Whether it's a game of regular volleyball or the 2-on-2 version, the serve rules are largely the same. Teams hold a rally to determine who serves first, with the losing team earning first serve in the following set. The server must remain behind the back line until the ball is struck. A jumper server can land in the court at the completion of his serve, but not before hitting the ball. The server must make the ball visible to the other team prior to executing the serve. The ball is allowed to clip the net and fall on the opposing side. Teams are not permitted to set or smash an opponent's serve; the first hit on a service return must be a bump.
  
  

Gameplay

• Teams are allowed a maximum of three hits to return the ball to the other side of the net. Players are not permitted to hit a ball twice in a row, though a block of an opposing smash attempt is not considered a hit. Players may hit a ball that is out of bounds, but the ball must clear the net between the two net posts or the point will end. A ball that lands on a boundary line is considered in, and the offensive team wins the point. The ball must be hit cleanly without being carried or palmed. Players may not come in contact with the net or have any part of their body cross the net line into the other team's court.
  
  

Scoring

• Volleyball uses rally-point scoring, which means that a point is scored on every play. Games used to employ serve-point scoring, where only the serving team could score point. Due to concerns over match length, the scoring system was changed. The offensive team scores a point on a successful shot that bounces in the defensive court, or if the defensive team hits the ball out of bounds. The Defense scores a point on an offensive out-of-bounds shot, missed serve or a successful block. The first team to record 25 points wins the set, but the victorious team must win by two points. In some leagues and tournaments, if the teams are tied at two sets apiece, the fifth set is played to 15 points.