The court
- 9 m wide and 18 m long, with the centre line under the net
- An attack line on each half, 3 m from the net
- Antennas on the net show the edges the ball must pass inside
Rules · Indoor and Beach
Volleyball Rules in Alberta: Indoor and Beach
What Calgary players, parents and first-year coaches need to know, in everyday words. Indoors we follow Volleyball Canada’s 2026-27 rulebook; on sand, the FIVB beach rules with Volleyball Canada’s changes for youth; and on top of both, the 2027 club rules from Volleyball Alberta.
- VC rulebook 2026-27
- FIVB beach 2025–2028
- Volleyball Alberta 2027
- Checked October 30, 2026
Same Sport, Two Rulebooks
Indoor vs Beach Volleyball: What Changes
Indoor
Teams of six, a rotation, liberos and the national rulebook. In Calgary, school volleyball fills the fall and club volleyball runs from January to May.
Indoor rulesBeach
Teams of two in the sand, short sets and strict rules on how you handle the ball. FIVB rules apply, with youth changes from Volleyball Canada.
Beach rules| Indoor | Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Players per team | Six per side, subs allowed | Two per side, no subs |
| Court | Hard floor 18 × 9 m with attack lines | Sand 16 × 8 m, no attack line |
| Sets | 25 points; deciding set 15 | 21 points; set 3 to 15 |
| Match | Best-of-3 or best-of-5 | Best-of-3 |
| Block | Free (not a contact) | Uses one of the three |
| Positions | Fixed order; overlaps called | Players stand anywhere |
| Tips | Legal with one hand and a brief touch | Open-hand tip called as a fault |
| Changing ends | Between sets | Every 7 points; every 5 in set 3 |
Part 1 · Indoor
Indoor Volleyball Rules for Alberta Players
This part follows Volleyball Canada’s 2026-27 Official Volleyball Rules. Indoor matches at Volleyball Alberta club events in Calgary and the rest of the province use this rulebook, as do schools and adult leagues.
- 6 players
- Sets to 25
- 3 touches, blocks free
- Rotation order
Court and Teams
Court size, net heights and the six on the floor
Indoor teams put six players on a hard court, and the net comes down for younger age classes.
The players
- Six players per team on the court
- Three players up front, three behind
- Only the three front-row players can block or attack a high ball near the net
The serve
- From behind the end line
- Within 8 seconds of the whistle
- The net may be touched on a serve as long as the ball goes over between the antennas
| Age class | Girls and women | Boys and men |
|---|---|---|
| 14U and younger | 2.15 m (7 ft 0⅝ in) | 2.20 m (7 ft 2⅝ in) |
| 15U | 2.20 m (7 ft 2⅝ in) | 2.35 m (7 ft 8½ in) |
| 16U | 2.24 m (7 ft 4⅛ in) | 2.35 m (7 ft 8½ in) |
| 17U, 18U and adult | 2.24 m (7 ft 4⅛ in) | 2.43 m (7 ft 11⅝ in) |
Official text: Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Official Volleyball Rules
Scoring
How scoring works indoors
Rally scoring: whoever wins the rally gets the point, no matter who served.
Each set
Sets are played to 25 and must be won by 2 points (for example 26–24 or 27–25). There is no upper limit.
The match
An event plays either best-of-3 or best-of-5 matches. Most Calgary youth club matches are best-of-3.
Deciding set
If the match comes down to a final set, that set is played to 15, and still needs a 2-point win.
Official text: Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Official Volleyball Rules
Rotation
How players rotate, and when it becomes an overlap
Winning the serve back moves every player one spot clockwise, which is why everyone on the court ends up serving.
- When the server contacts the ball, players must line up correctly with the teammates in front, behind and beside them. A player out of place causes an overlap: the referee calls a positional fault and the other team scores.
- Once the serve is in the air, positions are no longer fixed, so setters and liberos can switch to where they play.
- Back-row players can never block. A back-row player who is in front of the attack line also cannot spike a ball whose whole body is higher than the net.
What each position does: setter, outside, opposite, middle, libero and DS.
Faults
Indoor faults at the net, on the lines and with the ball
When a fault happens, the rally is over and the opponent gets the point.
Ball handling
- Four hits: the team touches the ball four times on its side
- Double contact: one player hits the ball two times in a row (a team’s first contact is the exception if it is one motion)
- Catch or lift: the ball is held, scooped or thrown instead of cleanly hit
Net and centre line
- Net touch between the antennas during a play
- Going all the way under the net into the other court (a foot touching or partly over the centre line is allowed)
- Reaching into the other court to play a ball before the opponent attacks it
Serves and lines
- Foot fault: the server steps on the end line
- Ball out of bounds, or the ball hits an antenna or a post
- Blocking or spiking the opponent’s serve above the height of the net
Indoor blocks are free: a block touch does not use up one of the team’s three touches.
Official text: Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Official Volleyball Rules
Liberos, Subs and Time-outs
Liberos, subs and time-outs by age class
Each age class has its own limits. Volleyball Alberta is also running a 15U pilot in 2027.
The libero
- Defensive specialist in a different-coloured jersey, back row only
- Cannot serve or block, and cannot attack the ball when it is above net height
- Libero swaps do not count as substitutions, and there is no limit on them
Liberos by age class (2026-27)
- 14U: no libero. 15U in Alberta: one libero under the 2027 pilot
- 16U and 17U: one libero in each set
- 18U: as many as two liberos in each set (new)
Subs and time-outs
- Volleyball Canada play allows two time-outs per set, each 60 seconds long
- Up to six subs per set; 14U teams get 12, and Alberta’s 15U pilot uses six limited subs
- Through 14U, sets 1 and 2 have no subs except for an injury or, in Alberta, an athlete in visible emotional distress
Official text: Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Official Volleyball Rules
New for 2026-27
Rule changes from Volleyball Canada for 2026-27
Five things are new: two changes to the rules themselves (one about the libero) and three points referees will now call differently.
| Change | What it means |
|---|---|
| Ceiling contact (Rule 8.4.2) | No longer an automatic fault when the ball hits the ceiling above the court on the team’s first or second touch: play goes on if your side can still play it. |
| Two liberos at 18U (Rule 19.1) | Up to two liberos can be named in each set by 18U teams. |
| Double contact on the set | On the team’s second touch, a double with the hands overhead is not called when it is one movement and the ball stays on your side. |
| Tips | For a tip to be legal, it is one hand, a quick touch and a straight direction, without any push, carry or throw. |
| Two hands over the net | Sending the ball over on purpose with a two-hand attack is a fault; a fair set that drifts over the net is not. |
For coaches: see the rule-change briefing on Coach Resources and the full article on all five changes.
Official text: Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Rule Change Summary
Younger Players
Mini-volley and other formats for younger athletes
Young players learn on a smaller version of the game, with fewer players, smaller courts and lighter balls.
- Common youth formats are 2 v 2, 3 v 3 or 4 v 4 played on a court roughly badminton size, with the net lowered and a light ball.
- To keep the ball in play longer, some beginner formats allow a catch and toss or let the ball bounce once.
- Every event sets its format in its competition guidelines; ask the coach or league which one applies.
Official text: Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Official Volleyball Rules
Part 2 · Beach
Beach Volleyball Rules for Alberta Players
Canada has no beach rulebook of its own: Volleyball Canada plays by the FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules and adds changes for youth.
- 2 players
- Sets to 21
- Blocks use a touch
- No open-hand tips
Court and Teams
Beach court size, net heights and pairs
Beach teams are pairs on sand, and no substitutes are allowed.
The court
- Sand court of 8 m by 16 m, with no attack line
- For 12U in Volleyball Canada play, each side is 7 m by 7 m
- Free zone of 3 m or more on every side
The players
- Pairs, and no subs
- Players can stand anywhere, so overlaps do not exist
- The two partners serve in turn and keep that order all set
The serve
- Anywhere behind the end line
- Within 5 seconds of the whistle
- One toss only; a serve may touch the net
| Age group (VC beach) | Girls and women | Boys and men |
|---|---|---|
| 14U | 2.15 m (7 ft 0⅝ in) | 2.20 m (7 ft 2⅝ in) |
| 15U | 2.20 m (7 ft 2⅝ in) | 2.35 m (7 ft 8½ in) |
| 16U | 2.24 m (7 ft 4⅛ in) | 2.35 m (7 ft 8½ in) |
| 17U to senior | 2.24 m (7 ft 4⅛ in) | 2.43 m (7 ft 11⅝ in) |
Official text: FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 · Volleyball Canada Rules and Guidelines, with beach variations
Scoring
How beach matches are scored, when teams switch sides and time-outs
Beach matches are quicker, and teams trade sides often so neither pair is stuck facing the sun or the wind.
Sets and match
A match is best-of-3. Sets 1 and 2 are played to 21 and set 3 to 15, and each set needs a 2-point win.
Changing ends
Teams change ends every 7 points during sets 1 and 2, and every 5 points in set 3, without resetting the score.
Time-outs
One time-out of 30 seconds per team in each set. At major events, sets 1 and 2 also have a technical time-out when the teams’ scores add up to 21.
Official text: FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules 2025-2028
Contacts and Faults
Beach rules on blocks, tips and setting
The biggest change from indoor volleyball is how players may touch the ball.
Blocks count
A block touch on sand takes one of the team’s three contacts, so the team has two touches left after it.
No open-hand tips
A soft open-hand push (a "dink") is called as a fault. For a soft shot, use fingertips locked together, your knuckles or a full swing.
Sets over the net
If an overhand set crosses the net, it must go in the direction the player’s shoulders face, forward or back, unless the set was aimed at the partner.
Setting the first ball
When a player sets a first contact with the fingers, a double touch is a fault even in one motion, except on a hard-driven ball.
More beach rules
- A team may not attack the opponent’s serve when the entire ball is above the net.
- At FIVB events no one may coach during play. Volleyball Canada competition allows coaching only for 20U and younger and for university events, and only between sets or during time-outs.
- Matches are stopped when the weather becomes a danger to players.
Official text: FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules 2025-2028 · Volleyball Canada Rules and Guidelines, with beach variations
Youth Beach
Volleyball Canada youth beach rules, 12U to 15U
Younger beach players also follow three learning rules from Volleyball Canada.
First contact
Fingers may not be used overhand on serve receive or on any first ball, except when the ball is hard-driven.
Second contact
A finger double on the second contact is allowed if the partner’s next touch is legal.
Serve receive
In sets 1 and 2, before the technical time-out, the player who served last receives from the right-sideline side of the court.
Grass and outdoor leagues mostly play beach rules but set their own team size, court size and net height, so check your league’s rules.
Official text: Volleyball Canada Rules and Guidelines, with beach variations
Provincial Rules
Volleyball Alberta Club Rules for 2027
Alberta’s provincial body writes extra rules for its club competitions. Every Alberta club team, Skyline included, follows them in the 2027 season.
Rosters and score sheets
- Score sheets: up to 12 players at 12U–14U, up to 15 at 15U–18U
- Each roster has 8 to 15 players, at least 8 of them unique to the age class
Liberos and subs
- At 18U, up to two liberos in each set, written on every line-up sheet
- 15U pilot: boys and girls teams use one libero and six limited substitutions
Match day
- Every team brings a volunteer scorekeeper, plus a line judge who is not in the starting six and is not the libero
- When the match ends, both teams stand at the 3-metre line to applaud their opponents and the officials; there is no handshake line
Club team from another province? Volleyball Manitoba, Volleyball BC and Volleyball Québec each have their own club handbook.
Official text: Volleyball Alberta: New for 2027
Quick Answers
Volleyball Rules: Common Questions
How many players does a volleyball team have on the court?
Six per side indoors. On the beach, two per side, and they play without substitutes.
How many points are in a set?
Indoors, 25 points, or 15 in a deciding set. On the beach, 21 points in sets 1 and 2 and 15 in set 3. In every case you need to be 2 points ahead.
How many touches does a team get?
Three before the ball has to go over. A block touch is extra indoors, but on the beach it is one of the three.
Is it okay if the serve touches the net?
Yes. Indoors or on the beach, a serve can touch the net if it goes over between the antennas and lands in the court.
Can a player reach over the net?
Sometimes. Blockers may reach over without a fault if they leave the other team free to make its attack, and an attacker’s arm may follow through over the net after hitting on their own side. Playing the ball over there before the other team attacks it is a fault.
Is the libero allowed to serve?
No. Under Volleyball Canada’s indoor rules, a libero does not serve, does not block and does not attack a ball above the net.
Why is an open-hand tip not allowed on the beach?
Beach rules treat an open-fingered push as a fault. Players use locked fingertips, their knuckles or a controlled swing for soft shots instead.
What net height do 14U girls play on?
In Volleyball Canada indoor play, the net is 2.15 m for girls 14U and younger, while 14U boys use 2.20 m.
What changed in Volleyball Canada’s rules for 2026-27?
Ceiling contacts can now stay in play, 18U teams may use two liberos, and referees have clearer guidance on overhand doubles, tips and two-hand plays over the net.
How many players can an Alberta club team put on the score sheet?
In Volleyball Alberta’s 2027 season, 12U to 14U score sheets list up to 12 players and 15U to 18U score sheets up to 15.
Official Sources
Official Volleyball Rulebooks Used in Alberta
We explain the rules in everyday words here, but the documents below are the official ones. Use them for any question this page does not answer. We update the page each August, once the new rulebooks come out.
Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Official Volleyball RulesIndoor rulebook used in Canada, with Volleyball Canada’s notes · PDFVolleyball Canada 2026-27 Rule Change SummarySummary of this season’s changes, 4 pages · PDFFIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules 2025-2028The beach rulebook followed by Volleyball Canada · PDFVolleyball Canada Rules and Guidelines, with beach variationsRulebooks, youth beach changes and guidelines for refereesVolleyball Alberta Club Coach Handbook 2027Alberta club competition rules and deadlines · PDFSkyline Coach ResourcesLine-ups, formats by age class and the rule briefing for Calgary coaches
Programs
Volleyball Camps and Programs in Calgary
From drop-in open gyms to summer day camps and position training, there is a Skyline program for every young player.
