Indoor vs beach
Indoor vs beach volleyball: the rule differences
Same net height, very different game. Here is every difference that matters, with the rule number from both FIVB rulebooks, plus snow and sitting volleyball.
Side by side
20 differences in one table
| Indoor | Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Court | 18 × 9 m Rule 1.1 | 16 × 8 m Beach rule 1.1.1 |
| Lines on court | Centre line and attack line 3 m from it Rules 1.3.3, 1.3.4 | No centre line, no attack line Beach rule 1.3.2 |
| Net height | Men 2.43 m, women 2.24 m Rule 2.1.1 | Same: men 2.43 m, women 2.24 m Beach rule 2.1.1 |
| Ball | 65–67 cm, 260–280 g, 0.30–0.325 kg/cm² Rule 3.1 | 66–68 cm, 260–280 g, 0.175–0.225 kg/cm² Beach rule 3.1 |
| Players on court | 6 Rule 7.3.1 | 2 Beach rule 4.1.1 |
| Substitutions | 6 per set Rule 15.1 | None Beach rule 15.2.2 |
| Libero | Up to two per team Rule 19.1.1 | None: a team is two players Beach rule 4.1.1 |
| Footwear | Shoes Rule 4.3.2 | Barefoot, unless the referee allows otherwise Beach rule 4.3.2 |
| Sets and match | Sets to 25, best of five, fifth set to 15 Rules 6.2, 6.3 | Sets to 21, best of three, third set to 15 Beach rules 6.2, 6.3 |
| Positions at the serve | Receiving team in rotational order; the serving team may stand anywhere (since 2025) Rules 7.4, 7.5 | No positional faults; only the serving order counts Beach rules 7.5.1, 7.6.1 |
| Block touch | Not a team hit: three hits remain Rule 14.4.1 | Counts as a team hit: two remain Beach rule 14.4.1 |
| Time to serve | 8 seconds Rule 12.4.4 | 5 seconds Beach rule 12.4.4 |
| Tip with open fingers | Allowed if the ball is cleanly hit Rule 13.1.2 | Fault: fingers must be rigid and together Beach rule 13.2.3 |
| Time-outs | Two of 30 s per set Rules 15.1, 15.4.1 | One of 30 s per set, plus a technical time-out at 21 in sets 1–2 (FIVB events) Beach rules 15.1, 15.4.2 |
| Changing sides | After each set; in the fifth set at 8 points Rules 18.2.1, 18.2.2 | Every 7 points (sets 1–2), every 5 points (set 3) Beach rule 18.2.1 |
| Break between sets | 3 minutes Rule 18.1 | 1 minute Beach rule 18.1.1 |
| Into the opponents' court | A foot only with part of it on or above the centre line Rule 11.2.2.1 | Allowed as long as you don't interfere Beach rule 11.2.1 |
| First hit with the fingers | Several contacts in one action allowed Rule 9.2.3.2 | No double contact with an overhand finger action Beach rule 9.2.2.2 |
| Coaching | The coach on the bench asks for time-outs and substitutions Rule 15.3.1 | None from outside at FIVB events; the captain asks for time-outs Beach rules 4.1.4, 15.3 |
| Injury recovery time | 3 minutes, once per player and match Rule 17.1.2 | Up to 5 minutes Beach rule 17.1.2 |
From the hall to the sand
What indoor players have to relearn on sand
The skills are the same, but a few rules cut straight across habits from indoor volleyball. The numbers come from the FIVB beach rulebook.
- The block counts: after a block touch only two hits remain. Beach rule 14.4.1
- No open-hand tips. If you play the ball over the net with your fingers, they must be rigid and held together. Beach rule 13.2.3
- An overhand pass that goes over the net must travel perpendicular to the line of your shoulders, unless you were setting your partner. Beach rule 13.2.5
- On the first hit, several contacts in a row are allowed only if you don't play the ball overhand with your fingers. Beach rule 9.2.2.2
- No centre line: you may enter the opponents' court as long as you don't interfere with their play. Beach rule 11.2.1
- Five seconds instead of eight to serve, and you switch sides every seven points. Beach rules 12.4.4, 18.2.1
- Nobody coaches you: at FIVB events there is no outside help during the match. Beach rule 4.1.4
- The ball is bigger and much softer: 0.175 to 0.225 kg/cm² instead of 0.30 to 0.325. Beach rule 3.1
The block counts
On the beach a block touch is the first of three hits Beach rule 14.4.1. Indoors it does not count Rule 14.4.1.
No open-hand tips
A soft tip with open fingers is fine indoors Rule 13.1.2, but a fault on the beach Beach rule 13.2.3.
Less time to serve
Five seconds after the whistle on the beach, eight indoors Rule 12.4.4.
Two more formats
Snow volleyball and sitting volleyball
The snow rulebook on fivb.com is the 2021–2024 edition; there was no newer one when we checked on 21 October 2026.
Indoor, beach, snow and sitting volleyball compared
Pick two to four formats and compare court, net, ball, scoring and the rules that set them apart. Every value comes from the format's own rulebook, with the rule number in the note.
| Indoor (FIVB)Hard court | BeachSand and snow | SittingHard court | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court, net and team | |||
| Players on court per team | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| Court m | 18 × 9 m | 16 × 8 m | 10 × 6 m |
| Net height, men and boys m | 2.43 m | 2.43 m | 1.15 m |
| Net height, women and girls m | 2.24 m | 2.24 m | 1.05 m |
| Ball | |||
| Circumference cm | 65–67 cm | 66–68 cm | 65–67 cm |
| Weight g | 260–280 g | 260–280 g | 260–280 g |
| Inside pressure kg/cm² | 0.30–0.325 | 0.175–0.225 | 0.300–0.325 |
| Sets and points | |||
| Sets and match | Sets to 25 with a two-point lead; best of five | Sets to 21 with a two-point lead; best of three | Sets to 25 with a two-point lead; best of five |
| Deciding set | Fifth set to 15 | Third set to 15 | Fifth set to 15 |
| Time-outs and substitutions | |||
| Time-outs per team and set | 2 × 30 seconds | 1 × 30 seconds, plus a technical time-out at 21 points in sets 1 and 2 at FIVB events | 2 × 60 seconds |
| Substitutions per team and set | 6 | None | 6 |
| Libero | Up to two per team, one on court at a time | None | Up to two per team |
| Changing sides | After every set; at 8 points in the fifth set | Every 7 points (sets 1 and 2), every 5 points (set 3) | After every set; at 8 points in the fifth set |
| Rules of play | |||
| Does a block touch count as a team hit? | No: three hits remain | Yes: only two hits remain | No: three hits remain |
| Time to serve s | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| Positions at the serve | Receiving team in rotational order; the serving team may stand anywhere (since 2025) | No fixed positions; only the serving order counts | As indoors; what counts is where the buttocks touch the floor |
| Stand-out rules | Attack line 3 m from the centre line: back-row players attack above the net only after taking off behind it | Barefoot; no open-hand tips; no coaching during the match at FIVB events | The body between buttocks and shoulders must touch the floor when playing the ball; blocking and attacking the serve are allowed |
Sources
- FIVB: Official Volleyball Rules 2025–2028 (PDF)
- FIVB: Official Beach Volleyball Rules 2025–2028 (PDF)
- FIVB: Official Snow Volleyball Rules 2021–2024 (PDF)
- World ParaVolley: Official Sitting Volleyball Rules 2025–2028 (PDF)
Checked on 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to hello@courtandsand.com.
For players, parents and coaches
The rotations cheat sheet
All six rotations of the 5-1 system on one printable page: who stands where at the serve, where everyone switches after it, and the position rule with its rule numbers.
- Six rotations at the serve and after it
- The position rule in four lines
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