The Official Volleyball Court

Volleyball Court Playing Area

The playing area consists of the playing court and the free zone around the playing court.

The Court Surface

The surface must be horizontal, flat and uniform. It should present no danger of injury to players. In FIVB Official International Competitions, only wood or synthetic surfaces are allowed.

Volleyball Court Marking Lines

All lines on the Volleyball court are 5 centimeters wide and should be painted with light color.

Volleyball Court Colors

For FIVB, World and Official Competitions, white colours are required for the lines. Other colours, different from each other, are required for the playing court and the free zone. The playing court may be of different colours differentiating the front zone and the back zone.

How Big is the Volleyball Court?

The official volleyball court is a rectangle, measuring 18 meters long and 9 meters wide.

Limits of the Court

There are two side lines and two end lines that limit the playing court. The end and sides lines are part of the playing court.

The Center Line

The Central Line divides the court into two playing courts measuring 9 meters wide by 9 meters long.

Free Game Space

The free play space is the space above the playing court devoid of any obstacles. Free playing space must be a minimum of 7 meters high from the surface of the playing court.

For FIVB Official International Competitions, the free zone shall be a minimum of 5 meters from the sidelines and 6.5 meters from the end lines of the playing court. The free play space shall be at least 12.5 meters high from the surface of the playing court.

Court Attack Line

It is the line that delimits the attack zone or the net zone. It is 3 meters from the center line of the court and goes from one side line to another. The attack line is part of the attack zone.

Front Zone or Attack Zone

In each side of the playing court, the front field or attack zone is limited by the center line and the attack line. The front field or attack zone extends beyond the side lines of the playing court to the end of the free zone.

The Service Zone

The Volleyball serving zone is an area 9 meters wide behind the end line on either side of the court. The service zone extends to the end of the free zone of the court.

Substitution Zone

The substitution zone is in the free zone, between the attack line and the scorer’s table outside the playing court.

Libero Changing Zone

The Libero Changing Zone is in the free zone between the attack line and the end line. The Libero can only replace and be replaced in this area of the court.

Warm–up area

For FIVB, World and Official Competitions, the warm–up areas, sized approximately 3 x 3 meters, are located in both of the bench– side corners, outside the free zone, where they will not obstruct the view of spectators, or alternatively behind the team bench where the tribune starts above 2.5 meters from the court surface.

Net and Posts

What is the Height of the Official Volleyball Net?

• • The official Volleyball net has a height of 2.24 meters for women’s games and 2.43 meters for men’s games.

• • The posts are 2.55 meters high and are 0.50 to 1 meter from the sideline.

• • The Volleyball net is 1 meter high by 9.50 to 10 meters wide.

• • The Volleyball net antennas must be flexible and measure 1.8 meters.

• • The antennas are fixed to the net over the court’s side lines.

• • The antenna serves to delimit the area where the ball crosses over the net.

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