Is the line in or out in beach volleyball?
B · Beginner · Playing the ball, attacking and blocking · 6 of 6Checked 14 October 2026
How it works
The ball is out when it:
- Falls on the ground wholly outside the boundary lines without touching them.
- Touches an object outside the court or a person out of play.
- Touches the antennae, ropes, posts or the net outside the side bands.
- Crosses the net outside the crossing space on a serve or on a team's second or third hit.
- Passes completely under the net.
The team that last touched the ball before it went out loses the rally. A ball that goes out off the block is the blocking team's fault.
Tricky cases
The ball landed outside but pushed sand on to the line. Is it in?
It depends on whether the ball itself touched the line. The rules ask only that, and do not mention sand moved by the ball.
A wild first pass went outside the antenna. Is it out at once?
No. A ball from the team's first hit that crosses outside the antenna may be chased and played back on the same side.
Why the rule exists
One test settles it: did the ball touch the court or its lines?
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIVB beach rules | As above | BV 8.3; BV 8.4 |
From the rule book
FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, Rules 8.3, 8.4, 10.1.2 and 14.6.4. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules (PDF).