Is the line in or out in volleyball?
B · Beginner · Playing the ball and the net · 6 of 8Checked 13 October 2026
How it works
The ball is out when:
- Every part of it that touches the floor is wholly outside the boundary lines.
- It touches an object outside the court, the ceiling or a person not in play.
- It touches the antennae, ropes, posts or the net outside the side bands.
- It crosses the plane of the net wholly or partly outside the crossing space.
- It passes completely under the net.
Who loses the rally:
- The team that last touched the ball before it went out.
- If the ball goes out off the block, the blocking team.
- Line judges signal a touch by the receiving team on a ball that then lands out.
Tricky cases
The ball clipped the outer edge of the line. Is it in?
Yes. Any contact with the line is in.
The ball hit the ceiling on our own side and came down. Can we play on?
No. A ball that touches the ceiling is out.
The spike was going out but brushed a blocker's fingers. Whose point?
The attacker's team. The ball went out off the block.
Why the rule exists
Lines are drawn inside the court's measurements, so they are part of it. Counting the line as in gives one plain test: did any of the ball touch the court?
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIVB rules | As above | V 8.3; V 8.4 |
| Halls with low ceilings | Local rules sometimes allow play off the ceiling | C |
From the rule book
FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, Rules 1.3.2, 8.3, 8.4, 14.6.4 and 29.2.1. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIVB Official Volleyball Rules (PDF).