What is a screen in volleyball?
A · Advanced · Rotation and serving · 3 of 8The serving team must not stop the receivers seeing the serve. A screen is one or more players of the serving team hiding both the service hit and the flight of the ball, by standing grouped, waving arms, jumping or moving sideways. If the ball passes over a screen, the serve is a fault.
How it works
- It is a screen only if both the service hit and the ball's flight path are hidden until the ball reaches the net. If either can be seen, it is not a screen.
- No player of the serving team may raise their hands above their head during the serve until the ball has passed the net.
- The first referee may caution a team through its game captain if deliberate screening is suspected.
- Penalty when the serve passes over a screen: the rally to the receiving team.
Tricky cases
Front-row players stood close together at the net during their team's serve. Is that a screen?
It depends on what the receivers could see. Standing grouped is a screen only if it hides both the hit and the flight of the ball.
Can front-row players hold their hands up, ready to block, during their own team's serve?
No, not above the head. Hands must stay below head height until the served ball has passed the net.
Why the rule exists
Receivers need to see the server's contact and the start of the ball's flight to judge a fast serve.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIVB rules | As above | V 12.5; V 12.6.2.3 |
From the rule book
FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, Rules 12.5 and 12.6.2.3. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIVB Official Volleyball Rules (PDF).