How do substitutions work in volleyball?
I · Intermediate · Time-outs, substitutions, cards and officials · 7 of 8A team may make six substitutions in a set. A starting player may go off once and come back once in the set, and only in place of the player who replaced them. A substitute may come on once and can be replaced only by that same starter.
How it works
- Six a set for each team. Libero replacements are not counted.
- Starter A is replaced by substitute B. Later B can be replaced only by A. After that neither may be changed again in the set, except in an emergency.
- The request is made by the substitute entering the substitution zone, ready to play, while the ball is out of play. No hand signal is needed.
- Several players may be changed in one request, pair by pair. A team may not make two separate requests in the same stoppage: a rally must be completed in between.
- A substitute who is not ready costs the team a delay sanction.
- Exceptional substitution: if an injured or ill player cannot be replaced within the normal limits, any player not on court, except a libero or the libero's replacement partner, may come on. The player who went off may not return in the match.
- An expelled or disqualified player must be substituted at once. If that is impossible even exceptionally, the team is incomplete.
- Illegal substitution found after play resumes: a point and the serve to the opponents, the change is put right and the points the team scored in the meantime are cancelled.
Tricky cases
Can a player go off and come back in the same set?
Yes, once, and only in place of the player who replaced them.
A team has used all six substitutions and a player is injured. What happens?
The team may make an exceptional substitution. If no player is available, the injured player gets 3 minutes to recover, and if they cannot continue the team is incomplete.
Do substitutions reset in each set?
Yes. The limits are per set, and the coach hands in a new line-up for each set.
Why the rule exists
The pairing rule keeps the rotation order intact: a substitute takes over one place in the order, not a free role.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIVB rules | As above | V 15.5 to 15.10 |
| Beach volleyball | No substitutions | BV 15.2.2 |
From the rule book
FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, Rules 1.4.3, 15.1, 15.2 and 15.5 to 15.10. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIVB Official Volleyball Rules (PDF).