Serving, order and screening
FIVB · 2025–2028Who serves, the eight-second limit, foot faults and the updated rules on hiding the serve.
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Who serves nextWhistle, toss and foot positionScreening and raised handsWhich fault is judged firstWho serves next
The back-right player serves from the service zone in the order on the team’s line-up sheet. The toss determines the first server for the first and deciding fifth sets; the other sets begin with the team that did not serve first in the preceding set. When the serving team wins a rally, the same player or that player’s substitute serves again. When the receiving team wins, it rotates and the player moving from front-right to back-right serves.
Whistle, toss and foot position
The first referee authorizes service after checking readiness and possession of the ball. The server then has 8 seconds to hit it, using one hand or any part of the arm after tossing or releasing it. Only one toss or release is permitted; bouncing the ball or moving it between the hands beforehand is allowed. At the hit, or take-off for a jump serve, the server must not touch the court, end line or floor outside the service zone. After hitting, landing or stepping inside the court or outside the zone is allowed. A serve before the whistle is cancelled and repeated.
Screening and raised hands
The serving team must not hide both the service contact and the ball’s flight until it reaches the net plane. Waving arms, jumping, moving sideways or standing together can create a screen; if either the contact or flight is visible, it is not a screen under this definition. Separately, serving-team players must not raise their hands above their heads during service until the ball has passed beyond the net. The first referee may caution the team through its game captain if deliberate screening is suspected.
Which fault is judged first
Wrong service order or improper execution is penalized even if the receiving team is out of position. If the serve is executed correctly but later goes out, passes over a screen, touches a serving teammate or fails to cross completely through the crossing space, an existing receiving-team positional fault occurred first and is penalized instead. This distinguishes a fault at the service hit from a later fault in the ball’s flight.
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