Win three sets—not the most points overall—to win the match.

Which volleyball this page covers

This page applies the FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, current English version 05, for six-player indoor volleyball. The rules were approved by the 39th FIVB World Congress in 2024 and are to be implemented in competitions beginning after 1 January 2025. The controlling provisions are Rules 6, 7.1, 12.1, 17.3 and 18.

This is the international indoor baseline, not a universal format for every game called volleyball. Beach volleyball has its own FIVB rulebook. A school, college, national federation, youth event or recreational league may appoint a shorter match, a point cap or another modification; that published competition rule controls instead.

The FIVB indoor match in four lines

• Match: first team to win three sets.
• Sets 1-4: first to at least 25 points, leading by two.
• Set 5: played only at 2-2; first to at least 15, leading by two.
• Possible match scores: 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2.

Calling this “best of five” describes the maximum number of sets. It does not promise five sets: the match stops as soon as either team wins its third.

Reaching the target is only half the test

FIVB Rule 6.2 requires both a target score and a minimum two-point lead. A non-deciding set can therefore end 25-0 or 25-23, but not 25-24. From 24-24 it continues until one team creates a two-point margin: 26-24, 27-25, 31-29 and so on.

The same logic applies to the fifth set under Rule 6.3.2. Scores of 15-13 and 16-14 finish it; 15-14 does not. The FIVB rule has no point cap, so “next point wins” is wrong unless a separately appointed competition rule expressly creates a cap.

What can supply the final point

Under FIVB Rule 6.1, a team scores when it grounds the ball on the opponent's court, the opponent commits a fault, or the opponent receives a point penalty. Rally-point scoring applies whether the team that wins the rally was serving or receiving.

The set test does not change according to how the point was awarded. A service fault at 24-23 can end the set 25-23; a point penalty can do the same. At 24-24, one awarded point creates only a 25-24 lead, so the set continues.

Set count outranks aggregate points

Each set is a separate contest. Points determine who wins that set; sets determine who wins the match. FIVB Rule 6.3 does not add all rally points together to decide the winner.

A team may therefore score more points across the match and still lose. If Blue wins 25-10, then loses 23-25, 23-25 and 23-25, Blue has scored 94 points to Red's 85—but Red wins the match 3-1 because Red won three sets.

Service and sides reset between sets

Before the match, the first referee conducts a toss for first service and court side in set one (FIVB Rule 7.1). Under Rule 12.1.2, the team that did not serve first in the preceding set serves first in the next ordinary set.

FIVB Rule 18 normally gives a three-minute interval between sets while teams change courts and submit line-ups. The competent body may extend the interval between sets two and three to as much as 10 minutes at the organizer's request, so a longer mid-match presentation break is possible only through that authority.

The fifth set has its own toss and court change

A fifth set exists only after the first four sets finish 2-2. The first referee conducts a new toss before it; the winner chooses either the right to serve or receive, or the side of the court, and the loser takes the remaining choice (Rule 7.1).

When the leading team reaches eight points, the teams change courts without delay. Player positions remain the same. If officials miss the switch, it is made as soon as the error is noticed and the existing score is kept (Rule 18.2.2). Reaching eight is a side-change trigger, not a timeout and not a new set.

How to decide whether play is over

1. Name the appointed ruleset and check for a competition modification.
2. Count sets already won; under FIVB indoor rules, three wins end the match.
3. Ask whether this is set five after a 2-2 tie. If yes, the target is 15; otherwise it is 25.
4. Check that the leader has reached the target and leads by at least two.
5. If both tests are met, award the set and update the set count. If that is the team's third set, end the match.
6. If either test fails, continue play; do not impose an unwritten cap.

A forfeit is recorded with prescribed scores

Under FIVB Rules 6.4.1-6.4.2, a team that refuses to play after being summoned, or without justifiable reason does not appear on court on time, is declared in default. The recorded result is 0-3 for the match and 0-25 for each set.

This is an administrative result, not three sets that were played to completion. A different governing body or event regulation may prescribe different default scores, so the FIVB numbers should not be carried into another rules family without checking it.

Completed points and sets can be retained

If a team is declared incomplete for a set or match, FIVB Rule 6.4.3 gives the opponent the points—or points and sets—needed to win. The incomplete team keeps the points and sets it had already won.

That differs from default. For example, if Blue leads 2-1 in sets and 23-21 in set four when Red is declared incomplete for that set, Blue receives the points needed to win it 25-21 and therefore wins the match 3-1. The example applies Rule 6.4.3; it is not a purported FIVB casebook ruling.

The venue can determine whether a set resumes or restarts

For unforeseen interruptions totalling no more than four hours, FIVB Rule 17.3 preserves completed sets. If play resumes on the same court, the interrupted set continues with the same score, players and positions, subject to the rule's sanction exceptions. If play resumes on another court, that interrupted set is cancelled and replayed with the prescribed same team members and starting line-ups; sanctions remain recorded.

If one or more interruptions exceed four hours in total, Rule 17.3.3 requires the whole match to be replayed. This is why “the current score always carries over” is not a safe answer without knowing the court and duration.

FIVB beach volleyball is best of three

Under the separate FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, version 01, Rules 6.2-6.3, the first team to win two sets wins the match. Sets one and two are played to at least 21 points; a deciding third set is played to at least 15. All still require a two-point lead.

Beach teams also switch courts every seven total points in sets one and two and every five total points in set three (Beach Rule 18.2.1). This 21/21/15 best-of-three format is not an optional indoor shortcut; it belongs to a different FIVB discipline and rulebook.

“Best of three” needs an identified authority indoors

A two-set-to-win indoor match, a hard score cap, timed play or shortened pool format is not the baseline in FIVB Rule 6. It can still be valid when the appointed federation, league or tournament regulations authorize it. The notice, handbook or score sheet should identify the number of sets, each target score, any deciding-set target and whether a cap applies.

Do not fill a silent regulation with a guessed “usual” third-set score. Confirm the event's published format before play. FIVB's 27 February 2026 notice of tests for the 2026 Volleyball Nations League, U17 World Championships and Continental Championships lists changes in other areas but does not alter the Rule 6 set targets or three-set match threshold.

The score reaches 25-24 in set two

Situation: an FIVB indoor match is level 24-24. Blue wins the next rally.

Ruling: play continues at 25-24. Rule 6.2 requires a two-point lead. Blue wins the set if it wins the next rally for 26-24; if Red levels at 25-25, the race for a two-point margin continues.

The fifth set reaches 15-14

Situation: an FIVB indoor match is tied 2-2. Blue leads the fifth set 15-14.

Ruling: the match is not over. Rule 6.3.2 requires a minimum two-point lead in the fifth set. Blue needs the next point for 16-14; otherwise play continues. The earlier court switch at eight had no effect on the score or positions.

A team leads two sets to none

Situation: Blue wins the first two sets of an FIVB indoor match.

Ruling: the match continues. Blue has not yet reached the three set wins required by Rule 6.3.1. Red can still win sets three, four and five and take the match 3-2.

A local sheet says “best of three, cap 27”

Situation: an indoor tournament's appointed regulations expressly prescribe two sets to win, ordinary sets to 25 with a hard cap at 27, and a deciding third set to 15.

Ruling: administer that published competition format, including its cap, rather than presenting it as FIVB Rule 6. The decisive fact is the express modification by the authority governing that event. If the document does not explain what happens at 26-26, officials should obtain the organizer's ruling rather than invent an outcome.

Four shortcuts that produce the wrong result

• “First to 25 wins”: only if that team also leads by two.
• “Best of five means five sets”: it means no more than five; three set wins end the match.
• “The team with more total points wins”: FIVB Rule 6.3 counts sets won, not aggregate rally points.
• “All volleyball uses 25-point sets”: FIVB beach volleyball uses 21-point first and second sets, while appointed local codes may modify indoor play.

Governing-body sources and effective versions

• FIVB — Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, current English version 05 — implementation statement and Rules 6.1-6.4, 7.1, 12.1, 17.3 and 18.
• FIVB — Official Volleyball Rules library — identifies the 2025-2028 rules as the current edition.
• FIVB Board of Administration — approved rule tests for named 2026 competitions, 27 February 2026 — scope of later tests checked for changes affecting match format.
• FIVB — Official Beach Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, English version 01 — Rules 6.2-6.4 and 18 on the distinct best-of-three format and court switches.

Checked on 28 August 2026 against the editions FIVB lists as current and the later FIVB 2026 test notice. The primary scope is six-player FIVB indoor volleyball for competitions beginning after 1 January 2025. Beach volleyball is separated as a different FIVB rules family; national, school, college, age-grade and tournament regulations may replace or supplement the baseline.