- Front-row positions: 4 (left), 3 (middle), 2 (right). Back-row positions: 5 (left), 6 (middle), 1 (right — the server).
- Each back-row player must be farther from the centre line than their corresponding front-row player: 5 behind 4, 6 behind 3, 1 behind 2.
- In each row, players must keep their left-to-right order: 4 left of 3 left of 2; 5 left of 6 left of 1.
- Positions are judged by where the players’ feet touch the floor: at least part of one foot must be closer to (or farther from) the line than the corresponding player.
- Once the ball is served, players may move anywhere in their own court and the free zone.
- FIVB 2025–2028 edition: positional faults are judged on the receiving team; the serving team’s players (other than the server, who must be in the service zone) may stand anywhere on their own court. Many national, school and youth leagues still apply positional rules to both teams — check your competition.
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