How do points, serving and winning a set or match work?

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From the FIVB Rules 2025-2028 (Rules 6 and 7.6), with the scorer recording the points scored (Rule 27.2.2.1).

A team scores a point by landing the ball on the opponent's court, when the opponent commits a fault, or when the opponent receives a penalty.

Service: if the serving team wins the rally, it scores a point and continues to serve. If the receiving team wins the rally, it scores a point and must serve next, and its players rotate one position clockwise (the player in position 2 moves to position 1 to serve, the player in position 1 moves to position 6, and so on).

Faults: if two or more faults are committed one after another, only the first counts. If opponents commit faults simultaneously, it is a double fault and the rally is replayed.

Winning a set: a set (except the deciding fifth set) is won by the first team to score 25 points with a lead of at least two. At 24-24 play continues until a two-point lead is reached (26-24, 27-25 and so on).

Winning the match: the match is won by the team that wins three sets. At 2-2 the deciding fifth set is played to 15 points with a minimum two-point lead. The formats used at the championships can differ. In the 2026 VA Indoor Handbook, Youth Championships pool matches are a compulsory three sets (sets 1 and 2 to 25, set 3 to 15, no draws) and bracket matches are best of three sets. Junior Championships matches are best of five sets until a match is no longer in medal contention, then best of three.

Default and incomplete teams: a team that refuses to play, or does not appear on court on time without justifiable reason, is in default and loses the match 0-3 and 0-25 for each set. A team that is incomplete for a set or match loses it, and the opponent is given the points or sets needed, while the incomplete team keeps the points and sets it has.