revised 4/05/04

1. PLAYING AREA

It is the players’ responsibility to assure that all lines are in their proper location prior to the start of each play.  Lines moved during play do not cause the volley to stop.  If it cannot be determined whether a ball lands in bounds or out of bounds, it is a replay.

2. TEAMS

Each team shall consist of 6 players (4 for quads) on the court; team rosters are limited to 10 players.  No co-ed 6 person team shall have more males on the court than females at anytime. Teams with fewer than the required number of players must forfeit unless Okayed by the opposing team captain and league official.

3. EQUIPMENT

Shoes may be worn but they cannot have any type of nonflexible cleats or spikes.  No casts of any type may be worn.

4. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Participants must behave respectfully and courteously in the spirit of fair play towards the referees, teammates, opponents and spectators.  They must refrain from actions aimed at delaying the game or taking unfair advantage.  Participants must accept the referees’ decisions with sportsmanlike conduct.  In case of doubt, clarification may be requested.  A captain may protest the referees’ interpretation of a rule, but not the referees’ judgment. Following are the discipline procedures.

Step 1 - Verbal warning.

Step 2 - Verbal warning and loss of point.

Step 3 - Expulsion from the match.

Step 4 - Expulsion from the grounds.

5. SCORING

Matches consist of 3 games. Rally points to 25 with a cap at 27.  Every serve will result in a point for the serving team or side out and a point for the receiving team.

6. PREPARATION OF THE MATCH

Game time is start time.  Game time is forfeit time!  A forfeit will be declared for game one if a team does not meet the minimum player requirements by the scheduled start time.  Game two will be forfeited at 20 minutes past scheduled start time.

7. ROTATION OF PLAYERS

Players can be rotated on a game-to-game basis; there is no limit to the number of substitutions in the match as long as all players are listed on the team’s roster.  Players must be rotated in and out of the back-middle position.

8. STATES OF PLAY

The ball is in play from the service contact until the ball is out of play.  If any part of the ball touches the court boundary line it is considered in.  The ball is out of play from the moment the ball lands or a fault is committed.  The volley ends when the referee halts the play or the ball is out of play.  When going out of bounds, if any part of the body touches the outside net, the ball is considered out of play or a dead ball.  The ball is out when its’ 1st contact with the ground is completely outside the playing court and it does not cause boundary lines to move or it completely crosses the net outside the posts or under the net after the attacking teams’ 3rd contact or it touches an object out of play.

9. PLAYING THE BALL

Setting the serve is allowed as long as it is not carried. Each team is entitled to a maximum of three contacts to return the ball to the opponents.  A player may not contact the ball two times consecutively except during or after blocking.  A female must hit the ball at least once, unless it is returned back on the 1st hit.  Blocking does not constitute a team contact, and a player may make the teams 1st contact of the ball after the block.  If two opponents simultaneously contact the ball over the net, the ball remains in play and the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three contacts, if such a ball lands out of bounds, it is a side out or point to the team whose side it went out on.  A player is not permitted to take support from a teammate or any object in order to reach a ball, however a player who is about to commit a fault may be stopped or held back by a teammate.  A player may contact the ball with any part of the body.  The ball must be contacted cleanly and not held (including lifted, pushed, caught or thrown).  The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a players’ body.  Spiking of the ball is allowed, but not on the return of a serve. 

10. BALL AT THE NET

A ball directed to the opponents’ court must go over the net with the crossing space limited by the side posts and their imaginary extensions upward.  A ball driven into the net may be recovered within the limits of the 3 team’s contacts.

11. PLAYER AT THE NET

While blocking a player may touch the ball beyond the net, provided they do not interfere with the opponents’ play, before or during the attack hit.  A player is permitted to pass his/her hand(s) beyond the net after an attack hit, provided that the contact was made within his/hers teams playing space.  Within the limits of the 3-team contacts, a player may contact the ball that has crossed the net below the net (or outside the posts) in an attempt to recover the ball that has not been contacted by the opponents.  Players may partially or completely cross the centerline under the net or outside the poles, before, during or after a legal play of the ball, provided that it does not interfere with the opponents’ play.  Incidental contact with an opponent is ignored unless such contact interferes with opponents’ opportunity to play the ball.  Opposing players are not required to avoid the ball or the player; they cannot intentionally interfere with any legal attempts to play the ball on their court.  If a player crosses the centerline and interferes with an opponent during the continuation of play, it is a fault.  It is also a fault for a player or players clothing to touch any part of the net. 

12. SERVICE

All serves are overhand or underhand and jump serves are allowed.  Let serves will  be allowed. A let serve is defined as a serve that hits the net and then lands in play an the receiving side. If the serving team wins the volley or replay is directed the player who served the previous volley shall serve again. It is the responsibility of the server to assure that both teams are ready for service.  A player on the receiving team may stop play when not ready for service as long as no attempt to play the ball is made the rally is then cancelled and replayed.  Misuse of this privilege is considered unsportsmanlike conduct.  It is the responsibility of the referee to blow the whistle to let the server know when it is okay to serve.  If the server serves before the whistle is blown, it is a re-serve with no points awarded.  If the server releases the ball for service but does not complete the service motion, the referee will call a side-out. The servers’ teammates must not prevent the opponents, through screening, from seeing the server or the path of the ball.  On an opponent’s request, a player must move sideways, bend over or bend down.  If you throw the ball up you must serve the ball.

13. TIME-OUTS

Each team is allowed 3 30 second time-outs per match.  Successive time-outs may be requested without the resumption of play.

14. DELAY OF GAME

A delay of game will be called to any team prolonging time-outs after having been instructed to resume the game, or any team repeating an improper request in the same game.  Any team called for delay of game the opponent receives a point.

15. ROSTERS

After the 2nd week of play, no additions to the roster may be made.  Make sure if you need substitutions for your team, you add them to your roster by this time.  All players must be at least 21 years of age.  Any team found having players not on the roster or not at least 21 years of age would forfeit their matches that night.  Rosters are limited to 10 players.

16. CANCELLATIONS

Any team who wishes to cancel will receive a 100% refund if cancellation is made at least two weeks prior to session start date.  After two weeks prior to start, 100% refund will be issued only upon the filling of your teams vacant spot. If your spot can not be filled you will forfeit your entire entry fee.  Teams that took advantage of a multiple session special and are entitled to a refund will receive a refund minus any multiple session promotions or discounts.  Cancellations for weather are only for lightning or hail and will be called just prior to game time.  If possible a temporary delay will be called until the bad weather passes. Due to the difficulties in accommodating every teams schedule, games canceled due to inclement weather will not be made up.

ANY RULES NOT COVERED WILL BE DECIDED BY THE U.S.V.B.A. OFFICIAL RULE BOOK