League Rules

All normal volleyball rules apply with the following exceptions:

1. Teams are required to have a ratio of no less than 25% female player(s) on the court.  Teams may play with 4-5 players as long as the gender requirements are met. (e.g. If you are short players and only have 4 or less for that week, then one must be female.  If only 5, then you need 2 females). 

   • If a team decides to play with 5 players, the "ghost" (non-existing player) will start off the match in position six.  When the "ghost" rotates into position one to serve, the team forfeits their serve, a point is awarded to the opposing team and the other team takes possession of the ball to serve. 

2. Games are 45 minutes in length.  This includes warm up time.  If you choose to warm up for 15 minutes or 5 minutes, you still only have a total of 45 minutes on court per game.  The team that wins the most sets in that time, wins the game.  All sets are played to 25 points with rally point scoring (point is scored on every serve).  All sets are capped at 25 points.  If a third match is started, the game only counts if a total of 5 points or more is reached (e.g. 1-4, 2-3).

3. League games are self-regulated, so teams are required to call their own violations and are expected to be honest and foster a high level of sportsmanship at all times.  If there is a dispute, please re-serve the point.

4. A player may not block or spike to return a serve.

5. The serve is allowed to contact the net. (e.g. a serve contacting the top of the net and goes over the net, it is still in play).

6. A player is allowed to volley a serve and is allowed to volley any ball over the net.  When volleying, you do not have to be square to the path of the ball.

7. Open hand tips and directs are allowed.

8. If a player blocking touches the ball on the block, it is not counted as the first touch. The blocker may play the ball off their own block.  These two contacts are counted as one touch.

9. Blocking on a tight first pass to penetrate over the net before opposing team has an opportunity to set the ball is considered a fault.

10. Players may play the ball off any part of their body as long as it is not a double touch. Please be careful should you decide to kick the ball.

11. Minor net contact is permitted, provided that it does not interfere with the opponent’s play.

Examples of interfering with the opponents’ play:

• A player interferes with the opponent’s play while penetrating into the opponent’s space under the net.

• Touching the top band of the net.

• Taking support from the net simultaneously with playing the ball.

• A player touches the net or an opponent in the opponent’s space before or during the opponent’s attack hit.

12. There is a serve limit of 5 serves in effect.  After a player's fifth serve, the team retains service possession but must rotate to another server.  

13. Teams can have players rotate off after the serve to position 6 or to serve in position 1 if they have more than six players.  Rotation position on must be consistent throughout the match (can't switch to rotate on from position 1 to 6 in the middle of the set).

14. Be considerate of the other teams ability and skill level.  Hard hitting is not necessary if the opposing team isn't at that play level.