Indoor Volleyball Rules

(updated 07/2023)

1. GENERAL RULES

1. Teams will play a best of 3 games match with the first 2 games played to 25 with a cap at 27 using "All Rally" scoring.  If the 3rd game is necessary, it will be played to 15 with a cap of 17.
2.  ”All Rally” - Every time a point is finished, one team will be awarded a point, whether they served or not.
3. All games must be played within 45 minutes, if time runs out before the match is over the current points will stand. If the game is tied, 1 more service will be played to determine the winner.  
4. Serves that hit the net and go over the net to the opponent’s side will be "live" and are good serves. It is legal to set the serve.
5. Any questions regarding policies, rules, or eligibility must be addressed before the start of the match.

2. 2.       CO-ED RULES & TEAM SIZE

1. 6's (3 men and 3 women) Legal teams must have at least 4 players with at least 2 women, and cannot have more than 3 men on the court at one time.

3. 3.       ROSTERS / SUBSTITUTES

1. Maximum roster size is 10.
2. During regular season teams are allowed to use substitutes if they cannot field a full and legal team.  There are no substitutes allowed during playoffs.
3. Players may not appear on more than 1 official team roster unless approved by the office.
4. ANY PICKUP PLAYER/SUBSTITUTE must be a signed player on another team that night.
5. No outside subs are allowed.
6. Teams may not pick up players to go over 6 and have substitutes.
7. Only players on the roster are allowed to play in the playoffs. Teams can add to their roster any time prior to the end of their final game of the season up to roster maximum of 10.  
8. Once a player has signed their team’s roster they CANNOT be replaced or removed from the roster.

4. Roster Checks:  Players have the right to ask for a roster check of the opposing team after the start of the game and before the end of the game.  These requests must be made with the coordinator during game play, and if it is found that the opposing team is playing with an “illegal player”  (i.e. not on that team’s roster or not signed) then staff reserves the right to remove the player and/or forfeit the game.  Club Sport staff decisions are final and roster checks may not be made by players once the game has finished.
5. SERVICE POSSESSION

1. A team earns service possession for the start of the first game by winning a coin toss or a Rock/Paper/Scissors.
2. The teams will alternate service every other game.

6. ROTATION

1. Team members must rotate on the court and must remain in that position until the serve has been contacted.
2. The player in the back right hand corner of the rotation will be designated to serve and continue to rotate    clockwise.
3. Teams may use a Libero.

7. FUNDAMENTALS OF PLAY

1. THREE CONTACTS - Each team is allowed a maximum of 3 successive contacts of the ball in order to return the ball to the opponent's area. (Exception: In the action of blocking an attacking ball, the touch, or contact resulting from the block attempt does not constitute one of the three successive contacts.)
2. ATTACKING THE NET - Only the three players that are in the front row of the rotation are allowed to attack the net. Violation of this rule would include any hitting or blocking that occurs above the plane of the net.
3. SIMULTANEOUS CONTACTS - When two non-blocking teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is considered as a single contact, and any player may make the next contact.  When two opponents simultaneously and instantaneously contact the ball over the net, the ball remains in play and the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball lands “out”, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side of the net from where the ball lands.
4. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONTACT - The ball can contact any number of body parts down to, and including the foot, providing such contacts are simultaneous and the ball rebounds immediately and cleanly after such contact.
5. HELD BALL - The ball must be contacted cleanly and not held, lifted, pushed, caught, carried or thrown. The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a player’s body. It can rebound in any direction.
6. HAND SETS - A contact of the ball using the fingers of one or two hands to direct the ball toward a teammate is a set. The ball must come into contact with both hands simultaneously and leave both hands simultaneously to avoid a double hit call.
7. SETTING - A player may set the ball over the net in front or behind them only in the direction in which their shoulders are squarely facing. Rotation of the ball after the set may indicate a held ball or multiple contacts during the set but in itself IS NOT A FAULT.
8. ATTACKING THE BALL OVER THE OPPONENTS COURT - A player is not allowed to attack the ball on the opposite side of the net. If the ball is hit above the spiker’s side of the net and then the follow-through causes the spiker's hand and arm to cross the net without contacting an opponent or the net, the action does not constitute a fault.
9. BLOCKING - Blocking is the action close to the net which intercepts the ball coming from the opponents’ side by making contact with the ball before, during or after it crosses the net.
10. MULTIPLE CONTACTS - Multiple contacts of the ball by a player(s) participating in a block shall be legal provided it is during one attempt to intercept the ball. Multiple contacts of the ball during a block shall be counted as a single contact, even though the ball may make multiple contacts with one or more players of the block.
11. PARTICIPATION AFTER A BLOCK - Any player participating in a block shall have the right to make the next contact, such contact counting as the first of three hits allowed the team.
12. BLOCKING A SERVE - Blocking or attacking a serve is prohibited.  However, setting a serve is allowed
13. BLOCKING A BALL ACROSS THE NET - Blocking of the ball across the net above the opponent's court shall be legal provided that such a block is: After a player of the attacking team has spiked the ball, or, in the referee's judgment, intentionally directed the ball into the opponent's court, or has exhausted their third allowable hit. After the opponents’ have hit the ball in such a manner that the ball would clearly cross the net if not touched by a player, provided no member of the attacking team is in a position to make a legal play on the ball if the ball is falling near the net and no member of the attacking team could reasonably make a play on the ball.
14. PLAYER CONTACT - No part of the body may touch the net at anytime unless a ball or person driven into the net causes the contact. Player contact with the net in a manner not directly relating to or affecting the course of play is not a violation. Contact with hair or part of the uniform will not be considered a fault.
15. SIMULTANEOUS CONTACT BY OPPONENTS - If opponents contact the net simultaneously, it shall constitute a double fault and the point shall be played over.

8. FORFEITS

1. Game time is forfeit time.
2. If the opposing team wishes to grant time for their opponents to show up, the team will be given a 10 minute grace period to get their full team on the field ready to play.  If time expires before the 3rd match, that match would be forfeited with the opponent getting 1 win and 15 points.
3. If a team forfeits a match, the opponent will get the win and 21 points for games 1 and 2, and 15 for third match.
4. If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game then we encourage you to call our office so we can inform your opponent.

9. PLAYOFFS

1. All eligible teams make the playoffs (teams that have not abused any policies are eligible).
2. Playoffs are single elimination.
3. Depending on schedule and facility constraints, some teams may need to play more than one playoff match per day.

10. 12.    RANKING

1. Rankings will be determined by (1) Winning percentage, (2) head to head play, (3) most games won, (4) fewest games lost, (5) coin flip.