Level 2 Volleyball

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The Level 2 Volleyball training is designed for Special Olympics Massachusetts coaches who would like to become a Level 2 Volleyball coach and/or for volunteers who would like information about Special Olympics Massachusetts Volleyball.  This training counts as Level 2 certification and/or recertification for three years from the date this training is completed.��This training will cover Special Olympics Massachusetts Volleyball events, rules, competitions, the divisioning process, registration and Volleyball resources.�

Level 2 Volleyball

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Coach ratio per team:�

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Roster size:�6-16 Participants. 

Unified teams must have a minimum of 4 Unified Partners and can't not exceed athlete to partner ratio of 50:50���All Coaches and Unified Partners must complete the Level 1 certification prior to their participation with a team.  

Head Coaches must complete Level II and if coach a Unifed sports team Unified sports training

Volleyball Rules

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Game Length and Matches

• Tournament Format – Teams are guaranteed two matches/games. 
• Matches – The winner is declared after best two out of three sets. Rally scoring to 25 used. If a third set is needed rally scoring to 15.
• End of Set – First two sets a team needs to win by two points. The third set does not require a two point win; it is simply first to 15.

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�Gameplay Rules - 

Serving – The serve shall be from the serve area. Stepping on or over the line before the ball is contacted shall constitute a violation.

• Modified Serving – A modified serving line will be placed 4.5 meters in from the net only for those athletes who absolutely need it. Stepping on or over the modified line before the ball is contacted shall also constitute a violation. Athletes using the modified line must be identified in advance. 
• Serving Limit - Five-serve limit for each server. Serving team maintains possession�after the five serve limit.
• Coaching – Coaches may assist athletes into positions for substitutions only, but most coach from the bench.

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Unified Volleyball Specifics

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Unified Specific Rules

Line-up - three athletes and three Unified Partners must be on the floor at all time

Serving - See serve limit above.  Additionally, Unified Partners are requested to serve at a level that accounts for the safety of athletes on the opposite team.

Passing - If the ball is touched more than one time on a side, an athlete must touch the ball before it is returned. If the ball is touched only once, a Unified partner or an athlete may return the ball.

Unified Partner Dominance - If a Unified Partner dominates every play, Unified partner dominance may be called resulting in a point and the serve awarded to the opposing team.

Coaches or Unified Partners - If you register as a Head coach you cannot play.  Only registered Unified Partners can play.

Divisioning and Registration

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Volleyball Divisioning �Divisioning is based on age, athlete skill assessment scores and team information from coaches.  Each team is required to submit an assessment score for each athlete as well as a team information page.

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Assessment Score - Skill assessment scores are based on a coach rankings in serving, blocking, passing, attacking, communication, game awareness and movement.  Please click visit Volleyball page of the SOMA coach portal for a blank copy of the assessment scoresheet.

Team Information - Information is provided based on any recent scrimmages, changes in roster from previous years or whether or not a team is stronger or weaker than previous years.  Please click here for a blank copy of the team information page.

�Registration�Registration is  done by Local Program Coordinator or Head Coaches.  If you need help with registration please contact your Business Operations Manager.��When a coach registers a team, they must submit the following:

1. Assessment score for each athlete/Unified partner (see above)
2. Coaches on each team
3. Athletes/Unified partners must have appropriate paperwork submitted in order to register

Team Sport Divisioning Philosophy

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The divisioning process for team sports is much different, and much harder, than individual sports. Unlike most individual sports, team sports do not have concrete distances or times that can be used, although we do have teams submit assessment scores for individual players. Once a game starts, however, the information contained in the assessments often takes a back seat to the dynamics at play minute-by-minute, play-by-play on the court or field. �

The challenge with divisioning team sports is that there are many factors that affect how a team performs on any given day — missing players, illness, penalties, behavior, coaching, who’s hot and who’s not, individual match ups, etc. With divisioning in team sports, much more emphasis is put on game results, common opponents, coach rankings and coach notes. There is not a perfect science to ensure that all divisions will have close games, which is why we have developed a process for team sports that includes divisioning committees. The divisioning committees allow for more coach involvement, better team evaluation and improved divisioning. We recognize there may be some games during a competition that are not competitive, but we hope that the team sports divisioning process creates the most equal divisions possible. 

In Season Fitness For Coaches

SOMA believes that fitness should be integrate into your sports season to enhance your athlete's performance and overall wellbeing. 

• Practice Visit or In Season Preparation
• Get advice on how to write a proper practice plan that incorporates warmups, cool downs, and fitness drills
• Learn sport specific warmups, cool downs and fitness drills that can easily added into practices
• Learn how to have an active practice
• Have a SOMA Staff member attend a practice to talk to your team about health or fitness (hydrating, stretching, or healthy eating) 

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• Questions? Want materials?
• Contact ops@specialolympicsma.org

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Special Olympics Massachusetts wants to make sure that you have confidence in your knowledge of volleyball rules, skills and practice ideas.  Listed below are Special Olympics volleyball resources that can help with the training and skill development for athletes.���Special Olympics, Inc Volleyball Resources����For additional resources and video tutorials on Special Olympics volleyball please visit http://www.specialolympics.org/Volleyball.aspx��

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Practice, Skill Development & Resources

Level 2 Volleyball Quiz

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Level 2 certification is not processed until you have completed the Level 2 quiz.

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To take the Level 2 Volleyball quiz please click here.