(reference: FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2005)

Game:

·         Games are best of 5 sets with a time limit of 55 minutes.

·         A set (except the deciding, 5th set) is won by the team which first scores 25 points with a minimum lead of two points. In the case of a 24-24 tie, play is continued until a two-point lead is achieved (26-24; 27-25; …).

·         In the case of a 2-2 tie, the deciding set (the 5th) is played to 15 points with a minimum lead of 2 points.

·         If time runs out and the set has not been completed, a team needs to score at least 15 points with a minimum lead of two points before the set is counted.

·         If the siren sounds during a rally, the rally should be completed and the point is counted.

Service:

·         The ball shall be hit with one hand or any part of the arm after being tossed or released from the hand(s).

·         Only one toss or release of the ball is allowed. Dribbling or moving the ball in the hands is permitted.

·         The server must hit the ball within 8 seconds after the first referee whistles for service.

·         A service executed before the referee's whistle is cancelled and repeated.

·         No player is permitted to complete an attack hit on the opponents' service, when the ball is in the front zone and entirely higher than the top of the net.

Passing:

·         The ball may touch any part of the body, however kicking the ball is not encouraged.

·         The ball must be hit, not caught and/or thrown.

·         A player can double hit the ball on the first hit of each rally, but cannot carry the ball.

 Spiking:

·         A back-row player may complete an attack hit at any height from behind the front zone; at his/her take-off, the player's foot (feet) must neither have touched nor crossed over the attack line.

·         A back-row player may also complete an attack hit from the front zone, if at the moment of the contact the ball is not entirely higher than the top of the net.

 Blocking:

·         A block contact is not counted as a team hit. Consequently, after a block contact, a team is entitled to three hits to return the ball.

·         The first hit after the block may be executed by any player, including the player who has touched the ball during the block.

·         To block an opponent's service is forbidden.

Uniforms:

·        Players not in uniform (matching tops) by week 5 will lose 2 points per set for each player not in uniform upon referee’s observation.  This does not apply to fill in players.

·         Libero player must wear uniform/tops which is of a contrasting colour.

·         Players must wear correct footwear and cannot take the court in bare feet/thongs/sandals/crocs.

Miscellaneous:

·         Each team is allowed two time-outs of 30 seconds per set.  Only the captain of the team may request the time-out.

·         No time-outs will be given in the last 5 minutes of the game time.

·         Teams are allowed one minute change over at the end of each set.

·         Teams must have a minimum of 4 players on court, otherwise it is considered a forfeit and a forfeit fee applies.

·         Teams can have fill in players to make up the 4 players required.

·         For safety reasons, players may not enter an adjoining court to retrieve a ball if a match is in progress on that court.  Ball will be whistled out.

·         If after 10 mins of the starting time, and not all players of a team are present (minimum of 4 players), the team will forfeit the first set 25-0.  If after another 10 mins, and the team does not have a minimum of 4 players, the team forfeits the second set 25-0.  The team then has another 10 more minutes before they forfeit the third set 25-0 and a forfeit is determined and a forfeit fee (game fee) applies.

·         Players must play a minimum of 8 games to be eligible for finals.

·         Teams must play a minimum of 13 games to be eligible for finals.