BOEING -- ST. LOUIS
VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE RULES
Updated September 2017
USA VOLLEYBALL (FORMERLY USVBA) RULES WILL GOVERN EXCEPT AS FOLLOWS:
ELIGIBILITY RULES
1. Players must be Boeing employees, retirees or an outside contractor stationed at Boeing--St. Louis.
2. Employee spouses, domestic partners and/or dependent children may participate provided the employee and spouse/domestic partner/child are on the same team. Dependent child must be 18 years or older. Dependent children under 18 may be allowed with consent of the League President.
3. One (1) player per team may be associate (guest) members. Associate members must be at least 18 years of age and be sponsored by a member of their team. There may not be more than one associate member on a team’s roster. Exceptions to this may be allowed with consent of the League President.
4. A BOEING EMPLOYEES VOLLEYBALL CLUB RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT must be completed and signed by each participant, and returned to the League President prior to participation.
5. New players may be added to a roster by turning in BOEING EMPLOYEES VOLLEYBALL CLUB RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT to the League President, prior to participation (Reference Rule #10).
6. A player may transfer teams only after written notification by captains of the involved teams, stating the reason for change and approval by League President, when meeting either of the following qualifications:
a. To a team with a lesser win/loss record.
b. Transfer as a result of a shift change.
c. Due to an unusual circumstance creating a review by the League President.
7. To be eligible for the end-of-season Playoff Tournament, a player must be on the team roster for the final four (4) weeks of the regularly scheduled season.
8. If a whole team disbands, all members of that team are eligible to play as new members on other teams (Rule #6 will apply).
9. A player may play on more than one Boeing Volleyball team provided all eligibility requirements are met but only one team in the playoff tournament. Players may not play on more than one team in a league.
a. Player must choose which team they will represent in the tournament. The choice must be provided to the League President prior to the playoffs.
b. Player may only play on one team for the playoff tournament. If that teams fails to advance, the player may not begin to play with another team. Players will then be considered an “illegal” player and would cost the team a forfeit.
10. The roster is limited to 12 players.
11. No player may play with a team during his/her scheduled work period.
12. New employees, shift change personnel, and disbandment team members may be added to a roster at any time during the season. To be eligible for playoffs, a new employee must:
a. Meet rule #7.
b. If added to a roster in the final four (4) weeks, his/her first working day must be within the final four (4) weeks of the regular scheduled season.
PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF ELIGIBILITY RULES
13. A participating employee, who does not meet eligibility requirements, may be subject to suspension from league and playoff competition for the remainder of the season.
14. Any team allowing an ineligible person to participate may be subject to forfeiture of each game in which that player participated.
CAPTAINS’ AND PLAYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
15. Team captains must be Boeing employees or outside representatives stationed at Boeing--St. Louis.
16. Captains should allow only eligible participants to play.
17. Captains are responsible for the conduct of their team members and fans on and off the playing area. This relates to:
a. Discussion with game officials.
b. Consumption of alcoholic beverages in the game area.
c. Keeping fans away from bench and playing areas.
d. Player and/or team sportsmanship.
18. Captains should call the League President concerning any suggestions, questions, or complaints.
19. Captains should send the League President changes in his/her mailing address or phone number immediately.
20. Captains should notify his/her players of all information regarding the Volleyball Program.
21. Captains/Players who do not comply with these regulations are subject to suspension as manager and/or participant.
22. Captains must contact the League President and opposing Captain if their team will not be present for a scheduled match. Contact should be made no later than three (3) days prior to the scheduled match. Failure to do so may result in sanctions as determined by the League President and may result in banning from playoff competition.
23. Profanity and any other unsportsmanlike acts will not be tolerated.
STARTING TIMES
24. All matches will be one (1) hour in length. There is a one (1) hour time frame consisting of a 5-minute warm-up and 55 minutes in which to play three (3) games.
25. Five (5) minutes after the game time noted on the schedule is forfeit time for the first game. There will be a five (5) minute "grace period" for the second game. If the required players are not on the court ten (10) minutes after the first scheduled game time, a second game will be forfeited. A second five (5) minute grace period will be allowed before forfeiting the last game. This gives each team fifteen (15) minutes from the scheduled start time before all three (3) games are forfeited.
26. In case of a problem with the playing facilities, the decision to play or cancel will be made by the official.
CANCELLATIONS
27. The League President will determine if games are to be canceled no later than 4:00 p.m. the day of the games. Captains shall provide contact numbers to the League President for the purpose of notification of cancelled games.
RESCHEDULED GAMES
28. Make up games for cancellations may be scheduled on any night or weekend. Every effort will be made to complete the entire season as scheduled. Please be aware, time and facility restraints may prohibit completion of the regular season.
STANDINGS AND PLAYOFFS
29. Any team forfeiting two (2) 3-game matches may be dropped from the league, upon review by the League President.
30. All Teams will be eligible for play-offs, except those under rule #29.
31. A tie in the standings will be broken by the following methods:
a. If either team has a forfeit against its record, that team will be dropped to the next lowest position.
b. The team with the best record in head to head competition, including point differential, will be given the advantage.
c. The team with the best league point differential will be given the advantage.
32. If records cannot resolve the tie situation, and if time permits, a one (1) game playoff will be played or a flip of the coin will decide the winner.
OFFICIAL SCORE
33. Referees will keep the official score.
34. It is the responsibility of both team captains to check the score following the game. No review will be allowed past this point. The captain of the winning team must obtain the scoresheet from the referee at the end of the match.
35. The captain of the winning team must email the scores to the League President and webmaster no later than close of business the day following the game.
EJECTION OF PLAYERS OR TEAM REPRESENTATIVE
36. Any player/team representative touching an official or fighting with another participant may be ejected from all Boeing programs for one calendar year from the date of the infraction. Other penalties may be levied. The penalty and application for reinstatement into the program after the one-year period will be reviewed and acted upon by the League President.
37. Any player ejected from a match may be suspended from his/her next playable match.
38. A second ejection during the year will cause the player to forfeit all playing rights for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. Application for reinstatement for the next season will be reviewed and acted upon by the League President.
39. Any player ejected from his/her last game of the regular season, or playoffs if applicable, may be suspended from his/her first playable game of the forthcoming season.
40. When an altercation occurs, the official shall eject any and all players deemed necessary to maintain order. A report shall be turned into the League President listing names of involved persons and a description of the occurrence. The League President shall then take any action they deem necessary.
OFFICIALS
41. Officials not deemed qualified to officiate may be written up by a minimum of three (3) teams and his/her qualifications may be reviewed and acted upon by the League President.
PROTESTS
42. Playing rule protests must be made at the time of the play.
43. To be considered valid, a playing rule protest must be filed in writing and accompanied by a $25.00 protest fee, with the League President within two (2) working days following the game in question.
44. Protests dealing with the possible ineligibility of a player may be questioned at any time with the League President. This type of protest does not require a $25.00 fee.
45. The following procedure will be followed when a team captain questions the eligibility of an opposing player.
a. Team captain informs the official about the player in question.
b. The official will then go to the team captain of the player in question and request full name and clock number (or BEMSID) or any additional identification needed to resolve the situation. Team captain must comply (Reference Rule #17).
c. If this matter still cannot be resolved, then the official will turn all information into the League President for further review.
46. The League President will rule on any and all written protests. All parties concerned in the protest will be heard.
47. The captains of the teams involved with the protest will be notified.
48. If the protest is upheld, the protest fee will be returned. If the protest is not upheld, the fee will be deposited into the Boeing Volleyball account to be used for sport related activities.
49. In all cases, the decision of the League President shall be final.
FACILITIES
50. No player or spectator will be permitted to consume any alcoholic beverages in the playing area or while participating in a game.
51. Participants are obligated to comply with the regulations of the facility in which they are playing.
EQUIPMENT
52. The Volleyball League or facility will provide game balls to the officials. In the event of a conflict over the condition of the ball, the official will determine whether the ball is acceptable for play.
53. A ball contacting the ceiling or overhead objects above the playable areas shall remain in play, as long as the ball remains on the same side.
THE TEAM
54. A team shall consist of 6 players, but may start and finish a game with only 5 players.
55. After a game has started, a team may continue the match with a minimum of 4 players if an injury precludes a player from continuing play.
56. If the 6th player arrives after game has begun he/she must enter game immediately.
A COMPLETE GAME
57. A game is won when a team scores twenty-five (25) points and has at least a two (2) point advantage over the opponent. A cap of 27 will be used during the regular season, but no cap will be used during the playoffs.
58. All league games will utilize rally scoring, which means there is a point scored every time the ball is served.
59. There is a one hour time limit (see rule #24) in which to warm up and play three (3) games. If the one (1) hour time limit has elapsed, then the team with the most points is the winner. If the score of the game is tied at the end of the hour, then the first team to score is the winner.
TIME OUTS
60. Each team is allotted 3 "time-outs" for each scheduled match.
61. No more than two "time-outs" may be call during one game. Requests for a time-out may be made by the designated coaches and/or playing captain when the ball is dead.
62. A "time-out" shall not exceed 30 seconds and may not be taken if a 2-minute time warning has been called for the third match.
63. During a time-out, the players are not allowed to leave the court.
64. A "time-out" shall not be called when the ball is in play except in case of injury to a player. When this occurs, the play must be repeated. An injury “time-out” will not count against a team’s total provided the injured player is not on the court for a minimum of 3 points.
SUBSTITUTION
65. Before the start of each game, the team captain will tell the official if the team will be rotating or using substitution/libero. Libero must be in a different color to ensure that it is easier for you to track.
66. Substitution of players may be made on the request of either the playing captain on the court, or a coach off the court when the ball is dead and when recognized by the official.
67. Deleted
68. A player who re-enters the game after a substitution must return to their original position in relation to their teammates in the serving order.
69. Deleted
70. Deleted
71. Substitution may be made at any time, any place on the court, and in case of injury.
DECISIONS
72. The referee shall have the power to warn or declare side out or point if any player, coach, substitute, or spectator connected with a team commits any of the following:
a. Addresses the official persistently in regard to decisions.
b. Makes derogatory remarks about or to the official.
c. Commits acts which are derogatory to the official or which tend to influence their decisions.
d. Makes personal or derogatory remarks about or to opponents.
e. Commits any other violation of sportsmanship.
73. Any situation not covered by the above rules shall be decided at the time of occurrence by the referee.
REIMBURSEMENTS
74. The team will be reimbursed its league fee if a corporate situation warrants the disbanding of the team. The following circumstances will warrant reimbursement:
a. Labor strike against the company resulting in players being on strike.
b. The transfer of 50% of players to another Boeing facility outside the Metro-St. Louis area
c. The transfer of 50% of the team to another shift that works during game time.
d. Another special circumstance which may be appealed to the League President for consideration.
75. If 9 or more weeks have been completed the team in question is ineligible for reimbursement (reference league schedule).
76. The format for reimbursement will be calculated as follows:
0 Week (100%)
1-2 Weeks (80%)
3-4 Weeks (60%)
5-6 Weeks (40%)
7-8 Weeks (20%)