GENERAL RULES AND NOTES

• If you have a rules related dispute during a match and cannot come to an agreement to replay, please see the Event Director for an interpretation immediately.

• Self-calls are required. If you make a violation, you call it on yourself.

• Alcohol Policy: Collins Park is an alcohol free park. Exceptions are only made when an alcohol permit has been applied for and granted. This will be clearly communicated in the tournament email. If alcoholic beverages are found to be present, the event may be immediately shut down  by law enforcement and all field use permits may be revoked. In addition, any attendees found possessing an alcoholic beverage may be cited under local code and applicable state laws. OCD Volleyball will not offer refunds if an event is canceled due to a violation of this policy by a player or spectator. Additionally, anyone whose actions cause an event to be shut down will not be allowed at any future OCD Volleyball event. 

• Choice of Ball: We do not have an official ball although the preferred ball is the Wilson Grass OPTX.  The only other acceptable options include the Wilson GRX or Wilson OPTX. If both teams can not come to agreement regarding the choice of ball, then it will be one of the options included with choice of serve/receive and side that takes place before each match. A ball other than the ones mentioned above cannot be included as an option. 

Format: 

• All games will have a 2 pt. cap in pool play. Your pool sheet will specify how many games you play and to how many points. Playoff games will not have caps. 

• There will be a break in between sets not to exceed 2 minutes.

• The first match of pool play will commence with the event director's whistle. At the time specified in the announcements email, another whistle will signal that after the play in progress ends, and that game 1 is over. In the case of a tie, the next point wins. This will only be in place for the first game and helps to ensure the tournament starts on time. 

• Warm-ups: Limited to 5 minutes.

• Side Switches: 

  • 2s and 3s: Teams will switch sides at 7 point intervals in sets to 21, or 5 point intervals in sets to 15. 

  • 4s: teams: Teams will switch sides at the halfway point of each game (i.e. for games played to 21 points, the switch will occur when the first team scores 11 points). 

  • During switches, teams must change sides without delay. 

  • If the court switch is not made at the proper time, it will take place as soon as the error is noticed.

Game Stoppages

• A team will be allowed one 60 second timeout per set

• In the case of an injury, a team is allowed 1 injury timeout per match, not to exceed 5 minutes. This must be granted by the Tournament Director. If the player does not recover or return to the playing area at the conclusion of the recovery time and results in his/her team being declared incomplete, the set will be scored as a forfeit with the losing team retaining the points scored. 

• Objects which intrude into playing area are considered external (not a part of the court); therefore, if a legitimate attempt to play the ball is hindered a replay shall be granted. A ball that comes to rest on the court triggers an automatic replay. A ball that passes through the back of the court away from the play or rolls by/near the court is not a replay. 

Injury, Substitution and Forfeit Procedures

• A team cannot add or replace a player on their team after they play their first point for any reason. 

• In  3's or 4's a team can play with less players due to injury or a missing a player, as long as there is at least 2 players. For coed, there must be at least one male and one female player for the team to be legal.  If playing with less players, the “ghost server”  rule is in effect. Please notify the TD immediately if a team is playing with less than the full amount so this procedure can be explained. 

• In the case of injury a team can opt to use a replacement player to finish pool play, but those matches will be scored as forfeits and the team will not be eligible to advance to playoffs with a sub. 

• At the scheduled set start time, if a team is considered in default (does/will not show or is not complete), the team will lose 1 point per minute.  Opposing teams should notify the TD immediately for enforcement of this rule.