Format: All pool play games will be to 25 with a 2 pt. cap or the 30 minute mark, whichever comes first. A whistle will sound at the end of 30 minutes. This signals that after the play in progress ends, the game is over. In the case of a tie, the next point wins.
Side Switching: Teams should switch sides when the first team reaches 13 points. If both teams agree, teams can switch sides every 10 points.
Timeouts: 1 :30 timeout per game per team of 4
Net Contact: Contact with the net by a player during the action of playing the ball, is a fault. The action of playing the ball includes (among others) take-off, hit (or attempt) and landing safely, ready for a new action. Contact with guy wires/pole will not be considered a fault unless the contact interferes with the play (significantly lowers the net height or causes the net to fall over).
Pursuit: Players cannot cross the centerline in or outside of the court to play a ball. Players may not run onto an adjacent court, including the serving area to play a ball or after playing a ball.
Centercourt Violations: Crossing the center line is only legal if you do not contact a player on the other side of the net or in any way impede an opponent’s attempt to play the ball. Contact does not need to be made to constitute interference.
Serving Rules:
Before serving, the server should call out the score so the opposing team can hear it
Let serves are allowed
Kick serves are not allowed
One toss per serve
No penalty for incorrect server. Make the change to the correct server when error is discovered.
Serve Receive
Open hand receive/contact with fingers is not allowed
Hands must be together when attempting to receive a serve overhead
On opponent’s request, a player must move or bend down to prevent screening
You cannot attack or block a serve
Setting
The ball cannot be lifted or doubled
1.5 Spin Rule - set balls that spin more than 1.5 rotations are considered violations
Balls set into the opponent’s court must be square with the setter’s shoulders, front or back
One handed sets contacted with “finger tip action” are not allowed
Defense on Balls Coming Over the Net (non serve receive)
Beach digs (digs made using both hands that may result in a double or momentary lift) are allowed only on attacked balls that meet ALL 3 of these criteria:
Must be contacted above the height of the net
Have downward trajectory
Be hard driven
Balls that do not meet all 3 of the above criteria (i.e. roll shots, down balls, free balls, over sets, etc.) cannot be beach dug UNLESS the ball comes out completely clean (no lift, no spin).
Blocking
A block does NOT count as a touch
Blockers can redirect any ball crossing the plane of the net
Attacking
No open hand dinks or tips
Coed Reverse
In coed, men are considered back row players. Back row players must take off from behind the 10 ft. line if attacking the ball.
When a male player attacks a ball in front of the 10 foot line, some part of the ball needs to be below the height of the net.
10 foot violations should not be called until after contact with the ball is made ... A male player could jump while on or in front of the 10 foot line but still be able to drop his shoulder enough where some part of the ball is below the height of the net.
During coed reverse matches, it is illegal for male players to block or contact the ball in a blocking motion if any part of the ball is above the height of the net.
Substitution
Not allowed. In the case a team of a 2 needs to use a substitute during a game to replace an injured or missing player, only that team will be assessed a forfeit for any game played with the substitute. The results will count for the team paired up with AND the teams paired against the team using a substitute if the substitute is deemed comparable and approved by the tournament director prior to play starting. Please report any concerns to the tournament director immediately. Otherwise all decisions regarding game eligibility will be up to tournament director discretion.
*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.