Questions? Contact the appropriate committee!

Volleyball Tournament

Overview

This will be a single elimination tournament. The stakes are high: for only one school shall know the glory of a volleyball championship. But, as they say, it is the road to victory that is the true reward, so my mission is to make each match a blast! Consider this tournament if you’re in search of fun, competitiveness, and laughs.

There is a strict 45 minute time limit per match, with 3 games per match. Because of these time constraints, the games will be played to 15 points (must have a two point advantage or play until one team leads by two points after 15) with the rally scoring system. Rally scoring is where each rally results in the team winning possession being awarded a point. In other words, one team obtains a point each time the ball is put in play regardless of the serving team.

Each team must be present and ready to play by the time the match is scheduled so try to assemble your team at least 15 minutes before the assigned start time. Teams not immediately ready to play the game at the assigned start time will forfeit the first game of the match. The referee will wait a maximum of 10 minutes for the teams to start the second game for that match. Any team not ready to play by 10 minutes after the start of the match will be disqualified from the rest of play.

A maximum of 6 and a minimum of 5 players per team must be on the court at all times. A minimum of 3 females must be on the court at all times.

Rules

1. The line surrounding the field of play is in bounds. A ball hitting the line is in bounds. This also means that if the server steps on the line or enters the imaginary vertical plane above the line before the served ball crosses the plane of the net, he/she has committed a fault.
2. All head gear and jewelry must be removed or taped sufficiently to prevent personal or teammate injury. Hard splints or casts from the waist up are not allowed.
3. As soon as one of the referees notices an injury, play will be stopped and a replay called. The player has 15 seconds to decide whether to keep playing or be substituted.
4. The service is performed at the right rear corner, but completely outside of the court. A fault results in losing possession of the serve and one point awarded to the opposite team. Serving faults consist of: crossing the imaginary vertical plane above the line of the court before the ball crosses the net (even if you’re inclined to jump serves…yikes!), the ball touching the net during the serve, the ball touching a teammate before going over the net, or the ball landing outside of the opponent’s court.
5. A ball, other than a served ball, hitting the net is still in play.
6. All players must serve. When a new possession is won, players rotate one position in a clockwise direction. If a player serves out of turn, the team loses the service, any points won during those serves, and the players must move back to their correct positions.
7. All players except the server must stand in the court at the time of serving.
8. Maximum of three contacts (including anywhere above the waist) is allowed to get the ball back over the net. Blocking is not part of the three hits.
9. A player cannot touch the ball more than once without another player touching it in between. The exception is when a blocked ball is touched again by the blocker following an unsuccessful block at the net. (Note: blocking a spike may result in indiscriminant double hit fault, but is a legal block)
10. If two teammates hit the ball at the same time, it counts as two hits and neither one may make the next hit.
11. A player may not scoop, push, lift, or roll the ball on the body, arms, or hands. Held ball faults will be called when a ball visibly comes to rest in the hands or arms of a player.
12. A player may not attack the ball over the opponent’s court but arms may follow through to the opponent’s side as long as the net is not touched. If any part of the ball is over the plane of the net, it is in both courts and fair game for both teams to contact. Blocking the ball above the net over the opponent’s court is legal, but only if the attacking team has tried to hit the ball toward the blocker’s court. Only front line positions are able to block.
13. Blocking or attacking a served ball is illegal.
14. A back line player may spike the ball (jump and hit it over) only when he/she originates the jump from behind the attack line. And a player may send the ball over from anywhere, as long as both feet are grounded on an overhead strike.
15. A player touching the net during play will result in a fault for their team. If opponents touch the net at the same time, a double fault is called and the rally is played over.
16. A ball landing outside of the court or striking objects outside the court is a fault.
17. Substitution can occur at any dead ball after the referee acknowledges the exchange. Only the team captain is allowed to ask the referee for the exchange.
18. One captain from each team may consult with the referees when the ball is dead. Unsportsman like conduct (vulgar remarks, intentional distraction of opponents, influencing referees) will result in a yellow card warning for the first offense and an expulsion from play for the rest of the tournament if a second offense is committed. The captain may consult the referee about misinterpretation of rules, failure of the referee to apply the correct rule, and failure to impose the correct penalty.
19. Captains: The winner of a coin toss at the beginning of each match will chose either a side or serve for the first game. After each game, teams will change sides. Players maintain their positions in the rotation from the preceding game. Teams take turns having first service in a new game.