Untitled Document

Volleyball Rules (Revised 2004)

Howe Sound Elementary Schools
Volleyball Rules 2007

1. Service

A. Server is allowed to start on the rear boundary line and take one step on to the court. A foot fault would be taking more than one step on to the court.
B. Service may be taken anywhere along the rear boundary line. Back row players must stay in proper rotation.
C. If service taken before referee’s whistle, it results in loss of serve (side-out)
Enforced by tournament time.
D. Server allowed one attempt at service: if ball is tossed or dropped without being struck they may try one more time.
E. The server must strike the ball cleanly with any part of the arm/hand below the elbow.
F. Under hand serves only. (upward motion, forearm pointed up, contacted below the waist)
G. Loss of service results in failure of proper service:
i. failure of serving team to return the ball
ii. if fouls committed by server or serving team.
H. The ball must land within the other court. Ball landing on the line is considered “in”.
Ball hitting net and going over is considered “in”. Each server is allowed 5 serves,
then must rotate out to allow next server to continue service.

2. Return of Service:

A. The first contact of return of serve may be bumped or volleyed with a "clean" hit.
B. The return must travel in an “upward” motion. The serve cannot be blocked or
spiked.
C. When returning the ball it must pass across the net and inside the court area. The ball may touch the net.

3. Blocking:

A. A block is: any player is considered as having intention to block if he places any part of his body (arms, hands, head, shoulders) above the net while in position at the net. All front row players may be involved in a single block if judged to be a simultaneous hit by the referee, Any player involved in the block shall have the right to make a successive contact and shall be regarded as the team's first of three contacts.
B. Players can not block a serve, but can block any other ball that comes over the net, without interfering with the play on the other side of the net. (No Penetration)

4. Spiking:

A. Open or closed fist - must be "clean" hit. Inside "Attack Zone" by front row players.
B. Cannot be done as return of serve

5. Tipping:

A. A tip is a contact with the ball with finger tips or a fist, but there is no arm swing. Both feet may be off the ground.

6. Positioning During Game:

A. A team must consist of a minimum of 10 players for league and tournament play. (recommend a maximum of 12 players) Boys teams may have female players
only if the numbers are too low.
B. Six players per side may take the court. Players must stay in the correct position only after the ball has been served. Back court players are not allowed to block or spike.
C. Back row players can not overlap with front row players.
D. Front row players can move to any of the three positions after the serve is taken. Bodies may over lap, feet may not.

7. Rotation:

A. A minimum of 4 players on the bench as substitutes. These players must rotate into the game in turn.
B. Bench order must stay the same throughout each game (but may be changed before game 3)
C. Teams must make rotate at the start of each new game, a player that just served in the previous game rotates out.Teams may reorder court players and bench for final game.

8. Substitutions:

A. In case of an injury, the next player in the rotation may be substituted in. The injured player must remain out of the game.
B. The only other substitutions will be allowed in an "emergency" situation.
C. If a player exhibits unsportsman-like behavior, they may be pulled and the player
will be substituted in.

9. Scoring Points:

A. All games will be to 25. Team must win by 2 points. Cap at 27
B. In the third game situation, it will be to 25, but in the tournament to 15
C. In the finals of the tournament all games will be to 25. 10. Scoring:
A. A ball that lands on the line is considered in.
B. A ball that touches the net during play is still good.
C. A ball played into the net may be played. (As long as no more than 3 hits are made)
D. Only one contact in succession per player is permitted. (except for a player who contacts a ball during a block and plays it again.)
E. A maximum of three contacts per side is permitted.
F. A block is not considered as a contact

10. Fouls:

A. If a player of the serving side commits a foul, service goes to opponents and a
point is awarded.
B. If a foul is committed by the receiving side, a point is awarded to the other side.
C. If simultaneous fouls by both sides are committed, the play is taken over (reserve
is given)
D. Touching the net during play is considered a foul.
E. If a player steps completely over the center line with one or both feet during play (player may step on, but not over center line, body may pass under net but not interfere with play or touch the ground on other side.)
F. Holding, pushing, directing or scooping the ball. (causing the ball to pause in hands)
is a foul.
G. Contacting the ball more than three times by a team.
H. Intentional "heading" of kicking is not allowed.

11. Warm-Up: For tournament:

A. A warm up is 5 minutes max.
B. A team will default if they are more than 15 minutes late, they forfeit game1 (25-0.) If games finish early, we will move on to next game, so be prepared to play early, we're on a very tight schedule.
B. Team captains are called up by referee for coin toss. Winner of toss gets to serve
first. (Loser of toss will serve first in the second game.

12. Start of Game:

A. Players should line up at the back of the court and wait for the referee to signal them
to move on to the court and to shake hands across center line, then to stand in
rotational order on the court.
B. A captain may be delegated to step forward to be involved in the coin toss. (in
league play) or in game 3. 13. End of Game:
A. When a game has been completed, teams back up to behind court and wait for referee to signal. Players are to walk around in a clockwise direction, then the
player line up on the end line and wait for the referee to release them to their
benches.
B. In the case of a third game, the captains of each team will be called for a coin toss. When the first team reaches 15 points the teams will be signaled to switch sides,
and the players will return to the same ; position on the court and the game resumes. (or 40 minutes)
C. In the finals the games will be to 25 for all three games and there will be no limit.

September 2004