St. Victor School
Outdoor Volleyball Tournament Rules
2010
*No Barbecues, Dogs or animals of any size, no canopies or large umbrellas, skateboards, bicycles, or scooters allowed on St. Victor campus*
coaches are responsible of their teams and parents following the rules.
1.1 LINES ON THE COURT
Boundary lines consist of two sidelines and two end lines that mark the playing court. They are made of 1/4-3/8" rope. The centerline divides the playing court into two square team courts, but is not marked. All lines are considered to extend indefinitely.
It is the players' responsibility to assure that all lines are in their proper location prior to the start of each play. Lines moved during play do not cause the rally to stop. If it cannot be determined whether a ball lands in bounds or out of bounds, it is a replay. If another ball comes on the court the play shall stop and be determined a replay.
1.2 SERVICE ZONE
The service zone is behind the end line and between the extensions of the sidelines and extends to the end of the free zone. 5th grade division may take one step over service line. If serving over hand they must stay behind service line.
2. NET AND POSTS
The height of the net is 7’1" – 7' 4», measured at the center. A net failure occurs when there is a sudden loss of net height or tension. If the net failure is the result of a fault or does not affect the outcome of the rally, the rally counts. Otherwise, it is replayed.
Do not try to adjust nets for any reason. If your net needs to be adjusted, please contact tournament officials.
3. BALL
Ball will be provided by tournament host for all games. You must provide your own warm up balls. We don't use volleylite balls for the younger division.
4. TEAMS
4.1 COMPOSITION
Each team consists of 6 on-court players. A team can start a match with a minimum of 4 players if there are no other players available. There will be no sideout points given for having less than 6 players. Players must be added as they arrive. If a player needs to be added, she will be placed in the next open serving position in the rotation.
If a team has fewer than six players due to illness, injury or disqualification after the start of the match, it shall continue to play. A sideout will be awarded to the oppossing team when her serving turn comes up
4.2 PARTICIPATION
8th grade teams can include players from 5th to 8th grade. 7th grade teams can have players from 5th to 7th grade. 6th grade teams can have 5th and 6th graders. 5th grade teams may include 4th and 5th graders. 4th grade players can only play on 5th grade teams. No player may play on more than one team.
4.3 CAPTAIN
The captain is the one player who represents their team in dealings with the officials.
5. PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT
5.1 EQUIPMENT
A player's clothing must be presentable and appropriate for the competition. Players on the same team are permitted to wear clothing of different colors and designs. Tennis Shoes only! No Cleats or sandals or flip flops
5.2 FORBIDDEN OBJECTS
Players may not have any jewelry or metal hair clips of any type. Only scrunchies, soft headbands, or rubber bands are permitted to hold back the hair. No face paint or glitter is allowed. Sunglasses may be worn. Soft visors/hats may be worn. No wristbands. Players must wear tennis shoes only. No Cleats!
6. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
6.1 PLAYERS
Participants must behave respectfully and courteously in the spirit of fair play towards the refereeing corps, teammates, opponents and spectators. They must refrain from actions aimed at delaying the game or taking unfair advantage.
Participants must accept referees' decisions with sportsmanlike conduct. In case of doubt, clarification may be requested by coaches only.
A captain may protest the referee's interpretation of a rule, but not the referee's judgment.
Any dispute that can not be settled with in court officials will be given to tournament director Joaquina Batula for a final result.
7. SCORING SYSTEM
7.1 PRELIMINARY POOLS
Three, four or five team pools. Each match in pool play will use rally scoring. Each match will be 2 out of 3 games to 25 with a 27-point cap. If the match goes to a 3rd game, then that game will be played to 15 with a 17 point cap, with sides and serve receive determined by the coin toss or rock, paper, scissors. There will be no switching sides in the 3rd game.
Places are determined by the number of matches won, then the number of games won, then the number of points against. If teams are tied for first place after these criteria, a playoff game, or games, will be held to determine the first place team..
7.2 PLAYOFF GAME
In the event of a tie for first place in a preliminary pool, a playoff game will be held between the tied teams. This is a single game to 15, rally scored, no cap, win by two.
In the event of a three-way tie (this is theoretically possible), all tied teams will play in a three game pool. Each game is to 15, rally scored, no cap, win by two. Places are determined by the number of games won, then the inverse of the number of points against. Point differerentiality between two teams. If teams are tied for first place after these criteria, the winner will be determined by a coin toss. The rules for the coin toss will be made-up by the tournament director if required.
7.3 FINALS
All final(s) matches will use the same scoring as above with the exception of the 3rd game. 3rd game will be to 15 ( Rally Scoring) win by 2 with no cap.
8. PREPARATION OF THE MATCH
8.1 COIN TOSS (Rock, Paper, Scissors)
Before the warm-up in the first game and before each deciding game, the first referee conducts a rock, paper, scissors best 2 of 3 between the team captains. The winner chooses either: to select to serve or receive service of the first ball or the side of the court on which to start the game. The loser takes the remaining alternative and, for the second game in a 2 out of 3 match, Teams will switch sides and the team who received first in the first game will now serve first. If it goes to a 3rd game, captains will meet with referee for another coin toss (rock, Paper, Scissors).
9. TEAM LINE-UP
9.1 ROTATION ORDER
The rotation order specified by the starting lineup must be maintained throughout the game.
9.2 SUBSTITUTIONS
Unlimited substitutions are allowed as long as one player does not occupy more than one position in the service order during a single game. Abnormal substitutions may be allowed in case of injury. (Only if all players have entered the game already)
10. POSITIONS
10.1 PLAYERS' POSITIONS AT THE TIME OF SERVICE
All players, except the server, shall be within the team’s playing area and may not be in contact with the boundary lines.
All players shall be in correct serving order. Each right-side player shall have at least part of one foot touching the ground closer to the right sideline than both feet of the center player in the corresponding row. Each left-side player shall have at least part of one foot touching the ground closer to the left sideline than both feet of the center player in the corresponding row. Each front-row player shall have at least part of one foot touching the ground closer to the net than both feet of the corresponding back-row player.
Players may move from their respective position after the ball is contacted for the serve.
10.2 SIDE-OUT ROTATION
When a side-out is awarded to a team, the team shall rotate clockwise one position. (In rally scoring, a point is awarded as the team rotates.) There is no side-out awarded to the opposing team for vacant positions rotating into service. For teams playing with fewer than 6 players, the rotation continues until an occupied position is reached.
11. STATES OF PLAY
11.1 BALL IN PLAY
The ball is in play from the service contact until the ball is out of play.
11.2 BALL OUT OF PLAY
The ball is out of play from the moment the ball lands on the ground or a fault is committed. The rally ends when a referee halts play with the whistle or the ball is out of bounds. (on another playing court) No player shall be allowed to play the ball from another court. Ball is considered out of bounds.
11.3 BALL IN (OR IN BOUNDS)
A ball is in when its first contact with the ground is on the playing court or a boundary line.
11.4 BALL OUT (OR OUT OF BOUNDS)
The ball is out when:
§ Its first contact with the ground is completely outside the playing court, and it does not cause boundary lines to move;
§ It completely crosses the net outside the posts or under the net after the attacking team's third contact; or
§ It touches an object out of play. (The poles) Spectators do no count.
12. PLAYING FAULTS
12.1 DEFINITION
Any playing action contrary to the rules is a fault.
If two or more faults are committed successively, only the first one is counted, except when the first fault is the ball contacting the ground and the second fault occurs during the continuation of the play. If two opponents commit two or more faults simultaneously, the rally is replayed.
13. PLAYING THE BALL
13.1 TEAM CONTACTS
Each team is entitled to a maximum of three contacts to return the ball to the opponents. A player may not contact the ball two times consecutively except during or after blocking or at the team's first contact. Blocking does not constitute a team contact, and any player may make the first contact of the ball after the block.
13.2 SIMULTANEOUS CONTACTS
If two opponents simultaneously and instantaneously contact the ball over the net, the ball remains in play and the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits.
If such a ball lands out of bounds, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side of the net from where the ball lands.
A joust occurs when players of opposing teams cause the ball to come to rest above the net through simultaneous contact. A joust is not a fault and play continues as if the contact was instantaneous.
13.3 ASSISTED HIT
A player is not permitted to take support from a teammate or any object in order to reach the ball. However, a player who is about to commit a fault may be stopped or held back by a teammate.
13.4 CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTACT
A player may touch the ball with any part of the player’s body. Intentional kicking of the ball is not allowed.
A player may have successive contacts with the ball during a single attempt to make the team's first contact with the ball, provided that the fingers are not used to direct the ball.
The ball must be contacted cleanly and not held (including lifted, pushed, caught, carried or thrown). The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a player's body.
An exception is allowed during the defensive play of a hard-driven ball, which is an attack-hit or blocked ball traveling at a high rate of speed (as judged by the referee). In may be momentarily lifted or pushed, providing that the attempt is one continuous motion and the player does not change the direction of the motion while contacting the ball.
14. BALL AT THE NET
14.1 BALL CROSSING THE NET
A ball directed to the opponent’s court must go over the net within the crossing space limited as follows:
· Below, by the top of the net,
· At the sides, by the posts and their imaginary extensions, and
· Above, by any structure or obstacle.
14.2 BALL TOUCHING THE NET
The ball may touch the net while crossing the net. Let Serves are allowed
14.3 BALL IN THE NET
A ball driven into the net may be recovered within the limits of the three-team contacts.
15. PLAYER AT THE NET
15.1 REACHING BEYOND THE NET
While blocking, a player may touch the ball beyond the net, provided they do not interfere with the opponent’s play, before or during the attack-hit.
A player is permitted to pass his/her hand(s) beyond the net after an attack-hit, provided that the contact was made within his/her team’s playing space.
Within the limits of the three team contacts, a player may contact a ball that has crossed the net below the net (or outside the posts) in an attempt to recover a ball that has not been contacted by the opponents. The recovered ball must cross the net below the net (Or outside the posts).
15.2 PENETRATION INTO OPPONENT'S PLAYING AREA
Players may partially or completely cross the centerline below the net or outside the poles, before, during or after a legal play of the ball, provided that this does not interfere with the opponent’s play. Incidental contact with an opponent is ignored, unless such contact interferes with the opponent's opportunity to play the ball. While opposing players are not required to avoid the ball or the player, they cannot intentionally interfere with any legal attempt to play the ball on their court. If a player crosses the centerline and interferes with an opponent during the continuation of a play, it is a fault.
15.3 CONTACT WITH THE NET OR POSTS
It is a fault for a player or a player's clothing to touch any part of the net. Exceptions are:
§ Incidental contact of the net by a player's hair
§ If a player's glasses fall off during play and then contacts the net
§ When a ball is driven into the net or the wind blows the net and causes the net to touch a player, no fault is committed.
Once a player has contacted the ball, the player may touch the posts, ropes or any other object outside the total length of the net, provided that it does not interfere with play.
16. SERVICE
16.1 DEFINITION
The service (or serve) is the act of putting the ball into play by the serving player in the service zone.
16.2 SERVICE ORDER
If the serving team wins the rally or a replay is directed, the player who served the previous rally serves again. If the serving team loses the rally, the next server on the receiving team serves the ball.
16.3 AUTHORIZATION OF SERVICE
It is the responsibility of the Referee to assure that both teams are ready for service. The Referee will whistle before every serve.
In this case, the rally is canceled and replayed. Misuse of this privilege is unsportsmanlike conduct.
16.4 EXECUTION OF SERVICE
The server may move freely behind the end line. At the moment of the service or take-off for service, the server must not touch the ground outside the service zone. The player's foot may not go under a boundary line. After the service contact, the player may land on the court or outside the service zone.
The server contacts the ball with one hand or any part of the arm after clearly tossing or releasing the ball and before the ball touches the playing surface.
Players on 5th grade teams may take one step over the serving line during serve contact. If serving over hand rule does not apply.
16.5 SERVICE ATTEMPT
If the server releases the ball for service but does not attempt to complete the service motion, the referee will cancel the rally and direct a replay. A player may only receive one such replay during any one term of service. The player may let the ball fall to ground or catch the ball.
16.6 SCREENING
The server's teammates must not prevent the opponents, through screening, from seeing the server or the path of the ball. On an opponent’s request, a player must move sideways, bend over or bend down.
17. ATTACK-HIT
17.1 DEFINITION
All actions to direct the ball towards the opponent's playing area, except in the act of serving and blocking, are considered to be attack-hits. An attack-hit is completed the moment the ball completely crosses the vertical plane of the net or is touched by a blocker. A player may contact an attack-hit at any height, provided that contact with the ball is made within the player's own playing space.
There is no restriction on back row spiking.
17.2 ATTACK-HIT FAULTS
It is a fault when a player completes an attack-hit on the opponent’s service, if the ball is entirely above the height of the net.
18. BLOCK
18.1 DEFINITION
Blocking is the action of player(s) close to the net to deflect the ball coming from the opponent by reaching above the height of the net.
18.2 HITS BY THE BLOCKER
The first hit after any player, including the player who touched the ball at the block, may execute the block.
18.3 BLOCK WITHIN THE OPPONENT'S SPACE
In blocking, the player may place his/her hands and arms beyond the net provided that action does not interfere with the opponent's play.
The player is not permitted to touch the ball beyond the net until the opponent has made an attack-hit.
18.4 BLOCKING CONTACT
A blocking contact is not counted as a team hit. The blocking team will have three hits after a blocking contact. Consecutive, quick and continuous contacts may occur by one or more blockers, provided that these contacts are made during one blocking action.
Back row players may not participate in a block.
When a ball is blocked back into an attacking player, the attacker is not considered to be a blocker. Therefore, the contact counts as the first of the team's three hits.
19. TIME-OUTS
19.1 DEFINITION
A time-out is a regular game interruption. It lasts for 45 seconds. Each team is entitled to a maximum of two time-outs per game. Successive time-outs may be requested without resumption of the game.
20. DELAYS TO THE GAME
20.1 DEFINITION
A delay is an improper action of a team that defers resumption of the game and includes:
§ Prolonging time-outs, after having been instructed to resume the game;
§ Repeating an improper request in the same game
§ Delaying the game or delaying a substitution
20.2 SANCTIONS FOR DELAYS
The first delay by a team in a game is sanctioned with a delay warning.
The second and any subsequent delay of any type by the same team in the same game constitutes a fault and is sanctioned with a delay penalty, which is the loss of a rally.
21. EXCEPTIONAL GAME INTERRUPTIONS
21.1 INJURY
If an injury occurs as the result of a fault or does not affect the outcome of the rally, the rally counts. Otherwise, the rally is immediately canceled and replayed.
When no legal or abnormal substitute is available, an injured player is given a five-minute injury time-out. This will not be granted more than twice for the same player in one game.
21.2 EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE
If external interference does not affect the outcome of play, the rally counts. Otherwise, the rally is immediately canceled and replayed. A shouted warning (such as "Ball on!") is sufficient to affect the outcome of play, provided that a player had a chance to make a legal play of the ball. Misuse of this privilege is unsportsmanlike conduct.
22. MISCONDUCT
22.1 PROCEDURES
If any player, coach, or spectator misconducts himself or herself, they will be asked to leave the premises.
23. REFEREEING CORPS AND PROCEDURES
23.1 PROCEDURES
Hand signals are used to start a rally and voice commands used in all other situations. When used, whistles halt play, authorize service or accept or deny a request.
The first referee authorizes service by giving the signal for service that begins the rally. The first referee halts play to end a rally provided that he/she is sure that a fault has been committed and has identified its nature.
23.2 FIRST REFEREE
The first referee directs the match from the start until the end.
The first referee has authority over the refereeing corps and the team members. During the match the first referee's decisions are final.
The first referee is authorized to overrule the decisions of other members of the refereeing corps and may replace any member of the refereeing corps who is not performing assigned functions properly.
The first referee has the power to decide any matter involving the game, including those not provided for in the rules.
The first referee does not permit any discussion about game decisions.
However, at the request of a captain, the first referee explains the application or interpretation of the rules on which the decision was based. A captain, having immediately indicated disagreement with the explanation, reserves the right to submit an official protest of the incident, at the time of the incident. The first referee must get tournament drector at the time of protest. Protest decisions will be made immediately, before play of game continues.
24. AUTHORITY
Diocese of San Jose Catholic Athletic League Rules and National Federation of State High School Associations rules shall regulate all other play
Coaches, Players, and Spectators are expected to conduct themselves appropriately at all times.
The St. Victor School Athletic Director Joaquina Batula has final authority on rule interpretation and enforcement.