club sport BEACH/SAND VOLLEYBALL RULES  Revised 10/11

Rules in red are revisions

1. MEN'S 4's: Teams must have a minimum of 2 players on the court for the entire game to avoid a forfeit. 2 of the players on the court must be from their roster. Any players picked up must be registered Club Sport volleyball participants for that season.
2. COED 4'S: Teams must have a minimum of 2 players on the court for the entire game to avoid a forfeit. If two players are on the court, 1 must be female. If three players are on the court, 1 must be female, but you may play with more. If four players are on the court, there must be at least 2 females. 1/2 of the players must be on the roster. Any players picked up must be registered Club Sport volleyball participants for that season.
3. COED 6'S: Teams must have 4 players on the court for the entire game to avoid a forfeit. To qualify their team, 1/2 of the players on the court must be from their roster. Teams may then pick up additional players (male or female) to field a team of 4,5, or 6, as long as the additional player(s) are registered Club Sport volleyball participants for that season. A minimum of 2 females are needed on the court to play. No more than 3 males may play at a time for a team. Coed 6's ONLY - if the ball is hit 2 or 3 times a female must have one of those hits.
4. Rosters: All players, including added players, must sign their team's roster/waiver BEFORE the end of their team's final regular season game in order to be eligible to play in the tournament. If a player is not signed in on the roster by then, they are not eligible for the tournament. Playing with ineligible players may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by TBCS staff.  It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players in their line-up card are eligible players for all games. If your team is making a team payment, after the first week members may only add to the team for no charge by contacting the Club Sport office prior to game day. Any additions made at the field to rosters with team payments will be $10 a player, regardless of membership status. Adding to teams NOT paid by team payment will be the normal individual fee. Coed 4's volleyball teams can have a maximum 8 players listed on their team roster. Any players removed or replaced cannot re-added to the team.
5. Pick up players: Any team that picks up players forfeits 4 points to the opposing team, per game (for the 1st 2 games) for each player picked up (i.e. 2 players added=8 points awarded per game). Pickups for a 3rd game cost 2 points each player. Any pickup player must be signed onto another roster in that league. Pickup players are NOT allowed in the tournament. ID may be required for tournament play if roster questions arise. An acting captain may forgo taking the points if desired. This decision is binding for ALL games in the match and must be made immediately upon notification of the use of pickup players with prolonged discussion with teammates. No "bargaining" for points can be done (i.e. "next time we play we'll let you pick up if you don't take the points", or other forms of this); if so the referee can force the points upon discretion.
6. Forfiets: Forfeit times are: 1st game --10 minutes after start time. 2nd game --10 minutes after 1st game. The referee will call forfeit times accordingly. Your team should be at the court by game time to avoid a forfeit. Refs will not look for teams. If teams have enough to start (2 players including a female for coed 4's) the game will begin in order to keep matches on schedule. Efforts to delay a start of a match may result in a forfeit of the 1st game. NOTE: If your team forfeits without prior notice twice within the season they may not be eligible to play in the playoffs!
7. Rotation: Although rotating position is not required, you must rotate your serving order. If rotating additional players into the order, that player must enter into the serving position. Once substitution is started, it must be continued. If a player arrives late and is necessary to complete a full team, said player may rotate in by requesting a substitution. If a player arrives late and the team is full, said player may rotate in on the serve. Failure to keep the proper rotation will result in loss of rally.
8. Behavior: Teams will be penalized points or serve for bad mouthing the ref or other unsportsmanlike conduct. Referees will explain in greater detail if the occasion occurs. Any player or fan is encouraged to root for their own team but rooting against teams or use of disparaging language is discouraged and could result in penalties of players or dismissals of fans. Any fans of teams may be asked to leave by Club Sport staff. Refusal to leave could result in forfeiture of games.
9. Scoring: Match play will be best 2 out of 3 games. Games will be played RALLY SCORING. First 2 games to 21 points, winning by a 2-point advantage, and a cap of 25. If necessary a third game will be to 15, winning by 2, with a cap of 19. Rally scoring is where a point is won on every serve, regardless of which team served. On a third game teams will switch sides every 8 points.
10. Characteristics of Contact with the Ball:
    a) A player may touch the ball with any part of the body. 
    b) A player may have successive contacts with the ball during a single attempt to make the team's first contact provided the fingers are not used to direct the ball. 
    c) It is legal to receive a served ball using the fingers in a setting action, provided that there is not a double contact or a held ball. A double contact or held ball with the fingers in a setting action receiving the ball is illegal.
    d) The ball must be contacted cleanly and not held, lifted, pushed, caught, carried or thrown. The ball cannot roll or come to rest in any part of the body. It can rebound in any direction. An exception shall be allowed during the defensive play of a hard-driven ball (an attack-hit or blocked ball traveling at a high rate of speed), as judged by the referee. In that case, the ball may be momentarily lifted or pushed. 
    e) A player may not attack or block the serve in the viewpoint of the official.
    f) Plays involving finger action require special attention. If the play is defensive and reactive in nature, as in the case of a hard-driven ball, momentarily held or double-contacted balls are not considered faults. Furthermore, this may apply to the second touch of a team if the block contact was slight and the ball is still a hard-driven attack, or to the defensive action (team first contact) after a ball has been blocked. If the player decides/intends to employ finger action, as in the case of off-speed attack defense or setting, the action must be “clean.”
    g) Rotation of a set ball may indicate a held ball or multiple contacts during he set, but in itself is not a fault. 
    h)  When contacting the ball with one hand, other than for setting the ball to a teammate, the ball must be cleanly hit with the heel or palm of the hand (a roll shot), with straight, locked fingertips (a cobra), knurled fingers (a camel toe) or with the back of the hand from the wrist to the knuckles. One-handed placement or redirection of the ball with the fingers (a dink or open-hand tip) is a fault.
    i)  A blocking contact is not counted as a team contact. The blocking team will have three contacts after a blocking contact.
11. Serves: LET SERVES ARE LEGAL. Any served ball that contacts the net and continues over is considered a live and legal serve. Service Foot Faults will be called in all levels. The server must contact the ball within five seconds after the referee authorizes service via whistle. There is no requirement to "toss" the ball and hit out of the air, but if it is "teed" off, the ball MUST be stationary when hit. If the ball, after having been tossed or released by the server, lands without being touched or is caught by the server, the player will get ONE retry only. Serve will be determined for the first game based on a "odd-even" call by a team. During playoffs the team with the higher seed will get choice in first game of serve or side. If seedings are not known, then "odd-even" will be used.
12. Interference, screening: If a player steps on or crosses into an adjacent court the ball is considered dead and out-of-play. Under the Net Violations will not be called as long as you do not interfere with anyone on the opposite side of the net. The teammates of the server must not prevent the opposing team, through screening, from seeing the server or the path of the ball. On the opponent’s request, they must move sideways to allow view.
13. Timeouts: Two (2) 30-second time outs per game are allowed. Weeknight Leagues- One (1) 30-second timeout will be allowed.  A time out must be called before the service has been authorized. Prolonging a time out will results in one warning then loss of rally for subsequent offenses.
14. Rule Clarifications: When in doubt, outdoor USAV/AVA rules will be enforced. If there are any questions or concerns please have your team captain or team representative speak with the official directly. Your referees will be happy to answer any questions or explain any rules to your team. Feel free to contact the office with any questions.
15. Tournament Seedings: If a team plays 8 games, their 8th game will not count toward the standings.  Seeding for the tournament will be based on the following criteria: 1) winning percentage, 2) head-to-head play (if 3 or more teams are tied this means head to head record amongst all tied teams), 3) most total games won, 4) fewest total games lost, 5) coin toss.