Currently, all leagues are Open format and are 6-on-6.

Matches are best of 3 games. Games are played to 25 points using rally scoring. Games are win by two with a hard cap at 30 points. Matches may last up to one hour. If 15 minutes or fewer are left on the game clock, the final game will go to a 15 point hard cap.

Teams forfeit the first game of the match if a minimum of 4 players are not present at game time. Teams forfeit all three games of the match if they cannot field the minimum number of players after 15 minutes.

Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in player/team being suspended/removed from participating in all leagues.

USA Volleyball Indoor Rules apply unless otherwise stated.

Please don’t forfeit. Your teammates and opponents count on you to have a full team and competitive game.

Each team must have at least 4 (four) players to start a game.

Teams forfeit the first game of the match if a minimum of 4 players are not present at game time.

Teams forfeit all three games of the match if they cannot field the minimum number of players after 15 minutes.

No one may play without signing the waiver. If it is found that you are playing with someone who has not signed a waiver, your team will receive a forfeit.

Forfeiture penalties are as follows: First Offense - loss of match (all 3 games) and warning issued. Second Offense - Loss of match and removal from playoffs. Third Offense - Loss of match and possible removal from the remaining schedule.

Inform the league coordinator as soon as possible if your team intends to forfeit a match. If there is a compelling reason for not being able to make a match, the league may attempt to re-schedule with both teams.

BEGINNING OF THE GAME

Rock, paper, scissors will determine who chooses serve or side in Game 1. Choosing serve first ensures your team will serve first in Games 1 and 3.

The winning captain will select to serve first or choose which side they prefer to play on (not both).

In the playoffs, the higher seeded team will have choice of serve or side for Game 1.

One time-out per game (3 per match) is allowed for each team.

Teams will receive a schedule that will list when their team will play each week. Teams will be given 1 hour to play 1 match (3 games). There is no designated “warm-up” time. “Warm-up” time is to be included in the allotted amount of time that teams will have for their match. Teams will decide if they wish to “warm-up” or not. The longer teams take/choose to “warm-up” the less time they may have to complete their match. If a game is stopped early due to time constraints the score at the time of stoppage will be final and reflected in the standings.

SERVING AND ROTATIONS

Serve – Play begins with a serve by the player in the service positions after receiving authorization from the official (most commonly indicated by a whistle). Multiple violations of serving without authorization from the referee may result in the forfeit of this point and loss of serve. The server has 10 seconds to serve the ball. A server is allowed 2 tosses before the serve. Ball must be released from the non-serving hand before contact with the serving hand is made. The serve must be hit with a hand. If the serve hits the net and goes over it is still in play. The server may not step on or over the end line until the ball has been contacted. The width of the service area is from sideline to sideline. The depth of the service area is infinite. If a player steps on or over the line, a foot fault will be called and it will be a side out.

Serve Receive – The team receiving a serve can make contact with the ball once it crossed the plain of the net with any body part that is not in a catching or throwing motion. Attacking a serve above the height of the net is a violation.

Screening – A player on the serving side cannot INTENTIONALLY block the view of the serve receiving team during the serve by: raising hands, moving laterally, forming a wall.

Rotation – Clockwise rotation of players around all 6 positions on the court. Occurs after a team regains possession of the serve. Teams must rotate in set order every time they gain possession of serve. If you are not the first team to serve, you must rotate your selected 6 positions to serve your first ball. There is no “stay for one”.

A team will rotate 1 player (in a set order) into the game through a designated court position each rotation (teams often choose the server position as the designated court position to rotate in and out). You may not skip anyone in the rotation and you may not have a separate male and female rotation. The court position must be designated at the beginning of the game.

If you play with 4 players, the server is considered back row. When new players arrive, they may come in as soon as they are ready in the back row in a non-serving position.

PLAYING ACTIONS

Attack – Any action which directs the ball towards the opponent. Commonly a spike or tip but can also be a passing or setting motion. The ball may contact any part of the body. No player is allowed to complete an attack hit on the opponent’s service when the ball is in the front zone and is entirely above the top of the net.

Set – Using the fingers of both open hands above the head to pass the ball to a teammate or direct the ball over the net. During a proper set, the ball should touch the fingers only momentarily. The ball cannot be caught or thrown.

Hit/Spike – Swinging at the ball with a whole hand (open or closed) in a firm manner. The ball cannot be caught or thrown; it must rebound in a firm manner.

Tip – Similar to a spike but without a swinging motion. The ball cannot be caught or thrown; it must rebound in a firm manner.

Block – Blocking is the defensive action of players close to the net to intercept the ball, coming from the opponent, by reaching higher than the top of the net. Only front-row players are permitted to complete a block. Multiple players can block at the same time. A block does not count as 1 of your team’s 3 hits.

PLAYING ACTION FAULTS

Carry – Any contact of the ball that is not in a firm manner.

Double Hit – A player contacting the ball with any part of their body twice (intentionally or unintentionally). Double hits are allowed during a block if the double contact occurs in succession.

Back Row Hit – A player in the back row position is not allowed to attack in front of the 10’ line (attack line). A back row player is allowed to jump from behind the attack and land in front – at his/her take-off, the player’s foot (feet) must neither have touched nor crossed over the attack line and the player may land within the front zone after their hit. A back-row player can attack from behind the 10 footline but must take off and contact the ball while still behind the line if the ball is above the net. Crossing or stepping on the 10 footline during the jump to attack a ball above the net is illegal and results in a fault.

BOUNDARIES AND PLAYING SPACE

In Bounds – The ball is rules in play if it touches any part of the court line.

Reaching Over the Net - A violation in which the player breaks the vertical plane above the net, intentionally or unintentionally.

Ball Hitting Ceiling – If ball hits ceiling on same side, ball is playable but can only hit the ceiling once. If ball hits ceiling on opponent’s side of net, the ball is dead and point given to opponent.

Blocking: The player may place his/her hands and arms beyond the net to intercept an opponent’s attack provided this action does not interfere with the opponent’s space or play. Thus, it is not permitted to touch the ball beyond the net until an opponent has executed an attack. (Example: a player cannot reach over the net to block an opponent pass or set intended for a teammate). A player can block an attack on ANY touch, it no longer needs to be the 3rd touch.

Attacking: In order to attack a ball at the net, the ball must be on your team’s side (any part of the ball has broken the plane of the net) when making contact. Attacking a ball that has not crossed over the plane of the net onto your side is a fault. (Example: A player cannot reach over the net to attack a “free pass” from the opponent). In addition, a player cannot reach over the net to attack a ball that their own teammate has played to the opponent. (Example: If your attack has crossed the plain of the net (intentionally or not) it is no longer your team’s play, even if it was your team’s first touch. Therefore you cannot reach over the net to tip your second or third hit once your attack has crossed the plain of the net).

In the Net – A violation in which the player makes any contact with the net.

Under the Net – To touch the opponents court with feet or hands is permitted, provided that it does not interfere with the play of the opponent. This is allowed if some part of the penetrating foot/hand remains either in contact with or directly above the centerline. If your foot/hand DOES interfere with the play, it is a fault if any part of your foot touches your opponent’s court, beyond the centerline. Any other part of the body besides feet or hands touching the opposing court it is a violation.

USA VOLLEYBALL INDOOR RULES APPLY UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

Teams are seeded according to winning percentage. The tie breaker procedure is as follows:

1. If a team has a forfeit, they automatically lose tie-breaker.
2. Head-to-head competition (among all tied teams).
3. Record against teams not tied teams in playoffs (winning percentage – i.e., 0-1 is same as 0-2, but 1-3 is better than 0-1).
4. Record against other teams not in playoffs (winning percentage – i.e., 0-1 is same as 0-2, but 1-3 is better than 0-1).
5. Coin toss conducted by ATL IVC.

The league may cancel due to weather or facility issues.

Cancellation notification will be sent via email at least 2 hours before.

Makeup games will be scheduled when possible.

No refunds will be issued for cancelled games.