​Volleyball Rules

Updated November 2007

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

• There are six players on the floor at any one time.

POSITIONS-LINE UP

• Before beginning each game, teams will line up along the line at the back of their court, and take their place on the court at the referee's signal. At the end of each game the teams will resume this position, then walk along the side lines to the opposite court.

SUBSTITUTES

• old option #1 still OK
• The players will rotate in a clockwise direction. The player who has served will rotate off if the coach wants to substitute. The player rotating on comes in at the center back position. At the beginning of every game, the team serving second must rotate one position before serving.
• new option #2 also OK
• There is no limit to the number of times a player may leave or re-enter the set as long as the maximum number of 12 substitutions is adhered to and as long as they leave or re-enter for the same player
• Once you have a designated partner, that is the only player that you may leave or re-enter that set for ( this may change between sets).
• These substitutions may occur at any point in the set.
• All other substitution rules must be followed
• Illegal Substitution
• A substitution is illegal, if it exceeds the limitations indicated in option #2 a)
  When a team has made an illegal substitution and the play has been resumed the following procedure shall apply:
• the team is penalized with loss of rally
• the substitution is rectified
• the points scored by the team at fault since the fault was committed are cancelled. The opponents' points remain valid

NET

• The height of the net will be approximately 2m 15 cm.

REFEREE

• The referee shall have complete charge of the game.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Service
  A service is the act of putting the ball in play by the player behind the baseline, by batting it over the net and into the opponent's court with one hand or with the forearm. A person may serve from anywhere along the baseline. A serve may hit the net provided it goes over. An unsuccessful serve gives the opposition a point and the service.
  
  On a short court a tape will be placed 1 metre from the back line of the court. The server must stand behind the tape when serving. Junior players may serve from a line approximately 20 feet from the net. Once the ball is in play the regular court boundaries are used.
• Service Reception
  All serves may be volleyed or bumped. A service may not be blocked. 
• Service Order
  At the beginning of a new game the players may be rearranged in their position. 
• Choice of Side
    The captains will toss a coin for service or court at the beginning of the game. 
• Foot Fault
  A server may not place his/her feet on or over the serving line until the ball has been struck. 
• Term of Service
  A player may have five continuous serves unless a side-out is called. After the five legal serves from one player the team will rotate and a new team member will serve. 
• Change of Court
  The players will change court at the end of each game. 
• Time-Out
  Each team is allowed two time-outs per game. The time-outs may be called at any time during the game when the ball is not in play
• Playing the Ball
  A ball, including a service, contacting the net and going over is still in play. The ball may be played when any part of it has crossed the net. Recovery from the net - A ball other than a service may be recovered from the net provided the player avoids the net. The ball may be contacted with any part of the body, including an intentional kick using the foot. 
• Dead Ball
  The ball is dead when the play is suspended. It is not dead until it hits the outside of the court or is declared dead. 
• Out of Bounds
  The ball is out of bounds if it strikes anything outside the court except the player in the act of playing the ball. A ball that lands on the line is considered in. 
• Block A volleyball skill in which one or more front line defensive players attempt to intercept an opposition attach above the net before it enters the defensive teams court. After a legal block a blocker may hit the ball immediately again.

RALLY POINT SCORING

In rally point scoring any team can score a point whether they are serving or not. A point will always be scored during any stoppage of play unless it is a re-service.

The team is awarded a point when its opponent: 

1. Has let the ball touch the ground.
   
2. A team has played the ball more than three times consecutively.
   
3. The ball is held or pushed.
   
4. The ball touches obstructions such as basketball rims or the ceiling.
   
5. A player touches ball twice consecutively.
   
6. Team is out of position at service.
   
7. A player touches the net or a vertical marker on the antenna.
   
8. A player crosses completely the centre line.
   
9. A player contacts the ball above the opponent's court.
   
10. A back line player while in the attack area hits the ball into the opponent's court from above the height of the net.
    
11. A ball is not passed over the net completely between the antennas. (where no antennas - vertical markers at each end of the net). 
    
12. A ball lands outside or touches an object outside of the court. 
    
13. A ball is played while using a team mate or a post for support. After having played the ball, a player can touch the post without committing a fault but he may not hold the post to help prevent a fault (i.e. net fault).
    
14. A player receives a personal penalty.
    
15. When a fault is committed by two opponents during the same play only the first one will be penalized. If both faults are committed simultaneously a replay will take place.
    
16. A player reaches under the net and touches the ball or an opponent while the ball is on the opposite side. Note: Crossing the vertical plane under the net is not a fault, providing the player does not touch an opponent and does not interfere with the opponent's play.
    
17. The game is delayed persistently. (taking longer than 5 seconds to serve).
    
18. An illegal substitution is made.
    
19. Team requests a third time out after a warning.
    
20. Extension of a second time out for rest beyond 30 seconds.
    
21. Delaying of substitution after using 2 time outs for rest.
    
22. Player(s) makes distracting gestures toward the opponent after a warning.
    
23. Blocking is formed in an illegal manner.
    
24. Service is not delivered from the designated area.
    
25. The served ball crosses the net with the help of a team mate.
    
26. Service is performed out of rotational order.
    
27. The Service is performed incorrectly.
    
28. Players wave arms, jump or form groups of two or more, the purpose of which is to form a screen to conceal the server's action.
    
29. If a player is unsuccessful with the serve the opposition is awarded a point and the service.
    

A GAME

• The team who reaches fifteen (25) points first will be declared winner of the game. Any team must win by at least 2 points. Therefore, if the score is tied at 24-24, the final score must be 26-24 in favour of the winners. If the score is 25-25, the final score must be 27-25 in favour of the winners. There is no cap. A team must win by two points.

A MATCH

• A match consists of one game only depending on the tournament structure. A playoff match can be a best three of five games or two out of three games but may vary depending on the tournament structure. The third game of best two out of three shall be to 15 points.

NOTE TO COACHES

• Although "overhead bumping" is NOT ILLEGAL, it is considered poor technique and should be discouraged by every coach. A good strategy which should eliminate the practice is to consider "overhead bumping" illegal in your own intramural league at school.

PLAYERS CANNOT

• Wear watches or rings.
• Have hand or wrists taped or bandaged (fingers only may be taped).

**Note that the volleyball court at Queen's Faculty of Education gym is shorter in length than normal.

Volleyball tie breaking procedure for tournaments