VAVi SPORT & SOCIAL CLUB OFFICIAL ADULT COED BEACH VOLLEYBALL RULES

4v4

VAVi Beach Volleyball is played under the guidelines of US Volleyball with the following exceptions:

Game
Each week each team will play 2 matches (3 games per match) against 2 different teams.
*For Mission Beach leagues, there is 1 match per night (3 games to 25).

Full Team
A full team consists of 6 players. Two females and two males on the court is preferred, but three of one gender is acceptable. A team may decide to play with a minimum of two players if you do not have a full team ready to play at start time, but one of those two players must be a female. Game time is forfeit time.

Substitution
Free substitutions on a rotational basis.

Safety
Please remove all jewelry.

Scoring
Matches are best of 3 games to 21 points using rally scoring. The third game is played to 21 using rally scoring. Win by 2 rule! It is the responsibility of the receiving side to make a judgment on the point. In the third game, teams switch sides whenever a team scores 10 points (not a combination of 10 points, but when only one team gets 10 points).

*For Mission Beach leagues each game is played to 25 using rally scoring, win by 2 (switch at 12, if nec).

Receiving the Serve
It is illegal to receive a serve with open hands.

Start of Games (Regular Season)
First serve will be decided by rock, paper, scissors or coin toss. The receiving team will serve the second game. Repeat the first game step for the third game.

Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship must be practiced at all times. Directors and representatives of VAVi reserve the right to remove any player from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. If a call cannot be decided on it will result in a redo.

Roster
You may not play unless officially added to the roster. To add someone to the roster you must contact the VAVi office the previous week. No last minute subs are accepted.

Timeouts
2 per game, 45 seconds each.

Pool Play (Playoffs)
Pool style play in which each team will be able to advance through the bracket if they win their pools. Each pool match will consist of one game of rally scoring to 21, win by 2. The Semifinal and Championship matches will consist of two games using rally scoring to 21 (win by 2) with a third game, if needed, to 17 (switch sides when one team gets 8 points) as in the regular season matches. The pool play bracket will be set up for you when you arrive at the courts. If there are ties in pool play, winners will be decided by previous head to head matchups first. Next, there will be a count of the point differential (+ vs -) from the total points accumulated during the whole day of the pool play to determine the team who will be rewarded to continue play.

Directors and VAVi Representatives reserve the right to amend any and all of these rules, if necessary, for safe and fair play.

**All rules are subject to change: Last Updated Feb 2020**

For more information about our Beach Volleyball leagues contact Ducote at DContreras@govavi.com

6 v 6
4 males max. on court
Minimum 3 people, 1 female
No gender rule for hits per side

Refs
Games will be self-reffed (there will be a staff member present for tough calls)

Scoring: Rally Scoring
1st 2 games go to 25 (straight up)
If it’s 1-1 in games, the third game is to 15 (straight up)
The server MUST call out scores LOUDLY before each serve
Spiking only from the back row after it is played off the net
You can block and then make a legal hit in a row
No Liberos

Competitive League & Intermediate Leagues
Any contact with the net is the loss of a point

Social Leagues
All blatant net contact or carries should be called (please explain to your teammate or opponent what they are doing wrong – they may be new to the sport)

Playoffs are league specific
~ Mission Beach: Top 4 Playoff Bracket
~ Ocean Beach:
– Weekend: Pool Play
– Weekday: Top 8 Playoff Bracket

Rules in Detail:

Rules Disclaimer
All rules are subject to change or alteration at host discretion.

League Policies
Substitutions, forfeits, sportsmanship/conduct, weather, and other policies are all listed under the “League Policies” section of the website.

Officials
Volleyball is a self-regulated game that relies on the Honor System. If a fault occurs, you are expected to call it as such.
Staff members are there to rule on unclear plays, settle disputes, clarify rules, keep the game moving and ensure player safety. While they will at times call a fault, a lack of call by a Staff does not remove your obligation to abide by the Honor System.
Team captains must be the only players that address concerns to referees and league officials. They are expected to do so in a courteous and respectful manner, and to confine their discussions to interpretations of the rules and not challenge referees’ decisions regarding judgment.
Players are expected to comply with the intent and spirit of the rules. Deliberately attempting to violate the rules is unacceptable.

Player/Roster Requirements
Player/Roster requirements vary based on the league format.
6v6 leagues: A full team roster consists of at least 9 players (unless otherwise stated on your league page). A minimum of 3 players is needed to start and/or continue a game, with a minimum of 1 female in Coed leagues unless stated otherwise. There can be a maximum of 4 males on the court at a time.
4v4 leagues: A full team roster consists of at least 7 players (unless otherwise stated on your league page). A minimum of 2 players is needed to start and/or continue a game, with a minimum of 1 female in Coed leagues unless stated otherwise. There can be a maximum of 3 males on the court at a time.
2v2 leagues: A full team roster consists of at least 4 players (unless otherwise stated on your league page). A minimum of 2 players is needed to start and/or continue a game.

Game Length and Structure
Each match will be scheduled for 45 minutes (subject to venue restrictions). League formats vary across markets, so check with your host to confirm but the Volo standard is as follows:
Grass (Outdoor): Best of 3, first two games will be played to 21 (straight up). If it’s 1-1 in games, the third game is to 15 (straight up)
Indoor: Best of 3, first two games will be played to 25 (straight up). If it’s 1-1 in games, the third game is to 15 (straight up)
Beach/Sand: Best of 3, first two games will be played to 21(straight up). If it’s 1-1 in games, the third game is to 15 (straight up)

Setup
Court dimensions will be venue-specific depending on available space.

Game Play – General
The team Captains will use rock-paper-scissors to determine the choice of serving first or choosing a side for the first game.
Teams will switch sides for the second game and the team who did not serve to start the first game shall serve to start the second game.
Space and venue restrictions require that we have a time limit on our games. If time expires in the middle of a game, the team with the most points will be declared the winner of that game. If less than a two point difference exists between scores the referee or league host will set a cap and the teams will play to that point.

Game Play – Subs
Teams are allowed an unlimited number of substitutions per match, but everyone must rotate in order.
Team members must rotate on the court and remain in that position until the serve has been contacted.
Any player may block or spike at the net, regardless of rotation.

Game Play – Serves
Overhand and underhand serves are allowed. Jump serves are not allowed, unless the league is specifically denoted as a competitive or “A” division.
When serving the ball, the player has 5 seconds to make contact with the ball before a side-out is called.
If the ball is served into the net, and it goes over, it is considered a legal serve.
The serve can be returned with a pass or a set. The serve cannot be blocked or attacked at any time.
The serve can be made from anywhere behind the end line and within the sideline (subject to venue space).

Game Play – Ball in Play
A maximum of three consecutive contacts per side after a serve or block attempt are allowed to return the ball.
A block attempt is not considered a contact.
No player may hit the ball twice in succession, except after a block.
No part of the body may touch the net at any time, unless a ball or person driven into the net causes the contact.
Player contact with the net in a manner not directly relating to or affecting the course of play is not a violation.
When executing a block or spike, a player may follow through over the net, as long as the individual does not interfere with players on the other side of the net.
If a ball hits the boundary, it is considered IN.

Shortened Game Results
Games can unexpectedly be shortened for unforeseen circumstances, such as weather or issues with lighting. In these scenarios, the situation will be assessed and handled by our hosts and office staff in whatever way is deemed to be most appropriate. All policies listed below are our official policies, but again our hosts and office staff have full authority to take any action necessary.
The situation and other external factors (such as venue availability) will determine the choice made by the host and office staff. In general, one of three options will typically be followed:
The game will be considered official, with it being determined that enough of the game was played to determine a winner.
The game can be completely rescheduled and restarted from 0-0 at a future date.
The end of the game can be postponed and later restarted from the point of interruption.
Hosts will notify players as soon as possible with the decision of office staff.