Rules

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Contents
 Rule 1 ~ Contacting the Ball  3-Player Laws
 Rule 2 ~ Service  4-Player Laws
 Rule 3 ~ Play  Equipment
 Rule 4 ~ Infractions of the Laws or Rules (Faults)  
 Rule 5 ~ Points or Awarding of Service (Sideout)  
 Rule 6 ~ Substitution  
 Rule 7 ~ End of the Game  

 Rule 1 ~ Contacting the Ball

1. The ball must be struck or hit.

 Rule 2 ~ Service

1. Service is the act of hitting the ball from behind the endline and between

the sidelines at the start of play in an attempt to direct the ball into the

opponent's IN area of the court.

2. The same player continues to serve until the serving team commits a

fault.

3. Teammates shall alternate service sessions for their team.

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 Rule 3 ~ Play

1. Once the ball is put into play by service, play continues until one team

commits an infraction of the laws or rules (fault).

 

 Rule 4 ~ Infractions of the Laws or Rules (Faults)

The commission of a fault results in the stoppage of play.

Infractions (Faults) occur when:

1. The ball does not pass over the net and completely between the net

supports when directed to the opponent's side of the court.

·Net Boundary: The ball must be played between and not over the poles.

If any part of the ball touches the pole, its hardware, or goes over the

pole it is a fault.

2. The ball contacts the ground, floor, net poles and/or hardware,

referee, or any area deemed out of play.

·Court Boundary: If the line moves, the ball is in, unless the ball

lands clearly outside the line.

 

3. The server during the service action touches the endline, sideline,

the IN area of the court, or the area not behind the endline and between

the sidelines.

·Foot Fault: If the line moves, it is a fault, unless the server clearly

and obviously did not touch or move the line.

·Service Area: You may serve from anywhere behind the endline and

between the sidelines. The last contact with the ground for both feet of

a server prior to contacting the ball must take place behind the endline

and between the sidelines.

 

4. The ball after being contacted by the server contacts anything prior

to completely passing over the net and into the opponent's side of the

court.

 

5. The ball is not clearly and cleanly hit. ·Lift: Any ball that comes to

a rest is a fault.

·Soft Shot (Dink): Any open hand soft shot that is directed by contact

with the pads of the fingers is a fault. The ball must be hit.

 

6. A player or his clothing contacts the net. ·Hair: Hair contacting the

net is not considered a fault.

·Net Movement: If the net contacts the player due to the ball contacting

and moving the net it is not considered a fault.

·Intentionally creating or allowing contact with the net while

attempting to deflect, or deflecting the path of a ball on the other

side of the net is a fault. See Fault #9 ·Interpretation of above fault:

If a player (not in the act of blocking a ball that may come over the

net) sees that a ball played by the opposing team will contact the net

and remain on their side, and he then positions his hand or another body

part in such a way as to disrupt the path of the ball through contact

with the ball in an attempt to deflect the ball away from the opposing

player, he shall be considered to have committed a fault. ·Referee

Instuction -- a player should not be penalized if the net and/or ball

strikes him inadvertently, however, the player should not be permitted

to intentionally gain an advantage by deflecting a ball that is not even

partially on his side of the net.

 

7. A team contacts the ball more than three times before returning the

ball to the opponent's side of the net with the following exception. ·

Blocking: You may block the ball on the opponent's side of the net by

reaching over the net. You may only block a ball that has been directed

by the opposing team into your court or if the opposing team has

contacted the ball their allotted three times. The block does not count

as one of the team's three hits.

 

8. A player contacts the ball twice in succession. ·Double Hit: You may

only double hit a spiked (hard driven) ball. A spiked (hard driven) ball

is defined as a ball that has been hit from above the height of the net

directly toward the ground with NO UPWARD ARC in the trajectory of the

ball. A ball that has touched the net or blocker {may} still be hard

driven (referee's decision). A serve is never considered a spiked ball.

 

9. A player contacts the ball when the ball is completely on the

opponent's side of the court, except during a legal block. ·Attack Over:

You may not touch a ball that is not at least partially on your side of

or above the net except during blocking. (See Blocking Interpretation

for further explanation.)

 

10. A player crosses the centerline and interferes with his opponent's

ability to play the game. ·Centerline: You may cross the centerline as

long as this does not interfere with your opponents.

·Referees: Contact with the opponent is not a requirement for

interference to occur. If a collision appears likely Stop Play!

·Players: Please Do Not Endanger Another Player

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 Rule 5 ~ Points or Awarding of Service (Sideout)

1. A point is awarded to the serving team when the receiving team commits a fault.

2. Service (Sideout) is awarded to the receiving team when the serving team commits a fault.

 Rule 6 ~ Substitution

1.Substitution is not permitted.

 Rule 7 ~ End of the Game

1. Each team attempts to accumulate a predetermined number of points

before their opponents.

2. When the point total is reached the game is ended.

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 3-Player Laws

The laws of 3-player volleyball are the same as the 2-Player volleyball

laws with the addition of a third participant on both teams and with the

following changes:

 

1. Service Order: Once a service order (rotation) has been established

for the three players they must follow the same order (rotation)

throughout the game.

2. Setting into the Opponent's Court: The requirement tht the ball be

played directly in front of or behind you does not apply.

 

3. Substitution: Substitution is permitted. One additional player may be

included on the team for substitution.

4. Substitution is unlimited and unrestricted.

 

5. Co-Ed Requirements: Mixed Triples (Co-Ed) rules require that one

female participant be on the court at all times

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 4-Player Laws

The laws of 4-player volleyball are the same as the 3-Player volleyball

laws with the addition of a fourth participant on both teams and with

the following changes:

 

1. Service Order: Once a service order (rotation) has been established

for the three players they must follow the same order (rotation)

throughout the game.

2. Soft Shot (Dink): An open hand soft shot that is directed with the

pads of the fingers {may} be a legal play. (Dinks are allowed) ·However,

the ball must still be clearly and cleanly hit. If the ball comes to a

complete rest on the hand it is to be considered a lift and is a fault.

 

3. Substitution: Substitution is permitted. One additional player may be

included on the team for substitution.

4. Substitution is unlimited and unrestricted.

 Equipment

1.The court is rectangular in shape and is 30 feet wide by 60 feet long.

2.The court is divided into two evenly sized 30' x 30' sections by the

net.

3. An unmarked centerline directly under the net separates the two

sections of the court.

4. The court boundaries shall be marked in an appropriate manner.

5. The court lines or boundaries and the area inside the lines are IN.

6. The surrounding area is OUT.

7. The ball shall be spherical with an approximate circumference