Our indoor volleyball league follows USA Volleyball standard rules of play, unless noted below.

Teams & Players

• A team consists of six players, but may start with a minimum of four. 
• A team must have at least two women on the court at all times.
• There is no maximum number of females allowed on the court.
• To receive a forfeit win, a team must have six (or the minimum of four, including two females) players on the court.
  • If neither team can field enough players, it is a double forfeit.
• All players must fill out a league waiver to be eligible to play.
• Players must wear athletic shoes.

Roster Changes

• Roster changes will be accepted via email at info@elevate-vb.com.
• All roster changes must be approved by the coordinator.
• Team captains must submit roster changes and include:
  • Team name
  • New player name
• Teams must have a final roster submitted by the last week of league play.
• Teams may not use substitute players during the playoff tournament.

Pre-Game

• If a team doesn’t have enough players fifteen minutes after the scheduled start time, they forfeit the first game.
• Before each match, teams may play rock, paper, scissors. The winning team may choose to either:
  • First to serve or receive, or starting side.

Games & Matches

• Matches are played as a best two-out-of-three format.
  • Games one and two are played to 25 points (cap at 27).
  • Game three is played to 15 points (cap at 17).
  • Teams must win by two points unless the cap is met first.
• If a team wins the first two games, a third game may be played for fun if time allows.
• Rally scoring is used for all games.
• Each team is allowed one 30-second time out per game.
• Intermissions between games are to be a maximum of three minutes.

Faults

• Four hits: When a team contacts the ball four times before returning it.
• Double contact: When a player hits the ball twice in succession or the ball touches two parts of their body in one attempt.
  • Double contacts will not be called on the second touch (e.g., a set) as long as the ball does not cross over the net.
• Back-row violation: back row players may not spike or block in front of the attack line.

 
Other Playing Rules

• A block does NOT count as a team contact. After a block, the team still has three contacts available. 
• Players (including their clothing) cannot touch the net during play.
  • Exception: It is NOT a fault if the ball is driven into the net causing the net to touch the player.
  • Hair is allowed to touch the net without a violation being committed
• Players may cross the centerline underneath the net if there is no interference with the opposing team
  • Penetration into the opponent’s court, beyond the center line:
    • 11.2.2.1: to touch the opponent’s court with a foot (feet) is permitted, provided that some part of the penetrating foot (feet) remains either in contact with or directly above the center line
    • 11.2.2.2:to touch the opponent’s court with any part(s) of the body is permitted, provided some part of the body remains either in contact with or directly above the center line, and there is no interference with opponents. In addition, completely crossing the center line with the foot, feet, or hands, or encroachment with other body parts, must not present a safety hazard to opponents.
• Players may not block or attack-hit a serve.
• Players may use their feet to keep the ball in play.
• If a foreign object enters the court during play, the ball is declared dead and the point should be replayed.
• A player may go outside the court to play the ball but may not enter another court to do so.
• Balls that contact the rafters or basketball hoops are still in play if they remain over a team’s own court and fall back into that same court, provided the team still has hits remaining. Balls may NOT be played off the side walls.

 
Rotations

• Rotation order must stay the same throughout each game but may be adjusted between games of the same match.
• Players must begin in their rotational positions but may switch after the serve is tossed.
• Players must rotate completely around the court.
• Players must rotate on each change of possession.
  • Teams are NOT allowed to “Stay for One Rotation” on the first change of possession
• Typewriting is NOT allowed.
  • This refers to a rotation pattern where one player only plays front row and another (typically the libero) only plays back row, without completing full rotations.

 Miscellaneous

• Profanity and unsportsmanlike conduct may result in ejection and/or disqualification from future matches.
• Refunds will NOT be issued for ejections or suspensions for unsportsmanlike conduct.