GAME RULES

ALL KIDS GET EQUAL PLAYING TIME

Teams with more than 6 players will substitute every rotation. There will be no official substitutions like in school or club. All kids will rotate on/off/around the court into the serving position, into the front row or both depending on the side they are standing on.

MATCHES IN ALL DIVISIONS ARE 3 GAMES TO 25 POINTS, REGARDLESS OF WINS/LOSSES

All three games will be played during the regular season. Teams must win by 2 points; cap is at 27. Refs will record wins/losses, but it is recommended that coaches also keep track in the event of a discrepancy. Game records (just wins/losses, no need to track points) will be used to determine seeding for playoffs. Playoffs and finals will NOT be capped.

ONE TIME OUT PER TEAM, PER GAME

A coach can call time out once per game during the regular season. Time outs are max 1 minute long. Two time outs will be permitted per game in playoff/final rounds

A MINIMUM OF 4 PLAYERS NEED TO BE PRESENT FOR A GAME TO COUNT

Opposing team should still play with 6 if they have 6. If only 3 players, a sub can be used from another team in the SAME DIVISION. If there are no subs available, a game can still be played but that team will forfeit wins. Recommendation is to combine teams and play for fun.

PLAYERS MUST ROTATE (CLOCKWISE) AFTER SERVE/RECEIVE

To start a game, the second team to serve must rotate before their first serve.

THE PLAYER IN THE BACK RIGHT POSITION ON THE COURT IS THE ONE WHO SERVES

The server can serve from anywhere along the endline, there are no foot faults.

ALL PLAYERS MUST SERVE OVERHAND

We no longer teach underhand serving in our program.

PLAYERS GET ONE DROPPED TOSS PER SERVE

The player can let the ball drop to the floor one time per serve, to get a second toss. The second toss MUST be hit or the serve will go to the other team. The ball may touch the servers body during a dropped toss, but the player is NOT allowed to catch the toss. If the toss is caught, there will be a sideout.

SERVING POSITIONS (ALL DIVISIONS)

Because we require overhand serving, players are permitted to start serving closer to the net in some divisions. Coaches should have the players start serving from the furthest spot from the net that allows them to make it over. Below are additional guidelines:

Beginner League: Players are permitted to move up to the 10' line IF THEY NEED TO in order to get the serve over the net.
Intermediate & Advanced Leagues: Players are permitted to start their serve 10' into the court from the back line IF THEY NEED TO in order to get the serve over the net.
High School League: Players must start their serve behind the end line and are NOT permitted to step into the court as they serve (no foot faults)

If a player is NOT serving from behind the end line, and their first serve is over the net, they will be asked to step back for their next serve by the coaches and refs. The last spot where they had a successful serve from is where they should start in the next serving rotation. The goal is to have all players start serving behind the end line by the end of the season.

PLAYERS IN BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE GET ONE SERVING DO-OVER ON THE FIRST SERVE PER SERVING ROTATION

If the first serve doesn’t go over the net on the first try, they can try one more time. This only applies to serves into the net, serves that go over and out do not get a do-over. If the first serve is over, then the second is in the net, no do-over.

5 SERVE LIMIT PER SERVING ROTATION IN BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE

A player can serve a maximum of 5 points in a rotation. Your team will get all 5 points, but the ball will go to the other team after the 5th serve. No points will be awarded to the other team as it is not a true side out.

PLAYERS WILL BE CALLED IF THEY ARE IN THE NET (REF’S DISCRETION)

The refs will call players who blatantly touch the net “fish”, minor brushes will not be called

BALLS THAT TOUCH THE CEILING AND GO OVER ARE “OUT”

A ball can still be played if it touches the ceiling but comes down on the same side of the team that caused the ceiling ball

JEWELRY WILL BE PERMITTED IN A GAME, WITHIN REASON (REF’S DISCRETION)

No long necklaces or long earrings

RESPECT & SPORTSMANSHIP

- Respect & sportsmanship are key skills for players at this age to learn. Take the opportunities in practice and at games to point out good (and bad) sportsmanship
- Coaches AND parents must act as role models during practices and games
- Please remind parents to be respectful of the players and to remember they are young kids, some playing volleyball for the first time, they are not college kids in the state finals. Ask that they refrain from distracting kids who are serving or from being disruptive in the stands.
- PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL of the referees and the calls they make - good or bad. They are young and still learning, too!
- A questionable call can be a great learning opportunity for the kids. If the players seem upset over a call, steal a line from Ted Lasso and tell them to “be a goldfish”!
- PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL of the other coaches. Games can get heated at times, but please address the ref with concerns or questions you have in the moment and let the ref address the other coach, if necessary.
- At the start and end of the game, all players will line up on the 10-foot line, when the ref signals they can run along the net and slap hand, wishing the other team good luck/good game.
- All players, parents and coaches are required to abide by the BYC Code of Conduct.