Volleyball

The rules governing this intramural sport activity derived from rules used by the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Volleyball Rules, and rules unique to the UVM Intramural Sports Program. This rules sheet is not meant to be all-inclusive; rather it is a summary of the more common rules, policies, and procedures used by the Intramural Sports Program. Important policy information can be found in the Intramural Sports Handbook. All team managers and players are responsible for reading this document and understanding the rules, policies, and procedures prior to participating in this activity.

General/Eligibility - See the Intramural Sports Handbook for complete listing of eligibility.
Club Volleyball Team Players

Members of the UVM Club Volleyball Teams are eligible to participate in intramural volleyball; however these players are subject to the following participation guidelines:
Competitive League Teams – No more than three (3) club players (men’s or women’s team members) may be listed on a roster.
Recreational League Teams – No more than one (1) club players (men’s or women’s team members) may be listed on a roster.
Penalty: Any team with a varsity player on the roster or that is in violation of the club player participation guidelines will automatically forfeit every game in which the ineligible player(s) participated. During playoffs, use of an ineligible player will result from the team being removed from further competition.

Intramural Team Participation - Individuals may only play on one single gendered team and one mixed gender team per volleyball season.

UVM Identification - All players MUST present a UVM Cat Card to the IMS Supervisor prior to each game. Players who do not have their Cat Card will be subject to the terms of the Campus Recreation ID Policy.

Team Rosters - All participants must sign the online IMLeagues roster/waiver form and be on the online roster in order to participate in an Intramural Sports game that day. It is the responsibility of the team captain to make sure that all players show up on the IMLeagues roster before the start of playoffs.

Players & Substitutions

Players - Teams are comprised of six (6) players. A minimum of four (4) players is required to start a match. Mixed gender teams may have no more than three (3) of the same gender on the court at all times.

For mixed gender teams, there may NEVER be more than a one player difference between the genders. For example, if your team shows up with two (2) males and five (5) females, you can only play two (2) males and three (3) females. That on-court ratio must be maintained at all times. In the event that a player becomes injured or has to leave the game (other than ejection) the game shall continue until it is deemed a farce by the IMS Supervisor.

Libero - A team may use a libero during the game. The libero must be designated at the beginning of each game and will wear a colored jersey to distinguish themselves from everyone else. The libero is allowed to replace any player in the back row position. They are restricted to perform as a back row player and is not allowed to complete an attack hit from anywhere if at the moment of contact the ball is entirely over the top of the net.

Substitutions - Unlimited substitutions are allowed. All substitutions, with the exception of injury, will rotate in for the serve. Substitutes will wait out of bounds by the right front position until a side out occurs where they will be permitted to rotate into the game.

Communication with Staff - Team captains are the only individuals permitted to speak with officials regarding calls or questions. If another player attempts to dispute, a warning may be issued. Subsequently, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty may be called followed by a possible ejection.

Equipment

Game Jerseys: Game Jerseys are provided by the IMS program. All jerseys will have numbers on them and each person will be required to record their name and number with the score keeper for their game at each scheduled match. The team captain/team representative must leave their ID with the Intramural Sports Supervisor as they are responsible for all jerseys. The player’s ID will be returned upon return of all jerseys. Replacement costs for any equipment missing will be billed to the individual’s Campus Recreation account. If your team would like to purchase “team jerseys” the intramural sports office encourages you to do so but you must make sure that these jerseys have numbers and are all the same color.

Footwear: Non-marking soled, closed toed shoes must be worn. Black-soled shoes, sandals, and boots are strictly prohibited.

Jewelry: All jewelry must be removed. This includes, but is not limited to, necklaces, earrings, newly pierced earrings, facial piercings, bracelets, and watches. Individuals will not be allowed to tape over any jewelry item. If you cannot remove the item, then you CANNOT play.

Volleyballs: The game ball will be provided by the officials.

Other Equipment: Knee pads are not provided, but may be worn.

Duration of Game & Scoring

Scoring - Games are played to twenty five (25) using rally scoring (teams can score on a side out as well as a point), win by two (2) with a twenty-seven (27) point cap. The third game will be played to fifteen (15) (with a 17 point cap – rally scoring).
Game Length - A best of three match (first team to win two games) will determine the winner. Games are limited to forty-five (45) minutes. In playoffs - there will be no time limit for games.
Time Outs - One 1-minute time out per team per game. Unused time outs do not carry over. Rotation: Teams must rotate clockwise every time they regain possession (including the first serve for that team, unless it is the first serve of the game).

Game Time is Forfeit Time! - All intramural events are tightly scheduled based on facility availability to allow for maximum participation, so keeping the games on schedule is very important. Please have your team at the field checked-in and ready to play at least ten (10) minutes before your scheduled game time. Game time if forfeit time! If one team is late/is not present, the team's captain that is present and has the minimum number of participants required ready to play will be given two options (once a decision is made it cannot be changed):

Take the forfeit immediately
Give the team five (5) minutes to show
If the team shows, the game must be played with only the remaining amount of time left. If the team still does not show, it will be a forfeit.
Reserve Clause: The IMS Staff reserves the right to make time adjustments to accommodate scheduling conflicts.

Fundamentals - There are five fundamental skills– serving, passing, spiking, digging, and blocking.

Serving - The server is the back right player. The server may serve anywhere behind the end line (both feet must be behind the end line when the ball is contacted; however server may land inside the court). The server may strike the ball in any manner (underhanded, side-arm, or overhand). The serve is allowed to touch the net on a serve as long as it goes over without a teammate touching it. Only one serve attempt is allowed (no re-serving).
Passing - The team receiving the serve must attempt to return the ball over the net within three touches. The first touch is usually called the pass. There are two general methods of passing the ball – the overhead pass and the bump pass.
Overhead Pass (set) - The rule states that the ball must be clearly struck at all times. The set is accomplished with the pads of the fingers and thumbs. It is incorrect to use the palms of the hands. Both hands must contact and release the ball simultaneously; otherwise it is considered a double hit and illegal. If the ball rests on the hands it is considered a lift and is illegal.
Bump Pass - This skill is accomplished by clasping the hands together. Straightening and rotating the elbows to form a flat surface with the forearms. The team receiving the serve may use either type of pass to play the ball.
Spiking - There are usually two types of spikes: the hard spike and the dink.
Hard Spike: When attempting a hard spike, the ball should be contacted with the palm of the hand, with a cupped hand, or with the fist. The ball may not be thrown or carried.
Dink: A hand pass using the pads and thumbs or fist. The ball should not come to rest on the finger pads and thumbs.
Digging - May be an attempt to receive or recover a hard spiked ball. It is similar to the bump pass but the player is usually more extended and often uses only one hand. Multiple contacts are allowed as long as a single player does not make successive hits.
Blocking - An attempt to intercept a ball that has been attacked by an opponent. The blockers may reach over the net to block when the opposition has completed their attack. A block is not considered to be a hit and may be played again by the same player.

Playing the Ball - When playing the ball, the ball must be clearly contacted and not lifted, carried, or thrown at any time during the course of play. The ball cannot be contacted by any part of the body below the waist and cannot be contacted twice in succession by one player except in the following cases:

Simultaneous contacts by teammates shall constitute one contact and either player shall be eligible to play the ball.
Multiple contacts are allowed on the 1st return hit of a hard driven spike or serve. The ball must pass between or over the side boundary lines as it crosses the net. Teams will have three (3) hits per side to cross the ball to the other side of the net.

Boundaries

When a ball touches a boundary line it is considered in the court.
It is permissible to run out of bounds to play a ball on your own side of the court.
Any ball that contacts the ceiling, walls, upper netting, wires, or basketball backboards will be considered out of play and a point or side out be will be awarded.
- Exception: A ball that hit by Team A, that hits the ceiling on Team A’s side is still playable provided the team has not exceeded its team hits in that possession.
A ball hit into the net, other than a serve, may be recovered provided a player does not make contact with the net or cross the center line.

The center line shall be considered common territory. A player may land on the center line, but no part of their body may land over it. If a player steps on the center line, a foul will be called only if the entire part of the foot touching the ground is across (not touching) the line. If a part of the player’s body extends under the net but does not touch the floor, no foul should be called provided the player does not interfere in any manner with the opponents’ play.

Positioning

At the instance of the serve, all players other than the server must be within their playing area in serving order. Each of the three forward players must be in front of their respective back row player and to the proper side of the player who is adjacent to them (any part of a player’s feet touching the floor shall not overlap any part of an adjacent player’s feet touching the floor).
If a team is playing with less than six (6) players that team is still eligible to have a maximum of three (3) players be positioned in front of the 10 foot line.
Players may switch positions on the court after the ball is put into play, but a back row player is not allowed to block or spike the net.
A back row player in front of the 10 foot line may return the ball across the net, provided the contact with the ball is below the level of the net.
- However, should the player be behind the 10 foot line or take off to jump from behind this line, the restriction would not apply.
Each player must remain in position within the boundary lines of the court until the ball has been contacted by the server.
The players will rotate in a clockwise manner. If a substitution is to be made, the right front player rotates off and the substitute rotates into the service position. Teams rotate every serve (unless it is the first serve of the game). (Mixed Gender League Only: Teams must maintain the gender ratio on the court when subbing.)

Net Play - A player may reach over the net during the course of play, but the player may not contact the ball over the net until the completion of the opponent’s attack. A player’s hand may pass over the net in a follow through after the player has completed the attack. When the ball crosses the center plane above the net it is considered as having crossed the net.

Net Violation - Contact with the net on a spike or blocking attempt is a net violation. It is not a violation if the ball is driven into the net, causing it to contact an opposing player.

Simultaneous Hits Above the Net - If two opponents simultaneously hit the ball above the net, the player behind the direction of the ball is considered as having touched it last. The team upon whose side of the net the ball lands is allowed three plays of the ball. If after the simultaneous touch by two opponents, the ball falls and touches within the court area, the team on that side is at fault. If the ball lands out of bounds on same side of the court, then the other team is at fault.

Fouls - The following fouls are penalized by a point for the opposition and loss of the ball:
Players out of position fouls:

A player is out of rotation order when the ball is contacted by the server.
Players of the serving team attempt to block, or screen, the view of the receiving team during the serve.
A back row player leaves (jumps) the floor within the front court spiking area to attack the ball.
A back row player attempts to block at the net.
A player serves out of rotation.

Fouls related to the act of serving:

Serving out of bounds, in the net, under the net, or outside or directly above the net antennae.
Unnecessary delay of game.
Not striking the ball with the hand, fist, or arm for the serve.
Stepping on/beyond the end line during the serve.
Serving before the official’s whistle (2nd offense).
Fouls involving net play:
Player contacts any part of the net or its supports while the ball is in play.
Player reaches over the net and contacts the ball before the completion of the opponent’s attack.
Player’s entire foot (or portion in contact with ground) or any part of the body touches the floor on the opposite side of the center line while the ball is in play.
Player interferes with the opponent’s play underneath the net by touching the ball or an opposing player.

Fouls committed during other play:

Not cleanly hitting the ball (the ball may not visibly come to rest when it is contacted).
Hitting the ball out of bounds.
Making successive contacts with the ball (exception – when simultaneous contacts are made by two or more players, or a contact made during a block. In both cases, the player may contact the ball again).
Playing the ball more than three times before it crosses the net.
Playing the ball outside the court across the center line when extended.
Hitting the ball over the net outside or directly above the antennae.
The ball contacting any part of the body below the waist.