ECSS Sand Volleyball Rules .

I. Format

1.      Match Play â?? 2 Games to 21 (23 cap), 3^rd game to 15 (no cap but limited by time)

2.      Matches will be strictly timed to 45 minutes.  The match ends when the time is up.  If there is a tie, the next point wins.

3.      Games are forfeited at 10 min mark and 20 min mark.

4.      Teams may play 3^rd game regardless of the Match result till time runs out.

5.      Team warmup will consist of 5 minutes of hitting and will begin at the scheduled time. (both teams simultaneously)

6.      The match will begin exactly 5 minutes after game time (or if both teams agree to not warm-up)

II. Minimum Requirements

1.     A maximum of 6 players on the court at all times (minimum of two females).

2.     Teams can play with a minimum of (4) players (minimum two females) on the court for the game.    

3.     Teams with less than six (6) players may pick up another player from another team, if the opposing team is ok with it.

4.     During the regular season, a team may play a legal game with less than the required number of players or players from other teams if the opposing team consents.

III. Service Possession/Side Choice

1.     Team captains will do some sort of contest (ex. rock, paper, scissors, coin flip). 

2.     The winner will decide on Serve, Receive, or Side.

3.     After each game teams will switch sides. If your team served in the first game, in the second game the other team will get to serve first.  

4.     In the 3^rd game (if necessary) the First team that gets to 8 points, teams will switch sides.

IV. Rotation

1.     Team members must rotate on the court and must remain in that position until the serve has been contacted. The player in the back right-hand corner of the rotation will be designated to serve and continue to rotate clockwise.  Service can be executed anywhere behind the backline and between the sidelines.

2.     Coed formats may line up in any gender order. This means that males may be next to males and females next to females. It is NOT required to alternate males and females.

3.     There must be 3 front row and 3 back row players.

4.     Players must rotate positions in a clockwise order for each rotation for service.

V. Substitutions

1.     Teams are only permitted to substitute a player at the side-out and into the service position. 

2.     Players arriving late to a game must wait for a side-out to fill a missing position.

VI. Playing The Ball

Serves:  

1.     At the start of the game the server must make sure that both teams are ready to play.

2.     The ball must be tossed and hit with one hand/foot.

3.     If the ball is not contacted, a player may make one more re-toss for serve.

4.     Service execution must occur within 10 seconds.

Serve Receive:

1.     Serve can be received with open hands and with double contact. 

2.     When you receive a serve, you are allowed to set the ball over the net.

 Let Serves: 

1.     Serves that hit the net and go over the net on the opponentâ??s side will be "live" and are good serves provided they land in bounds.

 Three Contacts: 

1.     Each team is allowed a maximum of 3 successive contacts of the ball to return the ball to the opponent's area.

2.     In the action of blocking an attacking ball, the touch, or contact resulting from the block attempt does not constitute one of the three successive contacts.

 Attacking the Net: 

1.     Only the three players that are in the front row of the rotation are allowed to attack the net.

2.     Backrow attacks may be executed behind a 10 ft. imaginary line. 

 Simultaneous Contacts: 

1.     When teammates touch the ball simultaneously this counts as TWO team contacts, and either player may make the 3rd contact.

2.     When two BLOCKING teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is not counted as a contact, and any player may make the next contact.

3.      When two opponents simultaneously and instantaneously contact the ball over the net, the ball remains in play and the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball lands out, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side of the net from where the ball lands.

 Characteristics of The Contact: 

1.     The ball can contact any part of the body once.

2.     When the ball hits two parts of the body on a hard-driven (no arc) attack, the ball may contact 2 parts of the body as long as there is no effort on the 2 ^nd hit. (Example: Ball hits arm and face, this is legal)

 Held Ball: 

1.     The ball must be contacted cleanly and not held, lifted, pushed, caught, carried, or thrown.

2.     The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a playerâ??s body.

Hand Sets: 

1.     A contact of the ball using the fingers of one or two hands to direct the ball toward a teammate is a set.

2.     The ball must come into contact with hand(s) simultaneously and leave both hands simultaneously to avoid a double hit call.

3.      A player may set the ball in any direction providing there is no double contact or the ball is not carried.

4.     Rotation of the ball does not necessarily indicate a fault.  Physical double contact or carry of the ball is a definite indicator.

 Attacking the Ball Over the Opponents Court:

1.     A player is not allowed to attack the ball on the opposite side of the net.

2.     If the ball is hit above the attacking teamâ??s side of the net and then the follow-through causes the attacker's hand and arm to cross the net without contacting an opponent or the net, the action does not constitute a fault.

Blocking:

1.     A legal block is when the ball is touched by the defending team AFTER the attacker has made contact with the ball. The blocker may reach across the net as long as they do not touch the net.

Multiple Contacts: 

1.     Multiple contacts of the ball by a player(s) participating in a block shall be legal provided it is during one attempt to intercept the ball.

 Participation After A Block: 

1.     Any player participating in a block shall have the right to make the next contact, such contact counting as the first of three hits allowed the team.

 Blocking A Serve:

1.     Blocking or attacking a serve is prohibited.  This occurs when contact is made above the plane of the net.

VII. Play At The Net

 Player Contact With The Net:

1.     No part of the body may touch the net at any time unless a ball or person driven into the net causes the contact. 

2.     Net can hit the player, player cannot hit the net.

3.     If a player is not involved in the direct play (hitter, blocker, setter), then a net violation will not be a fault. 

4.     Contact with hair or part of the uniform will not be considered a fault.

Simultaneous Contact By Opponents:

1.     If opponents contact the net simultaneously, it shall constitute a double fault and the point shall be played over.

 Interference:

1.     Beach volleyball allows any and all parts of the body to cross the center line as long as there is no interference with the opposing player.

VIII. League Policies

Refs:

This is a self ref league.

If there is an argument over the play in question, redo the point.

Forfeits:

1.     If your team forfeits a match during the season, the following rules apply:

a.     First Offense: Loss of Match

b.    Second Offense: Loss of Match and removal of team from playoffs.

c.     Third Offense: Removal from the league.

2.     Any team that forfeits more than once also forfeits any guarantee or right to a certain number of guaranteed games.

3.     If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to call our office or email to help us schedule your opponent a game.

IX. Playoffs:

1.     EVERY TEAM MAKES THE PLAYOFFS (unless a team has been removed at ECSS discretion).

2.     Playoffs will begin immediately following the end of the regular season and will typically last between 1 and 2 weeks.

3.     After teams have been seeded according to their records, all captains will receive an email with the 1st week of playoff game times roughly 3 days before their league playoff date.

4.     Teams will not receive a call for any other weeks of playoffs! It is the responsibility of ALL TEAMS to check the playoff brackets at the league or online to find out what time they will be playing the following week if they win.

5.     In playoffs, it is not uncommon, (and in some cases will be necessary), for teams to have more than one match in a given night. No substitutes will be allowed during playoffs.

6.     All players must have signed the waiver by the second week of the season to be eligible for playoffs.

7.     All eligible teams will make the playoffs. Playoff eligible teams will be determined on a league-by-league basis.

8.     Teams that have violated the forfeit policy during the regular season will not be eligible for playoffs. Playoffs are single elimination.

These Rules are designed to make the league run as smoothly and safely as possible and provide continuity for its participants! Each player in the league is responsible for this information! Please advise your team of these rules and thanks for playing!