2005 Rule Book

Updated February 6, 2005 for the 2005 season

For the last 14 years the TVA rules have always basically been the Traditional AVP rules with some local flair. Our goal is to standardize the beach/sand rules throughout TEXAS for the benefit of the players while still keeping some tradition in the outdoor game.

The TVA rules committee has agreed that Tournament rules should be basically NEW AVP rules with maybe a little local variance. Although some tournament divisions may use traditional rules, most divisions will use

the New AVP/International rules.

The TVA rules committee will continue to review recommended changes for our upcoming seasons.

Recent rule changes are:

1. Tie-Breaker Procedure

· Win-loss record

· Head to head

· Points “for” only among the teams that are tied

· After initial tie is broken, go back to head to head if remaining teams are still tied

· LAST RESORT: Point differential among all teams in the pool

2. The Classification of a “JUNIOR” player/member

· Anyone 18 years of age or younger at the date of the Tournament.

3. The use of NEW AVP/International rules for most divisions. International rules would consist of:

· Short Court

· Rally Scoring

· Let serve

4. TIE-BREAKER PROCEDURE

To standardize pool play rules for TVA, the following procedures will be used to determine the top teams in each pool:

Advancing teams within a pool:

· Win-loss record

· Head to head

· Points “for” only among the teams that are tied

· After initial tie is broken, go back to head to head if remaining teams are still tied

· LAST RESORT: Point differential among all teams in the pool

Seeding out of pools:

· Win-loss record

· Overall point differential (taking all points won and subtract all points lost)

· Seed 1st place teams first

· Seed 2nd place teams next

1. PLAYING AREA

1.1 DIMENSIONS
Traditional: The playing area consists of a rectangular playing court measuring 60' x 30’ for traditional and 8m x16m for international play either court should have a surrounding free zone, which is a minimum 10' wide.

1.2 PLAYING SURFACE
The surface of the playing area must be as flat and uniform as possible, free of rocks, sprinkler heads and any other objects, which may cause injury. Sand courts consist of fine-grained sand and should be at least 12" deep. Real Public Beach areas should be checked for foreign objects and raked if possible. Let it be known that public beach court conditions may vary location-to-location or court-to-court and all players must assume the responsibility to insure a safe playing surface. Grass courts consist of maintained grass surfaces free of holes, puddles and uneven ground. Any hazardous areas should be designated as out of play.

1.3 LINES ON THE COURT
Boundary lines consist of two sidelines and two end lines, which mark the playing court. They are made of 1/4-3/8” rope or 1" to 2"” wide flat bands or tape. The centerline divides the playing court into two square team courts, but is not marked. All lines are considered to extend indefinitely. It is the players’ responsibility to assure that all lines are in their proper location prior to the start of each play. Lines moved during play do not cause the rally to stop. If it cannot be determined whether a ball lands in bounds or out of bounds, it is a replay.

1.4 SERVICE ZONE
The service zone is behind the end line and between the extensions of the sidelines and extends to the end of the free zone.

2. NET AND POSTS

2.1 HEIGHT OF THE NET
The height of the net is 8' for men and coed divisions and 7'4" for women, measured at the center. A net failure occurs when there is a sudden loss of net height or tension. If the net failure is the result of a fault or does not affect the outcome of the rally, the rally counts. Otherwise, it is replayed.

3. BALL

3.1 BALL
Generally we let the players decide on what ball to use as long as it is a good quality outdoor ball that weighs between 9-10 oz. The ball may be of any color or multicolored. Certain Locations, organizations or tournament directors may stipulate that a certain ball and/or brand be used due to agreements with manufactures. In such cases the director needs to supply the specific brand/style of ball for each court. If a disagreement arises between players and the tournament director does not care, players call roll off for ball or switch after each game.

4. TEAMS

4.1 COMPOSITION
Two players on the court per team; with no more than two players on the roster
All competitions must involve teams with the required numbers of players. Teams with less than the required number of players must forfeit. There is no substitution in doubles.

5. EQUIPMENT

5.1 APPROPRIATE CLOTHING
A player’s clothing must be presentable and appropriate for the competition. Players on the same team are permitted to wear clothing of different colors and designs. Players may wear hats, visors or sunglasses at their own risk. Players may play barefoot, in socks or in “booties.” Shoes may be worn but they cannot have any type of nonflexible cleats or spikes.

5.2 FORBIDDEN OBJECTS
It is forbidden to wear any objects that may cause an injury to a player, such as jewelry, pins, bracelets, casts, etc. Players may wear glasses or flat-band rings at their own risk.

6. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

6.1 PLAYERS
All participants must know the official TVA Volleyball Outdoor Rules and abide by them. Participants must behave respectfully and courteously in the spirit of fair play towards the refereeing corps, teammates, opponents and spectators. They must refrain from actions aimed at delaying the game or taking unfair advantage. Participants must accept referees’ decisions with sportsmanlike conduct. In case of doubt, clarification may be respectfully requested. A player may question the referee’s interpretation of a rule, but not the referee’s judgment.

6.2 PLAYER BEHAVIOR

· Players must not persistently address officials in regard to their decisions.

· Players must not make derogatory remarks about or to an official, opponents or spectators? Player must refrain from the use of profanity.

· Players must not commit acts with the intention of influencing the referee’s decisions.

· Players must refrain from intentionally trying to distract an opponent who is playing or about to play the ball (i.e. shouting, clapping, etc.).

· Players should not take any action tending to influence the referee’s judgment concerning ball handling.

· Players may not commit any act, which, in the opinion of the referee, delays the game unnecessarily.

· Players must refrain from kicking or hitting the ball out the area of play.

· Players must not intentionally damage tournament equipment.

· Physical assault or intimidation of officials, opponents or spectators by players is prohibited.

7. SCORING SYSTEM

7.1 Pool Play

Rally Scoring
4 team Pool - 2 Games to 17 (total of 6 games, 102 points).

5 Team pool - 2 Game to 25 (total of 4 games – 100 points).

6 Team pools - 1 Game to 20 (total of 5 games – 100 points)

7 Team pools - 1 Game to 17 (total of 6 games – 100 points)

Traditional Scoring

4 team Pool - 2 Games to 11 (total of 6 games, 66 points).

5 Team pool - 1 Games to 15 (total of 4 games – 60 points).

6 Team pools – 1 Game to 11 (total of 5 games – 55 points)

7 Team pools – 1 Game to 11 (total of 6 games – 66 points)

7.2 Double Elimination Tournament (matches dependent on # of teams and days played_

Rally Scoring

All matches will be best 2 out of 3 to 21, win by 2 in first two games, there will be a 23-point cap in the first two games. If a 3^rd game is played that game will be to 7 points, win by 1 with a 9-point cap

Traditional Scoring

All matches will be 1 game to 15, win by 2, 17-point cap.

*Note: In double elimination tournaments all matches may vary depending on:

· Number of teams

· Number of days the tournament takes place

· Winner’s side of bracket may also vary from loser’s side of bracket. In general, the Winners side will play as close to official scoring as possible whereas the loser’s side may play abbreviated matches.

7.3 Playoffs

Traditional Scoring

All matches will be 1 game to 15 – 17 point cap in all playoff games except final. (No Cap in final). If more than two rounds of playoffs all rounds preceding the semi-final will be 1 game to 11 with 13 cap dependent on time.

Rally Scoring

All playoff games are 1 Game to 25 – 27-point cap in all playoff games except final.

7.4 TO WIN A GAME

· Win by 2,

· Point cap is 2 points past point total in all games/matches except final.

· The tournament director may change game points or caps.

7.5 TO WIN A RALLY

· Whenever a team fails to serve or return the ball, or commits any other fault, the opposing team wins the rally.

· In traditional rules if the serving team wins a rally, it scores a point and continues to serve. If the receiving team wins a rally, it gains the right to serve, but does not score a point (side-out).

· In Rally scoring the team who wins the rally scores the point.

7.6 DEFAULT AND INCOMPLETE TEAM
A team declared incomplete for the game or match loses the game or match. The opposing team is given the points, or points and the games needed to win the game(s) or match.

7.7 FORFEIT
If any team forfeits a match, and that team has only completed one or less games in that pool all games in that pool are scored “0” or not taken into account for games played.

If any team forfeits after completing two matches then each team that receives the forfeit will be awarded a “point average” from the previous games that the forfeiting team played. If the forfeit team won all it’s previous matches then the other teams will receive the win but will get a score of “0”. This is to not punish the teams that did well against the forfeiting teams and reward the teams that did badly against the forfeiting team.

8. PREPARATION OF THE MATCH

8.1 COIN TOSS (or similar method i.e. odd/even, Roshambo)

Before the first game and before each deciding game, the referee conducts a coin toss in the presence of the team captains. The winner of the coin toss chooses either:

· To select to serve or receive service of the first ball or

· The side of the court on which to start the game.

The loser takes the remaining alternative and, for the second game in a 2 out of 3 match, gets to select from the above choices.

8.2 If a third game is required the winner gets to select from the above choices.

8.3 Any other alternate means may be used as long as agreed to by both teams.

9. TEAM LINE-UP

9.1 SUBSTITUTIONS
No substitutions or replacements of players are allowed in Doubles.

10. STATES OF PLAY

10.1 BALL “IN PLAY”
The ball is in play from the service contact until the ball is out of play.

10.2 BALL “OUT OF PLAY”
The ball is out of play from the moment the ball lands or a fault is committed. The rally ends when a referee halts play or the ball is out of play.

10.3 BALL “IN” (OR “IN BOUNDS”)
A ball is in when its first contact with the ground is on the playing court or a boundary line.

10.4 BALL “OUT” (OR “OUT OF BOUNDS”)
The ball is out when:

· Its first contact with the ground is completely outside the playing court, or it does not touch the boundary line.

· It completely crosses the net outside the posts or under the net after the attacking team’s third contact.

· It touches an object out of play.

· It passes over the imaginary extension of the posts.

· It the boundary line is accidentally moved, the referee will decide whether the ball is in or out by judging where the line should have been.

11. PLAYING FAULTS

11.1 DEFINITION

· Any playing action contrary to the rules is a fault.

· If two or more faults are committed successively, only the first one is counted, except when the first fault is the ball contacting the ground and the second fault occurs during the continuation of the play. If two or more faults are committed by two opponents simultaneously, the rally is replayed.

12. PLAYING THE BALL

12.1 TEAM CONTACTS
Each team is entitled to a maximum of three contacts to return the ball to the opponents. A player may not contact the ball two times consecutively except during or after blocking or when digging a hard driven ball. Blocking does constitute a team contact and any player may make the first contact of the ball after the block.

12.2 SIMULTANEOUS CONTACTS

· If 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 of bounds, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side of the net from where the ball lands.

· A joust occurs when players of opposing teams cause the ball to come to rest above the net through simultaneous contact. A joust is not a fault and play continues as if the contact was instantaneous.

12.3 ASSISTED HIT
A player is not permitted to take support from a teammate or any object in order to reach the ball. However, a player who is about to commit a fault may be stopped or held back by a teammate.

12.4 CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTACT

· A player may touch the ball with any part of the body.

· A player may have successive contacts with a hard driven ball.

· The ball must be contacted cleanly and not held (including lifted, pushed, caught, carried or thrown). The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a player’s body.

· An exception is allowed during the defensive play of a hard-driven ball, which is an attack-hit or blocked ball traveling at a high rate of speed (as judged by the referee). In that case, the ball may be momentarily lifted or pushed, providing that the attempt is one continuous motion.

· A contact of the ball with two hands, using the fingers to direct the ball, is a set. A player may set the ball in any direction towards his/her team’s court, provided that the ball is contacted simultaneously by both hands and does not visibly come to rest.

· Rotation of the ball after the set may indicate a held ball or multiple contacts during the set, but in itself is not a fault.

· A legal set directed towards a teammate that unintentionally crosses the net is a fault and is either a point or side out in not perpendicular to the direction his/her shoulders are facing.

· If the ball is set into the opponent’s court, the player must contact the ball above his/her shoulders and must direct the ball perpendicular to the direction his/her shoulders are facing.

· When contacting the ball with one hand, it must be cleanly hit with the heel or palm of the hand (a “roll shot”), with straight, locked fingertips (a “cobra”), knurled fingers (a “camel toe”) or the back of the hand from the wrist to the knuckles. One-handed placement or redirection of the ball with the fingers (a “dink” or “open hand tip”) is a fault.

13. BALL AT THE NET

13.1 BALL CROSSING THE NET
A ball directed to the opponent’s court must go over the net and fully within the poles or their extensions.

13.2 BALL TOUCHING THE NET
The ball may touch the net while crossing the net, except during the service. A serve that touches the net is a fault.

13.3 BALL IN THE NET
A ball driven into the net may be recovered within the limits of the three-team contacts.

13.4 BALL TOUCHING THE POSTS
A ball touching the posts or hardware inside the posts is a fault.

14. PLAYER AT THE NET

14.1 REACHING BEYOND THE NET

· While blocking, a player may touch the ball beyond the net, provided they do not interfere with the opponent’s play, before or during the attack-hit.

· A player is permitted to pass his/her hand(s) beyond the net after an attack-hit, provided that the contact was made within his/her team’s playing space.

· Within the limits of the three-team contacts, a player may contact a ball that has crossed the net below the net (or outside the posts) in an attempt to recover a ball that has not been contacted by the opponents. The recovered ball must cross the net below the net (or outside the posts).

14.2 PENETRATION INTO OPPONENT’S PLAYING AREA

· Players may partially or completely cross the centerline below the net or outside the poles, before, during or after a legal play of the ball, provided that this does not interfere with the opponent’s play. Incidental contact with an opponent is ignored, unless such contact interferes with the opponent's opportunity to play the ball. While opposing players are not required to avoid the ball or the player, they cannot intentionally interfere with any legal attempt to play the ball on their court.

· If a player crosses the centerline and interferes with an opponent during the continuation of a play, it is a fault.

· 14.3 CONTACT WITH THE NET OR POSTS

· It is a fault for a player or a player’s clothing to touch any part of the net. Exceptions are:

· Incidental contact of the net by a player’s hair

· If a player’s hat, visor or glasses fall off during play and then contacts the net

· When a ball is driven into the net and causes the net to touch a player, no fault is committed. Once a player has contacted the ball, the player may touch the posts, ropes or any other object outside the total length of the net, provided that it does not interfere with play.