Official Rules

RULES:

1. If a player can't attend a league night, it is the team's responsibility to find a sub!  Please do not call, text or email me stating that your team will not be playing on any league night.  Keep in mind that TWO teams are showing up to play you and some of them are traveling from the other side of Houston. A team will be removed from the league due to a "no show" and all league fees will be forfeited.  If you have a problem finding a sub, e-mail me at travis@gcva.net at least 48 hours prior to play time. I will send out a mass email that you are looking for a sub.

2.  Players are always expected to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early to warm up and should know what time and which court they are playing on before they arrive.  Please make sure you read the schedule correctly.

3.  No alcohol is allowed within the sand courts or close to them.  Keep in mind that this is a Juniors program.

4.  No dogs are allowed inside the sand courts.  All dogs must be kept on a leash and away from the participants and spectators.

5.  Due to limited space around the courts and for safety reasons, all parents/spectators must stay near the bleachers or outside the fenced courts.  No chairs are to be set up around the courts for any reason.

6.  Players are to keep track of the score on their own court.  Parents/spectators are not allowed to keep score, correct the score or to coach the players.  USAV does not allow this at their tournaments and neither does GCVA.  Spectators causing issues will result in points being taken away from the appropriate team in violation.

7.  Players are to pick up their trash after each match.  Please help me keep the sand courts clean.

SUBS:
If something comes up and you and/or your team cannot attend a league night, it is YOUR responsibility to find a sub. NO-SHOWS AND FORFEITS ARE NOT ALLOWED! If you've exhausted all of your options and still cannot find a sub, you must notify Travis Clifford at 832-316-0323 no later than 9am on the day of play. Teams that no-show will be immediately removed from the league and all league fees will be forfeited.

WEATHER:
If weather becomes an issue and league play is canceled, an email will be sent to participants by 2:00pm on the day of play. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check your email or the website BEFORE heading out to the courts.

PARENTS:
Parents are not allowed to coach, keep score or ref from the sidelines. The players will be reffing their own games. For safety reasons, parents are to stay in the bleacher area or stay outside the fenced area in the grass.

GENERAL

• Setting: A hand set ball must be contacted and released simultaneously with both hands and may not visually come to rest or be carried. Rotation shall not be an automatic determination of a ball-handling foul, however in League Doubles the ball should not rotate more than twice. Overhand Over-sets must cross the plane of the net parallel to your shoulders in a forward or backward direction or it is considered a misdirection of the ball. No exceptions including the wind. A point or SIDEOUT will be awarded for overhand over-sets that do not cross the plane of the net parallel to the setter's shoulders. Bump sets can be over-setting.
• Serve: The server may not step on or touch the end line in any way, or contact the playing surface until the ball is contacted. He/she may however break the imaginary plane above the end line as long as he/she has contacted the ball before touching the playing surface (i.e. jump serves). You can serve anywhere behind the line. You cannot receive a serve open-handed, hands must be together. The ball cannot contact the palm of your hands when receiving the serve even if they are together.
• Attack or Block: You cannot block a ball on the opponent’s side of the net unless the opponents have either already completed 3 contacts or are trying to take the ball over. You can never spike the ball on the opponent’s side of the net; you may however contact the ball above the plane of the net or on your side of the net and follow through to your opponent's side of the net. The block does not count as a team contact in coed 4’s. You may not block or attack a serve. Note: In doubles AVP rules are in effect, the block does count as a team contact but either player can contact the ball after the block (There are only 2 more contacts after the block).
• Double Hit: You may only double hit a hard driven ball as long as it is one attempt at playing the ball (the serve is never considered a hard driven ball) Open Hand Digs (BEACH DIGS) are allowed as long as the ball is spiked from above the net. The ball should not come to rest or visually caught and thrown. The GCVA is very liberal on beach digs as long as it is a hard spiked ball from above the net.
• Dinks: Open Hand dinks will not be allowed in Doubles and CoEd 4's. You must attack the ball. You may however use a backhand, Cobra, or close fist. The ball cannot contact the palm of the hand for the purpose of misdirecting the ball. The ball may only touch the palm of the hand if the player is swinging at or attacking the ball. Open hand dinks are allowed in coed 6's.
• Center Line: A player may cross-center while playing the ball as long as the player does not interfere with the opponent. Interference is not necessary determined by contact. You cannot touch the net with any part of your body or clothing. Hair in the net is not a violation.
• Boundaries: The ball must travel between the imaginary extensions of the poles. If any part of the ball contacts the pole or passes over the vertical extension of the pole, it is out of play. Players may not use the poles or any part of the court or other players to help propel him into the air. The player may use the poles to stop him from contacting the net once he has made his play.