We abide by the USAV Rule book

Rule differences based on playing level

House Rules

• If you have a roster of 6 players, you will not be permitted to play with 7 players. 

• A Level leagues

  • Self/peer referred

  • When playing with 4-5 players (in a 6v6 league) the empty position must rotate around the court as normal. When the "goast" is up to serve, it's an automatic side out for the opposing team.

• BB Level leagues

  • Self/peer referred

  • When playing with 4-5 players (in a 6v6 league) You may rotate around normally, skipping past your "ghost" OR when the "ghost" is up to serve, give a side out to the opposing team (This would be to keep you rotational matchups with the opposing team). This choice is made at the beginning of each set and must stay consistent throughout each set.

• B Level leagues

  • Self referred ONLY (Peers added for playoffs)

  • When playing with 4-5 players (in a 6v6 league) You may rotate around normally, skipping past your "ghost" OR when the "ghost" is up to serve, give a side out to the opposing team (This would be to keep you rotational matchups with the opposing team). This choice is made at the beginning of each set and must stay consistent throughout each set.

Scoring

• A match win consists of winning two out of three sets to 25 scoring points using rally scoring.

• A third set to 15 straight up will always be played. 

• A set/game is won when a team scores 25 points and is ahead by at least 2 points. No game shall exceed 27 points. If the teams are tied at 26-26, the first team to score the 27th point shall be the winner.

• Playoffs and championship finals will follow this same scoring system with the exception of the third game only being played if needed, and will have no cap.

Time-outs

• Each team may call one 30-second timeout per set.

• Time between sets shall not exceed 3 minutes.

Serving

• The winner of a coin toss has the choice of service or side of court.

• The team not serving first in the first game shall serve first in the second game.

• If the match is 1 and 1, service for the third game will be determined by a coin toss.

• Teams change sides after each game.

• The serving area is the entire area behind the end line between the sidelines and as deep as the court allows.

• Each player will only receive 1 re-serve per rotation, and the ball may be caught or dropped.

Playing the Ball

• A legal hit is contact with the ball by any part of a player’s body where the ball does not come to rest.

• The ball must be clearly hit. Throwing, lifting, or shoving the ball are illegal.

• Front-row players may attack the ball (spike) at any time except on a serve.

• A back-row player may only attack the ball (spike) if they jump from BEHIND the 10-foot line.

• Attacking a serve is prohibited.

• Back-row players who are setting may not play the ball over the net (dink or dump) if the ball is above the height of the net when it is contacted.

• One player may not intentionally contact the ball twice in succession; however, the ball may unintentionally bounce off one player twice on a team’s first contact.

• If two opponents simultaneously contact the ball above the net, the ball remains in play, and the team receiving the ball is entitled to 3 additional contacts. If the ball lands out of bounds, it is the fault of the team opposite the net from where the ball lands.

• Simultaneous contact by two or more players on the same team is considered one play, and any player is eligible to play the ball again.

• Multiple contacts are more than one contact by a player during one attempt to play the ball. Multiple contacts are permitted only:

- When the first ball over the net rebounds from one part of a player’s body to another after a block.

- On any first team hit, whether or not the block touches the ball.

Net Play

•  A ball contacting and crossing the net between the net antennas is permitted. A serve that contacts the net and crosses between the net antennas is also permitted.

• A ball may be attacked, excluding a served ball, when it has partially crossed the net

•  A player shall not contact a ball that is completely on the opponent’s side of the net unless the contact is a legal block.

•  Blocking the ball on the opponent’s side is legal only whenever the opposing team has had a chance to complete its attack. A complete attack is defined as: 

- Attacking team has completed three allowable hits

- Ball is falling near the net and, in the official’s judgment, no legal member of the attacking team could make a play on the ball.

Net and Center-Line Violations

• A violation occurs when a player contacts any part of the net including net cables and antennas. It is NOT a foul if a player’s loose hair touches the net, or the force of a ball hit by the opponent pushes the net into the player.

• A violation occurs when a player contacts an opponent and interferes with the opponent’s legitimate effort to play the ball.

• A player may touch the floor across the centerline with one or both feet/hands provided a part of the foot/feet or hand(s) remains on or above the centerline. Contacting the floor across the centerline with any other part of the body is illegal.

Blocking

• All front-row players are permitted to block.

• Back-row players are not permitted to participate in an attempt to block.

• A block is not counted as one of a team’s 3 hits.

• A player participating in a block may play the ball again.

• Passing the hands over the net on a block is legal.

• Contacting the ball over the net on a block before the opponent’s 3rd hit is illegal, unless the opponent has no opportunity to play the ball.

Forfeit policy

Forfeits are a bummer - for the players did show up to play, and for the team across the net. Everyone loses time and money. A little planning goes a long way, so please check in with your teammates at least 2 days before every game.

Give us a heads-up

If your team won't have enough players, email us at contact@elevatesportssd.com at least 24 hours before your scheduled game time. Do that, and your next game stays on the schedule - no cancellation.

How a forfeit works at game time

• You need at least 4 players (rostered or subs) on the court to play.

• Fewer than 4 players at match time: your team forfeits the 1st set.

• Still fewer than 4 players 10 minutes after match time: your team forfeits the 2nd set, and the match is recorded as a loss.

What happens next

If a team forfeits without giving 24 hours' notice, their next scheduled game is canceled, including playoffs. Their opponent is invited to play an exhibition game in that slot instead. If that doesn't work out - whether by schedule or by choice - we'll make every effort to set up an exhibition game at another time.

Changing this policy due to an emergency will be handled on a case-by-case basis.