Spandana Volleyball Tournament Rules

Spandana Foundation is organizing Bay Area Volleyball Tournament on June 18th 2011.

Tournament Rules:

1. All the tournament games will be held at San Ramon, CA starting at 8.00AM on June 18th 2011.

2. Completed team roster needs to be submitted to the Referee before the start of the game.

3. To avoid the court advantage, teams will exchange the courts with the opponent team during the first half of the game (Any team reaching 12 points first or 20 points combined).

4. Each team will be allotted 2 points for every win. The margin of win will be allotted as a bonus points.

5. This is a round-robin tournament and each team is estimated to play 5 games in the preliminary round.

6. 8 teams will go to Quarter Finals – knock out play

7. Top 4 teams will go to semi-Finals – knock out play

8. In any case of Tie, bonus points will be considered.  The tie will be decided by the point difference, head-on game winner and then further Tie’s will be decided by a Coin-Toss.

9. Any team absent for the game will loose their points. None of the games can be repeated.

10. Substituting player is allowed with no limitations, captain should inform the referee about the SUB.  A sub has to play one complete round at the minimum.

11. None of the players (Women or Men) are allowed to SUB or play for any another team than their own team. Any team with players or SUB from other teams will forfeit from the tournament.

12. The tournament will follow rally points system (Loss of play is a point unlike side over) for all the games.

13. League rounds will have one game for 25 rally points. With Top 2 teams proceeding into Playoffs. For Women it will be one game of 15 Rally points (Round Robin Format, Top two teams will go into Finals)

14. Quarter Finals will have Best-of-three rally game (Knock-out) for 25 points.

15. Semi Finals will have Best-of-three rally games (Knock-out) for 25 points each. Third game only if needed.

16. Finals will have Best-of-three rally games for 25 points each. Third game only if needed. For Women it will be Best-of-three games of 20 Rally points.

17. Please discuss with organizers about any confusion/discussion/arguments raised during the game.

18. Any rules not listed can be referred at www.usavolleyball.org. However referee’s and then Organizers decision is final.

Game Rules:

The Serve

1. Server must serve from behind the restraining line (end line) until contact is completed.

2. Ball may be served underhand or overhand.

3. Ball must be clearly visible to opponents before serve.

4. Served ball may graze the net and drop to the other side for point.

5. Server is NOT required to toss the ball during the service.

6. Once served, the ball may only be touched 3 times per side. A player may never touch it twice in succession unless one touch is a block. A block is not considered as a touch.

7. There will be a toss to decide on which team to serve first and the initial side selection. The winner of the toss can either choose the side or decide to take the first serve and let the other team choose the side.

Scoring

1. A team scores a point by successfully grounding the ball on the opponent’s court; when the opponent team commits a fault; when the opponent team receives a penalty.

2. If two or more faults are committed successively, only the first one is counted.

3. If two or more faults are committed by opponents simultaneously, a DOUBLE FAULT is called and the rally is replayed.

4. A rally is the sequence of playing actions from the moment of the service hit by the server until the ball is out of play. A completed rally is the sequence of playing actions which results in the award of a point.

5. If the serving team wins a rally, it scores a point and continues to serve.

6. If the receiving team wins a rally, it scores a point and it must serve next.

7. TO WIN A SET: A set is won by the team which first scores 25 points with a minimum lead of two points. In the case of a 24-24 tie, play is continued until either a two-point lead is achieved (26-24; 27-25) or one (winning) team reaches a score of 27.

8. Any ball landing on the end or sidelines is considered to be “in.”  If the referee is unable to distinguish whether the ball was in or out, the team captain is the only person allowed to call it. (It is expected that the team captains be honest when calling).

Rotation

1. Maximum six players are allowed per side to play. Teams can have extra players, and change them during side out.

2. Rotation is a must, and a wrong rotation is a fault.

3. Rotation is clockwise. Rotations will occur after each side out. A side out occurs when the team without possession of the ball gains possession. A team playing with six players should rotate consistently throughout the tournament.

4. Immediately following a rotation, the player in the right back position will serve the ball.

5. Switching players during the play: Switching the positions during the play is allowed but only front-end  players are allowed to spike from the front zone. (People switching from the back end positions are NOT allowed to spike from the front zone)

Playing the Game

1. To touch the opponent’s court with a foot (feet) or hand(s) is permitted, provided that some part of the penetrating foot (feet) or hand(s) remains either in contact with or directly above the centre line.  (if we step on the center line, even if the leg is raised ,i.e. does not touch the center line, it is considered legal)

2. At the first hit of the team, the ball may contact various parts of the body consecutively provided that the contacts occur during one action. (Even getting the ball by leg (intentionally) is allowed)

3. A back-row player may complete an attack hit at any height from behind the front zone

a. At his/her take-off, the player’s foot (feet) must neither have touched nor crossed over the attack line

b. After his/her hit, the player may land within the front zone.

c. (Someone from behind the attack line (10feet - 1/3 of the total length) can’t come inside and attack from height above the net (jump)

Substitutes & Timeout

1. No limitation on substitutes but a substituted player should complete a full rotation before get substituted again.

2. Intension here is to make the substituted player to play in all positions and to avoid misusing the rule get a good player in a important position (e.g. Spiking position) all the time

3. Two (2min) timeouts per game per team are allowed.

Illegal Plays

1. It is illegal to hold or throw the ball during play. However, tips are allowed. The referees will distinguish these.

2. It is illegal to touch the net during the course of the play. Referee’s decision is final.

3. Fully crossing the center line is NOT allowed.  Leg , Hand or full body crossing the center line ( fully) is a foul play.

4. Touching opponent player during the play is NOT allowed. Any touch which does not disturb the play is allowed. Referee will make the call.

5. A player can reach other side to block the ball but can’t hit the ball when it’s in the opponent side.   Also the 3rd touch is illegal if the ball already in the opponent side even though a team has 3 touches.

Waiver of Liability

All participants in the league assume the risk of injury or consequences there of. Spandana, its volunteers shall not be liable for injury or consequences there of to any person, loss or damage to personal property arising from or in any way resulting from participation in the league.

Disclaimer

If we do not receive minimum of 4 entries in each category, Spandana reserves the right to combine the categories or cancel the category or tournament. If the tournament is cancelled Spandana will is responsible only for the refund of tournament entry fee collected

Organizers decision is final in case of any dispute.