RULES

This competition is held at the Geelong Sports Hub VicBeach Volley ball centre. The courts are enclosed by nets and the surface is sand. Game times range from 6:00pm to 10:00pm, Monday through to Thursday. Teams consist of a minimum of 3 and maximum of 6 people. Please familiarise yourself with the following information for maximal enjoyment of this competition.

1.      Safety

Do not contribute to the risk of injury by being reckless with equipment and careless with your actions. Always act in a sensible manner.
 

2.      Game Fees

Please ensure that all game fees are paid in full prior to the start of your game. Once paid, please take your stamped ticket to the referee. Referees have been instructed not to start games without these tickets.

3.      Umpires/Referees

The game will be adjudicated by an official on behalf of the centre. Their call is final and is not subject to dispute. If there are any concerns with regard to umpire conduct, this may be taken up with centre manager. Vic Beach will not tolerate and form of misconduct towards umpires. Penalties including suspension, expulsion and loss of points may apply.

4.      Starting Games on Time

If a team is not ready or late (not appearing on court when the time begins), there will be a one-point per minute penalty for each minute the team is not on court awarded to the opposition. Please ensure that your team is here at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start of your game to avoid this circumstance.
 

5.      Scoring

The score of each team will be displayed on a screen located outside the court within close view. The total time of a game is thirty-six (36) minutes. This is made up of three (3) by twelve (12) minute thirds or “skins”. Once a third has been completed, teams will change sides. A points are awarded to a team if they are successful in achieving a higher score in each third. One bonus point is awarded for the team that wins each third.

6.      Start of Play:

-         Players are welcome to ‘warm up’ before play begins and after the previous game has ended and player have vacated.

-         The serving team is decided with a ‘rock, paper, scissors’ format.

-         In order to initiate each point, the umpire will sound a whistle.

-         The conclusion of a point will similarly be with a second whistle sounding.

7.      General Play:

Net Touches

-         A player is not permitted to make contact with the centre net at any time during play whilst attempting to play the ball.

-         The surrounding nets are permitted to be touched throughout play.

-         If the force of the ball into the net causes the net to touch the player it is not considered a net touch.
 

Serving:

-         To commence play a player must wait for a whistle signal from the umpire.

-          Serving is conducted from the back right-hand corner of each side of the court.

-         The player must be roughly a metre from the corner nets to serve.

-         An under or over arm serving is permitted

-         The ball must be released from the hand and struck whilst in the air.

-         The ball is not permitted to touch any net during the serve (excluding the centre net)
 

Rotation:

-         Whenever the service changes from one team to the other, players are required to rotate clockwise allowing for a new server.

-         However, if playing in set positions – the serving player must rotate clockwise. Changing position with every new server. Therefore, teams are not obliged to rotate players around the court but must rotate the server.
 

Returning:

-         The ball must be struck a minimum of two (2) times before being returned from a served ball only.
 
Ball:

The ball may rebound from any net with two (2) exceptions.

1.      No contact with any net (excluding centre net) during a service.

2.      No contact with the top (roof) net when playing the ball into the opposing team’s court.

Blocking:

-         Blocking of a ball occurs when a defending player successfully deflects an attacking ball without contacting the centre net.

-         A block does not count as a touch and the usual three (3) touches are permitted beyond this.
 
Reaching:

-         An attacking player is not permitted to reach over the net in order to make addition contact on the ball.

-         If contact is made when the ball is in the defending teams court it will be called as a reach and result in the defending team winning the point.

-         Contact made before the ball passes the centreline of the net with a player’s arm reaching over the net only after the contact has been made is permitted.
 

Carrying:

-         Any shot played must be hit or rebounded cleanly and may not be held (including lifted, pushed, carried or thrown). It must be hit by means of digging, setting (clean), spiking or poked. Tips, which is the “pushing” the ball over the net with your fingertips, are also illegal in all codes.

Double Hit:

-         When making a play on the ball a player cannot contact the ball more than once.

Contact with parts of the body:

-         Contact with the ball from any part of the body is permitted. The deliberate “heading” (playing the ball with the head) or excessive kicking, is not encouraged as it often detracts from the enjoyment of the opposing team.

Fouls:

A point is awarded when;

-         The ball touches the sand

-         Legal touches exceed three (3)

-         A player makes contact twice in succession

-         A player makes contact with the centre net during play

-         The ball does not cross the centre net from the serve

-         Causing interference from a player passing under the centre net to the opposing side.

-         Intimidation or abuse from a player is observed

-         The wrong player in rotation serves