Rules

Rules

AYCE Volleyball Official League Rules

  1. TEAM COMPOSITION AND DIVISIONS

    1. Minimum 6 players must be on the roster (recommended 8)
      Maximum of 12 players could be rostered

    2. Players must be 18 years of age or older. Special exemptions may be made if a younger player provides parental consent.

    3. Teams must sign up for the most appropriate skill division:

      • ACE - D1: Bump, set, spike, repeat. You are a veteran who has played at a high level before. These games will be officiated with a tight whistle so make sure to bring your best every night!

      • CORE - D2: Rally time. You are an intermediate player with some skills that allow for some pretty nice plays! The main goal is to have fun… or is it? Games will be officiated by a member of our staff.

      • NOVICE - D3: Welcome newbie! For players looking to just have fun, or for those who have not played before this is the division for you. Games will be self-officiated, but monitored by the convenor at all times.

    4. If a team is deemed to be above or below the skill division that they signed up for then the convenor has the power to promote or demote said team accordingly after the first 3 weeks of play. In some extreme cases these changes will be made after week 1 or 2. Factors that influence these decisions include:

      • W/L record

      • Point differential

      • Quality of opponents

      • Players missing/injured

    5. All players must be signed up online on volleyballshift in order to qualify to play. All eligible players will be listed on the statsheet and must check in prior to their game. 

    6. Spare players will be allowed under the following conditions:

      • If your team cannot field the minimum of 6 players for your game

      • An injury occurs during your game that brings you below the 6 player minimum

      • If a registered player is away and lends their jersey to a “game spare” replacement player

      • Last minute emergencies may result in an emergency spare player, in which case the opposing team captain and convenor must approve the replacement

All of the above situations must be approved by the convenor prior to showing up at the game. Any violation of these rules may result in a game forfeit.

  1. All registered and paying players qualify for playoffs, regardless of how many games they compete in. However, different rules apply to spare players/injury replacements:

    • Injury replacements must register online with a 100% discount code and will effectively replace the injured player (both cannot play in playoffs)

    • Spare players may qualify for playoffs if they play a minimum of 4 nights with the team. These situations will be judged on a case by case basis so please communicate with your convenor to have the best chance of making it work.

  1. ROTATION AND SUBSTITUTIONS

    1. We are a Co-Ed league, meaning there must be

      • 2 female players on the court at all times

      • 2 male players on the court at all times

      • The other 2 players may be male or female

There may be exceptions to this rule on a case by case basis during the regular season only. Emergency spares would be an example where this rule could be bent, but must be approved by the opposing captain and convenor.

  1. Your team rotation must be established before the first serve of the set. After this, you may not deviate from this rotation. 

    • Injuries may cause an exception, i.e. if your setter becomes injured and the replacement player wishes not to set, then you may make the appropriate changes to your rotation.

  2. Substitutions will be permitted only when a point finishes.

    • Subs must substitute into the back row.

    • You may not swap a player who is already on the court to a different position on the court. Subs must come from the bench.

  1. GAMEPLAY

    1. A lift will be called if a player obviously throws, catches, holds, or slings the ball.

    2. If the circumference of the ball is over the line it is considered in (line shots are good).

    3. A foot fault will be called if a player’s foot touches the line during service, when a backrow player’s whole foot is beyond the attack line on an attack, or if a player’s entire foot crosses the center line (under the net).

    4. Players must not touch the net. If the ball knocks the net into the opposing player that is allowed.

    5. Any part of the body may play the ball.

    6. Blocks do not count as a touch.

    7. Attack blocking a set is not permitted.

    8. The ball may be played off the net.

    9. Players from the back row may not block at the net. They can attack from behind the attack line.

    10. Double calls will only be called on obvious double touches.

  2. MATCH PLAY

    1. Games must start at the scheduled time. Teams will be allowed 3-5min of warm up time between games.

    2. Game balls will be provided, however personal balls are permitted if both captains agree during the warm up period.

    3. If a team forfeits more than 2 times during the regular season they will only be able to register for the waitlist in the following season.

    4. Each team will be permitted 1 30sec timeout per set.

    5. There is 1min time between sets.

    6. A game will be 2 sets up to 25 points, win by 2 and capped at 27.

    7. Points are awarded on every serve, regardless of who the serving team is (rally scoring).

    8. Serving will be determined by a coin toss, the following set service will start with the opposing team.

  3. SERVICE

    1. Referees will allow adequate time for both teams to set up defensively before the service whistle is blown.

    2. Let serves are legal.

    3. The server has 8 seconds to serve the ball after the service whistle is blown.

    4. Service violations include:

      • Stepping on or over the line before contact is made with the ball.

      • Not serving before 8 seconds.

      • Serving out of rotation.

    5. No blocking or spiking the serve.

  4. CODE OF CONDUCT

    1. Unsportsmanlike conduct is not allowed under any circumstance. This may include:

      • Verbal harassment towards the opposing team, players, fans, or staff.

      • Threats of any sort.

      • Physical altercations.

      • Anything under the referee’s or convenor’s discretion that would harm or violate the integrity of the league.

    2. Points may be awarded to the opposing team given the referee’s discretion.

    3. If a player is ejected from a game for any of the above they will be subject to a suspension.

      • Suspensions may range from one game to lifetime bans from the league, depending on the severity of the offence and history of the offender.