RULES

Revised September 2014

 

The purpose of the Rules is to administer the game and penalize a player(s) who gain an unfair advantage over their opponent as a result of an illegal action.  Unless otherwise specified, the LANS Recreational Volleyball League will follow both by action and spirit a Reverse Co-ed 6’s Recreational Variation of the Volleyball Canada Rules Book.  LANS League Rules will attempt to follow the same numbering system as laid out in the Volleyball Canada Rule Book.  Only those sections that vary from Volleyball Canada Rule Book are included.

 

 

RULE 1:   PLAYING AREA

1.1       Dimensions

Playing surface width and length may vary with gym availability (9m x 9m regulation).

 

RULE 2:  NET AND POSTS

2.1        Height of Net

Net height is 2.24m (7’3.5) in the middle (women’s height).

 

RULE 3:  BALL

3.1        Teams are to use the volleyball issued by the LANS league, given in the ball bag.

3.2        Teams may use an alternate volleyball, as long as both captains agree.  In the case of a disagreement, the LANS issued volleyball is to be used.

 

RULE 4:  TEAMS

4.1        Composition and Registration

No maximum number of registered (regulars and spares) or participating players is stated.

4.2        Captain

Each team selects a match captain at the start of each match to participate in the coin toss and greet the refereeing corps and the opposing team captain before the match begins.

 

RULE 5:   PLAYER’S EQUIPMENT

  • Equipment
  • Footwear must be running type shoes with non-marking soles.  During wet/snowy weather, players are required to wear alternative footwear to the gyms.
  • Whenever possible, change rooms are provided at the gyms used by our league. Please store outer clothing and alternative footwear there.
  • Head gear is restricted to hair tie backs and/or sweat bands.
  • Teams are encouraged to purchase team uniforms complete with league logo and any sponsors.

 

RULE 6:   RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTICIPANTS

6.1        Basic Responsibilities

Players must accept referees’ decisions with sportsmanlike conduct, without disputing them, requesting clarification through the captain in cases of doubt.

Players must behave respectfully and courteously in the spirit of fair play, not only towards the referees, but also their opponents (eg. shouting or applause at the moment of service or ball reception by their opponents should not be tolerated by the first referee).

 

RULE 7:   SCORING SYSTEM

7.1        To Win a Match

There is no time limit.

League standing points are based on completed sets only.

Each match consists of three (3) games.

Playoff matches are best of five (5) games.

 

7.2        To Win a Game

For regular season;

  • In the first two (2) games, a game is won by the team that first scores twenty-five (25) points.
  • In the third game, the game is won by the team that scores fifteen (15) or more points, with a minimum lead of two (2) points, no point limit.

For Playoffs;

  • In the first three (3) games, a game is won by the team that first scores twenty-five (25) or more points, with a minimum lead of two (2) points, no point limit.
  • Should a fourth and/or fifth game be necessary (best of 5 wins the match), those games are won by the team that scores fifteen (15) or more points with a minimum lead of two (2) points, no point limit.

7.3        The Rally Point System

A point is given to the team that does not commit a fault during each rally (with every serve, one team or the other is awarded a point).

7.4        Default and Incomplete Team

In the event of player shortages, the first set is defaulted ten (10) minutes after the scheduled start time, the second set is defaulted twenty (20) minutes after the scheduled start time, the third set and match is defaulted thirty (30) minutes after the scheduled start time.

The second and third matches are automatically scheduled to start five (5) minutes after the end of the previous match is completed.

The scores of the defaulted sets are 0 – 25, 0 – 25, and 0 – 15, respectively.

 

RULE 8:   PREPARATIONS OF THE MATCH

8.1        Warm up Session

The First Referee will permit a five (5) minute warm up to the participating teams from the time the net set up was completed (first match) or from the completion of the previous match, if requested.  The start time of the first match is printed on the schedule, but teams may start earlier, if all are in agreement.

 

RULE 9:   TEAM LINE UP

9.1        Starting Line Up

There must be a minimum of five (5) players, at least two (2) must be female, on the court at all times (later injury may reduce these numbers). The empty sixth position in the rotation is not considered a ‘hole’ but is skipped over in service rotation.

9.2        Player shortage

Teams with fewer than the required number of players may use a hole as described below:

  1. 5 players, 2 female players= no hole
  2. 5 players, 4 males, 1 female player = 1 hole (cannot play with 5 or more male players, must have hole).
  3. 4 players, at least 2 female players = 1 hole
  4. 4 players, less than 2 female players = 2 holes
  5. 3 players or less = default

Use of the “hole” requires an automatic loss of service and one point being awarded to the opposing team whenever the “hole” position comes into the service position.  Late arrival and filling of the “hole” position by an additional player (working towards having 6 players, 2 of which must be female) eliminates the “hole”.

Holes must be set in the rotation at the beginning of each game.  A player who arrives late must fill the position of the hole.

Only exception: if during the night there is injury, teams do not have to play with a hole, or an additional hole.  See existing rules 11.2 and 17.

Use of this option more than twice in the season will place the team on probation for executive committee review and possible removal from further play should additional player shortages be reported.

This is allowed during playoffs.

 

9.3        Rotation Order

Player rotation is to be set and flow without change for each entire set, order of male players to remain constant and order of female players likewise. Players arriving after any set has commenced must be announced by their captain to the opposing team before joining the set in progress.

 

RULE 10:   PLAYERS’ POSITIONS AND ROTATIONS

10.1      Rotational Faults

Note the order of calling faults in conjunction with service faults (see 17.8 and 17.9).

All players must be within their court and in their proper rotation at the moment of contact with the ball by server.

 

RULE 11:   SUBSTITUTION

11.1      Limitations of Substitutions

Only exceptional substitutions allowed.

11.2      Exceptional Substitutions

Permitted in cases of injury only.

 

RULE 12:   PLAYING THE BALL

12.1      Characteristics of the Hit

The ball may touch any part of the body.  The ball must be hit, not caught and/or thrown.

Tip - involves the simultaneous use of the finger(s) of one (1) hand by a player.

Volley - involves the simultaneous use of the fingers of both hands by a player.

Bump - involves the simultaneous use of one (1) or more body parts.

Note:   A one (1) handed hit resulting in an arch (any path with some upward component) is a bump.

Spike - involves the use of one (1) hand resulting in a horizontal or downward

direction.

 

RULE 13:   BALL AT THE NET

13.1      Ball Crossing the Net

Balls hit across the net outside of the Crossing Space to the opponent’s Free Zone may be legally returned and played within the three (3) team hits, played back to their own court outside the Crossing Space and players may not enter/travel through their opponent’s court.

The ball is out when it crosses completely the lower space under the net.

 

RULE 14:   PLAYER AT THE NET

14.1      Penetration under the Net

Touching the opponent’s court with hand now has the same limitations as foot.

14.2      Touching the Net

If during a play a player hits the net with any part of their body, this is a fault.

An accidental minor touch of the net away from the play, that does not interfere with the play, is not a fault.

 

RULE 15:   SERVICE

15.1      Service Order

Each server may accumulate a maximum five (5) consecutive points prior to rotation.

15.2      Authorization of Service

After having checked that the server is in possession of the ball and that the teams are ready to play the First Referee whistles and hand signals the server to commence service.

15.3      Screening

The players of the serving team must not prevent their opponents from seeing the server or path of the ball.

15.4      Service Attempt

One Service attempt is allowed.

There is an eight (8) second time limit.

Server can have the volleyball drop within the 8 seconds and still serve, as long as there was no attempt to serve the volleyball.  Players can only do this once.

 

RULE 16:   ATTACK HIT

16.1      Front Row Players’ Attack Hit

Male players in front of the attack line cannot play the ball over the net in any manner that results in an initial downward motion. EXCEPT for blocks.

16.2      Attack Hit Faults

It is a fault when a player completes an attack hit on an opponent’s serve when the ball is in the front zone and entirely above the top of the net.

 

RULE 17:   EXCEPTIONAL GAME INTERRUPTIONS

17.1      Injury

If an injured player cannot be substituted legally (see 11.3) nor is able to recover given a three (3) minute recovery time, the team will be allowed to finish the match (and any other matches that date) with their reduced number without defaulting or the use of a ‘hole’.

OR the team may declare themselves incomplete.

 

RULE 18:   INTERVALS AND CHANGE OF COURTS

18.1      Intervals

All intervals between sets will last no more than three (3) minutes.

Teams may choose to not take the full intervals allowed.

18.2      Change of Courts

Teams are to change courts halfway through the final game.

Both captains can agree to not change courts.

 

RULE 20:   MISCONDUCT

20.1      Categories

Unsportsmanlike Conduct - argumentation, intimidation.

Rude Conduct - contrary to good manners, expressing contempt.

Offensive Conduct - defamatory or insulting words/gestures.

Aggression - physical attack or intended aggression.

 

20.2      Sanctions

Misconduct Warning - For unsportsmanlike conduct

Misconduct Penalty - For repeated rude/unsportsmanlike conduct

  • Loss of rally
  • Expulsion – must leave gym until summoned at the end of the set

For repeated rude conduct or further unsportsmanlike conduct, or offensive conduct/aggressions, or a second expulsion

  • Disqualification - must leave the facility for the rest of the match and any other matches scheduled for that date

The above rules of misconduct also apply to all communication in any form towards an executive member and/or league coordinator.  This also applies to janitors and other employees or members of the facilities that LANS Volleyball uses.

 

RULE 21:   REFEREEING CORPS AND PROCEDURES

21.1      Composition

  • Minimum of four (4) members (two lines people) are required for regular season play.
  • Minimum of five (5) members are required for playoff season play, when OVA referees are not used. If OVA referees are present, a minimum of four (4) members (two lines people) are required.
  • Six (6) officials (1st Referee, 2nd Referee, two scorers, two lines people) are optimum.

21.2    Procedures

  • The officials shall ensure that the players have a reasonable opportunity to perform to the best of his/her ability within the limits of the rules.
  • The officials’ main concern shall be the players’ safety.  Any situation affecting this prime consideration of competition shall be avoided and/or terminated.
  • During the game, the officials are required to supervise, that is he/she must take all reasonable steps to maintain a spirit of healthy competition, accordingly;
    • He/she shall not permit intimidation by others, either by word or deed,
    • He/she shall not tolerate unacceptable conduct to officials or players,
    • He/she shall avoid pointless discussions with players in a match situation,that only team captains are authorized to address with him/her.
  • In the heat of play, the officials in his/her relations with players shall make every effort to retain a presence of mind enabling him/her to direct the same with complete objectivity and the dignity required by his/her position.
  • When working with novice players, the officials shall accept the educational role expected of him/her and shall adapt his/her conduct to this particular aspect of competition.
  • Away from the immediate environment of play, the officials shall be open to discussion and contact with players, avoid any conduct suggesting self-importance, arrogance or sarcasm, show himself/herself receptive to constructive criticism and demonstrate due respect and consideration for different points of view.
  • Outside the court, the officials shall conduct himself/herself in a way that his/her relationship with players does not prejudice his/her subsequent work and the impartiality that must be obvious in it.

21.3      First Referee

Responsibilities:  Use of official hand signals to provide players with the nature of the fault, the player at fault and the result, will greatly add to the experience and understanding of players and officials alike.

21.4      Second Referee

Responsibilities:  Aid the First Referee with calls at the net, balls out of play, and foot faults

21.5      Scorer

Responsibilities Prior to the Match

- ensures that the date, gym name, match number, match start time, and match refereeing corps names are recorded properly on the match score sheet.

Responsibilities During the Match

- notifies the referees of service rotation after five (5) consecutive points,

- in case of conflict between the score cards and the score sheet, notifies the referees as soon as they are noted and the score sheet will take precedence,

- notifies the referees of set and match point situations,

Responsibilities at the end of the Match

- record standing points on the score sheet based on sets won by each team

21.6      Lines people

Responsibilities:  Indicate to First Referee when the ball is out of play, and service foot faults

(NOTE: For safety reasons, all lines people are to remain standing and position themselves in the corner opposite of the service corner.)

 

RULE 27:   BLOOD POLICY

27.1      Bleeding

If a player/official is bleeding and others are at risk of exposure to their blood, the injured person(s) must remove themselves from the match until the wound is cleaned with an antiseptic solution and securely covered.  One (1) minute technical time out would be applied before an injury time out or substitution would become necessary.

27.2      Team Uniforms

All uniforms soiled with blood must be removed and replaced prior to the participant(s) resuming the competition.

 

 

 

BYLAWS

Revised September 2013

 

 

BYLAW 1:  TEAM CONTACTS

B1.1      Each team will be represented by a Captain and one (1) Co-captain on the team roster to be used as contacts by the League.

B1.2      Any changes to these team representative positions need to be communicated to the League Coordinator or Statistician as soon as possible.

B1.3      Team Captains should maintain team player attendance records for playoff eligibility.

B1.4      Team Captains ensure that team player additions adhere to the 25% eligible player bylaw (see Article 4, Bylaws 4 and 5).

 

BYLAW 2:  TEAM VOTING

B2.1      All voting at League meetings will be on the basis of one (1) vote per team, present with the exception of the election of league officers where each league

player has the privilege to vote.

B2.2      The meeting chairperson only votes in the case of a tie.

 

BYLAW 3:  LEAGUE MEETINGS TEAM REPRESENTATION

B3.1      One (1) representative for each team is requested to attend the September Registration Captain’s Meeting (SRCM).

B3.2      Two (2) representatives for each team are requested to attend the May Annual League Meeting (MALM) but all players are encouraged and welcome.

B3.3      Two (2) representatives for each team must attend the Rules Clinic, whether held in conjunction with the SRCM or during Exhibition Season.  Each team will be assessed one (1) standings demerit for each required representative not in attendance.

 

BYLAW 4:  TEAM ELIGIBILITY

B4.1      See Article 3 on membership.

B4.2      Teams may continue to use previous league players.  New players must be eligible players until the team has re-qualified with 25% eligible players.

B4.3      Ineligible teams from any previous season (match defaults, officiating demerits) may not rejoin the league.

B4.4      Team Captain’s ensure that team player additions adhere to the required 25% bylaw. Any team not maintaining their team’s eligibility throughout the season may fall under disciplinary action.

B4.5      Use of ineligible players by any team will result in a default of all matches played with such players.  Protests on the basis of player eligibility will be referred to the Statistician by the Rules Coordinator or received by the League Coordinator from Team Captains. The submitted team roster and score sheets will be used to determine the protest.

B4.6      Four (4) defaulted matches (all three (3) sets) in any season make a team ineligible for further play, subject to the decision of the Executive Committee.

 

BYLAW 5:  PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

B5.1      Players shall be;

  • Members of any Lutheran Institution in the Kitchener Area, or
  • employees of any Medical Institution (hospital, home, clinic, practice, related service organization) in the Kitchener Area, or
  • a member of their immediate family (spouse, sibling, parent, child, in-law) to be an eligible player.

B5.2      Each Eligible Player may register one (1) friend.

B5.3      Players must be a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age when they register and all new players must register the FIRST set they play.

B5.3.1     A team is allowed to have one player on their team who is sixteen or seventeen years of age.  A parent or guardian must co-sign their waiver.

B5.4      A player may not play on two (2) different teams in the league at the same time.  A player may be traded only once during a season. Both teams must agree to the trade. All trades must be completed before the half way point of the regular season.

B5.5      Each player must play in a match on six (6) different regular season nights to be eligible for playoffs (defaulted matches cannot be included for such playoff qualifying).

B5.6      Team representatives present during the Rules Clinic are responsible for reviewing the league rules with members of their team.

B5.7      Players receiving two (2) match disqualifications in one (1) season are considered illegal players to all teams present and future.

B5.8      Players from teams’ ineligible for playoffs due to match defaults or officiating demerits may join another team the following season to a maximum of two (2) players from all ineligible teams.

B5.9      Spares: Players may be part of a spares list. If the player’s name is on this list and not on any team’s roster, the player may play for as many teams as she/he wishes, or is asked, to.  However, if the player is asked and wishes to play for only one team, he/she may do so and the name comes off this list.  Any team may use players from this list as spares.  The spare may only spare/play for one team per night. In order for a player from this list to become eligible to play for a team in the playoffs, he/she must have played for the team a minimum of 6 nights in regular season.  He/she must be asked and willing to commit to the particular team.  The captain of the team must advise the league coordinator of this prior to the scheduling of the playoffs.

 

BYLAW 6:  MOST SPORTSPERSON LIKE PLAYER AWARD

(VOTED ON AND REMOVED BYLAW 6 AT THE MALM 2012)

B6.1      At the completion of each match, teams will hold an internal vote to determine the most sportsperson like player on their opponent’s team.

B6.2      The scorekeeper is to ensure both teams complete this section of the score sheets.

B6.3      A year end tally of the votes by the League Coordinator or the Statistician will determine the most sportsperson like players on each team and the league’s most sportsperson like player.

B6.4      Awards for same will be approved by the executive committee and presented at the MALM or League Awards Banquet.

 

BYLAW 7:  CHILD CARE

B7.1      The league discourages parents from bringing their children to the gym, but if they choose to do so, they will be held responsible for them.

B7.2      The 1st referee of the match is empowered to warn and/or disqualify the parent(s) from further play for that night should problems arise.

B7.3      Such warnings/disqualifications must be noted on the match score sheet.

 

BYLAW 8:  VALUABLES

B8.1      Teams are advised to leave valuables at home, in their cars out of sight or in the gym in a team duffle bag (not in the change rooms).  This league and our facility providers are not responsible for loss/theft.

B8.2      Captains are asked to take home articles left by league players at facilities used by L.A.N.S. for later retrieval.

 

BYLAW 9:  STANDING POINTS

B9.1      Standing points are awarded on a set basis; one (1) to the winner of each defaulted and/or completed set.

B9.2      Only the sets played between the teams in each division are considered for creating bumping statistics during each section of the regular season.

B9.3      Playoff starting positions are determined by totaling standing points from the last division split.

B9.4      A league standings tie will be decided by the following progression;

  • Any accumulated standings demerits,
  • The ratio of won/lost sets between the tied teams in that specific split/reseeding/schedule,
  • The ratio of won/lost points between the tied teams in that specific split/reseeding/schedule,
  • Finally, a coin toss with two (2) or more of the executive committee present, one (1) of which must be the Statistician or League Coordinator.

 

BYLAW 10:  STANDINGS DEMERITS

B10.1    One (1) standings demerit point will be given to teams by the League Coordinator or Statistician for each match assigned and not officiated with the required number of officials.

B10.2    One (1) standings demerit point will be given to teams by the League Coordinator or Statistician for each required team representative not in attendance at the League Rules Clinic.

B10.3    Three (3) officiating demerit points in a season make that team ineligible for further play, subject to the decision of the Management Coordinator.

B10.4    One (1) standing demerit, per week, will be given to teams who do not submit their scores and attendance by the deadline to the League Coordinator or Statistician.

 

BYLAW 11:  DIVISIONS

B11.1    Teams start in divisions A, B, C or D (Rec). Starting divisions will depend on which division the team finished in for the prior season.  However, teams may be moved if there is a different number of starting divisions than the previous year.   Divisions for teams are created by the League Coordinator or Statistician. The number of divisions will depend on the number of teams registered for that season.  New teams will be seeded and initially placed by the League Coordinator or Statistician.

B11.2    Division round robins are played for a duration of 6 weeks, after which a reseeding of teams is done.  There will be 4 such schedules (3 reseedings).  Teams remain in the final or 4th reseeding for playoffs.

B11.3    Reseeding is accomplished by the top place team in each lower division bumping up to the next higher division AND the bottom place team in each higher division is bumped down into the next lower division.  However, depending on the number of teams registered this can be altered at the September registration meeting. If both teams involved in the bumping do not wish to switch divisions, then they shall remain in their division for that split.  However, if one of the teams wants to bump, then the other team will also be bumped.

 

BYLAW 12:  PLAYOFFS

B12.1    All teams make the playoffs, which are a single knock-out format.

B12.2    Divisional playoffs are held to determine divisional champions.

B12.3    If less than an even number of teams exist, the playoff tournament will include byes for those top place teams who do not have existing first round opponents.

B12.4    Matches are no time limit, best of five (5) sets with maximum 3 minute intervals between sets.

B12.5    Players are required to show photo identification at playoffs.  Verification of eligible players will take place at the scorekeeper’s table before the start of the match.  (See bylaw 5 for player eligibility)

 

BYLAW 13:  ALL-STAR TOURNAMENT

(VOTED ON AND REMOVED BYLAW 6 AT THE MALM 2013)

B13.1:   Each team will vote for their own all-star players, one female and one male representative, to play in the All -Star Tournament.  There will be one (1) All-Star Tournaments at the end of the regular season, scheduled at the discretion of the League Coordinator or Statistician.  The names of the players must be given to the League Coordinator or Statistician two (2) weeks in advance.

B13.2    As many teams as necessary are made up by the Scheduler and the Statistician or by the League Coordinator and an all-star Tournament is held.

B13.3    Format for the All-Star Tournament is determined by the League Coordinator or Statistician.

 

BYLAW 14:  PROTESTS

B14.1    The Referee’s decisions regarding ball handling faults are not open to protest. A Captain may legally protest only an error in applying a rule or rule interpretation.

B14.2    The Captain must lodge the protest immediately and the First Referee must direct a written

record on the comments section on the score sheet or on a piece of paper attached to the score sheet. This record is to include the game number, the score, who had ball possession, the player rotation positions on each court at the time of the protested decision, and the reason for the protest. Once the record has been made, the same Referee administers the balance of the set and match.

B14.3    All score sheets with protests on/attached must be submitted to the Rules Coordinator or League Vice President within one (1) week of the incident, who may refer it to the protest committee if unresolved.

B14.4    The Protest Committee members include;

  • The Executive Committee (Rules Coordinator or League Vice President as chair),
  • The Refereeing Corps of the game in question, and
  • The Match Captains of the match in protest

B14.5    All Protest Meetings will be held within two (2) weeks of the contested match at a time and place set by the chair.  Decisions of the protest committee are final.

B14.6    A protest upheld will result in the set(s) remaining from the point of protest being replayed at a time mutually agreeable to both teams. If the two (2) teams cannot agree on a suitable date to replay the set(s) within two (2) weeks of the decision, the League Coordinator or Scheduler will set a time and place. The net results will be recorded.