Hawaii LGBTQ Volleyball League Rules
Like any other sport, the Hawaii LGBTQ Volleyball League believes in fair play and competition. The League has adopted and established the rules as set forth here on our website and were adopted in part and with some influence by the North American Gay Volleyball Association.
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OFFICIAL RULES FOR THE HAWAII LGBTQ VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE
Minimum Requirements: 6’s
Six-player teams must have at least four players on the court at all times. Teams with less than four players forfeit the game.
Minimum Requirements: Divisions
The Hawaii LGBTQ Volleyball League will run two divisions for Season 1. Division A is a competitive division, and Division B is recreational.
Minimum Requirements: Service Possession
A team earns service possession for the start of the first game by winning a coin toss or a Rock/Paper/Scissors. The teams will then alternate service every other game.
Minimum Requirements: Rotation
Team members must rotate on the court and must remain in that position until the serve has been contacted. The player in the back right hand corner of the rotation will be designated to serve and continue to rotate clockwise.
In the spirit of pursuing equal play time for all players in the recreational division, all players present on game day must be rotated in. At the discretion of captains, a single clockwise rotation may be initiated after losing 7 consecutive points. The purpose of this is to ensure equal play time, not to substitute any single player for poor performance.
Captains may also substitute players who require a break or are injured, but they should also make every attempt to ensure equal play time is afforded to all players.
Playing the Ball: Service
Serves into the net are a fault and a point is awarded to the opposing team. The serve then moves to the opposing team. Serves that hit the net and continue over the net to the opponent's side of the net will be live.
It is a fault if a player tosses the ball in preparation for a serve but chooses not to hit and catches the ball. If a player decides not to serve, they must let the ball drop to the ground.
It is a fault if the player touches or steps on the line before making contact with the ball during a serve. This is called a foot fault, and will be called out by the line judge.
Playing the Ball: Three Contacts
Each team is allowed a maximum of 3 successive contacts of the ball in order to return the ball to the opponent's area. (Exception: In the action of blocking an attacking ball, the touch, or contact resulting from the block attempt does not constitute one of the three successive contacts.)
Playing the Ball: Attacking the Net
Only the three players that are in the front row of the rotation are allowed to attack the net. Violation of this rule would include any hitting or blocking by back row players that occurs above the plane of the net.
Back row attacks are illegal and will result in a point for the opposing team. Players in the back row must hit/spike the ball with at least one foot flat on the ground. A back row player is any player positioned in the back row at the start of the serve.
Back row players should remain behind the imaginary center line of the court, but may cross the imaginary center line and pass at the net when needed. Even when playing at the front of the net, back row players must keep at least one foot flat on the ground.
Playing the Ball: Simultaneous Contacts
When two non-blocking teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is considered one contact, and any player may make the next contact. When two blocking teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is not counted as a contact, and any player may make the next contact.
When two opponents simultaneously and instantaneously contact the ball over the net, the ball remains in play and the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball lands out, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side of the net from where the ball lands.
Playing the Ball: Characteristics of the Contact
The ball can contact any number of body parts down to, and including the foot, providing such contacts are simultaneous and the ball rebounds immediately and cleanly after such contact.
Playing the Ball: Held Ball
The ball must be contacted cleanly and not held, lifted, pushed, caught, carried or thrown. The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a player's body. It can rebound in any direction.
Playing the Ball: Hand Sets
A contact of the ball using the fingers of one or two hands to direct the ball toward a teammate is a set. The ball must come into contact with both hands simultaneously and leave both hands simultaneously to avoid a double hit call. A player may set the ball over the net in front or behind them only in the direction in which their shoulders are squarely facing. Rotation of the ball after the set may indicate a held ball or multiple contacts during the set but in itself IS NOT A FAULT.
Playing the Ball: Attacking the Ball Over the Opponent’s Court
A player is not allowed to attack the ball on the opposite side of the net. If the ball is hit above the spikers side of the net and then the follow-through causes the spiker's hand and arm to cross the net without contacting an opponent or the net, the action does not constitute a fault.
The ball must break the plane of the net before it can be touched (tip, hit, or attack) by the opposing team.
In certain situations reaching over the net to block is allowed. These situations are described in the blocking section below.
Note: A block does not constitute a touch.
Blocking
Blocking is the action close to the net which intercepts the ball coming from the opponent's side by making contact with the ball before, during or after it crosses the net.
Blocking: Multiple Contacts
Multiple contacts of the ball by a player(s) participating in a block shall be legal provided it is during one attempt to intercept the ball. Multiple contacts of the ball during a block shall be counted as a single contact, even though the ball may make multiple contacts with one or more players of the block.
Blocking: Participation After a Block
Any player participating in a block shall have the right to make the next contact, such contact counting as the first of three hits allowed the team.
Blocking: Blocking a Serve
Blocking or attacking a serve is prohibited.
Blocking: Blocking a Ball Across the Net
Blocking of the ball across the net above the opponent's court shall be legal provided that such a block is:
- After a player of the attacking team has spiked the ball, intentionally directed the ball into the opponent's court, or has exhausted their third allowable hit.
- After the opponents have hit the ball in such a manner that the ball would clearly cross the net if not touched by a player, provided no member of the attacking team is in a position to make a legal play on the ball.
- If the ball is falling near the net and no member of the attacking team could reasonably make a play on the ball.
Play at the Net: Player Contact with the Net
No part of the body may touch the net at any time unless a ball or person driven into the net causes the contact. Contact with hair or part of the uniform will not be considered a fault.
Play at the Net: Simultaneous Contact by Opponents
If opponents contact the net simultaneously, it shall constitute a double fault and the point shall be played over.
Play at the Net: Interference
Grass volleyball allows any and all parts of the body to cross the centerline as long as there is no interference with the opposing player. Any interference on the opposing side of the net will result in a point for the opposing team.
General: Games
During the regular season, teams will play best 2 out of 3 sets during a single match. Sets will be played as follows:
- The first two Sets are played to 21 points, must win by 2 points
- First team to 25 wins
- Team with the most points at 24 mins wins
- In the event of a tie at the 24-minute mark, a sudden death is enacted whereby the next team to win a earn wins
- The third set is played to 15 points–first team to 15 points wins or the team with the most points at 24 mins wins.
- Each team is allotted one time out per set not to exceed 1 minute each.
General: Referees
All games must have one referee positioned at the center of the net. Each game must also have at least 2 designated line judges positioned on the far ends of the court to inform the referee as to whether a ball is in or out of bounds.
Each team must provide at least 2 referees for the season who can referee games while not playing.
Only team captains may approach the referee to discuss a disputed call.
In the event of a disagreement or dispute, the referee may authorize a point to be replayed.
Any player who exhibits unsportsmanlike conduct, argues with the referee, or acts aggressively will be ejected from games for the remainder of the day at the referees discretion.
General: Dimensions of the Court
Court Dimensions:
18 m x 9 m / 59’ x 29’6”
Net Height:
7 ft 8 in
Ball PSI:
4.27 – 4.62 psi