* Most Bay Ridge Volleyball play will follow USAV rules unless otherwise noted.
Click here for the Official USAV Rule Book
1. ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to play in the Bay Ridge Volleyball League, a player must both be listed on their team’s roster and must have signed a waiver form, which should be done electronically as part of online registration, but can also be done in person during late registration.
Teams will be organized on Thursday April 16, 2015 following a series of pickup games. Teams will consist of a mix of players of different skill sets and will be formed by the commissioner with the intention of maximizing the level of competition between teams during League play.
As a matter of League policy, teams are not permitted to add players to their roster once their team has been organized. There are possible exceptions to this, i.e. in the case of injuries. To request that a player be added to a team’s roster, the league commissioner must be notified (inquiries@brooklynvolleyball.com) by 9:00 p.m. on the Sunday before the match in which the team wishes to use an added player(s). If a player is allowed to be added to a roster by the League commissioner, then such players must then fill out a waiver when they electronically register for the League.
If a team is found to be using an “illegal” player: someone who is either not on the team roster or has not completed a waiver form, the team will forfeit all games of the match(es) in question.
Players may only play on one team in the League. If a team chooses to play with any “illegal” player who is not on their roster, that team will forfeit any games they win.
A team may not ask a player from another team to temporarily play with their team for the night. This player would be considered an “illegal” player.
Playoff Eligibility: To be eligible for postseason play, a player must have appeared in at least one match during the regular season.
2. TEAM STRUCTURE
If a team has 6 players on the court, at least 2 must be women. If it has 4 or 5 players on the court, at least 1 must be a woman. Fewer than 4 players on the court is a forfeit. Teams are allowed to play with fewer than 6 players if they choose, even if they have 6 at the gym.
Exception: if a team starts play with a legal number of players, they are permitted to continue on if a player gets injured. A team cannot lose by forfeit if someone gets hurt after play begins. This means that a team that starts with 4 people can continue on with 3 if one of them gets hurt. A team that starts with 4 men and 1 woman can play on if the woman gets injured.
3. CONDUCT
Abuse of the referees will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Referees may warn, penalize with a point, or eject any player who is deemed abusive. Physical abuse will result in automatic ejection from the match AND league. Officials are not required to give a warning in any situation. Once the match is underway, only the team’s captain may speak to or question the referee. If a referee’s conduct comes into question, the team captain should contact the league the following day. The league wants to know if a referee is ever late or is not performing to an acceptable level of officiating. The contact is : inquiries@bayridgevolleyball.com
4. SCORING
Three- 25 point rally-scoring games (win by two points, though the game is capped at 27). All games count individually in the standings.
5. STARTING TIMES/FORFEITS
Teams with fewer than 4 players (or without at least 1 woman) on the court that are not ready to play by 10 minutes after game time (i.e. 7:40pm for a game time of 7:30pm) , will forfeit the 1st game of the match. If the situation does not change, they will forfeit game two 15 minutes later (i.e. 7:55pm), & game three 15 minutes after that (i.e. 8:10pm). The referees will not negotiate forfeit times. They will declare a forfeit at the appropriate time, at their discretion. Referees will NOT officiate forfeited games.
6. EQUIPMENT
Each team shall bring one quality volleyball to each match. (example: Tachikara’s SV5W.) The referee will decide which ball will be used in play.
7. SERVICE
A coin flip will be used to determine which team wins “serve”. Choosing “serve” means that team gets to serve first in games one and three.
8. SERVICE RECEIVE / OTHER ILLEGAL CONTACTS
USAV rules allow for two consecutive contacts of any first ball over the net, providing that they occur during a single attempt to play the ball, and that the ball is not caught and/or thrown.
9. SPIKING
Spiking by any of the three front row players is legal. Spiking from out of the back row is only legal if the attacking player takes off from behind the ten-foot line. If a back row player contacts a ball while within the 10-ft. area, it must be below the height of the net.
10. NET CONTACT
No contact with the net is ever legal, including on a follow-through. (Exception: when the ball hits the net into a player’s hands.)
11. CENTER LINE
Contacting the opponent’s playing area with any part of the body except the hand or foot is a fault. Touching the opponent’s area with a hand or foot is not a fault providing that some part of the hand or foot remains on or above the center line.
12. BLOCKING
A player may reach over the net to block any ball, provided that ball has been intentionally guided by their opponent toward his or her court. A player may also block any third ball hit by their opponent. A player may not block a set, and may not touch a ball that has not yet broken the plane of the net (unless it is a third ball). A block does not count as a hit; in fact, the blocker may then touch the ball again as the team’s first contact. Only front row players may block. (A player may never attack a ball that is still on their opponents’ side of the net.)
13. ANTENNAS
The ball must pass between the antennas or their assumed indefinite extensions. A ball that touches an antenna is out.
14. CONTACT WITH CEILING, BASKETS, ETC.
A ball hit by a team which touches the ceiling on their side of the net and stays on their side of the net is in play, provided they have not used up their three hits. If it lands on the opponents court, it is no good. A ball striking a backboard or rim will be a replay only if the ref feels it was going to be a playable ball.
15. TIME OUTS
A team will be granted (2) 30-second time outs per game. Only the floor captain may request a time out.
16. SUBSTITUTIONS
Teams may substitute by rotating in, or through any other legal substitution pattern. (A player who comes out may not return in a spot that would advance him in the rotation.) If a team starts with fewer than 6 players, anyone who arrives late may only be brought in to a back row position. Any pattern may be used as long as it is agreed upon prior to the match and that the referee is able to keep track of it. However, Teams are not allowed to do a “double switch” using the rules to prevent one of their two female players from ever rotating through the front row, a practice the league believes is contrary to the spirit of a coed league. Because we do not typically employ a team of scorekeepers, a referee may refuse any substitution or substitution pattern that’s too difficult to keep track of.
17. PROTESTS
Decisions based on the judgment of the referee are final and not subject to protest. Disagreements with interpretations of the rules must be brought to the attention of the referee and the opposing captain before the beginning of the next point; the protesting captain must note the score before such a play.
18. Due to insurance regulations and school policies, no person under 18 years of age is permitted in our gym.
SPECIAL NOTES
- A valid photo I.D. required for admission every time you enter a school.
- No food in the gym. Water fountains are available. You may bring a beverage.
- No bikes allowed in the school. Roller blades must be removed at the front door.
- No parking on school premises. Street parking only.
- Please do not arrive at any gym before 7:15 p.m.; we are not allowed in before then
- Sneakers are mandatory: no shoes, hiking boots, sandals, or bare feet.
- No hats or bandanas worn over the head.
- Any captain who suspects an ”illegal” player on the opposing team may notify the referee. The player will be compared to the image of the photo ID they provided when they registered. Any referee suspecting an “illegal” player may also inquire on their own and take the appropriate action as described above.
- Playoff dates will be officially announced during the regular season.
Note: Any team and or player(s) that purposely and/or knowingly violates any of the above rules is subject to ejection from the league without refund of league registration dues ($). This decision is made at the discretion of the league commissioner and is not subject to an appeal.