Sand Volleyball 6’s League Rules

Last updated:  2022 Feburary

Overview

The focus of the league is to have fun. Teams are encouraged to help each other and make games as enjoyable as possible.

Participating Players

• Teams must have at least 2 players before a game can begin (at least 1 player must be female).
• Teams may start with 2-6 players on the court.
• Of the players on the court, at least 1 player must be female.
• Teams may choose how to rotate additional players beyond 6 in during games (they just need to do that rotation in a consistent manner).
• When a team has more than 6 players, all players must take equal turns and time rotating/sitting out following the serving order rotation.
• Players are only able to legally hit the ball as long as they have at least 1 foot in their court.

• If your team wants to substitute a player, follow the rules outlined in the 'subs' section of the FAQ  (FAQ - League Information - Are subs allowed?).

Rosters

• You can have as many players as you want on a roster, but the minimum number of players is 7
  • We recommend having a team size of 8.
  • Players who register as free agents may be added to teams with rosters smaller than 8 players (captains will be notified first).

• Additional players, including players who register as free agents, can be added to the roster anytime until the third week of the season.
• Teams can be etiher coed for all female with at last one woman playing at all times.

• Captains are responsible for the conduct of teams. This means they’ll need to make sure all players are legal and conform to league play standards.
• All players must meet league player requirements. (FAQ - League Information - Player Requirements)
• All players must wear their league tshirts to participate when league tshirts are provided. (FAQ - League Information - What if I paid late and have not received a league tshirt or forget my league tshirt one night?)
• From time to time for various reasons players may become upset and curse, complain, and more.  When this occurs, our staff will respond and take actions from issuing a warning, to taking a time out, up to ejecting a player form the game.  For more info reference our FAQ. (FAQ - League Information - Ejections)
• Team captains can request the referee for a roster check on thier opponents.  The roster check must be requested before the game begins.  Exception: a player who showed up and joined in after the game began, in this case the team captain needs to request the check when that new player first enters the game.

Equipment & Field Setup

• All equipment will be provided by Be Social Richmond.
• Sand volleyballs
• Sand volleyball court setup with net and lines

League Scoring, Standings, Seeding

Regular Season and Overtime

• Teams three games each regular season week
• Games should not end in ties

Playoffs

• Teams with 1+ forfeit during the regular season will be excluded from the playoffs.
• Teams caught using players that are not on their roster or who were not signed up as legal subs will be excluded from the playoffs.
• Seeding details this multi-game per night sport can be found in the FAQ (FAQ - League Information - How are standings calculated for the regular season?)
• The single elimination match format will be unique to each season
• Typically best of 3 to advance
• Games will start at gametime posted on the website, every 5 minutes a forfeit will be recorded for teams w/o a valid team ready to play
• Teams with the higher seed will get to select serve or side at the start of playoff matches

Game Rules

Nightly Games

• Teams will play 3 games vs. another team.
• Team captains will rock, paper, scissors to determine serve or side.  The winner gets their choice games 1&3 of the match. 
• Teams alternate serve/side each game.
• Games are played using rally scoring (meaning a point is awarded every serve).
• Games are played to 21 points
• Teams will score their games, make their own calls, and report final results to BSR staff.
• Each team needs to clearly call out the score before serving to insure both teams know and agree.

• In playoffs teams with the better records get the choice.

• Win by 2
• Max 27 point

Game Play

• WHERE TO STAND - Players may stand where they choose (no on court rotation is required)
• SERVING ORDER - Although player locations on court rotation are not fixed, teams must set a serving rotation for their players in the game and maintain that serving rotation for the game.   Teams serving out of order lose the serve and point.
• OVER THE NET - There are two (different) actions that are permitted when a player reaches beyond (over) the net:
• Hitting - After making an attack hit, you are allowed to pass your hand beyond the net, but the contact must have been made within your own playing space (your side of the net)
• Blocking - After the opposite team made its attack hit, you are allowed to block it, whatever the position of the ball (and your contact with it) is, i.e. you may reach beyond the net, and touch the ball there
  Defensive players are not allowed to touch the ball beyond the net before it's touched by an offensive player or if it would interfere with the offensive play before their attack hit.   The players team who makes this infraction will lose the point.
• IN THE NET -  Players are not allowed to touch the net.  The players team who touches the net will lose the point.
• If players from both teams have players who touch the net the play will be replayed unless one teams players action forced the other teams player into the net.
  NOTE:  besides being a basic volleyball rule this is also a safety rule
• UNDER THE NET - Players may go under the net and return to their side of the net if they do not make contact with a player from the other team.   The players team who makes contact will lose the point.
• ONE FOOT IN THE COURT - all active game players must keep at least one foot in the court to validly hit the ball.   The players team who makes contact with the ball without a foot in the court will lose the point.  If a player jumps in the air they must have at least one part of their body land in in the court.   
  NOTE:  if there is a greater than 10 ft distance between the court lines and other physical obstructions such as other courts, fences, etc... Then this rule may be omitted.   This is a safety rule
• Standard indoor rules will be used.
  • Teams must set a service rotation and maintain that rotation throughout the game.
  • Doubles on sets will be called if the ball has excessive rotation.
  • Gender Play Rule: if a ball is hit 1+ time(s) on a side, a girl must touch the ball at least 1 of the times before it goes back over the net.

Rules are subject to change when and as needed by BSR staff.