CAL Sports Academy Volleyball League Rules
Purpose: CAL Sports Youth Volleyball Program is organized to provide a recreational activity for girls. The program is designed for the following purposes:
We strive to develop players at all levels of play (recreational, travel, and premier) by building and improving their skills, confidence, fitness, initiative, and a sense of teamwork.
We promote and encourage high standards of sportsmanship.
We look to aggressively expand volleyball opportunities to areas that are traditionally underserved.
Organizational Structure:
Governing Rules: CAL Sports Academy Youth Volleyball League is governed by the current rules and regulations of the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) and USA Volleyball.
League Rules: Team rosters consist of no more than ten (10) players per team. No additions are made once the league has started unless a player is injured and considered out for the rest of the season, and not the last two (2) weeks of the regular season.
Logistics:
Uniforms must be worn to each game, no excuses.
- If a player does not wear their shirt, the player will not be allowed to participate in the first set
- Second offense: the player cannot participate in that day’s match
The Volleyball used will be official size and weight as defined by the National Federation of State High School rules book.
The net will be set at 7 foot 4 1/8 inches, the standard height for a regulation women’s volleyball match.
Scorekeepers should not be emotionally involved in the game (i.e. coaching, disagreeing with the officials, screaming and yelling, etc.). Any scorekeeper that does not comply will be removed from the score table.
Game Time:
Matches consist of the “best of three” sets unless designated otherwise for the first 3 weeks of the season. The first set is played to 25 (win by two). If each team splits the first two sets, the winner of the third set, played to 15 points (win by two) is declared the winner. If one team wins each of the first two sets, that team is declared the winner. If time permits, a third set will be determined by the League Coordinator.
There will be two (2) 30-second time-outs per set.
Playing Time:
All available players participate in each set, following standard league playing time protocol. Standard substitutions are made in a way for all available players to rotate into the lineup evenly. However, two players may be designated to remain on the court in all rotations. This modification allows for significant playing time for all players while allowing the coaches flexibility to keep stronger players and/or setters on the floor to strengthen team play. Each team’s rotation must be kept in order.
Team forfeits will be at the discretion of the League Coordinator. We strive to have complete 6 on 6 matches. Generally, 5 or more players are required to avoid a forfeit. However, if the coordinator believes the level of a team of 4 can compete in a match, the team will not forfeit. Anything below 4 players is a match forfeit.
Each team’s rotation must be kept in order. Crossing the person next to you or in front of you constitutes an “overlap” violation.
Substitutes must be handled in the proper manner, with players calling for a substitute to the ref, meeting in front of the 10-foot line, and waiting until the ref and scorekeeper allow you to go.
Specific Rules:
Servers are given two attempts to get the first serve inbounds before the serving team loses that point. After the server successfully gets one serve in, any subsequent missed serve will result in a loss of the rally. In addition, servers can move forward in front of the baseline when serving if the player needs assistance to clear the net on a serve.
Serves must be done in eight (8) seconds as NFHS rules suggest. If a player exceeds this amount, the team will lose the point and give the other team the serve.
Players are not allowed to touch the tape of the net at any time. Brushing/Touching of the netting is allowed if it does not interfere with the play.
No double contacts. You cannot contact the ball twice in a row.
The ball must be hit cleanly and not caught or thrown. Prolonged contact with the ball is a fault. The ball can rebound in any direction.
A player may not block a serve as it comes over the net. Blocking is used against hitting.
The official will use a liberal interpretation of violations such as a “lift” or “held ball” when players are attempting to use proper setting techniques. The referee will use discretion to overlook mild transgressions including net violations or illegal back-row attacks when no competitive advantage is gained by the player if the violation is deemed to be accidental. The referee will use some of these instances as opportunities to explain rules and educate players to improve their knowledge of the game rather than to halt play.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: The following shall result in an unsportsmanlike conduct technical foul:
Disrespectfully addressing or contacting an official.
Using profanity and vulgarity.
Taunting, baiting, or ridiculing.
Ejection from a game results in a $25 fine and a letter of apology to their team. League Coordinator will assess all incidents and determine if the individual can be reinstated.
Playoffs and Championship Game:
All teams are guaranteed one playoff match. The winner of the playoff game moves on to compete in the Semi-Final/Championship Weekend (number of games is dependent on the number of teams in the league). Teams are seeded by their regular season record and league placement. The top seeds play lower seeds (1 vs 4) (2 vs 3), etc.
All players must play in at least one (1) game during playoffs.
Awards are given to the first-place team
Protests: Protests must be filed within 24 hours after completion of the game, in writing, to CAL Sports Academy’s email address – office@calsportsacademy.com
Conduct: The penalty for fighting or flagrant conduct such as profanity is ejection from the present game and the following game. Any ejection will constitute a one-game suspension. On the 2nd offense, the player or coach is suspended from the program. Problems with coaches or spectators:
First – warning or technical foul
Second – technical foul or ejection (official’s judgment)
Third – Removal from gym or program without refund
Game Postponement: For inclement weather or other situations out of CAL Sports control, the league coordinator will notify all players and coaches of a game postponement.