Indoor Volleyball Rules

Last updated: March 26, 2024

•• Rules For All Sports: To be eligible for playoffs, participants must play in at least 3 regular season games for their team. The purpose of the League Rep(s) are not to referee the games. Team captains and their teams are expected to referee their own games accordingly and responsibly. League Rep(s) will step-in to make important calls and clarify rules at their own discretion. If issues arise, team captains are asked to speak with the League Rep(s). No players except for captains should approach the League Rep(s) with issues. ••

A. GENERAL

  1. Teams are advised to be at the courts 10 minutes before the round.
  2. Teams are comprised of 6 players on the court, with a minimum of 2 players of each gender must be on the floor at all times. At minimum, a team must field at least 4 players. If only 1 female player is present, the team must play with one less player; if NO female players are present, the team will automatically forfeit the game.
  3. A regular season game will consist of 15 minutes (if 5 teams) or 25 minutes (if 4 teams). The team with the higher number of points at the end of each timed game will be awarded the win.
  4. Each volleyball round is scheduled for 90 minutes overall. Each team will play 3 or 4 other opponents, randomly scheduled.
  5. In the event of a tie at the end of each timed game in the regular season, the two teams will play a 1-point showdown to declare the winner of that game.
  6. At the end of each round, the team with the highest number of games won will receive 3 points in the standings. The 2nd-ranked team will get 2 points, the 3rd-ranked team will get 1 point, and the bottom 2 teams will get 0 points. In the event of a tie for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place, the team which won the head-to-head matchup will be given the tiebreaker. In the event where more than two teams are tied in the number of games won, point differential of games played between the teams that tied will determine the ranking of the teams.
  7. Team captains and players are required to self-officiate and call their own fouls.
  8. For rounds featuring 5 teams, the team with a break during the round are required to help to keep score for the other 2 games.

B. GAME PLAY

  1. Team captains will rock-paper-scissors prior to the game — with the winner choosing whether to begin with the serve of the ball or which side of the court to play on. The other team will select from the remaining option. The game will start with one team serving the ball.
  2. Players must rotate positions as well as serve with each side-out.
    • If a team serves and scores six consecutive points, both teams must then rotate player positions before the start of the seventh point. Both teams may substitute a player during the rotation (see substitution rule below). The team that won the point maintains the serve. Teams are expected to keep track and make the call. This rule does not apply for playoff matches.
  3. Substitutions can only be made in the back middle position following each rotation. Teams are only allowed to substitute one player at a time, with the exception of an injury.
  4. All balls must be hit cleanly — this means players may not scoop, hold, or carry the ball.
  5. If a player blocks an attacking ball and the ball comes onto their own team’s side, the block does not count as a hit towards the three-hit limit. Blocks on an attacking ball may be a double hit, only for the player who makes the initial block.
  6. A ball that lands on or touches the indicated sidelines of the court will be considered in play. A ball that lands outside the lines or into another court, or contacts any object not in the field of play (such as wall, ceiling, spectator, etc.), is considered out.
  7. The ball can hit any part of the body.
  8. When the ball crosses over the net, it must be between the sidelines or else it will be considered out of play.

C. RULES / INFRACTIONS

  1. Players cannot touch the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play. If the ball is driven into the net with such force that it causes the net to contact an opposing player, no infraction will be called, and the ball will remain in play
  2. If a back-row player is in front of the attack line and plays the ball over the net, they must contact the ball below the height of the net.
  3. A served ball may not be blocked or attacked directly back over the net.
  4. Male players may not block a female player on an attacking hit. This includes an attempted block — or as an act of intimidation — which is defined as a player jumping with one or both hands extended beyond the top of the volleyball net.
  5. Players may not interfere with the other team or hinder play on the other side of the court, such as making contact under the net. Players are allowed to step under the net as long as it does not affect play or make contact with the opposing player. Any form of contact made under the net on the other side of the court results in an infraction and an automatic point for the opposing team.
  6. When serving a ball, a player may not touch the lines or inside the court before making the last contact with the ball. However, leeway for one step into the court is provided for gyms where space between the wall and serving line is limited.