Indoor Volleyball Rules

•• 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 that must be on the floor at all times. 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. Each volleyball session is scheduled for 120 minutes overall. Each team will play 30-minute games against 3 other teams.
  4. If the score is tied at the end of a game, the two teams will play for one extra point as a tiebreaker.
  5. Each game win is worth 1 point towards the team’s overall standings.
  6. Team captains and players are required to self-officiate and call their own infractions.

B. GAMEPLAY

  1. Team captains will rock-paper-scissors before the game begins. The winner chooses to have first serve of the ball or which side of the court to play on. The other team takes the remaining option. The game starts 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 rotate player positions before the start of the next serve.
    • 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 to 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, except for 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 must cross over the net between the sidelines or net antennas, or 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 are not allowed to block female players during an attacking hit. This rule applies to any attempted block or intimidation, whether a player’s hands are above or below the net. A player who jumps is also considered to be making an attempted block. An infraction results in an automatic point for the opposing team.
  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.
    • For games at VCS: The player serving must be visible to the opposing team while serving (ie. The hallway in the far court should not be used for a run-up).

Last updated: March 20, 2026