Adult Volleyball Rules and Information

 

***New Information is in red italics***

Sports Office: 303-774-3527 or sports@longmontcolorado.gov

Longmont Recreation Center: 303-774-4800

Rain out line: 303-774-4400

 

Register: Longmont Recreation Center, 310 Quail Rd

Online (keyword “volleyball”): www.longmontcolorado.gov/rec

Schedules/Rules: www.teamsideline.com/longmont

 

General Information:

The Adult Volleyball Program is sponsored and supervised by the City of Longmont Recreation Services. The purpose of the league is to engage adult volleyball enthusiasts in the community and provide opportunities to participate in structured volleyball leagues under the philosophy of friendly competition and sportsmanship.

 

Adult volleyball leagues are governed by USA Volleyball rules with the exceptions outlined in this manual. The Longmont Recreation reserves the right to change any rules, regulations, and policies whenever due cause warrants a change. When a change is made, all managers will be notified immediately. All league rules will be enforced by Recreation staff.

 

Longmont Recreation reserves the right to place teams in leagues to equalize competition. This may also be affected by the total number of teams and divisions there are each year.

 

All managers are responsible for the information contained in this manual, as well as any other information the Athletics Office distributes. Managers are responsible for sharing all information in this manual with team participants.

 

Any questions concerning volleyball schedules, standings, game results, rosters, rule interpretations, to report forfeits, or any other concerns not stated here, but pertain to Longmont Recreation Adult Volleyball Program should be directed to the Sports Office staff at the Longmont Recreation Center, 303-651-3527 or sports@longmontcolorado.gov.

 

Adverse (Inclement) Weather:

Call the weather line, 303-774-4400, or check www.teamsideline.com/longmont for up to date information. Summer storms tend to pass over quickly, and games may not be canceled right away. If there is lightning the Field Supervisor may call a delay of play until the storm passes.

Team Composition:

This Adult 4v4 league is open to all genders. Male/female composition and constraints will no longer apply. Meaning, court composition is no longer restricted, nor does a female player need to touch a ball before going over the net. Extra players or substitutes rotate in. Teams may play with 3 players; the “ghost” rule will not apply. Teams may not officially play with 2 players; however, teams can scrimmage after reporting a forfeit. Teams are welcome to add new players throughout the season and/or use one-time substitutes to avoid forfeits. All players must sign the roster. Teams may arrive 5-10 minutes prior to the game time in order to get to their courts and warm up.

 

Pregame Conference:

Team managers should meet before the match starts to express any concerns and determine which team serves first (rock-paper-scissors).

 

Scoring:

A match is the best 2 out of 3 sets. The 1st and 2nd sets are scored to 25 points, rally scoring (must win by a minimum of two points). If needed, the 3rd set will be played to 15 points with no cap (the game will finish and must win by a minimum of two points). If time allows teams are encouraged to continue playing for fun until the 45-minute time slot ends.

 

Regulate your own play, no officials are provided. At the completion of the last games (in outdoor grass leagues only), teams are asked to help take down nets on courts.

 

League Skill Divisions:

  • Competitive - Teams who wish to play at the highest level of competition and skill offered. Players should be proficient in all skills and strategies of the sport.
  • Social – Teams who wish to play without getting into the highly competitive level. Players should have average skills and knowledge of the sport and like to have fun.

 

Recreation Services Responsibilities:

  • Provide a schedule of games (regular season, etc.)
  • Provide facility, game balls and field/gym supervisor
  • Keep a record of all games played
  • Handle all misconduct situations with the guidelines stated in the “Code of Conduct”

     

    Manager’s Responsibilities:

  • Inform all team members of the information contained in this manual or any material provided by the Athletics office including game times and dates
  • Ensure that all team members are recorded on the official roster
  • Be responsible for the actions of your team while participating
  • Notify Athletics office of any changes of team manager information
  • Follow league rules as stated
  • Report any forfeits as soon as possible so we can notify the other team

 

Team Rosters   

Team rosters are now managed through Team Sideline, instead of paper roster forms. Team Managers will receive instructions on how to set up their team’s roster. All managers and players must have a valid email address.

 

Player Eligibility Rules:

  1. All players must be at least 16 years old to participate in adult volleyball leagues. Players under the age of 18 must have a waiver form signed by a parent or guardian.
  2. Any player, coach, or manager who is ejected from a game is automatically ineligible for that team’s next game. Any player, coach, or manager who is ejected from two (2) games will be suspended from all league play. If ejected, a player must pay a Return to Play fee; $25 for 1st occurrence in a season, $50 for the 2nd if they wish to return the next season or in another sport.

 

Free Agents:

Individuals looking for a team may register as a free agent and will form a team together. 

 

Team Fees:

No team will be accepted into the league until the appropriate fees have been paid. It is the sole responsibility of the Team Manager for all team payments. Teams with outstanding balances are not eligible to play in any Longmont Sports league.

                               

Uniforms/Equipment:

Teams are welcome to wear similar color shirts, but uniforms are not required.

  • Indoor leagues- shoes appropriate for gym play are required.
  • Outdoor leagues- shoes are optional.

Protective equipment, like knee pads, are optional and player-provided.

 

Facility/Park Rules:

  1. Zero Tolerance Rule: profanity, abusive language, taunting, obscene gestures, and physical violence will not be tolerated. Any player, coach, or spectator using any type of foul language or taunting of any kind to an official, supervisor, scorekeeper, or any other player, coach, or spectator will be ejected from the game, and if necessary, from the league. (See Player Code of Conduct)
  2. Alcohol is not permitted in/at a city facility, which includes parking lots.
  3. The use of tobacco and/or drugs is not allowed inside the playing area or city building at any time. Penalty shall be forfeit of game in progress.
  4. Glass containers are prohibited.
  5. Food and beverages are not allowed in the gym, except for water in a sealable container.
  6. The supervision of children will be the responsibility of the parents. If children are interfering with the game, i.e. running onto the court, playing with balls, etc., the parents will be asked to remove the children from the area of play.
  7. Any team or individual of a team misusing the facilities will result in that team being dropped from the league with no refund of fees.

 

 

Tie-breaker procedure:

If at the end of league play, teams are tied for any place, the following tie-breaker criteria will be applied. Note: all leagues are just for fun and most do not have an end of season tournament.

  1. Head-to-head winner
  2. Game differential between tied teams
  3. Points differential between tied teams
  4. If teams did not play in season, then the tie is broken by record versus higher-ranked teams in descending order.
  5. Forfeits automatically lose a tie-breaker.

 

Tournament/Awards:

  • 6-Week Leagues: These leagues are for fun. There are no end of season tournaments, trophies, or shirts for winning teams.
  • 10-Week Leagues: These leagues will have an end of season tournament and will receive t-shirts for winning teams.

 

SPECIFIC GAME RULES & STANDARDS:

All league play will be governed by the United States Volleyball Association except for the following City of Longmont rules:

 

Scoresheets:

Team Managers report the final win/loss and scores of each match to the Field/Gym Supervisor.

 

Game Ball:

Teams may use their own balls for games if desired. One game ball per court will be available for teams to check out from the Field/Gym Supervisor. Please return the ball after your game.

 

Net Height:

Indoor: 7 feet 8 inches                 Outdoor: 7 feet 8 inches

 

Serve and Receive:

  • Players may serve from anywhere on the back line.
  • It is an automatic side out if a team serves out of rotation.
  • Players may not block or attack the serve when it is still in the plane of the net.
  • Jump serves are allowed
  • Players may set the serve, but the ball must not cross over the net directly.
  • The standard for a rotation is a diamond, a front row player- the setter, two hitters- right and left, and a back row player- server.

 

Referee:

This league does not use a referee. Teams are asked to call their own games fairly and honestly. A Field/Gym Supervisor will be available to answer any questions that arise. If there is a dispute over a point, replay the point. Recreation Staff retain the right to remove a player or team from the league if they are unable to comply with rules. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.

 

Substitutions:

One-for-one substitutions are not allowed in 4s. All players should rotate through the serving order. A 4th player arriving late may enter the game during any dead ball.

 

Time-outs:

Each team is allowed one (1) time-out per game. Time-outs are 30 seconds. Injury time-outs are allowed for as long as the player needs to get the proper help.

 

Lifts:

Open-handed touches are allowed; exception when a ball is lifted. A lift is a fault that occurs when a player makes prolonged, caught, or redirected contact with the ball, including an open-palm, upward-facing contact that holds the ball for too long.

 

Passes and Sets:

  • Players can set the serve as long as the ball remains on their side of the net.
  • All sets over the net must be square to the player’s feet and shoulders without being lifted, carried or thrown. Side sets over the net are not allowed- no rotation in any direction.
  • Balls can be played off any part of the body, as long as they are not carried, lifted or rolled.

 

Hard-Driven Balls:

In a defensive action of a hard-driven ball, the ball can be doubled-contacted with the hands. The definition of a “Hard-Driven Ball” is a ball that travels its entire flight path, from the hitter’s hand to the digger’s hands/arms, in a downward direction.

 

Under the Net:

Players may not touch the net. Players may go under the net as long as they do not interfere with another player’s safety or ability to get the ball. For the safety of all players, if a player comes under the net in an aggressive manner, they may be asked to leave the facility and suspended.

 

Blocks:

A blocking contact is not counted as a team contact. The blocking team will have three contacts after a blocking contact.

 

Out of Bounds:

If a ball touches any part of the painted boundary/yellow rope/court line which make up the court, the ball is declared in bounds. If the ball lands outside the painted boundary/yellow rope/court line, it will be declared out of bounds and a point will be awarded to opponent. 

 

Going onto the other courts:

Players are not allowed to make a play on the ball on an adjacent court if that court has a game in progress. Play stops immediately and it is a point for the other team.

LONGMONT RECREATION - PLAYER CODE OF CONDUCT

 

 

DEFINITIONS:

Coach – The player designated as team spokesman and the ONLY person who may discuss a decision with officials.  The coach can be either a player or non-player.

Player – A person, who actively participates in the game, sits on the bench or who is on the roster.

Contest Area – That area which is designated by the Sports Program Supervisor.

Spectator – A person who watches games for entertainment with no physical involvement.

City of Longmont Activity – Any event designated or hosted by the Longmont Recreation Division.

Program Administrator – The Longmont Recreation employee directly responsible for the activity.

Abuse – includes but is not limited to, obscene gestures, heckling, verbally attacking or threatening and/or laying a hand upon, shoving, striking, hitting or punching.

 

CODE:

  1. No player shall: at any time abuse a Recreation employee, player or spectator. In addition, no player shall be guilty of using unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body and person of an opposing player.
  2. No player shall: refuse to abide by an official's decision, nor argue the officials judgment.
  3. No player shall:  appear at the contest area under the influence of alcohol or drugs, nor consume alcohol or drugs during play.  A player may not smoke while on the field of play.

 

PENALTIES

Minimum penalty: removal (ejection) from further play in the game being played and suspension from the next scheduled game.

Maximum penalty: penalty shall be determined by the Program Administrator and/or the Recreation Supervisor.  Offenders may be suspended from further league play.

               

TWO MINUTE CLAUSE shall be in effect.  Two minutes will be allowed for an ejected or suspended player(s) to remove him/herself from the designated contest area.  If this time limit is not met, the contest shall be forfeited to the opponents.

 

ELASTICITY CLAUSE – In order to provide for the recreational enjoyment of players, coaches, and spectators, any enforcement procedures which are not stated herein may be provided by the Recreation Division as is deemed necessary.

 

MISCONDUCT: When deemed necessary, a letter will be sent to the teams sponsor(s) informing them of player, coach, manager, or fan misconduct or poor sportsmanship.