Sportsmonkey follows FIVB rules apply unless stated otherwise below.

 

 4’S TEAM REQUIREMENTS:

• 3 males and 1 female on the court at all times (2 males and 2 females is also allowed).
• There may not be more than 3 males on the court at one time. If a team has 2 players with a minimum of 1 female it will be considered a legal game.
• Teams not able to field a “full” team, or minimum number, may play with the consent of the opposing captain and/or league staff member.

 

 6’S TEAM REQUIREMENTS:

• 6-player teams must have at least 4 players (minimum 2 females) on the court at all times. Teams with less than 6 players may have to adhere to the ghost rule (see below).
• In the 6’s league you can never play with more than 3 males
• For the 6’s league only the opposing captain has the option of instilling the Ghost Rule:  In 6’s, if a team has 5 players for example, they must forfeit their serve after every 5th rotation This will allow the team with a full squad to serve back-to-back.
• Teams not able to field a “full” team, or minimum number, may play with the consent of the opposing captain and/or league staff member.

 

ROSTERS:

Only players listed on your roster are allowed to play in any regular season or playoff game.  Also, any player playing in the playoffs must have played in at least 9 regular season games (sets).  There are typically 30 games (sets) per season.  Rosters can have a maximum of 15 players per team.  Exceptions may be allowed by Sportsmonkey staff.

 

STARTING GAMES AND SCORING:

• A team earns service possession for the start of the first game by winning a coin toss or a rock/paper/scissors. The teams will then alternate service every other game.
• Teams will play the first 2 games to 21 with a cap at 25 (rally score).
• The 3rd game will be played to 15 with a cap of 17 (rally score).
• Rally Score” means that every time a point is finished, one team will be awarded a point, whether they served or not.

 

SERVES AND ROTATION:

• 4’s team members do not need to rotate position on the court BUT have to rotate service.
• 6’s team members must rotate on the court and must remain in that position until the serve has been contacted. The player in the back right hand corner of the rotation will be designated to serve and continue to rotate clockwise.
• Serves that hit the net and go over the net to the opponent’s side will be “live” and are good serves provided the opposing team plays them or they land in bounds.
• The server may not step on or over the end line until the ball has been contacted. The width of the service area is from sideline to sideline. The depth of the service area is infinite.
• The serve may not be blocked or spiked.
• Players can return the serve by:
  • Bump pass.
  • Clasping their hands together.
  • A closed fist

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PLAYING THE BALL:

Three Contacts

Each team is allowed a maximum of 3 successive contacts of the ball in order to return the ball to the opponent’s area.  (Exception: In the action of blocking an attacking ball, the touch, or contact resulting from the block attempt does not constitute one of the three successive contacts). There are no male/female hitting rules.

Attacking the Net

In two’s and four’s every player is eligible to attack the net. In six’s only the three players that are in the front row of the rotation are allowed to attack the net. Violation of this rule would include any hitting or blocking that occurs above the plane of the net.

Simultaneous Contacts

When two non-blocking teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is considered one contact, and any player may make the next contact. When two blocking teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is not counted as a contact, and any player may make the next contact. When two opponents simultaneously and instantaneously contact the ball over the net, and the ball remains in play, the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball lands “out”, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side of the net from where the ball lands.

Characteristics of Contact

The ball can contact any number of body parts down to, and including the foot, providing such contacts are simultaneous and the ball rebounds immediately and cleanly after such contact.

Held Balls

The ball must be contacted cleanly and not held, lifted, pushed, caught, carried or thrown. The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a player’s body. It can rebound in any direction.

Hand Sets

• A contact of the ball using the fingers of one or two hands to direct the ball toward a teammate is a set. The ball must come into contact with both hands simultaneously and leave both hands simultaneously to avoid a double hit call. A player may set the ball over the net in front or behind them only in the direction in which their shoulders are squarely facing. Rotation of the ball after the set may indicate a held ball or multiple contacts during the set but in itself IS NOT A FAULT.
• General Rule is less than 2.5 rotations, or being able to read the name brand on the ball.
• Please call your “bad hands”, double hits, and holds!

 

Attacking the Ball Over the Opponents Court

A player is not allowed to attack the ball on the opposite side of the net. If the ball is hit above the spiker’s side of the net and then the follow-through causes the spiker’s hand and arm to cross the net without contacting an opponent or the net, the action does not constitute a fault.

 

BLOCKING:

Blocking is the action close to the net which intercepts the ball coming from the opponents’ side by making contact with the ball before, during or after it crosses the net.

 

Multiple Contacts

Multiple contacts of the ball by a player(s) participating in a block shall be legal provided it is during one attempt to intercept the ball. Multiple contacts of the ball during a block shall be counted as a single contact, even though the ball may make multiple contacts with one or more players of the block.

 

Participation After a Block

• Any player participating in a block shall have the right to make the next contact, such contact counting as the first of three hits allowed the team.
• Blocking or attacking a serve is prohibited.

 

Blocking the Ball Across the Net

• Blocking of the ball across the net above the opponent’s court shall be legal provided that such a block is:
  • After a player of the attacking team has spiked the ball, or, in the referee’s judgment, intentionally directed the ball into the opponent’s court, or has exhausted their third allowable hit.
  • After the opponents’ have hit the ball in such a manner that the ball would clearly cross the net if not touched by a player, provided no member of the attacking team is in a position to make a legal play on the ball
  • If the ball is falling near the net and no member of the attacking team could reasonably make a play on the ball.

 

PLAY AT THE NET:

• No part of the body may touch the net at anytime unless a ball or person driven into the net causes the contact. Player contact with the net in a manner not directly relating to or affecting the course of play is not a violation. Contact with hair or part of the uniform will not be considered a fault.
• If opponents contact the net simultaneously, it shall constitute a double fault and the point shall be played over.
• Any and all parts of the body are allowed to cross the center line as long as there is no interference with the opposing player.

 

FORFEITS:

1. Teams have until 10 minutes after past designated game time to field a full squad. If one team has less than the minimum number of players at ten past the designated start time, it is up to the Sportsmonkey Staff and opposing team as to what is allowable. The Sportsmonkey Staff member will ultimately make this decision.

2. If your team forfeits a game during the season, the following rules apply:

• First Offense: Loss of game and warning issued.
• Second Offense: Loss of game and staff reserves the right to remove team from playoffs.
• Third Offense: Removal from the league.

3. If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to email us at INFO@SPORTSMONKEY.COM to help us schedule your opponent a game.

 

STANDINGS:

The updated standings will be posted weekly, displaying each team’s rank within its skill level. Rank is based on winning percentage.

 

PLAYOFFS:

• All eligible teams make the playoffs (teams that have not abused any policies are eligible).
  In certain situations, teams at or near the bottom of the standings may not advance to the playoffs. Check with SM league coordinator to see if this applies to your league.
• Playoffs are single elimination.
• Teams may play more than one match per day.
• Any questions regarding rules, policies, or eligibility must be addressed before the start of the game.
• Sportsmonkey reserves the right to schedule playoff games on days other than your regularly scheduled league night.

Playoffs Seeding:

• Teams are seeded according to winning percentage and strength of schedule.
• Teams may be dropped from their regular season level based on the above criteria. Teams may be moved to a higher division during the playoffs only if permission is granted.
• Skill levels may be divided into separate divisions based upon size of level.

 

WAIVERS:

• To participate in the league, each participant must sign the team waiver. Waivers are provided and must be completed and handed in no later than the first night of play. Players not present the first week of play will still be required to sign a waiver with our staff before participating.
• Playoff rosters must be complete by third week of regular season play. (Players will only be added after the third week for the purposes of a substitution due to an injury or other extreme circumstance as deemed acceptable by the Sportsmonkey Staff).
• Waivers and Rosters will be used as acceptable player-team identification during playoffs. All participants must present ID’s during the playoff tournament in the event of a roster check. All roster check requests must be made before the first pitch.

 

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:

• A formal protest may be filed before a game if an opposing player’s eligibility is in question. The player in question will be required to provide his/her player information (name, address, phone #, signature) in writing to a Sportsmonkey staff member prior to the start of the game. This qualifies as an official protest. The game will then be played in its entirety as scheduled. Teams will be notified of all rulings on the identified eligibility discrepancy by the following business day: decisions will not be made on site. If the protest is proven to be legitimate, it will result in the forfeiture of the game in question. Games after the protested game may be rescheduled.
• The above procedure will also apply for any other “logged” protests.
• All rulings by Sportsmonkey staff are considered final.

 

SPORTSMANSHIP:

The idea of Sportsmonkey is to have fun. We hope that all participants keep that in mind when becoming involved. Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable by staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league.

 

LEAGUE CANCELLATION/RAINOUT:

• Leagues may be cancelled due to existing weather conditions, dangerous or unplayable field conditions, facility constraints, etc. Sportsmonkey staff makes every effort to play all scheduled games, thus we will not cancel games until absolutely necessary. Therefore, if you are calling concerning a decision on a cancellation, remember we will not have an answer until close to the start of the league.
• If the league is cancelled, Sportsmonkey staff will change the voicemail immediately. If a league is cancelled on site, Sportsmonkey will attempt to contact those teams still scheduled to play the remainder of the league day/night. Depending on the time of cancellation, some teams will have to be notified on site.
• If we do cancel, follow next ‘s schedule (ex. If April 13 is cancelled teams should follow the April 20 schedule for their next game). The games that are cancelled will be made up at the end of the season if time allows.
• In extreme circumstances, Sportsmonkey reserves the right to run a shortened season without a refund of schedule matches on days other than our regularly scheduled league day/night.

 

*These policies are designed to make the league run as smoothly and safely as possible, and provide continuity for its participants. Each player in the league is responsible for this information: please advise your team of these rules and thanks for playing with Sportsmonkey!*

If you have any further questions please email us at info@sportsmonkey.com