Adult Sand Volleyball Manager Handbook

GENERAL LEAGUE RULES – SAND VOLLEYBALL

1. Referees will follow the rules set forth in the USA Beach Rulebook with any exceptions noted below. The ball handling will be called more relaxed in the lower leagues. Because the USA Beach Rules are geared toward 2-person play, we have made several exceptions.
2. Players may play on more than one team per night as long as they are listed on each roster (or signed in as a temporary sub) and the proper fees are paid. We will not accept any schedule requests or make any schedule adjustments if a player chooses to play on two different teams on the same night.
3. Players must be at least 15 (with parent/guardian consent) and on the team roster prior to participating.
4. Forfeit times:
   • 1st Game-Game time.
   • 2nd Game-10 minutes after first forfeit.
   • 3rd Game-10 minutes after second forfeit.
5. Each team will need at least 4 players (3 in 4-person leagues) on the court and ready to play to begin a match. Teams (other than 4-person leagues) will play according to 6-person rules even when they are forced to play with less than this amount. 
6. Participants must accept referees’ decisions with respectful conduct, without disputing them. In case of doubt, the TEAM MANAGER may request clarification.
7. JEWELRY/HAT/GLASSES/FOOTWEAR RULES: It is forbidden to wear any object that may cause an injury to a player, such as pins, bracelets, casts, etc. Hats, sunglasses, and other headgear will be allowed unless it is deemed unsafe by BPRD or the official. Footwear is optional. Activity trackers (Fitbits, Apple watch, etc.) are allowed. Airpods or other wireless ear devices are NOT allowed.
8. Team managers will toss a coin for the right to serve or receive the service OR the side of court. Service and side will alternate in the second game of the match.  There will be a second coin toss before the start of the third game of the match to determine right to serve or receive the service OR the side of court.
9. Rally Point: This method of scoring will be used in ALL leagues. A point will be scored on every service. First two games will be played to 25, capped at 27. Third game will be played to 15, win by 2, no cap. Teams will always play three games during the match. If there is a forfeit in the first or second game, the third game will be played to 25, capped at 27. Scoresheets must be signed by both team managers at the conclusion of the match. PLEASE LOOK AT THE SCORES BEFORE YOU SIGN.
10. COED PLAY: 6-Person
    1. At no time may the number of males exceed the number of females on the court.
    2. A team may play with 4 females and 2 males on the court or any other combination as long as the number of males never exceeds the number of females and there are always 4 players on the court.
    3. Spiking is allowed in all leagues.
    4. If the ball is hit more than once, a female MUST make one of the hits.
    5. Teams must play true coed whenever possible (3 females, 3 males).
11. SERVING
    1. The server may move freely across the end line.
    2. The server must contact the ball within 5 seconds after the official authorizes service.
    3. The ball may hit the net on the serve.
    4. The ball shall be hit with one hand or any part of the arm after being tossed or released and before it touches the playing surface. Only one toss is allowed.
    5. A service executed before the official’s authorization is cancelled and replayed. A player may not repeat this more that once during any term of service.
12. Each team rotates clockwise on the serve. The team that receives the serve will rotate before their first service. Servers are allowed to serve anywhere across the endline. For teams that start with less than the maximum number of players, late arriving players may enter the game on the first dead ball after they are ready to play. Late arriving players may not rotate directly into the serving position.
13. SUBSTITUTIONS (This is a BPRD Rule.)
    1. Substitutions MUST be made one of two ways:
       • In the center back position
       • Person for person
    2. The substitution pattern must remain the same for an entire game. It can be changed at the beginning of a new game.
    3. If at any time the substitution pattern is broken (e.g., missed rotation), the players on the court at that time will have to play out the remainder of the game.
    4. Exceptions would be made for injuries or expelled players.
    5. Males can only sub for males and females can only sub for females.
14. If any part of the ball touches the boundary line, it is considered good and in bounds.
15. Each team will be allotted two 30-second timeouts/game.
16. HONOR CALLS – These calls will be accepted as long as they are against the team that is making the honor call (i.e., If the official calls a ball out against Team A, and Team B states that the ball was in or good, the official will accept this and change the call).
17. Players may not block or attack the serve (see attack-hit faults).
18. Team hits:
    1. Simultaneous contact with the ball – Two or more players may touch the ball at the same moment. When two or more teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is counted as one contact. If teammates collide, no fault is committed. Any player may play the ball next if the simultaneous contact is not the third team contact. If there are simultaneous contacts by the two opponents over the net and the ball remains in play, the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball goes out, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side.
    2. Characteristics of the hit
       • The ball may touch any part of the body. The ball must be hit, not caught or thrown. It can rebound in any direction. Simultaneous contacts: The ball may touch various parts of the body, provided the contacts take place simultaneously.
       • Kicking is not allowed. The ball can rebound from any part of the body, including legs and feet, but legs/feet must be planted or stationary at time of contact.
       • Consecutive contacts: At the first hit of a team, provided it is not made overhand with fingers, consecutive contacts are permitted provided that the contacts occur during one action. During the first hit of the team if it is played overhand using fingers, the ball may NOT contact the fingers/hands consecutively, even if the contacts occur during one action. Exceptions: (a) At blocking, consecutive contacts by one or more players, provided that they occur during one action. (b) Extended contacts: In a defensive action of a hard-driven ball, the ball contact can be extended momentarily even if an overhand finger action is used. (Plays involving finger action require special attention. If the play is defensive and reactive in nature, as in the case of a hard-driven ball, momentarily held or double-contacted balls are not considered faults. Furthermore, they may apply to the second touch of a team if the block contact was slight, and the ball is still a hard-driven attack or to the defensive action (first team contact) after a ball has been blocked. If the player decides/intends to use finger setting action to contact an off-speed attack, the contact must be “clean.”
19. Contact with the net by a player is not a fault, unless it is made during the action of playing the ball, or it interferes with play. Incidental contact of the hair is never a fault.  Some actions of playing the ball may include the actions in which the players do not actually touch the ball.
20. A player may reach or penetrate into the opponent’s court and/or space under the net, provided this does not interfere with the opponent’s play.
21. A player may run outside their court to play a ball, but MAY NOT enter another court while playing or after playing the ball. If a player does enter another court, the ball will be called dead immediately and a point/serve will be awarded.
22. If a ball from another court enters the court, DO NOT stop play until you hear the official’s whistle. If the ball is not interfering with a current play or is on the opposite side of the net, the ball should be tossed back to the other court without stopping play.
23. Only players who are in the front row at the time of service may legally accomplish blocking. Back row players may not block or participate in a block, but may play the ball in any other position near or away from the block. Blocking or attacking the serve is prohibited. However, if the block containing the back row player does not touch the ball, the attempt to block is not considered to be a fault. (EXCEPTION: In 4-Person, all players may block and attack. In coed play, if only one male player is in the front row at the time of serve. a back row male player may participate in a block but may not hit or attack the ball).
24. In blocking, a player may place hands and arms beyond the net, inside the antennas, provided this action does not interfere with the opponent’s play. The player is not permitted to touch the ball beyond the net until the opponent has made an attack hit.
25. A blocking contact is NOT counted as a team contact. The blocking team will have three contacts after a blocking contact and any player may make the contact.
26. A player is permitted to pass his/her hand beyond the net after his/her attack hit, provided that his/her contact has been made within his/her own playing space.
27. Attack hit: All actions to direct the ball toward the opponent, except when serving and blocking, are considered attack hits. An attack hit is completed the moment the ball completely crosses the vertical plane of the net or is touched by a blocker. Any player may carry out an attack hit at any height, provided that his/her contact with the ball has been made within the player’s own playing space (except on a serve).
28. Attack hit faults:
    1. A player hits the ball within the playing space of the opposing team.
    2. A player completes an attack-hit using an open-handed finger action (“open-handed tip or dink”) or if using fingertips that are not rigid and together (FOUR-PERSON PLAY ONLY, tipping allowed in six-person).
    3. A player completes an attack-hit on the opponent’s service when the ball is entirely above the top of the net.
    4. A player completes an attack-hit using an overhand pass which has a trajectory not perpendicular to the line of the player’s shoulders, except when attempting to set to his/her teammate (FOUR-PERSON PLAY ONLY).
29. Any unsportsmanlike conduct will be subject to sanctions using red/yellow cards. Sanctions are at the discretion of the official and do not need to start with a warning or yellow card. If any player is suspended from a match, they will be subject to further penalties or suspension from league play.
    1. Minor misconduct is not subject to sanctions. It is the duty of the official to prevent teams from approaching the sanctioning level. This is done in two stages: (1) issuing a verbal warning, (2) use of a yellow card. No sanctions are given with a yellow card, but it is a warning that the team is reaching the sanctioning level for the match.
    2. Sanctions
       • Rude conduct: action contrary to good manners or moral principals. First and subsequent occurrence: Red card, point awarded to opposing team, loss of rally.
       • Offensive conduct: defamatory or insulting words or gestures or any action expressing contemp. First: Player expulsion from game (Y/R together), Subsequent: Player disqualification (Y/R apart).
       • Aggression: actual physical attack or aggressive or threatening behavior. First: Player disqualification (Y/R apart).
30. Misconduct before and between sets: Any misconduct occurring before or between sets is sanctioned according to the sanction scale and the sanction is applied in the following set. If misconduct occurs after the completion of the match, the sanction may occur the following week.
31. Any team forfeiting 2 league matches will be subject to removal from league play.
32. NO GLASS CONTAINERS ARE ALLOWED ON PARK PROPERTY. Please help keep our parks clean and safe for all to use and enjoy.  Drinking alcoholic beverages before or during league play is not allowed. Please save your drinking until after your match. Any player that is under the influence of alcohol during a match will face expulsion from further league play.
33. Children are not allowed anywhere on the playing court. This includes the area that is outside the boundaries of the playing court but still inside the sand area.  Please keep your children away from the courts to avoid them being injured.
34. Smoking/vaping is not allowed on the courts or anywhere in the sand area.
35. Pets are not allowed on the courts for obvious health reasons.
36. INCLEMENT WEATHER – Please check at bisparks.org for any cancellation information. After league has started, cancellations will be up to the site supervisor.  In case of severe weather during league play, an air horn will sound indicating the officials should get down from the ref stands and that players should find shelter.
37. Please follow all Park Rules: For your safety and enjoyment, we ask you to abide by the following rules and regulations in our parks/recreation facilities:
    • Glass beverage containers are prohibited, and alcohol permits are required.
    • Fireworks are prohibited at all times.
    • Vehicles are restricted to established roads and parking lots.
    • Horses are prohibited except at the Walt Neuens Memorial Horse Arena and Atkinson Nature Park.
    • Fires are restricted to fire pits and grills.
    • Posting of posters and advertisements is prohibited.
    • Vendor permits are required.
    • Discharge of weapons is prohibited.
    • Pets must be on a leash, except at the dog park, and please clean up after your pets.
    • Hunting, trapping or killing of animals or birds is prohibited.
    • No overnight camping is allowed in any city parks.
38. Any team disregarding or violating the rules and policies set forth by this league may be suspended from further league play.