Object of the game
The object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent's court,
and to prevent the same effort by the opponent. The team has three touches to return the ball (including
the block touch). The ball is put in play with a service, hit by the server over the net to the opponents
side of the court. The rally continues until the ball is grounded on the playing court, goes 'out' or a
team fails to return it properly. In beach volleyball, the team winning a rally scores a point (rally
point system). When the receiving team wins a rally, it gains a point and takes serve.
The serving player must be alternated ever time this occurs.
Overview of key rules
- The rally begins with the referees whistle. Play begins when the player hits the ball.
- The ball can hit the top of the net on the serve
- The serve can be taken from any point behind the service line (but must be within the 8m wide service zone).
- Once the ball has been tossed up to serve it is counted as a serve. I.e.: a second serve or toss cannot be taken.
- The team mate/s of the server cannot screen the sightline of the opponent to prevent them seeing the sever.
- The ball cannot be blocked or hit above the level of the top of the net when receiving the serve.
- Each team is entitled to a maximum of three touches to return the ball over the net. This includes unintentional contacts with the ball.
- The ball is in when it touches the ground of the playing court, including the boundary lines.
- A player may not touch the ball two times consecutively unless it is the second touch off the block.
- A block counts as a team hit. The blocking team will have two more hits after the blocking contact.
- The ball may touch any part of the body
- The ball must be hit, not caught or thrown
- A player must set the ball cleanly. I.e.: must not double touch it
- A player cannot touch the net
- A player can penetrate the opponent's area as long they do not affect play
- A player cannot 'tip' the ball over the net using the finger tips.
- A player cannot set the ball over the net unless their shoulders are in line with the direction the ball is travelling. So the shoulders must be perpendicular to the line of the ball trajectory.
- The referee's decision is final
- The referee can give warnings, yellow and red cards
NIVEA SUN Yellowave League specific rules
Please note that rules will become tighter as the numbers in a team reduce. So doubles matches are played
with FIVB international rules. 3/side is slightly looser and 6/side focuses on keeping a rally going but
still aims to develop player's understanding of the official doubles rules. Referees will try to keep
consistency between them but it is the referee's discretion as to what faults is called.
- Games are timed. At the end of the game the team with the most points wins.
- 3 x 12min games will be played with a 1min rest in-between
- Delaying tactics are not allowed.
- Teams only switch ends on new games. There are no switches during a game
- There are no time outs.
- 3's/6's only
- Players can sub in and out at the end of each point as long as it does not slow the game down
- 6's – As a general rule we encourage 6/side teams to be mixed with at least two men and two women on each team. However this is not an absolute must.
- 1 points per set won, position then determined by points difference. If still level position determined by points scored.
Full FIVB Rules can be found at: http://www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Rules/rules.htm
No show or lateness
Please turn up at least 15mins before your fixture to pay (please have the full amount as a team), get changed, etc in plenty of time. If there is a no show or lateness then the team who turned up either gets a friendly or can use their time slot to train. The late team/no show forfeits their one game fee from their deposit and have to top up the deposit before their next game. PLEASE do not turn up late as you WILL forfeit your game, which we don't want you to do. Two forfeits in a season and the team have to show good cause why they shouldn't be removed from the competition.