Sand Volleyball Rules and Regulations

Facility Guidelines

• No outside alcohol or pets are permitted within the facility.

• Water bottles are allowed, but they must be empty upon entry. Players may refill bottles at the bar or the designated water cooler.

Tournament and Team Participation

• A team will become ineligible to participate in the tournament if they have two or more instances of a no-call, no-show.

• If a team needs to forfeit a match, they must notify the group chat with the captains in advance.

Referee Guidelines

• Referee compensation: $15 per game.

• Positioning: Referees must officiate from the designated stand during gameplay—officiating from the sideline is not permitted.

General Rules

• 1 Game consisting of 3 sets, 21,21(23 Cap), 15(17 Cap)

• No cap during tiebreaker set during tournaments ONLY

• Aggressive jump serving is not allowed in any Co-Ed Leagues, a floating jump serve is allowed.

• Support poles for net act as the antennas unless antennas are up, balls must be completely inside the posts to be in play 

• A female must play the ball if a team contacts the ball more than one time during an offensive action  (Co-Ed 6's)

• Pursuit of the ball across the court past the centerline is NOT allowed

• Penetration under the net is allowed provided you DO NOT touch/interfere with your opponent

• Teams have a five-minute grace period for each set before a forfeit.

• Double contacts will be enforced on all setting motions including sets sent over the net. D leagues doubles are not enforced.

• You must rotate position on first possession of ball

• Hand setting judgment for Refs

Did the ball come in on one contact, and did it leave on one contact? 

YES = Good set. No = Bad set. 

Did it come to a complete stop? Yes = the ball was carried.

If the ball has spin on it that does not mean it is a double.

• On Tournament Nights subs will be allowed to play as long as sub has played one game of league play. No new subs are allowed for tournaments. If your team does not have at least half of the regular roster players for the tournament, your team will need to forfeit. Players can only play on one team during tournament nights per court. The team you start with will be the team you finish with.

• No stacking teams for tournament play.

• If you are an upper player playing in a lower level you must play down or will be asked to step off the court.

• Women may play in the Men's league (No guy rule)

• Men cannot play in any Women's league

League Specific Rules

6’s

• Minimum of 4 players with no more than 3 guys and no less than 2 girls (4 girls minimum for women’s)

Quads

• No open hand tipping using “Fingertip Action”, Double Contacts are only permitted when a ball is hard driven with a downward trajectory or there is a short reaction time

• It is legal to receive a serve or free ball with open hands. It will be judged as a handset and should be very clean.

• Blocks do not count as a touch

• Rotating is not necessary except for service

• All players are considered front row, Middle back can come to the net and hit

• Teams may play with minimum 2, maximum 4 players, 2 girl minimum (Co-Ed)

• A female does not have to make contact with the ball if ball is touched more than once in an offensive play.

Reverse Quads

• 2 females and 2 males are required to play. No substitutions

• Net height is standard women’s net height.

• Men can only attack out of the back row, behind the 10 ft line. 

• Men are not permitted to block. 

• Players do not need to follow any rotation; teams only need to keep a consistent serving order.

• No finger action / tips over the net, unless redirecting on a block. If not attacking, the send over the net must be a bump, closed fist / knuckle, or a set over where the ball is pushed in a straight line (i.e., sets must travel perpendicular to the setter’s shoulders).

• Any combination of players may contact the ball, no girl rule

• Due to the lower net height, jump topspin serves by male players are not allowed and are a service fault. Jump floats are allowed. 

Doubles

• No open hand tipping using “Fingertip Action”

• Double Contacts are only permitted when a ball is hard driven with a downward trajectory or there is a short reaction time 

• It is legal to receive a serve or free ball with open hands. It will be judged as a handset and should be very clean

• Guy rule will be enforced (C Co-Ed) Guys must serve guys

• No aggressive jump serving (C Co-Ed only)

• Blocks count as first touch

If there is any question concerning Rules or Referees judgment, 

please contact Gordon Judd at (502) 909-7989