2D SPORTS VOLLEYBALL RULES:

SETS: A match shall consist of best two-of-three sets to 25 (no cap) & win by two unless otherwise specified by Tournament Director. A deciding 3rd set shall be 15 points (no cap) & win by two.

PRE MATCH:

• Teams may warm up on their respective side of the court before timed warm ups.
• Prior to the pre-match warm up, a coin toss shall be conducted by the match official with BOTH teams captains AND coaches in attendance.
• For the first match of the day on each court, teams may receive warm up times of 6 minutes each.
• For all subsequent matches (even if a match ends early or in forfeit), teams will receive 4 minutes each of warm up times.
• Team serving first will warm up first, followed by the receiving team.
• It is not required, but highly suggested, to help the opposing team shag errant volleyballs during the their warm up time. This encourages safety between courts and helps keep games on pace.
• Teams are allowed, but not required, to shake hands at the net after the match official(s) beckons the starting whistle.

DURING MATCH:

• The match official(s) shall conduct the game and be in charge of the flow of the game & all calls on the court with the help of the line judges.
• All sets (besides the deciding set) are played to 25 (no cap); the deciding set shall be played to 15 (no cap). All sets must win by two. (Unless special Pool Play procedures are in place).
  • EXCEPTION: Pools with 3 teams will play 3 sets to 25 points, regardless of the first 2 set results.
• Teams are allowed 2 timeouts per set, including the deciding set. Timeouts are 30 seconds.
• A team is allowed to film live action given that the filming equipment does not interfere with the playable area and nearby spectators.
• Teams WILL NOT switch benches between sets or during the deciding set. If the match official(s) deem there is an unfair advantage given, they will discuss and agree upon switching benches at the pre-match conference.

POST MATCH:

• Teams are allowed, but not required, to shake hands after the conclusion of the game.
• After the conclusion of the game, we highly recommend coaches and players to conduct post-game meetings outside of the playing court so that following games may stay on pace and the next teams can have adequate room to warm up.

The court dimensions shall be 60 feet long and 30 feet wide, measured to the outer edge of the boundary lines. Court markings shall be clearly visible with no tear. Please alert a Tournament Director if court marking are damaged/not visible.

OVERHEAD OBSTRUCTIONS:

Each facility and venue is different in size, shape, and complexity. This may result in obscure overhead objects that may affect play.

• Any overhead object ruling will be at the discretion of the match official(s).
• This judgment call cannot be challenged by a coach. An unsporting conduct penalty may be assessed for arguing a judgment call.

NET HEIGHT:

The net shall be at least 31’ 6” to 33 feet in length when stretched. Nets shall be taught in stiffness and antennas shall be properly straightened and aligned.

A game ball will provided for each court. Teams will need to supply their own warm-up balls.

• Match official(s) shall check each game ball for:
  • Spherical ball with a laceless molded cover with rectangular-shaped panels of equal size and genuine or simulated smooth leather.
  • All panels of the ball shall be solid white or a maximum combination of three colors (each panel being a solid color), and at least one-third of the panels shall be solid white.
  • It shall measure 4.3-4.6 PSI

SCORING SHEETS & SCOREBOARD: 

A third team shall be designated to R2, scoring & libero tracking for each match. It is advised for each team to have a designated person also scoring in case a dispute occurs.

TEAM BENCHES:

Facilities and venues will vary with the amount of seating and benches available for fans and players. Players may stand on the sideline as long as they are at the end of the bench.

When facing a situation where no team benches are available, please be mindful of surroundings and stand no closer than 6 feet from the sideline opposite the first referee. Please be mindful of the match official(s) judgment when helping keep players away from the playing area.

LEGAL EQUIPMENT

The playing uniform consists of a jersey plus shorts/briefs/spandex, pants or culottes (one- or two-piece). Gym shoes are a required equipment.

PLAYER UNIFORMS:

• With the exception of the libero, teammates’ uniform top shall be like-colored and uniform bottoms shall be like-colored.
• Uniforms must be numbers 1-99, 0 & 00 is not a valid number combination.
• Uniforms shall be free of hard & unyieldings items (buttons, zippers, snaps, fasteners, etc.)
• Players are highly encouraged to wear knee pads and any supporting braces on the knees and ankles in order to prevent injury/re-injury. Unless altered from the manufacturer’s original design/production, these items do not require additional padding.

LIBERO UNIFORM:

• Libero uniform top must clearly contrast from the predominant color(s) of the team uniform top, excluding trim. The libero’s uniform top cannot be made solely of the same predominant color(s) of the team’s uniform top, even if the like color(s) are placed differently on the uniform top.

ILLEGAL EQUIPMENT

Safety

• It is illegal to wear any object that may cause an injury or give an artificial advantage to the player, including, but not limited to, headgear, jewelry, and unsafe casts or braces. An exception is made for religious medallions or medical identifications. Such medallions or medical identifications must be removed from chains and taped or sewn under the uniform.
• A guard, cast, or brace made of hard and unyielding leather, plaster, pliable plastic, metal or any other hard substance shall not be worn on the hand, finger, wrist or forearm, even though covered with soft padding
• Hard and unyielding items (guards, casts, braces, etc.) on the elbow, upper arm, or shoulder shall be padded with a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less that ½ inch thick. An elbow brace shall not extend more than halfway down the forearm.

Jewelry

• All jewelry must be removed except small secured jewelry (stud or posts). No jewelry will be allowed below the chin and no hoop earrings are allowed. This rule has been adopted by the NCAA, and is highly encouraged to be passed down to lower levels.
• String bracelets, commemorative bracelets, and any body jewelry are considered illegal jewelry and are not permitted.
• Taping over other jewelry is not permitted.

Headgear

• Hair-control devices and other adornments in the hair must be securely fastened and do not present increased risk to player, teammates, and opponents. Hair barrettes are permitted as a means of securing the hair; it is not necessary that the barrette be taped.
• Claw clips & banana clips are not permitted.
• A headband, head tiebacks or bandana worn as a sweatband is permitted; however, hats and other obscure headbands/bandanas are not permitted.
• Braided hair with beads must be secured so as not to present a safety hazard to the player, teammates, or opponents. If the beads are not secured, the team member may not play.

A team shall consist of minimum six (6) players (no more than fifteen (15) on roster) to begin the first set of the match. If a team has fewer than five (5) players to begin the match, a forfeit shall be declared unless Tournament Director discretion says otherwise.

• If a team has five (5) eligible players to start the match, the match shall be played with a loss of rally point being given to the opposing team when the 6th server is set to serve.
• If a team has fewer than six (6) eligible players due to illness or injury after the start of a match, it shall continue play with discretion of loss of rally points given to the match officials.

The roster must be set and verified before a team’s first set of the tournament. No additions may be made to a team’s lineup after the first set of play on the weekend.

• No player may play on 2 different teams in the same event under any circumstances as this will result in a team forfeit for both teams.

Captain:

• A playing captain shall be designated by each team, and this is the only player who may communicate with the match referee(s). If this player is replaced by a substitute, the coach shall designate a player as captain who shall remain as such until substituted for or until the original playing captain returns to the set.
• During a dead ball, a captain may request a timeout, verification of time-outs used, and verification of own team’s serving order.

Net:

Contact with the net or antenna by a player is not a fault, unless it is made during an action of playing the ball, or it interferes with the play. Playing the ball may include actions in which the player(s) does not actually touch the ball.

• If the ball is driven into the net with such force that it causes the net or antenna to contact a player, no fault is committed.
• It is not a fault if a player’s hair contacts the net.

Center Line:

Encroachment into the opponent’s side of the court with the foot, feet or hand(s) is permitted, provided some part of the encroaching extremity remains in contact with or directly above the center line, and there is no interference with the opponent. It is not a fault if any part of the body crosses the center line.

• A ball will be considered OUT if it completely crosses the center line extended outside of the antenna. A ball may NOT be played outside the antenna in the opponent’s free zone on any number attempts (no running around pole/under outside of net to other side to save a ball)

Double Contact:

Double contact is a judgment call in volleyball in which a player (typically the setter) contact’s the ball twice in one attempt. Judgment calls are to the discretion of the match referee(s) and MAY NOT be disputed by a coach or captain – no exceptions.

• Spin DOES NOT mean double contact.
• Double contact may only happen on the second or third hit. There is no double contact on first contact.
• Double contact can be called on any player. Match referee(s) will not give leeway for non-setters, third hits, or on set points.
• This is a judgement call. No judgement calls may be argued with the match official(s). An unsporting conduct card may be issued for arguing a judgement call.

Serve:

• After a dead ball, the first official (R1) will beckon for the next serve when ready for play.
• Serving rules per age group:
  • 14u & Under:
    • The server will receive 5 seconds to serve the ball. 
    • A server will only be allowed one re-serve per service rotation.
  • 15u & Older:
    • The server will receive 8 seconds to serve the ball.
    • A server will NOT be allowed a re-serve at any point during their service rotation.
• A tossed ball that contacts a backboard or any supports hanging in a vertical positions over the serving area is an illegal serve and not eligible for re-serve.
• A re-serve is considered to be a part of a single attempt to serve. Therefore, after the first referee’s signal for service, no requests for time outs, service order, lineup, substitutions, libero replacement, etc. may be recognized until after the ball has been served.

During Play:

• A back row attack is when one of three back row players contacts the ball. A back row attack is considered illegal when a back row player attacks the ball completely above the height of the net and the player’s last contact with the floor was on or in front of the ten foot line and its extension.
• A replay is considered to be a port of a single play action. Therefore, after the first referee’s signal for service, no requests for time outs, service order, lineup, substitutions, libero replacement, etc. may be recognized until after the ball has been served.

Substitutions:

• A team is allowed maximum twelve (12) substitutions per set, including the deciding set, not counting libero replacements.
• A libero may only serve in one serving spot per serving order.
• Please be mindful of working teams by assisting with showing numbers to scoring table & waiting for the R2 to release you into the court.

Developmental Rules are in place in spirit of the game. Coaches, parents, & fans should be weary of the process players are going through to learn the game of volleyball the correct way in the safest way possible. 2D Sports’ goal is to develop and grow the game of volleyball for all ages and genders. These rules will be enforced on a tournament-by-tournament basis and will be clearly stated by the Tournament Director.

Serve

• To encourage development of all players, 2D Sports will be implementing a ‘5 Serve Rule’ where a player will give up their serve after 5 serves in a row, even without service being broken. The serving team will rotate and the next player in rotation will serve. This will help develop players’ serving & serve receive skills without having one player takeover the game.

Substitutions

• Substitutions are unlimited, and if possible, should be done as close to the normal substitutions rules & procedures as possible (inside 10ft line and wait for R2 whistle). Coaches – please take the time to show players how to properly substitute.

Ball Handling Faults

• Prolonged contact and double contact should be given leniency during rallying.

Net Play

• Players may not touch the net, unless the ball drives the net into them. The most common injury in volleyball occurs during play at the net. Emphasis will be given on teaching players how to be aggressive at the net while also being safe from injury.

Seeding and Tie Breaker Rules:

1. Pool play overall match record (match percentage)
2. If two teams are tied – Head to Head winner. If neither team played each other, go to #4
3. If three teams are tied – If one team has defeated both other teams, that team will be ranked higher. If one team lost to both other two teams, that team will be ranked lowest. If not go to #4
4. Pool play overall set record (set percentage)
5. Sets Won in Pool Play
6. Sets Lost in Pool Play
7. Points Scored in Pool Play
8. Points Allowed in Pool Play
9. If still tied – Points scored by tally until one team score more points than the other team at any given time.
10. If still tied – Coin flip

Second place teams will always be taken ahead of 3rd place teams for wild cards, 3rd place ahead of 4th place, etc.

FORFEIT:

Any forfeit in pool play will result in the forfeiting team being placed as the last seed in the tournament.

The tournament committee will rule on all forfeits. No team should benefit from the result of a forfeit in an unfair manner. This rule could result in a dispute and the tournament committee reserves the right to look at and rule in the fairest possible way. The committee’s decision will be final.

It is the coaches’ decision if he/she wants to protest a ruling during a game. The official rules of protesting a game must be adhered to for the protest to be considered. A coach/team cannot protest based on an official’s judgment call.

The Tournament Director and/or the Head Official will make the final decision on a protest.

2D Sports ‘Back the Officials’ policies:

(1) Zero tolerance policy on verbal and physical abuse of the match officials; including profanity or consistent berating of officials during the game 

(2) Zero tolerance policy on verbal and physical abuse/altercations with opposing coaches and fans; including profanity or consistent verbal altercations throughout the game

(3) Zero tolerance policy on verbal and physical abuse of event staff; including facility workers, directors, and event staff

In the event of an altercation:

1.  One warning will be issued by match official(s) and/or director
2.  If behavior continues, fan will be ejected along with the head coach of the team

(4) Zero tolerance policy on excessive ejections of coaches from games.

In the event of a coach ejection:

1.  The director and official will review the ejection; if deemed excessive, the coach will be suspended a minimum of 1 game (at the discretion of the director)

Insurance bought by 2D Sports Volleyball to host tournaments will cover all teams, players, spectators, officials, etc. It is NOT REQUIRED and will be at NO EXTRA COSTS for clubs/teams to play in a 2D Sports Volleyball tournament if they have insurance under USAV/AAU/JVA. You WILL NOT need to purchase a new insurance policy for your club/teams if you play in a 2D Sports Volleyball tournament.

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Cancellation Policy:

If a coach/manager removes his team less than 1-week prior to a tournament, that team forfeits the full tournament entry fee.

Inclement Weather Procedure:

In the event of inclement weather, an email and/or text message will be sent to the contact submitted online of each participating team; updated information will be posted on volleyball.2dsports.org and the mobile app regarding any changes in schedule.

Refund Policy:

After a team has played one complete game, there will not be a refund/credit. If the tournament is canceled (or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances) and no games are played, the team will get a full credit towards a future event.