VOLLEY TENNIS RULES

THE GAME: The game is played on a tennis court with 2 teams of 5 to 6 players. Teams always rotate clockwise. There are three front players and two or three back players who are positioned on the right, center and left of the court. OBJECT OF THE GAME: The object of the game is to hit the ball back and forth over net. The players on each team try to prevent the ball from becoming dead within their own half of the court and also try to hit the ball so that their opponents can not return it. Each team has a maximum of 3 hits per side. There is a one bounce minimum in between hits. SERVICE: The server is the right back player who stands with both feet behind the end line and hits the ball to the center forward. The server can either hit the ball out of their hand or bounce the ball first on the ground when serving. The ball must bounce once before the center forward player hits it over the net. The ball can not bounce over the net without being hit by the center forward or touch the net. SCORING: Each rally is worth 1 point (you do not have to be the serving team to score). The server must call out the score before each serve, calling their score first and then the other teams score. An offical game shall be decided when one team reaches the score of 15 with a 2 point lead. RULES: 1) No player may reach over or touch the net at any time. 2) A ball in play may only bounce once between players inside the court. 3) No more than 3 contacts per team are allowed on one side of the net per rally. 4) No player may contact the ball twice in a row. 5) The ball may be played from the knee up. 6) A ball striking the net and going over is still in play except on the serve. 7) The ball may be played when any part of it has passed over the net. 8) The ball may be played off the net as long as the person does not touch the net. 9) A ball landing on the lines is considered “good” or in bounds. FOULS: A foul causes the ball to be declared DEAD. A ball is DEAD when: 1) It is played a fourth time on one side of the net. 2) It touches the net on the serve. 3) It touches the posts outside of the court. 4) It goes outside the court (OUT-OF-BOUNDS). 5) It is touched twice in a row by one player. 6) It hits a player on or below the knee. 7) It is caught, held, juggled or thrown. 8) It bounces more than once inside the court without being played upon. 9) A player reaches over the net or touches the net. 10) The ball is returned on the first hit (minimum of 2 hits). FOULS/PENALTIES: Failure to rotate properly, serving out of turn, or serving with shirt not tucked in results in a penalty. The side commiting the foul, if serving, loses the serve (SIDE-OUT). The serving team recieves 1 point if the opponent commits a penalty.