Water Volleyball Rules

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OVERVIEW:

Water volleyball (not to be confused with water polo) is a fun oriented, team sport that is played in a shallow swimming pool; therefore, swimming proficiency is NOT required. The rules are very similar to indoor volleyball, but have been modified to accommodate our ages and physical ability. The objective of the BGCC Summer Games is to have a fun and friendly competition with the emphasis on participation. Water volleyball is open to men and women of all ages.

ORGANIZATION:

Water Volleyball Sport Captain Alex Lindsay Water Volleyball Condo 1 Captain John Lind Water Volleyball Condo 2 Captain Dave Farlow Water Volleyball Condo 3 Captain Olly Smolak Water Volleyball Condo 4 Captain Ian Innes Water Volleyball Condo 5 Captain Kathy Billington

PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Please note that there have been some significant changes for 2019 compared to 2017. These are highlighted in Yellow.

To be eligible to play, all players must have registered to play and paid their fees. The Condo Water Volleyball Captain must inform the Water Volleyball Sport Captain of any new players prior to the first game of the Preliminary Round. Once play has started, the eligible players list is frozen.

All teams will play in a round robin set of matches, playing one match against each of the other condo teams. All matches will be a best 2 of 3 games competition with no time limit. A coin flip will determine the choice of court end. A volley (three times over the net) will determine the serving team. In the second game, the teams will change ends and the winner of the first game will retain the serve. If a third game is required, the teams will change ends and the winner of the second game will retain the serve. The teams will change ends again in the third and final game when either team reaches 11 points.

All games are won by the first team to reach 21 points (2-point differential not required).

If a team is not ready to begin play by 5 minutes after the scheduled game time, the team will be considered in default and the team that is ready to play will be awarded the game with a score of 21-14. After 10 minutes, the match will be defaulted with the winning team registering two 21-14 wins.

PRELIMINARY ROUND FINAL STANDINGS & TIE BREAKING PROCEDURE:

At the end of the Preliminary Round matches, the final standings will be compiled and the team standings will determine team placement in the Medal Round.

Ties between two teams will be broken using the following procedure: 1. Head to head record between the teams.

Ties between three or more teams will be broken using the following procedure: 1. Head to head record between the teams, and if still tied, 2. Least points allowed in the head to head games, and if still tied, 3. Least points allowed in the round robin games, and if still tied, Note: In calculating “Least Points Allowed” in 2 and 3 above, if a team has been awarded an artificial score of 14 points under a default scenario, these will be counted as “zero”. 4. Special tie breaking games to 11 points (2-point differential not required), and if still tied, Note: These games will only be played if there is a significant impact on the Medal Round (i.e. placement in either the gold/silver medal game or the bronze medal game). If there is no significant impact, coin flip rounds will continue until the ties are broken. 5. Least points allowed in the special tie breaking games, and if still tied, 6. Coin flip rounds will continue until the ties are broken.

MEDAL ROUND:

To compete in the Medal Round, all players must have registered to play, paid their fees, be on the condo water volleyball team list, and have played in at least one complete Preliminary Round match. The Condo Water Volleyball Captain must inform the Water Volleyball Sport Captain of the eligible players prior to the first Medal Round game. The top four teams will proceed to the Medal Round. The top two teams will play for the gold and silver medals. The third and fourth place teams will play each other with the winner receiving bronze medals.

All Medal Round matches will be a best 2 of 3 games competition with no time limit. A coin flip will determine the choice of court end. A volley (three times over the net) will determine the serving team. In the second game, the teams will change ends and the winner of the first game will retain the serve. If a third game is required, the teams will

change ends and the winner of the second game will retain the serve. The teams will change ends again in the third and final game when one team reaches 11 points. Games are won by the team reaching 21 points first (2-point differential not required).

Only teams who have used eligible players may receive medals. If an ineligible player is later discovered to have played, the offending team(s) will be dropped to last place and out of the medals. The other teams will move up one place in the standings. All eligible players on a medal team will receive medals as long as they have played in at least one complete match.

RULES OF PLAY:

1. The focus is on fun and participation so all players on a team will play on an equal and rotating basis. Once the rotation is set, players may not change positions during a game. Note: A shuffling of the rotation of players is possible prior to the start of the second and/or third game(s), following an approved timeout or a suspended game.

2. Each team must have a minimum of 6 players and may have a maximum of 12 players in the water at any time. Players may be arranged in 2 or 3 rows with a maximum of 4 players in a row. There is no limit to the number of substitutes.

Players arriving after the start of a game may be added to a team which has fewer than 12 players (in the water), during a service change, when the team has or regains the serve. The additional player will enter the line-up such that the player becomes the setter on the next rotation. Where a team has more than 12 players, substitutions are permitted and the player coming on will take the position of the player coming off.

3. If a team is below the minimum, it will default the match, losing two games of 21-14. In order to play the match for fun, the team with the greater number will donate a sufficient number of players to bring the opposing team up to the minimum, or more.

4. The net and water are considered part of the playable area. The net poles and ropes, pool side tops, back boundary line and floats, deck, and ceiling are considered out of bounds. A ball touching a side boundary wall is considered in. Players may not leave the pool (water) and re-enter during the point.

5. During a service change, the serving team with 3 rows will change positions in a reverse “S” rotation with the person at the back right moving to the front left position. The serving team with 2 rows will rotate in a reverse “C” with the person at the back left moving to the front left position.

6. The setter is located at the front left position, at the net, and sets up the ball to the team mate to his immediate right, using a two handed, overhead set or “lob”. The team mate then attempts, using two hands, to serve the ball by hitting it over the net,

in an arching trajectory, to the opposing team. This team mate may not spike nor tip the ball over the net. The setter and server must not begin until instructed, by the Referee, to do so. Failure to wait for the Referee’s signal results in a failed serve and loss of a rally.

7. A legal serve must travel over the net and land in the playable area. A let serve is legal and in play.

8. A team may take a maximum of three hits to return the ball over the net. No player may contact the ball twice in succession. No player may contact the net in playing the ball. No player may cross the vertical plane of the net in blocking or returning the ball.

9. Balls played over the net may not be “spiked” – a hit with such force that it is unreturnable. (Balls of this nature may cause an injury to the opposing team player.) The Referee will determine, at his sole discretion, whether a ball has been spiked.

10. Points are awarded only if the serving team wins the rally.

11. After the non-serving team wins a rally, a “side out" is called and the serve passes to the previously non-serving team.

12. A rally is won when: a. a serve that lands in the opponent’s playing area (water), b. a serve that goes into or under the net or lands out of bounds, c. an illegal serve (server improperly positioned, fails to wait for the Referee’s signal, or fails to serve within 5 seconds), d. a ball that is not returned to the opponent’s area within three legal hits, e. an illegal hit (catching or throwing the ball, touching the net, crossing the vertical plane of the net in the process of hitting the ball, 2 consecutive contacts by the same player, spiking). Note: 12a would result in a point to the serving team; 12b and 12c would result in a service change; 12d and 12e would result in a point being awarded to the service team if the opposing team performs these actions; else a change of service if performed by the serving team.

13. A team may only score three consecutive points. After three consecutive points are scored, the serve automatically passes to the opposing team.

14. If a team is behind by 5 or more points at the time they assume serving, the 5-point rule comes in effect. This will be announced by the referee. The 5-point rule allows for a second (new) setter to commence setting for that team assuming that the team is still 5 or more points behind at the time when the serve would otherwise pass to the other team; thus providing the losing team with an opportunity to win a further three points. The 5-point rule only allows for a maximum of two setters. There is no other “mercy” rule! Example #1: if a team regains the serve when the score is 6 – 13, with the difference being greater than 5 points, the referee would announce that the 5-point rule is in effect. Should the (first) setter win two or less rallies (points) before losing a rally, the team will still be behind by 5 or more points. At this time, the losing team will rotate its players and a second setter from that team will be able to serve attempting to win up to a further 3 points.

Example #2: However, if the score is 8 – 13, say, on assuming service with its (first) setter, with the difference is exactly 5 points, the referee would announce that the 5-point rule is in effect. Should the team win a point or more before losing the rally or wins 3 points in a row, the team is no longer be behind by 5 or more points and accordingly the use of the second setter will not become into play. It is recognized that the introduction of the 5-point rule may change the outcome of the game!

15. An injured player must leave the game and seek medical attention. The player may return at the discretion of the Referee. If a team falls below the player minimum and has no spares, a 10-minute time-out will be called by the Referee. If the injured player or a substitute is unable to return within the 10-minute time-out, the opposing team may, at its option, loan a player. Otherwise, after the 10-minute time-out, the injured player’s team will be in default of the game. After an additional 5 minutes, the match will be defaulted.

16. If there is blood in the water and the amount is small, the Referee will consult the captains and the game will continue if all agree to do so. If the amount of blood is moderate to large, the game will be suspended until the pool has been shocked and one hour has passed. At this point, the game and match will continue from the point at which it was suspended. If time does not permit play to continue, the game/match will be rescheduled by the Water Volleyball Sport Captain and the game/match will continue from the point at which it was suspended.

17. Players shall act in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. Unsportsmanlike conduct (e.g. screening, interference, insulting language, gestures, actions, or words, arguing, disruptive play) will be dealt with by the Referee in the following manner: • On the first infraction, the team will receive a warning • On the second infraction, the team will lose 1 point • On the third infraction, the team will lose 3 points • On the fourth infraction, the team will lose the game by default. Continued disruption may result in a match disqualification and further penalties assessed by the Water Volleyball Sport Captain.

18. The Referee is the final authority on all rules and disputed calls during play. The Referee will decide if the rally will be replayed or not on a disputed call. Only the Condo Water Volleyball Captain may communicate with the Referee. Once play has resumed, a call may no longer be disputed. The Referee, at his discretion, may involve the captain(s) in a discussion. Once a game has been completed, no appeals will be allowed for a disputed game.

19. If a game is forfeited before or after play has begun, the non-forfeiting team wins by a score of 21-14.

20. If an ineligible player is later discovered to have played, those games and matches will be forfeited and the opposing team declared the winner of the games (score of 21-14) and the matches.

21. Once the game or match is completed, protests are not allowed and the ruling of the Referee and the scores are considered as final.

22. Timeouts: a. The Referee may grant a timeout whenever, in the opinion of the Referee, there is a valid reason for a timeout. The timeout will be limited to ten minutes (maximum) or less as deemed necessary by the Referee. If, in the opinion of the Referee, the game is being intentionally delayed without sufficient or valid reason, the Referee will give a warning. If play is not resumed immediately, the delaying team will forfeit the game/match. b. In the event of unforeseen delays not caused by either team, the Referee will confer with the two Captains and the Referee will decide if play should continue after a reasonable time delay, or if the game should be suspended and the remainder of the game/match rescheduled by the Water Volleyball Sport Captain.

23. Only the Water Volleyball Sport Captain may reschedule games/matches. Games/matches will be rescheduled only for valid reasons as determined by the Water Volleyball Sport Captain. All rescheduled games/matches must be played during the designated dates/times for rescheduled games/matches.