Sand & Grass Volleyball League Rules

Divisions:

• Women, Men, Open & Co-Ed (in order of difficulty) 

Skill Levels:

• A. Skilled players who understand, but may not have completely mastered the dynamics and strategies of both 5-1 or 6-2 offense. This division focuses on more position specific roles, defensive and offensive strategies and serve receive rotations. 
• Upper B: More skilled and competitive than our B division.
• B. Players who have learned the basic skills of serving, passing and making three contacts with a team strategy of defense, offense and rotations that will make them successful. (Upper and Lower B divisions are offered on some nights) 
• Lower B: Player who have some experience playing the sport and/or new to the game.
• C. Players who are relatively new to the game of officiated volleyball or in the process of learning the basic skills of accurate serving, passing, making 3 contacts, creating a consistent strategy and team environment. 

Roster Info: 

• All rosters must be completed by the third scheduled game.
• The roster must be entered by the third scheduled week of the season.
• 6 Person: Teams may register 12 players on roster / 4 players to start play 
• 4 Person: Teams may register 8 players on roster / 2 players to start play 
• 2 Person: Teams may register 6 players on roster / 2 players to start play

Forfeits: 

• If for any reason, a team fails to have the required number of players on the court by 5-minutes after the scheduled match time, a penalty of 2-points per minute will be assessed until that team is ready to play. At 20-minutes after scheduled start time, including 5-minutes grace period, the match is forfeited. 
• If during play a team becomes incomplete due to disqualification or expulsion of a player, and substitution cannot be made, the team loses the match by default.

MPRB Leagues follows USA Volleyball Beach Rules Rule highlights / exceptions / modifications listed below. 

House Rules:

• Each team is given one time-out per game.
• Regular Season: All teams receive a 5-minute warm-up with 55 minutes of playing time. 
• Tournament Play: 50 minutes of play for the best of 3 match (3rd match if necessary). 
•  Scoring 1. Rally scoring will be in effect at all levels of play, winning by two points. Three games will constitute a match with all three games counting in the standings.
• All 3 games up to 25, capped at 27
• The 3rd game will be dictated by time. The team that is ahead at the end of the time will win. 
• Referees will give teams a 5-minute warning. 
• Tournament matches (when applicable): Best of 3 games will constitute a match.
• First 2 games up to 25, capped at 27
• 3 RD game up to 15, capped at 17 (if necessary) UNLESS the match reaches the 50-minute limit. 
• The official will be aware of the time and may have to end the game due to the time limit. If time is running out, the official will cap the game (under 15 pts) and allow teams to finish to the new capped number.
• Coin toss will determine the 1st and if necessary, the 3rd game(s).
• Let serve will be in effect at all levels of play. If the served ball hits the net and goes over, it is legal to play. 

USAV Rules - Points of Emphasis:

• League follows USAV Beach Volleyball rules.
• While blocking, a player may touch the ball beyond the net, provided they do not interfere with the opponent’s play, before or during the attack-hit.
• Within the limits of the three team contacts, a player may contact a ball that has crossed the net below the net (or outside the posts) in an attempt to recover a ball that has not been contacted by the opponents.
• It is not permissible to enter another court to play a ball.
• The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a player’s body. a. An exception is allowed during the first attempt of a defensive play of a hard-driven ball (attackhit or blocked ball traveling at a high rate of speed). In which case, the ball may be contacted more than once with any part of the body in a single attempt to play the ball (i.e. double hit).
• New 2024: Second Contact Rule Change: A teams second contact attempt may touch more than one body part ONLY IF the ball remains on the same side of the net. The fault will be called if the double contacted ball crosses the net during the second or third attempt.
• Lower B and C will not be subject to double faults unless one player hits the ball consecutively (two separate attempts).
• A, Upper B, and B will be subject to double contact faults for a 2nd or 3rd contact sent over the net by a player that contacts the ball more than once with any body part.
• Players cannot touch the net.
• Players may not cross the center line/plane while the ball is in play.
• Incidental contact with an opponent is ignored, unless such contact interferes with the opponent’s opportunity to play the ball. 
• While opposing players are not required to avoid the ball or player, they cannot intentionally interfere with any legal attempt to play the ball on their court.
• If a player crosses the center line and interferes w/ an opponent during the continuation of a play, it is a fault.
• Foot fault will be enforced, while serving.
• Equipment representing possible hazards to participants will not be permitted. No hats, jewelry, exposed metal or hard unyielding plastic on braces, casts, etc. will be allowed. 
• Players with any type of cast on the arm, wrist, hand or fingers must gain approval from league director.  

MPRB Play:

Co-Ed Play: 4 person Rules 

• Co-Ed teams must have at least one woman on the court at all times. There is no maximum on the number of women on the court. Teams can have a maximum of 2 males on the court at one time.
• During the serve the ball may not be attacked by the receiving team
• It is legal to set a serve as a receiver
• No open hand tips/dinks.
• New 2024 A contact of the ball using the fingers of one or two hands to direct the ball toward a teammate is a set. A player may set the ball in any direction toward his/her team’s court. Setting over the net for any reason is not allowed and will be considered a fault.
• New 2024 When contacting the ball with one hand, other than for setting the ball toward a teammate, the ball must be cleanly hit with the heel or palm of the hand.
• There are no restrictions on player alignment. You must rotate the serve 
• All substitutions must be male-for-male or female-for-female 
• Unlimited substitutions are allowed
• Follow USAV Beach, House Rules, Ball Contact & Net Contact 

Co-Ed Play: 6 person Rules 

• Co-Ed teams consist of 3 men/3 women.
• A minimum of 4 players must be on the court to start play.
• At least two (2) women on the court at all times. A team cannot have more than three males on the court at one time. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture.
• Three hits are allowed per side and blocking is not considered one of the hits.
• When the ball is played three times by a team, a female must make one of the contacts. Contact of the ball during blocking shall not constitute playing the ball.
• USAV Rule - When only one male player is in the front line at service, one male back row player may be forward of the attack line for the purpose of blocking.
• Rotation or substitution may be used for teams with more than 6 players. 
• The method must be chosen at the beginning of the match and used for the entire match. a) When there are 3 women and 3 men on the court and odd number of players on the side women can only sub for women and men can only sub for men.
• Team members on the court must be separated by gender.
• Follow USAV Beach / House Rules, Ball Contact & Net Contact

Open Play: 6 person Rules

• Teams must have 4 players on the court to start play.
• There are no specific gender rules regarding the following:
• Ball Contact
• Serving order and/or court position
• Contact of the ball during blocking shall not constitute playing the ball.
• Follow USAV Beach / House Rules, Ball Contact & Net Contact 

Reverse Co-Ed: 4 person Rules 

• 4 v 4 competition 
• Women's net height
• No more than two male players may be on the court
• All male players are considered back row at all times and therefore may not block and cannot attack a ball completely above the height of the net from in front of the 3-meter attack line.
• New 2024 A contact of the ball using the fingers of one or two hands to direct the ball toward a teammate is a set. A player may set the ball in any direction toward his/her team’s court. Setting over the net for any reason is not allowed and will be considered a fault.
• New 2024 When contacting the ball with one hand, other than for setting the ball toward a teammate, the ball must be cleanly hit with the heel or palm of the hand.
• Female players have no blocking or attacking restrictions.
• Players must rotate the server and maintain that order throughout the game.
• Position on the court is of no consequence.
• Open hand tips are illegal.
• The 3-meter line will be marked with white paint about 16" wide on the sideline. Players may jump with their feet inside the marking, but no part of the foot may cross in front of that marking.
• Follow USAV Beach / House Rules, Ball Contact & Net Contact 

 2 Person Rules

League follows USAV Beach Volleyball rules unless stated below. 

• While blocking, a player may touch the ball beyond the net, provided they do not interfere with the opponent’s play, before or during the attack-hit. 
• Within the limits of the three team contacts, a player may contact a ball that has crossed the net below the net (or outside the posts) in an attempt to recover a ball that has not been contacted by the opponents. 
• It is not permissible to enter another court to play a ball. 
• The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a player’s body. 
• An exception is allowed during the first attempt of a defensive play of a hard-driven ball (attack hit or blocked ball traveling at a high rate of speed). In which case, the ball may be contacted more than once with any part of the body in a single attempt to play the ball (i.e. double hit). 
• New 2024: Second Contact Rule Change: A teams second contact attempt may touch more than one body part ONLY IF the ball remains on the same side of the net. The fault will be called if the double contacted ball crosses the net during the second or third attempt. A, Upper B, and B will be subject to double contact faults for a 2nd or 3rd contact sent over the net by a player that contacts the ball more than once with any body part. 
• Players cannot touch the net. 
• Players may not cross the center line/plane while the ball is in play. 
• Incidental contact with an opponent is ignored, unless such contact interferes with the opponent’s opportunity to play the ball. 9. While opposing players are not required to avoid the ball or player, they cannot intentionally interfere with any legal attempt to play the ball on their court. 
• If a player crosses the center line and interferes w/ an opponent during the continuation of a play, it is a fault. 
• Foot fault will be enforced, while serving. 
• Players with any type of cast on the arm, wrist, hand or fingers must gain approval from league director. 

GAME TIME AND SCORING 

• During play, all matches will be three (3) games with a 55-minute time limit. 
• Games are won by the team who first scores 25 points and has at least a 2-point advantage, unless the game is tied 26-26. In that case, the first team to reach 27 points is the winner within the 55-minute time limit. 3. 
• Rally scoring method will be used in every game, with a point scored on every service. 
• If a team does not have the minimum number to start on the court at the scheduled game time, the team will forfeit the first game of the match. If the team is still not ready to play in ten (10) minutes, the team will forfeit the match. 
• The team winning the toss may elect to serve, receive, or take choice of court for the first game. The team captain not calling the toss for the first game shall call the toss in the third game. After each game of the match the teams will change sides. 
• Teams will keep score verbally. The server must announce the score before every serve. Teams are responsible for keeping an accurate score and correctly recording the final score in the Team Sideline software. 

TIME-OUTS, ROSTERS & SUBSTITUTIONS 

• MPRB staff member will keep the game clock for all games. 
• There will be one time out per team per game. The length of a time out will not exceed thirty (30) seconds. 
• There are no substitution restrictions as long as one player does not occupy more than one position in the service order during a single game. Teams may do rotational substitution or one for one. 

SERVICE/CHANGE OF SERVE/CONTACTING THE BALL 

• Players are free to position themselves anywhere on the court. 
• There are no positional faults. 
• No restriction exists as to which players may participate in a block or an attack. 
• Teams must maintain a service order. 
• A player may not block a served ball. 
• During the serve the ball may not be attacked by the receiving team 
• It is legal to set a serve as a receiver. 
• The player may not enter an adjacent court before, during, or after playing the ball. 
• No open hand tips/dinks. 
• New 2024 A contact of the ball using the fingers of one or two hands to direct the ball toward a teammate is a set. A player may set the ball in any direction toward his/her team’s court. Setting over the net for any reason is not allowed and will be considered a fault.
• New 2024 When contacting the ball with one hand, other than for setting the ball toward a teammate, the ball must be cleanly hit with the heel or palm of the hand. 
• There are no restrictions on player alignment. You must rotate the serve. 
• Legal contact is a touch of the ball by a player's body above and including the waist that does not allow the ball to visibly come to rest or involve prolonged contact with a player's body. 
• A ball contacting and crossing the net shall remain in play provided contact is entirely within the net antennas. 
• OUT OF BOUNDS 
• A ball is out of bounds and becomes dead when it touches a wall or objects on a wall 
• A ball touches the floor or objects on the floor completely outside the court's boundary lines 
• A ball touches the net antennas, the net outside the antennas or does not pass over the net entirely between the antennas 
• A ball touches a non-player 
•  All players are on their honor and need to make calls on their side of the court. 
• Each serve must result in a point, side-out or replay. 
• Managers need to be responsible for their team and settle disputes. 

MPRB League Directors reserve the right to make additions and/or changes for the betterment of the program.