VOLLEYBALL

Players:  2 teams   (plus 1x volley-stars  team - see rules below)
                6  Girls (only) team plus unlimited interchange,  
                6  Mixed (Boys or Girls) team plus unlimited interchange.
                Maximum of 10 players per team 

Match Duration:  Best of three sets of 25 points    ( To a two point advantage if required ) 
                               A point is scored everytime the ball lands out of play, including serve                  
                               FINALS:  Best of 3 sets of 20 points ( To a two point advantage if required ) 

Playing Area:  Most schools will have courts already marked on the asphalt
                           13m  x  6.5m    (18m x 9m  full size)  
                          Minimum net height 2m 

Equipment:  Molden / Regent / Buffalo soft touch / Incredi-ball.

Please note discussed and approved 8 / 12 / 09  Volleyball BDS Premiers will NOT proceed beyond district.  Schools may request to play at the next level if they believe they are ready and prepared for competition beyond district level.  Requests / entry to next level must be lodged within 24hours of the final round (7).  For more information, please refer to School Sport Victoria web site.

DISTRICT  RULES

Home team to take TOSS, visiting team to CALL to decide choice of service end or serve.

Teams CHANGE  ENDS at the end of each set.

Two  TIME  OUTS  of 30 seconds per team per half. All children should be directed to drink water regularly throughout the sport session

SUBSTITUTIONS are made through the referee and may be made at any stoppage in play.  Substitutions can only be made between the same corresponding players, or a team can rotate players on and off the court for service as long as the same rotation order is kept at all times.  Players can make unlimited interchange with the same player.

·       If an INJURY occurs, irregular subs can be made for an injury.

Starting positions and ROTATION:  At the time the ball is served, all players must be in the correct rotational order.  Front line players in front of the corresponding backline players.  The right front / back player must stand to the right of the center player and the left front / back must stand to the left of the center player.  At the start of each set the players may start a new rotational order.   Players rotate when a hand-over, on receipt of the serve.

Players must wait for the start signal: `PLAY' or whistle before serving the ball.

The following SERVICE rules apply:  Serving player may take a step inside (1.5m chalk line) or serve from any point behind the base line.  This option should be explained before commencing matches The service action must be a single clean hit (over / under arm action is permitted) made on the ball after it is released from the hand. Players shall have one service attempt.  No faults or seconds chances apply.   The server may withdraw from the serve at any stage provided there is no contact with the ball and it falls directly to the ground.  Players are not allowed to spike or block a serve. After each five points are won on the same players' serve, the team keeps possession and the service rotates to the next team member.  Any ball /  net contact during the serve is `play-on'.  There are no `lets' or replays on the serve.  Errors on the service result in hand-over of the ball / service

When playing the ball the following rules apply:
                Teams are permitted three contacts to play the ball over the net.
                The ball may touch any part of the body, as long as it is one clean contact.  (*Refer below)
                Players are not allowed to carry, lift, catch or throw the ball. 
                Players may not contact the ball on two consecutive occasions. 
                Players must endeavour to contact the ball cleanly especially on receipt of the serve. 

(*) Any part of the body may be used to strike the ball, including the foot.
BDS Coaches should focus on, and build fundamental volleyball skills by directing their students to use their hands / arms where possible.  The foot should only be used as a 'last resort'.

Players may leave their own court area to attempt to play the ball back over the net

Players are not permitted to touch the net at any time.  =  NET  CALL

Players are not permitted to step fully over the center line. (can step partially line)

Players may try to  BLOCK   the flight of the ball over the net by reaching above the net.  If the ball touches the `blockers' hand / s and continues on to their teams' side, then that team will still have three contact / hits to play the ball over the net.  Contact from an attempted block does not count at a touch.

A  HAND  OUT / POINT  is awarded on each occasion the ball goes out of play:
                service error
                ball hits the ground outside the established lines
                if the ball touches any object outside the court
                if the ball crosses the net outside or under the net

The `MERCY RULE' shall apply when a team has established a lead of 15 points or more.  Players in the leading team may have only two serves.  The leading team will maintain possession and rotate a new server into position.  The supervising referee should activate the `mercy rule'. The trailing coach should request application of the `mercy rule' if not automatically applied by the umpire / referee; however scores and play cannot be revised.  The `mercy rule' is applied and removed as required, depending on the scores.  

VOLLEY ~ STARS

Players:  9 (girls / boys / mixed) per team.  Maximum of 12 players.

Match  Duration:  Best of two sets to 15 points  (14 all > to a two point advantage if required )
                                 A point is scored everytime the ball lands out of play, including serve
                                FINALS:  Best of three sets to 15 points  (14 all > to a two point advantage if required ) 

Equipment:  Regent `soft- touch' Volleyball  or  "Gator skin"  ball
                      Court size to be negotiated - Most schools have courts pre-marked on asphalt.                     
                      Net height: 2m

DISTRICT  RULES:
Children SERVE  from 1m inside the baseline.  They may position themselves anywhere along the baseline.  The server must wait for  the umpire to signal with his / her whistle or `Play'.  An underarm action is used to hit the ball from the supporting hand. 'Handball' action is permitted in Volley-Stars.  Children must serve in turn following the established rotation / order.  After each five points are won on the same players' serve, the team keeps possession and the service rotates to the next team member.  Any ball /  net contact during the serve is `play-on'.  There are no `lets' or replays on the serve.  Errors on the service result in hand-over of the ball / service.  The loser of a set takes the serve in the next set.

Team swap ends after each set

Children are permitted to CATCH  the ball on any pass,  however they do not  have to catch the ball.  Having caught the ball, it is tossed up by same player in such a way that the same player can pass the ball legally (set the ball) to the next player or over the net.  Players are permitted to take one step only when making a play on the ball.  Players may leave their court area to attempt to play / pass the ball.  The ball must be played within 3 seconds

Teams are allowed THREE  TOUCHES  of the ball.  On or before the third touch the ball must be delivered over the net  A child who touches the ball but does not have control of the ball is deemed to have touched the ball.

All  PASSES  must be legal sets, digs or spikes.

When a  DIG  is executed the hands must not come apart.  If this occurs a HAND  OUT or POINT    is awarded.  A set should be a single touch / push at the ball.

Players are not permitted to touch the net or step over the  CENTER  LINE. If this occurs a HAND  OUT or POINT is awarded

A  HAND  OUT / POINT  is awarded on each occasion the ball goes out of play:
                service error
                ball hits the ground outside the established lines
                if the ball touches any object outside the court
               if the ball crosses the net outside or under the net

The `MERCY RULE' shall apply when a team has established a lead of 10 points or more.  Players in the leading team may have only two serves. The leading team will maintain possession and rotate a new server into position.  The supervising referee should activate the `mercy rule'. The trailing coach should request application of the `mercy rule' if not automatically applied by the umpire / referee; however scores and play cannot be revised.  The `mercy rule' is applied and removed as required, depending on the scores.