23 August 2005
Version 4.3

LMRA Indoor Volleyball Rules

These rules are intended to supplement and clarify the United States Volleyball Association rulebook as it pertains to indoor volleyball league play at LMRA.  These rules will undergo periodic amendments to clarify interpretation.

1.0 General

A team roster will be submitted to the indoor volleyball director prior to the first league game.  The team captain or designated alternate is required to maintain the roster and provide updates to the indoor volleyball director.

All roster changes must be submitted to the director in writing with all applicable information on a copy of the original roster.  A player may be added or dropped through the midpoint of the season.

The LMRA volleyball commissioner will be the final authority on all issues pertaining to the LMRA volleyball leagues.  Written appeals may be directed to the LMRA Employee's Council.

2.0 Player Eligibility

Play in LMRA indoor volleyball leagues is open to all Lockheed employees, Affiliates and their eligible dependents as defined by the LMRA By-laws.  All league participants must possess a valid Volleyball Activity card to participate in the leagues.

Guest players are currently permitted in all leagues.  All guest players must possess a valid Volleyball Activity card to participate in the leagues.

A female player may compete in a Men's league only if a Women's league is not available at their playing level.

A player may participate in games for only one team of a particular league each season.  Anyone found to have violated this rule will be subject to a one year suspension from league play with no reimbursement of fees paid.

The designated team captain is responsible for verifying that his/her players are volleyball activity members.  Any games played by an ineligible player will be subject to forfeiture.

A team may request a verification of opposing team member eligibility by requesting a LMRA Volleyball Activity card and a picture ID.  Then, for official roster information, contact the LMRA volleyball commissioner.

3.0 Match Rules

A legal team constitutes at least 5 players for COED league with no more than 3 male players.
A legal team constitutes at least 3 players for QUAD league with no restrictions relating to gender.

A match shall consist of three rally score games to 25 points or a 2-point winning margin thereafter.  There is no time limit imposed on games.
Rally Scoring - If the serving team wins the rally, it scores a point and continues to serve.  If the receiving team wins the rally, it scores a point and gains the right to serve.

First game forfeiture will occur if the opposing team is not ready to play with a legal team at the scheduled match time.  Second game forfeiture will occur 10 minutes past the scheduled match time and third game forfeiture 20 minutes past.

The players will agree on the ball to be used during play.  If players cannot decide on a ball prior to match time, it is the referee's prerogative to select.

A 5-minute warm-up time will be allotted prior to the first game of a match.  No warming up with a ball in the court vicinity will be permitted while a match is in progress.

At the conclusion of a match, both teams are responsible for verifying the game scores were recorded accurately.

* COED Only *
If a team chooses to play with only five players consisting of three males and two females, the team shall establish the open court position as a 'ghost' player.  This position will be maintained throughout the court rotation and all the normal rules apply with the exception of service.  A double rotation will occur when the 'ghost' position is up for service.

The lineup has to be man/woman/man/woman/man/woman, with an exception for the 'ghost' player mentioned above.

A libero can only sub for a player of the same gender.
 

4.0 Officials

At least two officials are to be provided by the team designated to referee the match.

One official shall act as the head referee and is the final authority on all decisions regarding the match.

Should the referee judge that he/she has made a call by mistake, thereby interrupting play, the point shall be replayed.

When the ball is dead, the team captain (only) may ask for explanations regarding the referee's call.

The scheduled team failing to show up to referee or not providing the minimum number of referees will be penalized one loss for each game that there are an insufficient number of referees.

5.0 Service

To commence play, the referee will toss a coin with the winner granted choice of side or first service for the first game.  The teams shall alternate side and service on subsequent games in league play.  At the start of the game, the receiving team must rotate one position prior to service.

It is the opposing team's responsibility to ensure the correct server is about to serve.  An incorrect server will result in a side out for that service.  It is not retroactive on previously scored points by the incorrect server.

Service Zone:  The service area includes the full width of the 9-meter area behind the end line.

Net Serve:  A serve that contacts the net and lands in the court of the receiving team or is contacted by a member of the receiving team is legal.

***  See the USA Volleyball rulebook for specific playing rules  ***

6.0 Ball Contact

A ball shall remain in play if it contacts the ceiling or other overhead objects above the playing area.  The ball is out of play if it makes contact above the team’s playing area and crosses the plane of the net into the opponent’s court.

The ball may touch any part of the body, provided that the contact takes place simultaneously.  The ball must be hit, not caught or thrown.

A double hit on the first ball is allowed as long as it is one attempt to play the ball.  A held or lifted ball is still illegal, no matter when it occurs.

A player is not allowed to attack the ball on the opponent’s side of the net.  However, if the ball is contacted above the attacker’s side of the net and the follow through caused the attacker’s hand and arm to cross the net, without touching an opponent or the net, such action does not constitute a fault.

Blocking is the action, which occurs close to the net, that deflects the ball coming from the opponent’s side.  This deflection may occur by contact with the ball before it crosses the net, as it crosses the net, or immediately after it has crossed the net.

* COED Only *
If two or more team contacts are made, a female player must have made one ball contact.

* QUADS Only *
Open hand dinks are not legal.
Oversets are not legal.  (The ball can be handset over the net on the third hit only)

***  See the USA Volleyball rulebook for specific playing rules  ***

7.0 Net Play

Contacting the opponent’s team court with any part of the body except feet is a fault.  Touching the opponent’s team court with a foot or feet is not a fault, providing some part of the encroaching foot or feet remain on or above the centerline.

It is a fault to touch any part of the net or the antennas, except for incidental contact by a player’s hair and insignificant contact by a player not involved in the action of playing the ball.

* COED Only *
When only one male player is on the front row, a male player from the back row may assist in blocking but may not attack the ball (as in a spike) forward of the attack line.

***  See the USA Volleyball rulebook for specific playing rules  ***

8.0 Player Conduct

The referee shall have the power to impose a penalty (side out or point) to an offending player who:


Two such instances of this conduct by the same player in a single game will result in ejection for the remainder of the game. The LMRA volleyball commissioner shall use input from the head referee to determine suitable action.

Continuous infractions (not necessarily all on the same night) may result in any of the following actions:


Physical contact with the intent to harm any referee, league participant, or member of LMRA staff shall result in immediate disqualification of at least one year from all LMRA Volleyball activities (indoor, grass, and sand events).

9.0 Playoffs

Playoff eligibility is based on the team's winning percentage at the conclusion of regular season play.  The indoor director will resolve ties in a fair and equitable manner.

The indoor director will determine the number of teams to qualify from the respective leagues.

A player must have competed in at least one regular season match to be eligible for the playoffs.

Provided there are prizes for playoffs, only playoff participants are eligible to receive prizes (i.e., prizes are not automatically awarded to everyone on the roster).

Playoff matches will consist of best two-out-of-three rally score games to 25 points.  A coin flip will be utilized in deciding the serving team if a third game is necessary.