Intermediate (B) Volleyball Rules

Intermediate Volleyball League: Rules & Guidelines

1. Overview & Philosophy

Intermediate-level play emphasizes solid skill execution, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The strategic focus is on making three controlled hits per side to set up plays. Good, fair play is paramount.

2. Team Composition & Eligibility

• •    Roster Size: 5 to 8 registered players.

  •    Skill Mix: Teams may have any combination of Rec-Beginner, Intermediate B, and Intermediate Plus players, with a maximum of 2 Rec-Beginner players.

  •     Excess Rec-Beginner Players: A team with more than 2 Rec-Beginner players will be moved to the Rec-Beginner division.

  •     Playing Up: Rec-Beginner players wishing to "play up" must submit a formal request for status review.

  •     Division Policy (Effective Spring 2025): Players with an Intermediate/Advanced status may not play or sub in any Recreational division.

  •     Dual Rostering: Players are not allowed to be on two different teams within the league.

3. Gameplay & Rules

 A. Service & First Contact

• •    The serve may be received with a bump, closed hands, or open hands.

  •     Attacking the Serve is Illegal: A receiving player may not jump and attack the serve directly back over the net. Feet must remain on the ground for this first contact if the ball is going over the net.

  •     Legal Play: You may jump to play the serve, provided the ball remains on your side.

B. Setting & Hand Contact

• •    The ball must never be caught, held, or thrown.

  •    Open-Hand Sets: Must be clean, with minimal spin. Heavy rotation or a double contact is illegal and results in a point for the opponent.

  •    Pushing the Ball Over (2nd/3rd touch): An open-hand push over the net is allowed only if the ball has minimal rotation.

C. Underhand Contacts & Lifts

• •    Legal Contacts: Underhand contacts should use the forearm platform, a single forearm, or a closed fist.

  •    Illegal Lift: Using an open palm or a passing platform where the forearms are separated (not together) to "scoop" or throw the ball is a lift violation. One-handed touches with a closed hand are legal.

D. Net & Centerline Violations

• •    A player may not touch the net between the antennas while the ball is in play.

  •    A player may not step completely over the centerline while the ball is in play.

E. Rotation & Positioning (For teams with 5+ players)

• •    Teams must maintain the correct rotational order throughout the game.

  •    Players must be in correct relative positions at the moment of serve. Absolute positioning is flexible, and movement begins after the serve.

  •    Penalty: Being out of rotation results in loss of serve and a point for the opponent.

F. Substitutions & Player Entry

• •    Subs may only enter on your team’s turn to serve.

  •    They must substitute for the player leaving in the correct rotational order.

  •    All substitutions must occur between points.

  •    Illegal Entry: Entering at the wrong time results in a point for the opponent.

G. Back Row & Setter Transition

• •   Back Row Attackers: May jump from behind the 10-foot line to attack but must land in the front zone and then return to the back row. There must never be more than three players in the front row at any time.

  •   Setters: A back-row setter may move forward to set but must return to the back row after the play. Only the designated setter may make this transition from a serve receive.

4. Match Procedures

A. Game Duration & Timing

• •    All games are strictly 40 minutes of continuous play, starting with the first serve.

  •    Timer Enforcement: Teams must start the official timer immediately. Failure to do so results in a 3-minute penalty for every 5 total points scored when the error is discovered.

  •    Game End: If the timer expires mid-rally, finish the rally. No new serves are allowed, and the game ends regardless of score.

B. Scoring System

   Regular Season:

• •    Play to 21 points.

  •    Must win by 2 points. There is no point cap.

   Tournament Play:

• •     Main Bracket: Play to 25 points, capped (no win-by-2 required).

  •     2nd Chance Bracket: Play to 15 points, capped. Teams switch sides at 8 points.

  •     Scoring Method: All games use rally scoring (a point is scored on every serve).

C. Grace Period & Forfeits

• •    Grace Period: 5 minutes from game time (or court availability). The delaying team then has an additional 10 minutes to field a team before forfeiting.

  •     Delay Penalty: After the initial 5 minutes, the ready team may be awarded one point per minute of delay.

  •     Forfeiture Fines:

  •   "No Call, No Show": $50.00 fine (team captain).

  •  Game Day Forfeiture: $25.00 fine.

  •   Notice Required: To avoid fines, forfeits must be emailed to diego@diablosoutsports.com by the    Friday prior to Sunday/Monday games.

    Multiple Forfeits: Teams with multiple forfeits may be removed from the league without refund.

D. Rostered Players & Subs to Avoid Forfeit

• •     Teams of 6+ players: Must have at least 3 original rostered players and may pick up a maximum of 3 subs.

  •     Teams of 4-5 players: Must have at least 2 original rostered players and may pick up a maximum of 2 subs.

5. Administrative Policies

• •     Player Replacement: Captains must report any roster replacement immediately and before the new player participates. Replacements after the 3rd week of games are subject to league approval on a case-by-case basis.

  •    Status Change for Rec-Beginner Players: To have status officially changed to Intermediate, a Rec-Beginner player must either:

    1.  Complete one full year in the intermediate division, or

    2.  Request and pass a mid-season evaluation.