VOLLEYBALL RULES

RULE 1 - GENERAL

1. All participants must be currently enrolled as a student, faculty or staff member of the University of Chicago.
2. Intramural Guidelines govern all participation - See Intramural Calendar.
3. All players must show their current valid UC Card. Players forgetting their ID's must
complete a participation pass and present their Driver's License or picture ID at the CIA
table to participate. If a participation pass is deemed invalid, then the individual is
ineligible to participate in intramural sports until proper paperwork is completed. The
team which s/he participated for will forfeit.
4. NET HEIGHT:
Women: 7'4 1/8"
Men: 7'11 5/8"
Coed: 7'11 5/8"
5.ONLY the manager may address questions concerning a player, the game, or an
official's call.
6. All players must be attired in gym clothes and tennis shoes (NO JOGGING SHOES
ALLOWED OR AN OTHER SHOES THAT MARK THE FLOOR).
7. The following items are not permitted to be worn during competition: Baseball caps,
hats, and any item an official or supervisor feels may be a risk.
8. A team shall be composed of six (6) players. A minimum of four (4) players are
required to start a match.
9. Any player that shows up during a game may register during any time-out or at the
completion of the first or second games (exception: playoffs, see Intramural Calendar
Guidelines regarding non-rostered players).
10. SUBSTITUTIONS: During any dead ball situation a coachor player may ask an
official for a substitution. A sub may enter the game for any player.

RULE 2 - SERVING

1. Each member of the team shall serve in turn and may have oe chance to hit the ball
over the net on the serve. A re-serve shall be called when the server releases the ball for
the service, the catches or drops it to the floor. The official will cancel the serve and
direct a second and final attempt at serve. Only one re-serve is permitted per player,
per turn in rotation at service.
2. The server shall stand with both feet behind the rear boundary line and in the service
area.
3. The ball may be served undershand, overhand, or sidearms and may be hit in any
manner by the hand. A served ball may not be blocked by the receiving team.
4. Before the serve, all members of both teams must be in tehir respective positions on
the court. After the ball is served, players may move out of any position except, a back
row player may not attack or block from in front of the 10' line.
5. Alternate team serving: The team that is listed on the schedule shall call the coin toss.
The team who serves the first game, will receive serve the second game. If a third game
is necessary, then a coin toss will occur to determine who get sthe choice of serve or side.
The team listed second on the schedule will call the coin toss.

RULE 3 - Playing Rules

1. When receiving the ball for service after a "side out" has been called, each member of
that team shall rotate one position clockwise.
2. A ball hit into the net, other than a serve, may be recovered provided a player does not
make contact with the net or crosses the centerline (also, see rule 3, #3).
3. A player may not play the ball in succession, unless played once by another player.
Exception: One player can make contact with the ball twice if intial contact is a block.
4. A team must return the ball across the net with three or fewer contacts. A block does
not count as a contact.
5. If a player is hit by the ball or touches the ball, it is considered to have been played.
6. When the ball lands on the boundary line, it is considered in the court. It is legal for a
player to run out of bounds and play the ball, however, a player may not enter another
volleyball court to play a ball.
7. Any ball that makes contact with the backboards will be considered out of play and a
point or side-out should be awarded.

RULE 4 - FOULS/VIOLATIONS

1. The following are fouls or violations:
A. Serving illegally, or out of turn.
B. Touching the net or reaching under the net to interfere with an opponent playing the
ball.
C. Stepping over the center line into opponent's court, a player may step on the line.
D. Spiking or blocking the ball in front of 10' line when playing a back row position.
E. Contacting the ball twice in succession, unless the first contact is a block.
F. Catching or holding the ball while playing it.
G. Contacting the ball in an underhand motion with open hand or hands
(slapping/scooping).
H. Failure to return ball over the net in three or fewer contacts.
I. A player that blocks or interferes with the intended set of the opposing team.

2. If a foul is committed by the receiving team - point for serving team. If committed by
the serving team - side out (or a point plus the service in rally scoring).

RULE 5 - TIME FACTORS AND SCORING
1. Match length: The first two games will be limited to a total of 40 minutes and played
to 15 points each, using side-out scoring. If the 40 minute time limit has expired prior to
the end of the second game, then the remainder of the match will be rally scoring and any
third game will be played to 11 points. However, if the 40 minute time period has not
expired prior to the end of the second game, then the third game will be played to 15,
using rally scoring.
2. Time Outs: Two per team per game - duration: 45 seconds or whenever the team
calling the time-out is ready, whichever is sooner.
3. Scoring:
A. Game: Played to 15 points using side-out scoring, win by 2 (17 point cap). Games to
11 points are win by 2 (13 point cap).
B. Point Cap: The maximum amount of points a game is allowed to be played to,
regardless of the point differential.
C. Match: The best of 2 out of a 3 game series.
D. Side-Out Scoring: Only the serving team can score a point.
E. Rally Scoring: A point is scored on every serve by either team.

COED VOLLEYBALL

1. The team shall be composed of 6 players, 3 male/3 female. A minimum of 4 players
are required to start a match.
2. The servering order and position on the court shall alternate male/female.
3. The net height shall be 7'11 5/8".
4. If the ball is contacted by a team more than once, both a male and a female player must
touch the ball before it is returned over the net.