SOCIAL SPORTS VOLLEYBALL RULES
PLEASE NOTE: Social Sport competition rules are based on the FIVB official rules,
http://www.fivb.ch/TheGame/Rules.htm. However, due to the nature of Social Sport competitions, some
changes or additions have been made. These are listed below:
1. The Playing Area
1.1. UWA Recreation and Fitness Centre Sports Hall
2. Players
2.1. The maximum number of players on court at any given time is six (6)
2.2. The minimum number of players on court without incurring a forfeit is four (4)
Male
Female
Min
1
2
Max
4
5
2.3. If a team has only one(1) female, it either:
2.3.1.Plays with fewer total players- three (3) male and one (1) female
2.3.2.Or plays a ‘friendly’ game with the incorrect ratio and assumes an automatic loss. The referee
and both team managers must agree on the automatic loss prior to the start of the game
2.3.3.In both circumstances, both teams will still need to pay their game fee
3. Forfeit
3.1. If a team forfeits a 3-0 victory will be recorded for their opposition
3.2. All forfeits must be communicated with the UWA Social Sports Officer. Contact details can be found
at http://www.sport.uwa.edu.au/sports-and-teams/uwa-social-sports
3.3. If the notice given for a forfeit is less than 48 hours in advance, the offending team will lose their
forfeit bond on their first offence, and be charged $50 for every forfeit thereafter
4. Player equipment
4.1. All players are required to wear a team uniform consisting of same coloured tops and same coloured
bottoms
4.2. All players must remove objects such as watches/jewellery (taping of facial jewellery is expected)
that may be dangerous to other players. A wedding band or a medic alert bracelet may be worn, but
must be appropriately taped. Players will not be allowed onto the court until they comply
4.3. Nails must be cut or appropriately taped. Players will not be allowed onto the court until they comply
4.4. UWA Sports will NOT provide strapping tape or nail clippers. This is the responsibility of the
participant
4.5. Appropriate non-marking covered footwear must be worn
5. Substitution of players
5.1. Substitutions only occur with team rotations at service
5.2. If a late player is coming on court after the game has started, he/she will only be allowed on court at
a stoppage of play. The referee must be notified of a new player coming on court
5.3. If a player is injured during the game and unable to continue, a substitution player is able to come on
court to replace the injured player
6. To Play
6.1. All weekly game fees must be paid prior to the start of scheduled games and the receipt given to
relevant referees. NO RECEIPT=NO GAME
6.2. Not only does it keep the other team waiting, late starts affect the whole evening’s fixtures times,
therefore the clock will start running at the scheduled time. If a team is late, they will be penalized
accordingly one (1) point per minute and the game will go on
UPDATED JANUARY 2015
6.3. Games will be forfeited if a team is not ready to play within fifteen (15) minutes of scheduled starting
time
7. Duration
7.1. Three (3) sets or forty (40) minutes, whichever comes first
7.2. The game is forty (40) minutes in duration. When time expires, play is to continue on until the ball
becomes ‘dead’
8. Suspensions and Ejections
8.1. Incidents of a dangerous or unsportsmanlike nature that are reported by the referee or an opposing
team will be taken seriously
8.2. A warning will be issued to offending player/team and referees have the right to remove a
player/team should further incidents occur during the game. All incidents will be reported to the
Social Sport Officer
8.3. Further action may be taken for serious incidents and repeat offenders. All information regarding the
incident will be taken into account and a decision on an appropriate resulting action will be made by
the Social Sports Officer in consultation with senior members of staff. Actions may include
suspension of a player or withdrawal of a team
8.4. Should a team wish to make a formal complaint their team manager should do so in writing to the
Social Sport Officer
9. General Rules
9.1. The server must serve the ball from behind the baseline. Both Underarm and Overarm serves are
permitted
9.1.1 The team winning a rally scores a point. When the receiving team wins a rally, it
gains a point and the right to serve, and its players rotate one position clockwise
9.1.2 Each team is entitled to a maximum of three hits (in addition to a block) to return the
ball over the net to the other team
9.1.3 A carried ball will result in a turnover and a point to the opposing team
9.2. Spiking or blocking of a serve in not permitted
9.3. No net touches or stepping over the line of the net is permitted
9.4. The first team to win two (2) sets is declared the winner
9.5. If no team has reached a minimum of ten (10) points in any given set when time runs out, the set
shall be deemed incomplete and will not count towards the score. If a team has reached the
minimum of 10 points in the set, then the team who is winning will win the set
9.6. A team must be ahead by 2 points in order to win any given set
UPDATED JANUARY 2015