The rules governing beach volleyball are basically the same as those governing indoor volleyball with a few small 

yet significant differences.  Listed below are the rules of the game.

FIVB rules apply unless stated otherwise in this document.

** Indicates New Rules

4`s (2 men and 2 women)

 6`s (3 men and 3 women)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

  1. Four player teams must have at least two players (minimum one female) on the court at all times.
  1. Six player teams must have at least four players (minimum two females) on the court at all times.  Teams with less than six players may have to adhere to the ghost rule (see below).
  1. In the 4's league you can never play with more than 2 men and in the 6's league you can never play with more than 3 men.
  1. For the 6's league only the opposing captain has the option of instilling the Ghost Rule:  In 6's, if a team has 5 players for example, they must forfeit their serve after every 5th rotation This will allow the team with a full squad to serve back-to-back.
  1. Teams not able to field a "full" team, or minimum number, may play with the consent of the opposing captain and/or league staff member.
  1. **Rosters:  Only players listed on your roster are allowed to play in any regular season or playoff game.  Also, any player playing in the playoffs must have played in at least 2 regular season games.  Rosters can have a maximum of 10 players per team.  Exceptions may be allowed by staff.

STARTING GAMES AND SCORING

  1. A team earns service possession for the start of the first game by winning a coin toss or a Rock/Paper/Scissors. The teams will then alternate service every other game.
  1. Teams will play the first 2 games to 21 with a cap at 25 (Rally Score). The 3rd game will be played to 15 with a cap of 17 (Rally Score). "Rally Score" means that every time a point is finished, one team will be awarded a point, whether they served or not.
  1. Serves that hit the net and go over the net to the opponent's side will be "live" and are good serves provided the opposing team plays them or they land in bounds.

SERVICE AND ROTATION

  1. 4's team members do not need to rotate position on the court.  They do have to rotate service. During sixes team members must rotate on the court and must remain in that position until the serve has been contacted. The player in the back right hand corner of the rotation will be designated to serve and continue to rotate clockwise.
  1. Serves that hit the net will no longer be faults! Serves that hit the net and continue over the net to the opponent's side of the net will be live.
  1. The server may not step on or over the end line until the ball has been contacted. The width of the service area is from sideline to sideline. The depth of the service area is infinite.
  1. The serve may not be blocked or spiked.
  1. Players can return the serve by:
  2. Bump pass
  3. Clasping their hands together
  4. A closed fist

PLAYING THE BALL

  1. THREE CONTACTS- Each team is allowed a maximum of 3 successive contacts of the ball in order to return the ball to the opponent's area.  (Exception: In the action of blocking an attacking ball, the touch, or contact resulting from the block attempt does not constitute one of the three successive contacts). There are no male/female hitting rules.
  1. ATTACKING THE NET-In two's and four's every player is eligible to attack the net. In six's only the three players that are in the front row of the rotation are allowed to attack the net. Violation of this rule would include any hitting or blocking that occurs above the plane of the net.
  1. SIMULTANEOUS CONTACTS - When two non-blocking teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is considered one contact, and any player may make the next contact. When two blocking teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is not counted as a contact, and any player may make the next contact. When two opponents simultaneously and instantaneously contact the ball over the net, and the ball remains in play, the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball lands "out", it is the fault of the team on the opposite side of the net from where the ball lands.
  1. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONTACT - The ball can contact any number of body parts down to, and including the foot, providing such contacts are simultaneous and the ball rebounds immediately and cleanly after such contact.
  1. HELD BALL - The ball must be contacted cleanly and not held, lifted, pushed, caught, carried or thrown. The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a player's body. It can rebound in any direction.
  1. HAND SETS- A contact of the ball using the fingers of one or two hands to direct the ball toward a teammate is a set. The ball must come into contact with both hands simultaneously and leave both hands simultaneously to avoid a double hit call. A player may set the ball over the net in front or behind them only in the direction in which their shoulders are squarely facing. Rotation of the ball after the set may indicate a held ball or multiple contacts during the set but in itself IS NOT A FAULT.

**The General Rule is less than 2 and ½ rotations, or being able to read the name brand on the ball.  Please call your "bad hands", double hits, and holds! 

  1. ATTACKING THE BALL OVER THE OPPONENTS COURT- A player is not allowed to attack the ball on the opposite side of the net. If the ball is hit above the spiker's side of the net and then the follow-through causes the spiker's hand and arm to cross the net without contacting an opponent or the net, the action does not constitute a fault.

BLOCKING

  1. Blocking is the action close to the net which intercepts the ball coming from the opponents' side by making contact with the ball before, during or after it crosses the net.
  1. MULTIPLE CONTACTS- Multiple contacts of the ball by a player(s) participating in a block shall be legal provided it is during one attempt to intercept the ball. Multiple contacts of the ball during a block shall be counted as a single contact, even though the ball may make multiple contacts with one or more players of the block.
  1. PARTICIPATION AFTER A BLOCK- Any player participating in a block shall have the right to make the next contact, such contact counting as the first of three hits allowed the team.
  1. BLOCKING A SERVE- Blocking or attacking a serve is prohibited.
  1. BLOCKING A BALL ACROSS THE NET- Blocking of the ball across the net above the opponent's court shall be legal provided that such a block is:

(a)  After a player of the attacking team has spiked the ball, or, in the referee's judgment, intentionally directed the ball into the opponent's court, or has exhausted their third allowable hit.

(b)  After the opponents' have hit the ball in such a manner that the ball would clearly cross the net if not touched by a player, provided no member of the attacking team is in a position to make a legal play on the ball

(c)  If the ball is falling near the net and no member of the attacking team could reasonably make a play on the ball.

PLAY AT THE NET

  1. PLAYER CONTACT WITH THE NET - No part of the body may touch the net at anytime unless a ball or person driven into the net causes the contact. Player contact with the net in a manner not directly relating to or affecting the course of play is not a violation. Contact with hair or part of the uniform will not be considered a fault.
  1. SIMULTANEOUS CONTACT BY OPPONENTS - If opponents contact the net simultaneously, it shall constitute a double fault and the point shall be played over.
  1. INTERFERENCE- Beach volleyball allows any and all parts of the body to cross the center line as long as there is no interference with the opposing player.