Hot Shots Volleyball Leagues Rules and Guidelines

The following rules, policies, and guidelines are enforced in the Hot Shots volleyball leagues.
If you have any questions about these or request further clarification, feel free to ask your league official.

League Play Scoring

Teams play three (3) games each night. The first two games are to 25 points with a 30-point cap. The third game is to 21 with a 23-point cap.
There will be no exceptions to these rules. All games are rally-point scoring (point scored on every serve).
Teams must win by two points, or when the point cap is reached.

Captains need to sign for the match results at the conclusion of the match.
Results will not be changed once they are signed for, so captains should check results carefully before signing and agreeing to them.

Team Players and Roster Policies

Teams must have four (4) players on their roster present in order to start the match.
Playing with fewer than four players is not allowed and will result in a forfeit. Team members who arrive late are allowed to join the game at the next dead ball.
They do not have to wait until their team is serving to rotate in. The serving rotation must not be altered by the addition of the new players.

If a team wishes to play with more than six players, the team may rotate players in.
The rotating must remain consistent throughout the game so the serving order does not change.

Players may only play on one team per league.

If an opposing team wishes to challenge the roster of a team, the captain must do so at the captain’s meeting before the match starts.
If the player in question is not on the roster, that player is ineligible to play.

Forfeits

There will be a five-minute grace period at the start of each game.
If a team is not ready to play five minutes after the scheduled start time, the team automatically forfeits the third game.
If a team does not have enough players after another five minutes, the team forfeits the second game. The same applies to the final game.

If there is a forfeit, the official is required to:

  • Referee the match anyway, though it does not count toward league standings
  • Provide the players present with a clinic, or
  • Play with the teams

Other General Policies

Any ball striking a dowel or the top net cable inside the beams is still in play.
Any ball that contacts any other part of the playing area (ceiling, walls, side nets, bottom net cable, etc.) is out of play.

Players are not permitted to play the ball on the opposing team’s side of the court at any time.

The ref has the final say on all calls and will not be expected to tolerate any arguments from any player. Any behavior the ref feels is unnecessary can and will result in a Red or Yellow, and or ejection from game or league.

Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Officials will issue red and yellow cards as necessary. Officials will take time to explain the call whenever asked.

Recreation League Guidelines

  • Open-hand reception of serves is allowed.
  • The ball may not be scooped or thrown in any way. Any contact of the ball that starts behind the player’s head and remains in contact with the player’s hands is illegal.
  • Blatant downward throws are illegal when a player is attacking the ball.
  • Double hits and on a set are allowed if the player is attempting to set a teammate and the action is not extreme.
  • Multiple contacts on any hard-driven first ball over the net, provided it is one attempt to play the ball, is legal.
  • Beach digs will be allowed on hard-driven balls provided the contact is made from the shoulders and above, is one continuous motion, and the ball goes forward.
  • If a player touches the net after the ball is out play but touches the net during play action (as part of the hitting motion or blocking motion), it is a net violation and is illegal.

Intermediate and Advanced Leagues Guidelines

The USA Volleyball rulebook will be strictly enforced for these leagues.

The following house rules are also enforced. The official has final say on all judgment calls.

  • On Serve Reception only call Over control of a ball-if player lifts /carry/throw with hand contact from waist area or lower.
  • A net is called when a player is in the net if contacting (playing) the ball. Once a player lands and contacts the net is not a net.
  • Beach digs will be allowed on hard-driven balls, provided the contact is made from the shoulders and above, it is one continuous motion, and the ball goes forward.
  • Any open-hand tip that is redirected is illegal.
  • If a player touches the net after the ball is out play but touches the net during play action (as part of the hitting motion or blocking motion), it is a net violation and is illegal.
  • When it is apparent that a team has served out of rotation, a loss of serve will occur. The team, which committed the rotation error, should go to the correct rotation position.
  • Players are allowed to block over the net on the 1st or 2nd contact if –A) the ball would cross the net without somebody being able to play the ball before the ball would cross the Net. B after the 3rd contact. Reminder: Players can never attack the ball on the other side of the net.