rules

Check in

All players must check in at the table and sign a waiver before the tournament begins.

  • Once checked in and signed, you will be directed to your court and can begin playing at your designated start time.

Pre-Tournament

warm ups

Regardless of whether it’s pool play or playoffs, each team has the option to start the game immediately or have a 5-minute warm-up, which can include hitting, serving, or both.

Serving

Players must serve in strict rotation, going from each player in a team, then repeating in that order.

Let serves (serves that contact the net) are not allowed — the ball is considered dead and the point goes to the other team.

gameplay

Serve receive

when receiving the serve, it is allowed to receive the ball with forearm pass or overhead pass, BUT the hands must be in contact with one another

Pool play & playoffs

Pool Play:

  • two sets to 21 points (cap at 23). If tied 22–22, next point wins (golden point).

Playoffs:

  • Top 2 teams from each pool advance to a single elimination Golden bracket. Pools with 6–7 teams may break 3 teams based on tournament discretion.
    Matches are best 2 out of 3 sets to 21. No point caps.

  • the teams that don’t advance into the golden bracket are placed into a single elimination silver bracket.

rotations

No traditional rotations are required; every player is considered to be in the front row.

The only rotational process is following the serving order.

Court Sides: Both teams will switch sides after every 7 points in the game.

further gameplay

First Contact: Must be made with closed hands at all times.

Setting: When setting to a hitter, the ball may not rotate more than twice.

Dumping:

  • Setters and hitters may only dump the ball if they are facing the direction the ball is being sent.

  • Dumps must have an upward motion before going down—no straight-down dumps allowed.

Tipping: Only closed-hand tips are permitted.

Court Safety: If a ball rolls onto the court during play, the point is immediately dead and replayed.

Pursuit Rule: Chasing the ball outside the court (pursuit) is allowed.

Scoring: Rally scoring is in effect — a point is awarded every rally, regardless of which team is serving.

Block Touch: A block touch does not count as one of the 3 team touches.

reffing

If your team is assigned to ref a game, you must provide one player to track net violations and one for scorekeeping.

  • Line judging is not required.

  • After the match, scan the qr code and submit the final score

  • You must also write the score on the clipboard at the court.