4v4 Sand Volleyball Rules
4v4 Sand Volleyball Rules Stanford University Intramural Sports follows the rules listed below. The rules listed below do not represent the entire rulebook. These condensed rules represent the most important aspects of the game with which to be familiar.
Pre-Game Responsibilities ➢ Teams are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their game’s scheduled start time. Teams are allowed a five (5) minute grace period. Teams arriving after the grace period will forfeit the contest. IM supervisors will make the call regarding the grace period. ➢ Games start with rock paper scissors to determine who serves/receives first OR who chooses side first ➢ Captains must check make sure their team is checked in with the Supervisor on duty prior to starting the game. ➢ Members must bring their ID’s to the game to get checked in properly.
Equipment ➢ Players must remove watches, rings, chains, and all other jewelry that may cause injury. ➢ Game balls will be provided by IMs. Teams must bring their own equipment to warm up with. ➢ If they so choose, Captains can agree to use their own balls during the captain’s pre-game meeting.
Players ➢ The game will be played between two teams of four players each for Division 2 and 3. Division 1 is played between teams of two.
➢ A team may begin with a minimum of two players for all Divisions. ➢ There is no requirement for a specific number of maleidentifying or female-identifying players.
Games and Timing ➢ Before the first game, Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) will be played. ➢ The captain winning the RPS will have the option to serve/receive or playing area. ➢ Matches going to a third game will require another RPS for serve with the same options as above. ➢ Game is to 25 points, must win by two, rally scoring, no cap on number of points needed to win. ➢ Third game (if necessary) is played to 15, win by two, rally scoring, and there is a cap at 17.
Boundaries ➢ A ball striking an overhead obstruction above a playing area shall remain in play provided the ball contacts the obstruction on the side of the net that is occupied by the team that last played the ball, and the ball is legally played next by the same team. ➢ A ball is permitted to hit the net on serves.
➢ A ball that strikes the boundary line is considered in bounds. ➢ Any ball that hits the antenna is out.
Serving ➢ The ball shall be hit with one hand or any part of the arm after being tossed or released from the hand(s). ➢ Only one toss or release of the ball is allowed. Moving the ball in the hands is permitted. ➢ The server may move freely within the service zone. At the moment of the service hit or takeoff for a jump service, the server must not touch the court (the end line included) or the ground outside the service zone. His/her foot may not go under the end line. After the hit, he/she may step or land outside the service zone, or inside the court. If the line moves because of the sand pushed by the server, it is not considered a fault. ➢ The server must hit the ball within 8 seconds after the official whistles for service. ➢ If the ball, after having been tossed or released by the server, lands without being touched or caught by the server, it is considered as a service. ➢ A team continues serving until it commits a foul or the game ends.
Blocking and Contact ➢ When the team's first contact is simultaneous contact by opponents, or an action to block, that first contact COUNTS as the team’s first hit. ➢ When teammates contact the ball at the same instant, it is considered one hit and any player may make the next hit. ➢ Open handed tipping is NOT PERMITTED. Tips are defined by soft contact, open-handed redirections of the ball. ➢ Recovery of a ball hit into the net is permitted. ➢ A player shall not contact a ball that is completely on the opponent's side of the net unless the contact is a legal block. ➢ Blocking a ball that is entirely on the opponent's side of the net is permitted when the opposing team has had an opportunity to complete its attack. The attack is considered complete when the: a) Attacking team has completed its three allowable hits b) Attacking team has had the opportunity to spike the ball or directs the ball with intent to return it to the opponent's court. c) Ball falling near the net, and in the official's judgment, no member of the attacking team could make a play on the ball. ➢ A team is allowed 3 more contacts after a block in 4v4.
➢ Specific to D1 league only: a) Receiving a serve with open hands will not be allowed. It will automatically be called a violation if it does occur. b) However, rules pertaining to digging a hard-driven ball with open hands still apply.
Net ➢ Contact with the net by a player is not a fault, unless it interferes with play. ➢ Players may touch the post, ropes, or any other object outside the antennae, including the net itself, provided that it does not interfere with the play. ➢ When the ball is driven into the net, causing it to touch an opponent, no fault is committed. ➢ It is legal for players to go under the net as long as it does not interfere with players on the other side.
Hand Setting ➢ Players choosing to receive a serve with Open Hands are allowed as long as the pass or set is relatively clean in the judgment of the official, except if you are playing in D1 Division. In D1, receiving a serve with open hands is a violation.
➢ Setting over the net is NOT PERMITTED unless there is minimal spin on the ball and the player’s shoulders are perfectly square with the direction of the ball. ➢ Sets that accidently go over the net and drops within the boundaries is allowed as long as the sets are clean or legal in the judgment of the official. ➢ Players are allowed to “double” the ball only on Spikes or any hard driven ball.
Substitutions ➢ Players are allowed to substitute only on dead balls or before the whistle is blown by the official.
Reffing ➢ Officials are provided by the Stanford Intramural Department. Players must follow protocol in regards to questioning of calls. ➢ Team Captain(s) of each team(s) are the only ones allowed to speak to the official.
Divisions ➢ D1= High competitiveness ➢ D2= Low Competitiveness ➢ D3= Recreational
Pre-Game Responsibilities ➢ Teams are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their game’s scheduled start time. Teams are allowed a five (5) minute grace period. Teams arriving after the grace period will forfeit the contest. IM supervisors will make the call regarding the grace period. ➢ Games start with rock paper scissors to determine who serves/receives first OR who chooses side first ➢ Captains must check make sure their team is checked in with the Supervisor on duty prior to starting the game. ➢ Members must bring their ID’s to the game to get checked in properly.
Equipment ➢ Players must remove watches, rings, chains, and all other jewelry that may cause injury. ➢ Game balls will be provided by IMs. Teams must bring their own equipment to warm up with. ➢ If they so choose, Captains can agree to use their own balls during the captain’s pre-game meeting.
Players ➢ The game will be played between two teams of four players each for Division 2 and 3. Division 1 is played between teams of two.
➢ A team may begin with a minimum of two players for all Divisions. ➢ There is no requirement for a specific number of maleidentifying or female-identifying players.
Games and Timing ➢ Before the first game, Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) will be played. ➢ The captain winning the RPS will have the option to serve/receive or playing area. ➢ Matches going to a third game will require another RPS for serve with the same options as above. ➢ Game is to 25 points, must win by two, rally scoring, no cap on number of points needed to win. ➢ Third game (if necessary) is played to 15, win by two, rally scoring, and there is a cap at 17.
Boundaries ➢ A ball striking an overhead obstruction above a playing area shall remain in play provided the ball contacts the obstruction on the side of the net that is occupied by the team that last played the ball, and the ball is legally played next by the same team. ➢ A ball is permitted to hit the net on serves.
➢ A ball that strikes the boundary line is considered in bounds. ➢ Any ball that hits the antenna is out.
Serving ➢ The ball shall be hit with one hand or any part of the arm after being tossed or released from the hand(s). ➢ Only one toss or release of the ball is allowed. Moving the ball in the hands is permitted. ➢ The server may move freely within the service zone. At the moment of the service hit or takeoff for a jump service, the server must not touch the court (the end line included) or the ground outside the service zone. His/her foot may not go under the end line. After the hit, he/she may step or land outside the service zone, or inside the court. If the line moves because of the sand pushed by the server, it is not considered a fault. ➢ The server must hit the ball within 8 seconds after the official whistles for service. ➢ If the ball, after having been tossed or released by the server, lands without being touched or caught by the server, it is considered as a service. ➢ A team continues serving until it commits a foul or the game ends.
Blocking and Contact ➢ When the team's first contact is simultaneous contact by opponents, or an action to block, that first contact COUNTS as the team’s first hit. ➢ When teammates contact the ball at the same instant, it is considered one hit and any player may make the next hit. ➢ Open handed tipping is NOT PERMITTED. Tips are defined by soft contact, open-handed redirections of the ball. ➢ Recovery of a ball hit into the net is permitted. ➢ A player shall not contact a ball that is completely on the opponent's side of the net unless the contact is a legal block. ➢ Blocking a ball that is entirely on the opponent's side of the net is permitted when the opposing team has had an opportunity to complete its attack. The attack is considered complete when the: a) Attacking team has completed its three allowable hits b) Attacking team has had the opportunity to spike the ball or directs the ball with intent to return it to the opponent's court. c) Ball falling near the net, and in the official's judgment, no member of the attacking team could make a play on the ball. ➢ A team is allowed 3 more contacts after a block in 4v4.
➢ Specific to D1 league only: a) Receiving a serve with open hands will not be allowed. It will automatically be called a violation if it does occur. b) However, rules pertaining to digging a hard-driven ball with open hands still apply.
Net ➢ Contact with the net by a player is not a fault, unless it interferes with play. ➢ Players may touch the post, ropes, or any other object outside the antennae, including the net itself, provided that it does not interfere with the play. ➢ When the ball is driven into the net, causing it to touch an opponent, no fault is committed. ➢ It is legal for players to go under the net as long as it does not interfere with players on the other side.
Hand Setting ➢ Players choosing to receive a serve with Open Hands are allowed as long as the pass or set is relatively clean in the judgment of the official, except if you are playing in D1 Division. In D1, receiving a serve with open hands is a violation.
➢ Setting over the net is NOT PERMITTED unless there is minimal spin on the ball and the player’s shoulders are perfectly square with the direction of the ball. ➢ Sets that accidently go over the net and drops within the boundaries is allowed as long as the sets are clean or legal in the judgment of the official. ➢ Players are allowed to “double” the ball only on Spikes or any hard driven ball.
Substitutions ➢ Players are allowed to substitute only on dead balls or before the whistle is blown by the official.
Reffing ➢ Officials are provided by the Stanford Intramural Department. Players must follow protocol in regards to questioning of calls. ➢ Team Captain(s) of each team(s) are the only ones allowed to speak to the official.
Divisions ➢ D1= High competitiveness ➢ D2= Low Competitiveness ➢ D3= Recreational
