Beach Volleyball Rules

THE TEAM

4-aside

  • The number of players shall be four (4) players.
  • The team must include a minimum of one (1) male, one (1) female and all remaining players can be any gender including gender diverse people.
  • To start the game, this league requires your team to have a minimum of two (2) players participating, including one (1) male, one (1) female or one (1) gender diverse person, unless discussions pre game between teams allow no females.
  • Please consider our Default, Forfeit, and Substitute Policy
  • Substitutes can be used as long as they have created an account and signed the most up to date Urban Rec waiver. During game play, substitutes can be made at any point in the game.

GAME SPECIFICS

GAME TIME The game is played in a 45 minute timeslot. Teams will play as many games as they can within this time.

COURT BOUNDARIES The playing field shall be a rectangle at least 50 ft long and at least 30 ft wide, divided into two (2) equal sections by a centre-line net. This may vary depending on the venue.

STARTING THE GAME Captains will Scissors, Paper, Rock to see who serves first and which way teams would like to start.

SCORING Matches will be played using a point per rally format with teams completing as many sets to fifteen (15) (win by 2 points) as possible within the time limit allowed. Team who wins the most games at the end of the timeslot will take the 1-0 win.

RULE SPECIFICS

HITTING THE BALL OVER THE NET Each team is entitled to a maximum of three hits to return the ball over the net. The ball may be hit with any part of the body, including the feet. A player may not contact the ball twice consecutively.

SIMULTANEOUS CONTACT The ball may touch two or more parts of the body only if contact occurs simultaneously or in one motion. When two teammates contact the ball simultaneously, it is counted as two of their three permitted hits. When two opponents simultaneously touch the ball above the net and it is held, the rally will continue.

BALL AT THE NET When the ball is sent into the opponent's court it must pass over the net. While crossing the net, the ball may touch the net between the antennas but may not touch the posts or ropes. A ball hit into the net may be retrieved and played over the net within the team's limit of three hits.

PLAYER AT THE NET No part of a player's body or clothing may touch the net, but may touch the net ropes outside of the antennas and the posts. A player may enter under the net into their opponents court provided they do not interfere with their opponent's range of motion.

SERVICE The serving player should wait to all opponents players are ready. 

    • The ball must be hit cleanly with one hand or any part of the arm after being tossed or released and before it touches the ground.
    • The ball must pass over the net and between the antennas.
    • The ball may contact the net, but not the posts or antennas. 
    • The serve may be hit from anywhere along the baseline and from within the sidelines.
    • All players on both teams must be within the court area when the serve is hit.

HAND-SETTING RULE Hand-setting is the skill where the fingertips are used to play the ball from above your face with the intention of directing the ball to a position above the net for your team-mate to attack or spike down into your opponent's court.

    • As a guide: The ball must be played cleanly in one motion, using the fingertips.
    • The ball can be lowered in the hands to the face then it must be released by extending arms and wrists, but it cannot be a clear 'catch'.

ATTACK HIT is the action to direct the ball down into the opponent's court. The attack hit must be completed within the player's own court space. A player is not allowed to make an attack hit on an opponent's serve. Please be cautious of who and how close your opponents are before hitting the ball hard.

BLOCKING is the action of a player to prevent an opponent's attack hit from crossing the net. A player is not permitted to block the serve. A blocking player may touch the ball over the net in the opponent's court once the opponent's attack hit is completed. The first hit after a block may be executed by any player including the blocker - leaving one remaining team hit.

URBAN REC SPECIFICS
FUN FIRST POLICY 

All Urban Rec leagues, irrespective of skill level, are fun-first. Our Event Hosts facilitate a fun, safe environment for teams. They will acknowledge, coach and make calls according to your level of experience playing the game. Urban Rec leagues expect a certain level of self-officiation, meaning that players are expected to display good sportsmanship to govern their behaviour. Open communication and camaraderie between teams is encouraged.

DISCIPLINE

Urban Rec Event Hosts have the final say on any issue that cannot be self-resolved.

If you are seen to be rude or not playing within the respect of the rules, your Event Host has the right to ask you to sub and take a break. If your Event Host then has to warn you more times then they have the right to ask you to leave the field or court and an assessment will be made if you can return to play. We don’t tolerate idiots, play fair.

INCLUSION

Urban Rec seeks to provide a safe, inclusive and happy environment for our members, staff and participants. Gender diverse, transgender and non-binary participants are welcome to play within our leagues along with any sexuality and persons from any background. Urban Rec has zero tolerance for bullying, discrimination or sexual harassment