Grass Volleyball
Rules and Guidelines of the Tournament

All volleyball games are played on the interior quads of the campus. 

1. Honor Code reffing is expected for all games and matches during the tournament.
2. Open-handed serve reception and digs are permitted, "let" serves are permitted, no open-handed tips, all court players are considered front row players and may attack at all times, and blocking the serve is prohibited.
3. Round-robin pool play will determine the top teams from each pool to advance to a single-elimination tournament that will be power seeded. 
4. All play is co-ed in nature: two members of any under-represented gender(s) must be on the field of play at all times. 
5. Pool play will consist of two games, rally scored to 21 with a 40-minute time limit. 
6. Single elimination play will consist of the best 2-out-of-3 games. The first 2 games will be rally-scored to 25 and the 3rd game will be rallied scored to 15. No scoring cap -- must win by 2 points.

Procedure for ranking the top teams from pool play for advancement: Game record, head to head results, point differential (points scored minus points allowed), and coin toss.

Procedure for seeding the single-elimination, power-seeded tournament: The number one team will receive the top seed in each preliminary match against a second seed from a different pool. 

ELIGIBILITY

• All players must check-in with the tournament supervisor on duty and be on the official roster before they are allowed to play.
• A player may only play for ONE team. Players are not permitted to jump teams. 

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

• Four (4) players are allowed on the court for each team.
• All court players are considered front row players and may attack at all times. 
• Teams must have two members of any under-represented gender(s) on the court at all times.
• A team may play with no fewer than three players. In this case, one member must be an under-represented gender.
• One varsity volleyball athlete is permitted to be on the court at any given time.

SCORING

• Matches will be determined by the winner in a best of two game series during pool play and three games in the single elimination tournament.
• Rally scoring to 25 points will determine the winner of the first two games; the third game will be rally to 15 points.

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Open substitutions are in effect and can be made at any dead ball.
• Substitutions are made at the point of service rotation. 

SERVING

• The serve may be made anywhere behind the end line within the boundaries of the sidelines.
• If any part of the server's foot touches the line while attempting a serve, a "foot fault" will be called and one point will be awarded to the opposing team.
• A service is considered a fault when:
  • The server is touching the service line when the ball is contacted
  • The served ball crosses under the net; the ball touches or crosses over the pole
  • The ball touches a player on the server's team
  • The ball land outside the opponent's playing area
• The ball will be allowed to touch the net on a serve and remain in play (let serve).
• NO blocking/hitting the serve from the opponent.

FUNDAMENTAL RULES

• Lines on the court are considered in-play for service.
• There is no middle line as long as a player does not interfere with the play of the opposing team.
• One timeout per game will be granted to each team.
• Each team is allowed a maximum of three successive contacts of the ball in order to return the ball over the net onto the opponent's side
  • Any player participating in a block shall have the right to make the next contact, such contact counts as the first of three hits allowed for the team
  • Any other player committing successive contacts with the ball will be called for a double hit
  • The ball may be hit with any part of the body
• A live ball becomes dead when:
  • The ball touches an antenna or the net outside the antenna
  • The ball does not cross the net completely
  • The ball hits the ground
  • A player commits a foot fault
  • The ball is hit four (4) times before going over the net
  • A player makes contact with the live part of the net
  • A double hit is called; a lift is called