HOCKING VALLEY YOUTH VOLLEYBALL

LEAGUE RULES

Mission Statement: The Hocking Valley Youth Volleyball League originated with the mission to teach young girls the basic
fundamentals of volleyball, to include skills using proper technique(s), rules and regulations specific to this sport; as well
as adapting to a “team approach” in volleyball, while stressing the importance of good sportsmanship – all factors
contributing to the positive development of a young female’s self esteem.

THIS LEAGUE IS NOT ABOUT CUT THROAT COMPETITION, BUT RATHER, BUILDING GOOD SKILLS AND
ENHANCING GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP & HAVING FUN!!!

 A match consists of (3) games or 45 minutes, whichever occurs first. Teams are provided with a 10 – 15 minute
warm-up, starting immediately at the end of the prior game. All other rally scoring rules will be in effect. A team
scores when they win the volley. Rally scoring states that balls that hit the net and remain playable, during a
serve, are playable balls. A game is won when a team reaches 25 points, with at least a 2 point lead. The teams
will switch sides after the first game ends. A second game will then be played to 25, again with at least a 2 point
lead. If each team has won a game by the end of the second game, a third game will be used as the tiebreaker.
Third games will be played to 15, with the winner having at least a 2 point lead. Third games can be played even if
a tie breaker is not needed, providing there is time left and both coaches are agreeable. With the exception of the
service line for grades 3,4, and 5 (see below) all normal boundary lines are in effect.

 Grades 3, 4 and 5 will play with Volley-Lites. This is to assist with learning proper technique. Grade 6 will be
played with a standard volleyball.

 Grades 3 and 4 will play with a net height of 6’6”. Grades 5 and 6 will play with a net height of 7’.

 Team rosters must be turned into league organizer by the first week of March. All site directors will receive a
complete set of rosters for each school and team. Each director is responsible for having the rosters onsite during
their weekend.

 All hosting sites are to provide enough balls for each team to warm up with prior to games.

 Players will be asked to learn the rules of the game in addition to technique. In order to enhance this and to
encourage fairness and good sportsmanship, players will be asked to assist in officiating, line judging and score
keeping on a rotating basis. Coaches will be serving as lead officials. It is expected that all coaches and players
officiate a minimum of 1 game a season. Rotation of officiating will be determined along with game schedule, ALL
COACHES MUST PARTICIPATE. Coaches will be given notice of games in which their team will be responsible
to officiate.

o NOTE: coaches may be officiating games above or below their level of play. It is important that all
coaches understand all levels of play.
o Coaches WILL officiate the game immediately prior to or following their contest. Players from their team
must serve as line judges and score keepers. If the players are too young to do so appropriately the
coach will ask a responsible adult to assist in these positions. Failure to officiate at your designated time
will result in a $25 fine, payable to the hosting site, per missed game.
o Prior to the start of the game they are to officiate; the coach/official should walk the court with all players
and line judges, to show boundaries. This avoids confusion as to in/out lines and serving lines for all
involved.

 6 on 6 play – girls only. For 6th grade, if only 5 players are available, the game can be played 5 on 6, or 4 on 6.
For 6th grade, TEAMS CANNOT PULL A KID FROM ANOTHER TEAM TO PLAY ON THEIR TEAM.
No games will be played with less than 4 players. For 3 rd,4th and 5th grade, the coach may substitute a player
from another team with agreement from the opposing coach, both teams can play 5 on 5, 4 on 4 is also
acceptable. Players can play lateral or up (age group), but not down. Substitutions onto a team can only be
made if the team has fewer than 6 players. **Substitution for a player to play on another team rule does
NOT apply in the Spring tournament. In order to play in the tournament, player must have been listed on
original roster turned in two weeks prior to season’s first game. During tournament play a player is permitted to
play for only one team and the player must be on the original roster.

 Teams will be given one 45 sec time out per game. Time outs do not carry over from game to game.

 For Grades 3 and 4:

 o If a team has more than 6 players in attendance for their scheduled match, substitutions must be made
during each rotation. The player who would normally be rotating to the server’s position will sub out and
the first girl on the bench will sub in as the server. Substitutions continue in the same fashion at each
rotation. Substitutions are be made after play has ended. To keep the game moving, substitutions are to
be done quickly. Players do not have to stand at the 10’ line and wait for the referee’s signal.
*****Coaches are given discretion on the substitution rule only for factors such as player’s attendance,
behavior/attitude, or poor sportsmanship. This discretion can only be granted AFTER the coach
addresses with ref and the opposing coach BEFORE the match begins.
o 3rd and 4th grade serving line is the 10’ line. Every effort shall be made not to step over this line but
referees will NOT call foot faults for 3rd grade. Foot faults will be called for 4th grade competitors.
Referees may remind players of the serving line in an effort to better prepare players for higher levels of
play. Referees will give 4th grade teams one warning per match of a foot fault. After the warning, foot
faults will be called and the opposing team given a point and the serve.
o 3rd, 4th and 5th grade serving limit – No player shall earn more than 5 consecutive points as the
server. Once a server has scored 5 consecutive pts that server’s team shall rotate, maintaining
possession of the ball, and the next person in the rotation shall serve.
o Although our substitution rule is unorthodox, proper serve - receive positions are in effect. Players must
continue to play in their properly rotated position.

 For Grade 5:
o If a team has more than 6 players in attendance for their scheduled match, substitutions must be made
during each rotation. The player who would normally be rotating to the server’s position will sub out and
the first girl on the bench will sub in as the server. Substitutions continue in the same fashion at each
rotation. Substitutions are be made after play has ended. To keep the game moving, substitutions are to
be done quickly. Players do not have to stand at the 10’ line and wait for the referee’s signal.
*****Coaches are given discretion on the substitution rule only for factors such as player’s attendance,
behavior/attitude, or poor sportsmanship. This discretion can only be granted AFTER the coach
addresses with ref and the opposing coach BEFORE the match begins.
o 5th grade serving line is 20’ back from the net, or ten feet in from the back end line. For 5th grade, the
serve line MUST be clearly marked with tape. The general rule of thumb for marking these lines will be 20’
from the net. Foot faults WILL be called if a player steps on or over the foul line in this age group.
***Teams will be given one warning per match of a foot fault. After the warning, all foot faults will be called
and the opposing team given a point and the serve.

 For Grade 6:
o Play time and lineup is determined by the team’s coach. However, equal playing time is encouraged to
the best ability of the coach, with all players touching the court every game. Substitutions must be made
between the 10 foot line and the net. Players may substitute in for one player and can then only be
replaced by that player. These players are paired and can go in and out for each other as necessary, but
may not be substituted for any other player unless necessary due to injury, illness or another unexpected
issue which may arise.
o Grade 6 should attempt to run a rotation with setters. It is important to begin building the skills needed to
play at a higher level, especially those transitioning to school leagues the following year. This should be
done in the spirit of the Ohio High School Athletic Association Volleyball Rules (NFHS) for grades7-8. No
Libero will be used.
 NOTE: This is a learning league. Therefore, it is unnecessary to call every mistake. Warnings
are appropriate unless offenses are severe and/or continuous.
 No rotation cards will be supplied. Therefore, it is an honor system of the coaches to ensure
players are rotating in order. This is a benefit to the players as learning these techniques can be
challenging. Coaches are tasked to teach proper rules, rotations and techniques for the
betterment of our youth.
o Refs will call carries, lifts and double contact plays at the 6th grade level.
o 6th grade must serve from the back end line. Foot faults WILL be called if a player steps on or over the
foul line in this age group. ***Teams will be given one warning per match of a foot fault. After the warning,
all foot faults will be called and the opposing team given a point and the serve.

 Coaches are to stand on the same side of the court as their team; they must be off the court, and behind the 10ft.
line.

An over-hand or underhand serve is acceptable. Over-hand serves are the preferred method and must be completed with
an open hand. No fists are permitted.
  Refs will call any player that touches the net. A player’s foot cannot be completely over the line under the net.

 Line Judges will call balls IN, by holding both arms out in front of them with hands pointing to the ground, and
OUT holding by both arms up and bent at the elbows with hands pointing backwards over shoulder. If a ball
touches any part of the lines outlining the court, ball is IN. Any touch outside the line, ball is OUT. Line judges
may also call “Touch” which indicates that a player had some type of body contact with a ball before it headed out
of bounds. Holding the Left hand up, and brushing the fingertips with the opposite hand is the signal for a “Touch.”

 Site managers should be located to resolve any conflict(s) or issue(s) pertaining to other coach(s)/team/
players/ref/spectator(s). Unsportsmanlike behavior by anyone will not be tolerated. Site managers have the
authority to remove anyone from their site who is causing a disturbance.

 Intentional violation of substitution/serving rule will result in forfeit of the match. Attention must be brought to the
matter during the match by respectfully approaching the ref, opposing coach, and the site manager.

 Site directors should report win/loss records for their hosting weekend to the league organizer at the conclusion of
the weekend

 Tournament pools have a minor seeding component. The league organizer, or designee, will do their best to
separate teams into relevant brackets to give the best options for successful and exciting tournaments.

 Game sites may charge no more than $2 for adults and $1 for students for admission.

 Each school will give the Spring tournament director $75 to help offset the costs associated with trophies/awards.

Tournament schedule:

2017 - Athens
2018 – Trimble
2019 – Nelsonville
2020 – Logan
2021 – Berne Union
2022 – Miller
2023 – Federal Hocking

Hosting Schedule 2018:

HOST SITE
DATE

April 7, 2018

April 14, 2018

April 21, 2018

April 28, 2018

Tournaments
May 5-6, 2018 Athens
 Rev.
2/2018