Toss & Match Format

Toss

The toss winner chooses either first service or court side; the other team receives the remaining choice. Captains must decide their preference before the toss and communicate the decision immediately.

League matches

All Mixed League matches will be played as a single set to 25 points, capped at 27 points.

Court changes

No court change will take place during the match. Teams will remain on the same court side for the entire set.

Main Rules

1. Court: Indoor courts are 36–40 ft × 60 ft with a 7.5 ft net. Facility dimensions may vary; the dead zone may be 4.45–4.5 ft.
2. Players: Mixed League teams will have 7 players.
3. Age: Players must be 18+. Ages 12–18 require a parent-signed waiver.
4. Substitutions: Not applicable for Mixed Leagues. No substitutes are allowed.
5. Substitution box: Not applicable for Mixed Leagues because no substitutes are allowed.
6. Team time-outs: Two per set, 30 seconds each, requested only by the captain or coach. Players remain in the free zone.
7. Technical time-out: Not applicable for Mixed Leagues. There will be no technical time-outs.
8. No shifting: Hand shift and body shift are prohibited.
9. Release: Every left- or right-handed throw must be released above shoulder level.
10. Scoring: Point-a-rally scoring applies.

Service

20. Service box: Serve within five seconds of the whistle with at least one foot inside the box and without touching its lines.
21. Follow-through: The server may not follow through outside the sides of the service box.
22. Dotted lines: Touching the dotted service-box lines is a foul.
23. Five seconds: A late serve loses service and awards the opponent a point.
24. Early serve: One warning and re-serve is allowed per game; a repeat is a foul.
25. Jump service: Permitted.
26. Net on service: A served ball touching the net is a foul.
27. Pole: Any service or rally ball touching the pole is a foul.
28. Sideline: A served ball landing on a sideline is in.
29. Dead zone: A service or rally ball on or in the dead zone is out.
30. Antenna: Antenna contact is a foul, though antennas may not be used because of available net length.
31. Entering court: The server may enter immediately after releasing the ball.

Zones & Rotation

2–3–2 formation

At service, teams must have 2 players in the front zone, 3 in the centre and 2 in the back. This formation must be maintained until the ball leaves the server’s hand; players may then move freely. A violation may award the opponent a point.

33. Net rebound: Another player may receive a ball rebounding from the net during a rally, but not on the service ball.
34. Slipped ball: During a rally, another player may recover an unintentional slip or rebound. A maximum of two passes is allowed.
35. Rotation: Teams rotate only after a service break and must do so within five seconds.
36. Service positions: Both teams must be in their correct zones and positions at service.
37. Zone lines: Players must be completely inside their zones and may not touch a zone line during service.
38. Missed rotation: Failure to rotate within five seconds awards the other team a point.
39. Wrong rotation: A serve from the wrong rotation loses service and gives the opponent a point and service.
40. Position 7: The player in position 7 serves.
41. Z rotation: Rotation proceeds clockwise in a Z pattern, moving right from position 1.

Rally Play & Fouls

44. Net touch: A player touching the net is a foul; a rally ball may touch the net.
45. Roof: A ball touching the roof during service or rally is a foul.
46. Pause: No significant pause is allowed before sending the ball.
47. Dead zone: Players may never enter or touch the dead-zone line.
48. Simultaneous touch: Players may collide but cannot touch the ball simultaneously.
49. Catch height: Receive firmly with two hands above trunk level; below-waist catches are fouls.
50. No shifting: Do not hand-shift, body-shift or catch centrally and move the ball to a side.
51. Sliding: A slide equivalent to more than two steps after the catch is a foul.
52. Out ball: A player fully outside the court who catches an out ball may return it.
53. Illegal catches: Double touch, juggling, rolling, body contact, below-waist reception and slipping are prohibited.
54. Illegal throws: Underarm, side, hook, push and crocodile-style actions are prohibited.
55. Tapping: Finger movement on the ball during or after the catch is prohibited.
56. Double touch: Includes two players catching together or one player catching twice.
57. Sound: A “dub” sound is treated as a foul.
58. Stretching: The elbow must remain bent; a side stretch requires at least roughly 60% bend in one arm.
59. Body touch: The ball may touch only the palms—not body, clothing, hair, cap or jersey.
60. Fingers: A fingers-only catch is a foul.
61. Three seconds: Catch and send the ball in one action within three seconds.
62. Two passes: Only an unintentional slip or rebound during a rally permits a second pass.
63. Net recovery: A teammate may catch a rally ball rebounding from the net before it hits the floor.
64. Intentional net play: Deliberately throwing into the net for a teammate to recover is prohibited.
65. Steps: Only one step is allowed after receiving the ball.
66. Jump catch: Prohibited; one foot must contact the floor when catching.
67. Jump throw: Allowed before stepping.
68. Release angle: Underarm release or a hand parallel to the floor is a foul; release above the shoulder.
69. Palms: Upward-facing palms parallel to the floor while catching are a foul.
70. Two-hand throw: Prohibited. Catch with two hands and release with one.
71. One-hand catch: Prohibited, including one-hand catches later supported by the other hand.
72. Turning: Players may not turn 180° or 360° while holding or releasing the ball.
73. Stopping play: Only the referee may stop or pause the game.
74. Protective gear: Knee pads, elbow/ankle supports, finger splints and finger tape are allowed. Palm-covering braces are not.
75. Artificial aids: Gloves, chalk, casts or anything providing an artificial catching or grip advantage are prohibited and may disqualify a team.

Communication With Referees

• Captains, players, coaches and managers may not approach or communicate with referees during a match or between sets.
• Communication is permitted only after the match and only to request clarification or feedback about one’s own team.
• No one may report an opponent’s fouls or try to teach, pressure or influence an official.
• Referees act independently, and their decisions are final. These rules protect fair play, impartiality and respect.

Player Injury

1. Injury time: An injured player receives two minutes to recover and resume. Substitutions are not available in Mixed Leagues.
2. Injury re-serve: The referee stops play and calls a re-serve for a visible injury. If not immediately apparent, a player or captain may raise a hand or verbally notify the referee.

Conduct

89. Players may not call opponents’ fouls, abuse anyone or repeatedly question officials.
90. Do not leave the court without informing the referee, except during time-outs and between sets.
91. Do not address opponents during service or a rally.
92. Abuse of opponents, referees or spectators is prohibited.
93. Do not tamper with the playing surface or equipment.
94. The captain is responsible for team discipline and is the team spokesperson.
95. The captain must monitor the schedule and have the team ready at the court.
96. Players may not question referee decisions; a point may be deducted.
97. Arguments with referees or organizers may result in a point deduction.
98. A walkout disqualifies the team from the tournament.
99. The referee’s decision is final, and organizers will support it.

Cards & Penalties

101. Yellow card: Warning for misconduct.
102. Red card: A second misconduct expels the player from that set.
103. Yellow + red: A third misconduct expels the player for the rest of the match.
104. Severe misconduct: May cause immediate expulsion from the set, match or tournament after referee and technical-committee consultation.
105. Coach/manager: Yellow for the first misconduct, red and removal from the play area for the second.
106. Expelled players: No replacement is permitted. Six remaining players use 2–2–2; five use 2–1–2.

Equipment & Final Note

Ball: Spartan balls will be used.

Footwear: Suitable indoor sports shoes are required. Non-sports footwear and flip-flops are not allowed.