6v6 Volleyball Rules
Team Roster
 Games are played 6v6 but teams may play with as few as 4 players. The maximum number of
players on a roster is 12.
 The minimum number of players must be on the court ready to play no later than 10 minutes
after the official game time. Teams not ready to play by this time will get a “No-Show” loss.
 A player may compete for only one team in a league (Men’s or Women’s). Once a person has
played with a team they cannot play with any other team. A player is also eligible to participate
in a Co-Rec division.
 Varsity volleyball players are ineligible.
 A player may be added to a roster up to the start of the last regular season game.
 All players must sign-in at the score table before every game by presenting their Maroon Card.
 Co-Rec Modifications
o The number of males cannot exceed the number of females by more than 1 (i.e. 3 males
and 2 females).
Playing Surface
 Courts 1 and 2 in Bast Gym will be reserved for intramural volleyball.
 The size of the court will be 18 meters x 9 meters.
 The red lines on the court are the boundaries and regulation lines.
 Spectators must remain in their designated areas.
 Net Height
o Men’s and Co-Rec Height: 7’ 11 5/8”
o Women’s: 7’6”
Equipment
 All players must wear matching color pinnies with different numbers.
 All players are required to wear non-marking, athletic sneakers (no sandals or bare feet).
 Wearing jewelry (rings, necklaces, earrings, etc.) is prohibited while playing.
 It is strongly suggested that players not wear pants or shorts with belt loops or pockets. Denim
is not permitted.
 Players may not wear headwear that is hard, unyielding, stiff material, including billed hats, or
items containing exposed knots (ex. bandanas, skull caps and baseball hats). Players are
permitted to wear sweatbands, as long as they are located around the forehead or wrist.
Sweatbands around the neck are NOT permitted.
 Volleyballs, nets, and pinnies will be provided.
Timing
 A matches is the best of 3 games. A match is completed when a team wins 2 games.
 There will be a 3-minute rest allowed between games.
 Initial possession will be determined by Rock-Paper-Scissors. The winner will get to choose
whether his/her team will play serve first or choose which side of the court a team will
defend. Teams automatically switch ends and possession for each game.
Scoring
 All scores are worth 1 point.
 Games are rally scoring to 21. Games are capped at 21; the first team to score 21 wins.
 The third game will be played to 15, but must win by 2 points. This is capped at 21.
 In the case of a No-Show or Forfeit, the offended team will win the match by a score of 2-0.
Substitutions
 Teams may only substitute when a player is in the servers’ position, during a side out or a point.
In Co-Rec Games, substitutions must be male-for-male or female-for-female.
Player Rotation
 Rotational order is determined by the team’s starting line-up.
 When the receiving team has gained the right to serve, its players rotate one position
clockwise: the player in position 2 rotates to position 1 to serve, the player in position 1 rotates
to position 6, etc.
 When a team gains the right to serve ALL PLAYERS must rotate clockwise – not just the server.
o Once the rotation is complete, the players must then abide by the rules of their current
position on the floor.
 A rotational fault is committed when the SERVICE is not made according to the rotational order.
It leads to the following result:
o The team is sanctioned with a point and service to the opponent
o The player’s rotational order is rectified
Serving
 Player must serve the ball behind the end line extending across the entire end line. Part of the
server’s body may be in the air over or beyond these lines. A ball that hits the net on a serve
and goes to the opposing side is a live ball.
 It is illegal to screen an opponent on a serve. Screening is an attempt by one or more players to
conceal the start of a teammate’s serve by obstructing an opponent’s line of sight.
Returning the Ball
 All players are eligible to return the ball over the net provided the team does not use more than
3 hits. Only the front three players on the net may contact the ball above the net to return it
the other side.
o Co-Rec Modification: If a team hits a ball more than once, both sexes must touch the
ball before the ball is returned to the opposing team. (eg. M-F-M, F-M-F, M-M-F)
Playing the Ball
 A contacted ball is one that touches or is touched by any part of a player’s body or clothing.
 A legal hit is a contact part of the body above the waist.
 Players may not play a ball with the foot or kick the ball to keep it in bounds.
 If the ball comes to a momentary rest, a carry will be called.
 If the ball hits a player twice in succession, a double hit will be called. The ball may be hit only
three times before being sent over the net.
 If two or more players of the same team contact the ball at the same time, it is considered one
hit and either of these players may participate in the next play.
Spiking
 All players who are playing the front line are permitted to spike the ball provided they do not
contact the net at any time.
 A back line player returning the ball to the opponent’s side while forward of the attack line (10’
Line) must contact the ball when at least part of the ball is below the level of the top of the net
over the attacking team’s area. The restriction does not apply if the back line player jumps
from clearly behind the attack line and after contacting the ball, lands on or in front of the line.
Blocking
 When a player blocks a ball, it is not considered a hit and that player may participate in the next
play. Only players who are playing the front line are permitted to block. It is illegal to block or
spike a serve.
 A player may only reach over the net to block a ball provided the opposing team is attacking the
ball. A ball that contacts the net is considered a live ball and in play provided it is in bounds.
Lines
 A ball touching a boundary line is good.
 Contacting the opponent’s playing area over the center line with any part of the body except
the feet is a fault. Touching the opponent’s area with a foot or feet is not a fault provided that
some part of the encroaching foot or feet remains on or above the center line.
 A player may run out of bounds to play a ball.
Out-of-Bounds
 The ball is out of bounds when it touches the floor or any object outside of the court, or
touches the net outside of the court boundaries on the sides of the net.
 Any part of the ball touching a boundary line is not out of bounds. The LINE is IN.
 If the ball is caught or is contacted by a player before landing out of bounds, it is not out of
bounds.
Ball Contacts the Ceiling
 A ball contacting the ceiling or hitting other objects above the playable area on the side of the
team that has originally hit the ball can be played as long as it is the second or third hit.
 A ball that hits the ceiling or any other object before going over the net is considered out of
bounds.