TSVL House Rules 2011-2012

The Toronto Spartan Volleyball League (TSVL) House Rules are either additions or modifications of the Fédération International de Volleyball (FIVB) 'Rules of the Game 2009-2012'.  These rules are meant to supplement the FIVB rules in order to adapt to the format, facilities, and mandate of the TSVL.  If a rule is not addressed in the TSVL House Rules, it should be assumed that the TSVL simply follows the rule as written in the FIVB 'Rules of the Game 2009-2012'.

1) Facilities and Equipment

- The playing court is a rectangle measuring approximately 18 x 9 m, although dimensions might vary slightly based on the playing facility, surrounded by a free zone that may vary in size.

- Two sidelines and two end lines mark the playing court, with a centre line that extends beneath the net from sideline to sideline and divides the playing court into two equal halves.

- An attack line is located 3 m from the centre line and marks the front zone, which extends beyond the sidelines to the end of the free zone.

- The service zone is the area behind each end line, but can also include a single step into the playing court due to a lack of space at some playing facilities.

- When possible, the competitive division sets the net at standard men's height (2.43 m), while the recreational division sets the net at standard women's height (2.24 m), however net height can be limited at some playing facilities.

- Antennae are not mandatory, but when used are fastened at each band on the net to delimit, laterally, the crossing space of the ball.  In the absence of antennae, the line judges will make calls based on a visual extension of the sidelines.

- Nets should arrive at the gym by 6:30 PM, with set-up complete by 6:45 PM.

- Matches begin every week at 6:50 PM (competitive division) or 7:00 PM (recreational division).  In the competitive division, if the first match starts after 6:50 PM, it still finishes at 7:15 PM.  In the recreational division, if the first match starts after 7:00 PM, it is still played for a full 20 minutes.

2) Weekly Play & Scoring

Recreational Division

- Every week, each team will play 20-minute matches against three other teams, determined by the season schedule, including a 1st game (to 25 points; win by two points, cap at 27 points) and a 2nd game (until the 20-minute match has elapsed; no cap).

- A team that wins a 1st game is awarded 3 points in the division standings.

- A team that wins a 2nd game is awarded 2 points in the division standings.

- A team that ties a 2nd game is awarded 1.5 points in the division standings.

- A team that loses a 1st or 2nd game is awarded 1 point in the division standings.

- A team that defaults a 1st or 2nd game is not awarded any points.

- The score of a defaulted 1st game is recorded as 25-0.  The score of a defaulted 2nd game is recorded as 15-0.

- If 20 minutes have elapsed and a 1st game is still being played, the 1st referee will signal 'last point'.  The final point is played and a winner is declared (play an additional point if the game is tied after the final point).  The winner of this 1st game still receives 3 points in the division standings.  A 2nd game comprising of only 2 points is then played.

- A team defaults a 1st game if less than 4 players are available to play within the first 5 minutes of the start time, which is suggested by the nightly play schedule, but determined by the 1st referee.  A 2nd game can still be played if the defaulting team can field 4 players at any time during the 20-minute time period, so long as at least 2 points are played.

Competitive Division

- Every week, each team will play 25-minute matches against the three other teams of the same pool, including a 1st game (to 25 points; win by two points, cap at 27 points) and a 2nd game (until the 25-minute match has elapsed; no cap).

- A team that wins a 1st game is awarded 3 points towards the pool score.

- A team that wins a 2nd game is awarded 2 points towards the pool score.

- A team that loses a 1st or 2nd game is awarded 1 point towards the pool score.

- A team that defaults a 1st or 2nd game is not awarded any points.

- The score of a defaulted 1st game is recorded as 25-0.  The score of a defaulted 2nd game is recorded as 15-0.

- There are no ties in the competitive division.  If there is a tie after the last point of any game, one additional point is played to determine a winner.

- If 25 minutes have elapsed and a 1st game is still being played, the 1st referee will signal 'last point'.  The final point is played and a winner is declared (play an additional point if the game is tied after the final point).  The winner of this 1st game still receives 3 points in the division standings.  A 2nd game comprising of only 3 points is then played.

- A team defaults a 1st game if less than 4 players are available to play within the at the start time of the match, determined by the nightly play schedule.  An exception is made for the first match of every night, where a team is granted a 5-minute grace period (until 6:55 PM) before it defaults the 1st game.  A 2nd game can still be played if the defaulting team can field 4 players at any time during the 25-minute time period, so long as at least 3 points are played.

- At the end of every night, teams are re-ranked based on their pool score for the evening, with the top scoring team being seeded #1, next seeded #2, etc.  If two teams have an equal number of points, the team with higher point differential (+/-) is ranked higher.  If two teams have an equal number of points and the same point differential, the team that won the first game between the two contested teams during that night of play is ranked higher.  The top and bottom seeds of each pool are then sent up and down a pool respectively for the next week of play (i.e. the top seed of F pool, F1, will play as E4 the following week).  Points towards the overall divisional standings are then awarded to each team based on their new pool ranking and the following chart:

3) Team Composition

Recreational Division

- Teams in the recreational division consist of 9 players, drafted by the TSVL Executive and recreational division captains, and balanced by an appointed TSVL ranking committee.

- Every team will have one captain, assigned by the TSVL, who will act as the court captain during games and provide guidance to team members.

- If more the 6 members from a team are present on any given night, teams will rotate members on to the court so that everyone receives equal playing time, while only having 6 members on the court for any given rally.

- The standard 'W' formation is recommended during recreational play, but other formations are allowed, as decided by the team, so long as positions are not deliberately switched during play, ensuring every member has the opportunity to play every position equally.

- If only 4 or 5 members from a team are present on any given night, those members will be allowed to play and rotate as usual with no additional penalties or restrictions on the court.

- Team members that arrive to the gym after a game has already begun can be substituted into play at any time.

- Teams are entitled to one 30-second time out per game, but not during the last 2 minutes of the match.

Competitive Division

- Teams in the competitive division can consist of between 6 to 9 players, with rosters being administrated by the team, not the TSVL.  Any changes to a team's roster must be submitted to the Competitive Division Director by email (comp@tsvl.org) no later than 2PM of the day the change will be applied.

- If a team uses newly added roster players in any matches without following the above protocol, all matches involving said players will count as defaults.

- For each match, a court captain will be identified for each team.  The court captain will be the only player allowed to communicate with the 1st referee or the other team (through that team's court captain).  The court captain is also responsible for the on court conduct of their team.

- Teams may use a libero, so long as the libero is identified at the beginning of the game to the 1st referee.

- There are unlimited substitutions in the competitive division, so long as the standardized FIVB rules regarding substitutions are followed.  This means that if a substitute player enters the game in place of a player from the starting line-up, then the substitute may only later be replaced by the same starting line-up player.  Example: if #3 replaces #8, then only #8 can later come in to replace #3.

- Exceptional substitutions, which disregard the above substitution rule, can be used to replace a player that cannot continue playing due to injury or illness if a legal substitution cannot be made.

- If more than 6 members from a team are present on any given night, it is up to the team to determine who will play which games.

- If only 4 or 5 members from a team are present on any given night, those members will be allowed to play, but a 'ghost' will be used to represent a missing player on the court (one ghost for a team of five, two ghosts for a team of 4).  A ghost will be placed in the starting lineup and rotate through around the court as if it were an actual player.  Ghosts will help to maintain the restriction of having 3 front row and 3 back row players at all times (i.e. if a ghost starts a rally in a front row position, only two other players can be designated as front row players).  Additionally, when it is time for a ghost to serve, the serving team immediately loses serve, and a point is awarded to the opposing team.

- Team members that arrive to the gym after a game has already begun can be substituted into play at any time.

- Teams are entitled to two 30-second time outs per game, but not during the last 2 minutes of the match.

4) Substitute Players

Recreational Division

- Each recreational team consists of 9 members, with only these 9 members being allowed to play in matches that count towards the division standings.  No substitute players are allowed in the recreational division.

- The only exception to the above rule is for substitute captains.  If a team captain will be away on any given night, a request can be made for a substitute captain that will lead and serve as court captain for the team for the duration of the evening.  Substitute captains are selected from a list of experienced players from the competitive division.  A request for a substitute captain must be made through the Recreational Division Coordinator (rec@tsvl.org) by email.

Competitive Division

- There are two means by which competitive division teams can use substitute players: the TSVL competitive sublist and drop-ins.  Teams are allowed to use substitute players to meet the minimum requirement of 4 players in order to avoid defaulting games.

- The TSVL competitive sublist consists of a mix of recreational division players, who can be added at no cost, and players outside of the general league membership, who must pay the $40 TSVL membership fee to be added.  Competitive teams can use the TSVL competitive sublist as often as they want, but can only call on any given player a maximum of 2 times.  If a player wishes to play for a team on more than 2 occasions, they must be added to that team's official roster.

- Drop-ins are players outside the TSVL membership that would like to tryout or fill in for a team for one night of play.  Each team is allowed 3 drop-ins over the course of the entire season.  Similarly, any outside player can drop-in a total of 3 times throughout the season, but not more than once for any particular team.  With no exceptions, all drop-in players must sign a waiver of liability before playing.

- Competitive teams are responsible for contacting substitute players themselves and must notify the Competitive Division Director by email (comp@tsvl.org) no later than 2PM of the day the substitute player will be used.

- If a team uses substitute players in any matches without following the above protocol, all matches involving said players will count as defaults.

- There will be no limitations or restrictions on how a team uses their substitute players during play (i.e. number of matches/sets played).  Any negative experiences can be reported to the TSVL Vice President (vp@tsvl.org).  Teams that are found to consistently mistreat substitute players will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

5) Referees

- In the TSVL, the refereeing team is required to supply the following:

            - 1st referee (up-ref)                                    - 2nd referee (down-ref)

            - scorekeeper                                                - two line judges

- If a team only has four players that evening, one of the line judges can also act as the scorekeeper.  If a team has at least five players that evening, all 5 refereeing positions should be supplied.

- Only the 1st referee should address the playing teams, with all other members of the refereeing team reporting any issues to the 1st referee

- When playing without antennae, it is up to the line judges to determine whether a ball passed over the net either inside or outside the playing court.

- Members of the refereeing team are expected to pay attention during the entire match and make unbiased calls, to ensure that the game is as fair as possible for both teams

6) Clarification of net and center line rules

a) Rule 11.2: Penetration Under the Net

- It is permitted to touch the opponent's court beyond the centre line with any part of the body above the feet, provided that this does not interfere with the opponent's play, as determined by the 1st referee

- It is permitted to touch the opponent's court beyond the centre line with a foot, provided that some part of the penetrating foot remains either in contact with, or directly above the centre line

b) Rule 11.3/11.4: Contact With the Net

- Players may touch the post, ropes, or any other object outside the antennae, including the net itself, provided that it does not interfere with the play, as determined by the 1st referee

- Players are allowed to make contact with the net, except under any of the following circumstances, all of which are at the discretion of the 1st referee:

            - A player touches the top band of the net, or the portion of the antenna             above the net, while playing the ball

            - A player uses the net for support while simultaneously playing the ball

            - A player creates an advantage over the opponent by touching the net

            - A player makes an action to hinder an opponent's legitimate attempt to play             the ball

- While both of these rules are now part of the TSVL, the league still encourages players to avoid contact with the net or the opponent's court whenever possible to reduce the risk of injury.