Divisions

House Rules - All Divisions

The Toronto Spartan Volleyball League (TSVL) House Rules are either additions or modifications of the Fédération International de Volleyball (FIVB) ‘Rules of the Game 2025-2028’. 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 2025-2028.

Facilities & Equipment

The Court

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 center-line that extends beneath the net from sideline to sideline and divides the playing court into two equal halves. All captains should agree on the lines that will be used at the start of the night.
An attack line is located 3m from the center-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 all playing facilities.
When possible, the competitive division sets the net at standard men’s/senior boys’ height (2.43 m), while the recreational division sets the net at standard junior boys’ height (2.35 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.

One Step-in on Serve

TSVL allows one step-in on serve in ALL divisions on ALL courts regardless of whether there is enough space.

Ceiling Touch

TSVL allows the ball to touch the ceiling in ALL divisions on ALL courts. A ceiling touch includes girders, lights or other ceiling panels. A ceiling touch is NOT allowed on basketball nets or basketball standards attached to the ceiling or walls. The touch must be a clean single touch. It is not allowed to bounce around in the ceiling and it may only touch on the team's playing side of the net. It would be still playable off either the first or second touch. No touch allowed when the ball lands on the opposing team’s side of the court.

Referees

In 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.
If a team has less than 4 players within 5 minutes of their scheduled refereeing time, they will be considered to have defaulted and have the value of a first game deducted from their score at the end of the night. The winning team would receive 10 points for the point differential.
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 the game is as fair as possible for both teams.
Members of the refereeing team are expected to follow the schedule outlined on the scoresheet. End times MUST be adhered to.
Referees are expected to use coin-toss or rock, paper, scissors, with the winner deciding serve/receive or choice of playing side.

Clarification of Centre Line & Net Touch Rules

CLARIFICATION OF CENTER LINE & NET TOUCH RULES

a) Rule 11.2: Penetration Under the Net

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

b) Rule 11.3/11.4: Contact With the Net by a Player between the Antennae during the action of playing the ball is a fault.

The action of playing the ball includes (among others) take-off, hit (or attempt) and landing
Touching the net between the antennae or the antenna itself during his/her action of playing the ball
Using the net between the antennae as a support or stabilizing aid
Creating an unfair advantage over the opponent by touching the net
Making actions which hinder an opponent’s legitimate attempt to play the ball
Catching / holding on to the net
Players close to the ball as it is played, or who are trying to play it, are considered in the action of playing the ball, even if no contact is made with the ball.
However, touching the net outside the antenna is not to be considered a fault (except for Rule 9.1.3)

Competitive Division

Intermediate Division

Recreational Division

About TSVL

The TSVL is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit adult volleyball league catering mainly to the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transpeople, queer and LGBTQ-friendly community in Toronto, Canada. The League provides an inclusive and fun environment to play volleyball and a social place to enjoy the company of new people and old friends. TSVL is the largest not-for-profit gay sports league in Canada. Learn More Here

Contact Info

Toronto Spartan Volleyball League
473 Church St., PO Box #232, Toronto, ON, M4Y 2C5

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Acknowledging Traditional Lands

Toronto is located on traditional territories of Indigenous people dating back countless generations, whose connection to this land continues to this date. As a result of past and ongoing colonization, invaluable culture, language, and history have been destroyed. In addition, we operate freely on land that was once the territory of a people that now have been displaced to other spaces and whose rights to hunt and fish have been denied.

We acknowledge that our league operates on the traditional territories of the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe peoples, whose presence here continues to this day. In particular, the gyms we play in are located on the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and within the boundaries of the Toronto Purchase Treaty (Treaty No 13) – a problematic “purchase” of land by the Crown from the River Credit Mississaugas and the subject of one of the largest claim settlements in Canadian history.

In recognizing that we are all treaty peoples, we will continue to acknowledge the land we operate on, but also work to uphold our treaty obligations to learn, understand, respect, and care for the land in partnership with its original stewards.