League-Wide House Rules
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.
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.
Single ceiling touches (i.e., the ball does not bounce around, amounting to more than one touch) will be allowed for recreational division. No touch allowed when the ball lands on the opposing team’s side of the court.
In the competitive division, a single ceiling touch is allowed at Roden gym only as long as the ball stays on the offensive team’s side of the court.
No touch of walls, basketball nets, etc. If these structures are hit, the referee will blow the whistle and control + a point will be awarded to the other team.
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.
Nets should arrive at the gym by 6:30 PM, with set-up complete by 6:45 PM.
Matches begin every week at 7:00 PM.
In the competitive division, if the first match starts late, it still finishes at the scheduled end time.
In the recreational division, if the first match starts after 7:00 PM, it is still played for a full 20 minutes. However, captains/referees must take into account that our permits end at 10pm.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Members of the refereeing team are expected to follow the schedule outlined on the score sheet or as agreed to by all captains.
- Referees are expected to use coin toss or rock, paper, scissors to decide serve/receive.
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)
The following rules apply to ALL DIVISIONS on ALL COURTS.
Ceiling Touch
The ball may touch the ceiling or anything attached to the ceiling off the first or second errant pass as long as it does not then bounce to the opposition's side of the court. It must be a clean touch off the ceiling, girders, pipes, lights or basketball nets/frames without bouncing around. Only a basketball net that hangs over the BACK court is considered ceiling. If the ball touches a basketball net in the front court (i.e. hanging over the side of the court) it is considered out.
Riverdale Single: a re-serve is permitted if the server hits the wire above their court's back line.
Serve: One-Foot Step-In/ Foot Fault Rule
One foot in or on the baseline (back line) is permitted on all courts in all divisions.
To clarify: to be a valid serve, one or both feet must have been on the floor behind the baseline prior to the moment of serve (serving hand contacting the ball). A foot fault should be called if both feet were touching the baseline and/or inside the back line in contact with the floor at the moment the ball is served. After the moment of contact, both of the player's feet may land on or inside the baseline (e.g. a jump serve where the player takes off with one or both feet behind the baseline, hits the ball in mid air, and then both feet land on/inside the baseline). While one-step-in is permitted due to space limitations, it is recommended that players serve with both feet clearly behind the baseline, as per FIVB standards.
Only one timeout is allowed per team/per set. The referee should call out when there are two minutes left, after which timeouts are not permitted.
Danforth Tech
Wall side - green line
Inside court - second yellow line
Back - yellow line
Do your best to align the edges of the nets with the appropriate lines.
Ball touches to basketball nets/structure over the front court are out. Ball touches to the basketball nets over the back courts are still playable.
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.
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