League Rules

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The Official Rulebook of Animeca Sports Volleyball 

 

I. Foreword

 

This code of rules governs the playing of Volleyball games in the AS. If there is no explicit definition of a rule or circumstance here, USA Volleyball regulations will apply. The Game Head Referee's (GHR) decisions are final.

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II. Conduct

 

 Whether you win or lose, be kind, have fun, and be positive. The next day, everyone has to
get up and go to work, and this is a social league, not a chance to relive your golden years.
Maintain a laid-back disposition, mingle with new people, and enjoy yourself.

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 There is ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED on the fields! Alcohol drinking is against the law in
state parks. Anyone caught breaking the rules of the field will be asked to leave right
away. We must follow the regulations because we are visitors to the field we are using, and for continued permission in to use the facilities and have a positive rapport.

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 Players who are suspected of having alcohol on them or on spectators will be permanently
banned from the league, and their teams may also forfeit with no refund.

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 If anyone (including players, supporters, or friends of players) is discovered bringing alcohol,
firearms, or controlled substances into any location or sponsor bar used by the league, they will
be instantly removed, at the discretion of the AS. Even if they are suspected of consuming too
much alcohol before the game, suspected of abusing a controlled substance, or if they are
deemed disruptive or a danger to themselves or others at any time, they will not be allowed to
participate.

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 These regulations are in place for the players' protection, enjoyment, and ongoing
camaraderie as well as that of the league, sponsoring establishments, and sponsor bars.

 

 

III. Weather for Indoor and Outdoor

 

AS will alert all captains if there is a chance of severe rain, sleet, snow, wind, or other hazardous weather that could make it dangerous to play a game or travel.

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If the games are already underway when they must be stopped due to bad weather, they will
be restarted or time will be determined by the league director for those circumstances.

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Any games postponed for weather will be rescheduled and information on the rescheduled
game will be sent to all captains by email. The day of the rescheduled game may result on any other weekday due to field availability and time constraints.

 

 

IV. Team Size and Player Eligibility

 

 To participate, all players must be at least 18 years old and sign a waiver. At least ten players make for a full roster to play and are responsible for the FULL TEAM BALANCE. There is a limit on the roster of 12 players, additional players will pay a fee and will be allowed to join their team. No new players will be added after week 3. To maintain a balanced roster size, the AS reserves the right to add players to teams. Teams are encouraged to be creative with their names its about having fun and imaginative!

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 Players may only play on the team to which they are registered during playoffs.  Guests are allowed with a
fee that must be paid before game time and the player must sign a waiver. No guests will be
allowed during quarterfinals and on.

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 Any team playing with an unregistered player during quarterfinals and on are subject to
forfeiting that game and expulsion from the league.

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Any team found allowing unregistered players and/or guests that has not signed a waiver and has not notified AS will be penalized with a fee and would forfeit that game. ​

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​For outdoor volleyball with a game match of 6v6- 1 player must be female playing on the field at all times. No team will be allowed to play with fewer than 4 players. One player must be female. Teams may never play more than 3 male players at a time, and no team will be allowed to play without at least 1 female player on the field. Teams with no female players or with fewer than three total players will be compelled to Forfeit.​

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 Teams must start the game at the scheduled game time if the minimum number of players are
present on both teams.

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V. Equipment

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Teams are responsible for bringing one game ball each to all games. There will be one game provided by AS for all matches as the back up.​

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Each player on an official team roster will receive a league-issued shirt on Week 3 of the
Season unless there is an unforeseen problem. All shirt sizes must be IN to PLACE THE ORDER. If your team has not filled out their roster form by the first week the shirts will NOT BE ORDERED and the team will be penalized. Shirts take 1-2 weeks after the order is placed to be delivered.

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Shirt sizes and ink colors are not guaranteed and will be listed based on availability.
You always need your Team T-Shirts.

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 The shirt must be worn and visible during each and every game of the Season.

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Team T-shirts are used by the employees of our sponsor entities to identify AS
players, who are eligible to receive league discounts.

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VI. Captains

 Each team shall have one or two team managers who are charged with making sure that only players registered on their team are participating on their team’s behalf. If a guest is playing it is the responsibility of the team manager(s) to inform the league and they sign a waiver and pay the guest fee.

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Only team managers may dispute calls on the field, and are responsible for their players
understanding the rules.

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Team managers are responsible for any trash left by his or her team after each session of
play.

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VII. Referees/Sports Officials

Our Referees are professionals and must be treated with respect. Their interpretations of
rules and their judgments on the field are FINAL. Any aggressive behavior in their direction (or
anyone else’s direction) will not be tolerated and may result in suspension or expulsion from our
leagues, forfeiting their registration fees.

 

 

VIII. Scoring

1. Points (W=2pts; T=1pt; L=0)

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2. Goal differential

 

3. Head to head

 

4. Most goals scored

 

5. Fewest goals allowed

 

 

IX. Postseason Play/Playoffs

While regular season games can end in a tie, postseason games tied after the second half
will play a first-score-wins (sudden death) overtime period.

A playoff schedule will be determined after the final week of regular season play and posted on the website.

 

Guest players are not permitted from participating in playoff matches.  Only registered members on a team can participate in post season matches.

 

Any red cards received in a post-season match will result in the offending player being unable to play the following match with their team.
 

 

X. Forfeits

Games start as scheduled, so please be ON TIME. We recommend showing up at least 15
minutes early to avoid any confusion and the chance of forfeiting. Please do not forfeit without a
minimum of 48 hour notice in advance in order to provide your opponent with enough time to inform their team. A game can be rescheduled. Your teammates and your opponents count on you to have a full team and game.

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A schedule is given within the first to second week to identify any games of conflict. It is not considered
notification unless you receive a reply. Once the other team is notified and accepted there is not
a chance to reverse a forfeit decision.

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A team’s second forfeit will result in a fine at the discretion of the league, is a negative point in the Standings and ineligibility for the playoffs,
and a team’s third forfeit is removal from the remaining schedule, as they will be considered to
have abandoned their place in the league thus forfeiting their registration fees.

 

XI. Game Length and Clock

Games consist of two sets of 25 and one set of 15. This gives players an hour of play. Be ON TIME!

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Games lengths may be adjusted in the postseason.

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The Game Head Referee is the scorekeeper and keeps the time.

XII. Start of Play

Service of the first game will be determined by the first team on the field. The team that did not begin serving the first game will begin serving the second game. The winner of the second game will begin serving the third game.

Service may be either underhand or overhand with either a closed or open hand.

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A served ball must pass over the net (and can hit the net) as long as it lands within the out-of-bounds lines. A served ball may not be blocked or attacked by the receiving team. No player may have a foot entirely over the centerline at any point. A foot on the line ends the play and the point is given to the opposing team. Any touching of the net by the player will result in the end of the play and the point will be given to the opposing team. 

 

XIII. Mid-Game Substitutions

Both teams may substitute an unlimited number of players at any time during play. The
exiting player must be off the field prior to the substitute entering the field. “Subbing on the fly.”

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If a player is injured, another player must replace the injured player
until the injured player recovers.

 

XIV. Game of play

Each match contains three (3) games per night. Each game is recorded separately in the standings towards your overall season record.  A point is awarded for each side-out, regardless of which team served. Teams must win by 2 points.

When a team is awarded the serve, the team, will rotate one place clockwise. A ball hit into the net, other than a serve, may be recovered provided a player does not make contact with the net or cross the centerline.

 

A player may not play the ball twice in succession unless the initial contact is a block. A team must return the ball across the net with three or fewer contacts. A block does not count as contact. When the ball lands on the boundary line, it is considered in the court. It is legal for a player to run out of bounds and play the ball; however, a player may not enter another volleyball court to play the ball. A player's foot may not fully cross the service line but may touch it.

 

XV. Aggressive Behavior

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These are notifications that a player has been sent off/ejected from the game.
Referees are the final decision on players behavior. 

1. Serious fouls and dangerous play

2. Violent conduct

3. Spitting at an opponent, teammate and/or Referee

4. Using offensive, insulting, or abusive language and/or gestures at an opponent, teammate
and/or Referee

6. Any ejected participant must leave the premises.

7. Any ejected individual must get approval by Stephanie Nava, President of Animeca Sports, prior to attending or participating in future games, leagues, or hosted events.

8. AS reserves the right to suspend any player at any time for unsportsmanlike conduct, violation of any rules, for failure to pay appropriate dues, or for not following the rules, without any refund whatsoever.

9. Any team wishing to suspend any member for just reasons must do so on their own and provide AS a written reason as to why and they will not be refunded.

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These rules may be changed with notification to participants in the league given.