League rules

Wallingford Sunday Volleyball League, 2026–27 rules

Current USA Volleyball (USAV) indoor rules govern play, except for the clarifications and modifications below. Rule numbers refer to the USAV 2025–2027 Indoor Rule Book.

Teams and rosters

• 4.1.1 A team needs a minimum of 5 players. At least 2 women must be on the court at all times, and there can be no more than 4 men on the court.
• No player can transfer to another team once the regular season has started.
• Everyone who plays must be on the team's roster and have signed the season's waiver.
• Before each match the referee checks in the players taking part from each team's roster.
• Substitutions: substitutes enter the set in a pre-determined position on the court. Only women can replace women, and only men can replace men.

The match

• 6.2 A regular-season match is 3 sets. Each set is played to 21 points (win by 2), with a cap of 23 points. Every set counts on its own in the standings; there is no extra credit for winning 2 of the 3.
• 18.1 Teams have a maximum of 3 minutes between sets.
• 6.4.2 A team without enough players to start forfeits set 1 after 5 minutes, and the entire match after 10 minutes.
• 7.1 Before the match, the referee tosses a coin. The winner chooses either to serve or receive, or which side of the court to start on. The loser takes the remaining choice.
• 12.1.1 / 12.1.2 The first service of the first set goes to the team decided by the coin toss. Each later set starts with the team that did not serve first in the previous set. Teams switch sides after each set.
• 7.6.2 / 12.2.2.2 When the receiving team wins the right to serve, its players rotate one position clockwise. This includes after the first service of each set.
• 15.1 / 15.3.1 / 15.4.1 Each team may take a maximum of 1 time-out per set. Only the game captain may request it. Time-outs last 30 seconds.

At the net

• 11.2 No penetration under the net. Touching the opponent's court with a foot (or feet) is allowed, as long as some part of the penetrating foot stays in contact with, or directly above, the center line.
• 11.3.2 Players may not touch the net, the posts, the referee stand, or any other object outside the antennae.

Facility rules

• If the ball touches any part of a basketball hoop or the structure above the net, the rally is replayed.
• The basketball hoops at each end of the court are out of bounds.
• The ball may not be played outside the red sidelines.

Playoffs

• To be eligible for the playoffs, a player must play in at least 6 of their team's matches, playing at least 2 sets in each.

Common rules explained

9.2 Characteristics of the hit

• 9.2.1 The ball may touch any part of the body.
• 9.2.2 The ball must not be caught or thrown. It can rebound in any direction.
• 9.2.3 The ball may touch various parts of the body, provided the contacts happen at the same time. Exceptions:
  • 9.2.3.1 When blocking, consecutive contacts may be made by one or more players, provided they happen during one action.
  • 9.2.3.2 On the team's first hit, the ball may touch various parts of the body one after another, provided the contacts happen during one action. On the team's second hit, the same applies, provided the ball is next touched by a teammate.

9.3 Faults in playing the ball

• 9.3.1 Four hits: a team hits the ball four times before returning it.
• 9.3.2 Assisted hit: a player takes support from a teammate or any structure or object to hit the ball within the playing area.
• 9.3.3 Catch: the ball is caught or thrown; it does not rebound from the hit.
• 9.3.4 Double contact: a player hits the ball twice in a row, or the ball touches various parts of their body in succession on the team's third hit and is not next touched by a teammate.

11.1 Reaching beyond the net

• 11.1.1 When blocking, a player may touch the ball beyond the net, provided they do not interfere with the opponent's play before the opponent's attack hit.
• 11.1.2 After an attack hit, a player may pass their hand beyond the net, provided the contact was made within their own playing space.

11.2 Penetration under the net

• 11.2.3 A player may enter the opponent's free zone after the ball goes out of play.
• 11.2.4 Players may enter the opponent's free zone provided they do not interfere with the opponent's play.

11.3 Contact with the net

• 11.3.1 Touching the net while playing the ball is a fault. Playing the ball includes (among other things) the take-off, the hit or attempted hit, and landing safely, ready for a new action.
• 11.3.3 When the ball is driven into the net and makes it touch an opponent, no fault is committed.

11.4 Player faults at the net

• 11.4.1 A player touches the ball or an opponent in the opponent's space before or during the opponent's attack hit.

• 11.4.2 A player interferes with the opponent's play while under the net in the opponent's space.

• 11.4.3 A player's foot (or feet) goes completely into the opponent's court.

• 11.4.4 A player interferes with play by, among other things:

  • touching the net while playing the ball;
  • using the net between the antennae for support or balance;
  • gaining an unfair advantage over the opponent by touching the net;
  • making actions that hinder an opponent's legitimate attempt to play the ball;
  • catching or holding onto the net.

  Any player close to the ball as it is played, and who is trying to play it, is considered to be playing the ball even if they make no contact with it.

12.4 Serving

• 12.4.4 The server must hit the ball within 8 seconds of the referee's whistle.
  • Once the serving action has started, including an underhand serve, tossing the ball and then catching it or letting it fall to the floor is a service tossing error. This includes a ball that touches the server as it falls.
  • After a service tossing error, the referee authorizes the serve again and the server must serve within the next 8 seconds.
  • One service tossing error is allowed per service.

13.3 Attack hit faults

• 13.3.3 A back-row player completes an attack hit from the front zone when, at the moment of the hit, the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net.
• 13.3.4 A player completes an attack hit on the opponent's serve when the ball is in the front zone and entirely higher than the top of the net.