CEVA Rule Modifications and Applicable USA Volleyball Rules

CEVA rules are based on USA Volleyball rules. USA Volleyball rules govern various formats (indoor,
outdoor, beach, doubles, triples, quads, co-ed, reverse co-ed, adaptive, junior, adult, etc.). We made
modifications, as nearly all recreation leagues do, to meet our needs and conditions.

A. The teams and positions on the court

1. A team consists of 4 to 6 players, at least 2 being females.
2. When a team consists of five, there will be 3 in the front row and 2 in the back, and they will
rotate in a way to maintain that arrangement.
3. A back-row player may not come to the net to block except as detailed in number five, below. If a
back-row player attacks the ball with an overhead hitting motion, a foot must be in contact with
the ground.
4. NOTE: If a team consists of 4, there are no specified back or front row positions. Players must
only maintain the serving order (This is the USA Volleyball rule for quads). The person serving, for
example, would be allowed to come forward to block and hit.
5. It is not necessary for a female to have one of the contacts as some leagues do.
6. Players are not required to wear matching uniforms. The uniforms do not need to be numbered.
7. New players enter the game through rotating in. Substitutions are not allowed. Liberos will not
be used.
8. Men do not necessarily have to rotate in for men and women rotate in for women. Either way,
there must be at least 2 women on the court, and a consistent rotation order must be
maintained.

B. Start of play
1. The first serve of the match will be determined by volleying. The winning team can elect to
either serve, receive, or choose a side. The captain who lost the volley has the remaining choice.
2. Thereafter, the teams will switch sides after each game and the losing team gets to choose
whether to serve or receive.
3. NOTE: Teams rotate after EVERY side out, even the first side out of the game.

C. Match Format
1. Unless captains have made other arrangements in advance, the team listed first or on top in the
schedule should set up. The opposing team should assist in setting up the net and field.
2. Matches will be decided by the best two of three games with a minimum of three games being
played. If a team wins the first two, they have won the match, but the third game is to be played.
Playoff matches will be the best three of five games.
3. Games are played to 25 with no cap and a team must win by two points.
4. Start time is between 5:45 and 6:00.

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 5. If a match is stopped after starting due to rain, unless otherwise agreed to clearly by both team
captains, all individual games completed will be counted for record. Captains must decide
whether to resume the match rescheduled or consider one team the winner that evening.
6. Each team gets one 30-second time out per game. This is encouraged during hot weather.

D. Specific Rules -Discussion and Clarifications

1. Double Hits: All double contacts are illegal except on first contact.
2. Attacking the Serve: it is legal to return a serve directly with as much pace as you can, however
it cannot be blocked or spiked. It is illegal to have both feet off the ground when returning a
serve. A foot must be in contact with the ground and the ball must have an initial upward
trajectory. In other words, the ball must go over the net in an arc, and not in a straight across or
downward direction.
3. Explanation: This is consistent with CEVA’s limitations on back-row attackers: “If a back-row
player attacks the ball with an overhead hitting motion, a foot must be in contact with the
ground and the ball must have an initial upward trajectory. In other words, the ball must go
over the net in an arc, and not in a straight downward direction.”
4. Play at the Net: Touching any part of the net and ropes between the poles is a violation.
Touching the poles or guy ropes running to the stakes is not a fault.
5. Going under the net is not a fault unless contact is made disrupting play or posing a safety
hazard.
6. The ball must cross the net between the poles for it to be legal.
7. Players may not reach over the net to disrupt a pass, set, or save that is completely on the
opponent’s side of the net. Players may reach over the net to block a ball when: The attacker
has completed their attempt to send the ball over the net. The attacking side has completed
their final (3rd) hit
NOTE: The term “attack hit” or “attacker” means that the player is attempting to send the ball
over the net. That is the only ball that can be blocked by reaching across the net (the serve is not
considered an attack hit and may not be blocked). Any other hit by the team playing the ball (a
pass, set, or save) that is completely on their side of the net may not be blocked.
8. Carries: carries occur when the ball comes to rest at any point during play. The ball must be hit
and not palmed or thrown or lifted. Carries must be called, preferably by the captain of the
offending team.
9. Player’s Right to Play: A player cannot be sidelined unless they have stated it is their desire to
be sidelined. No captain can sideline a player against their wishes. Alternately, a player may ask
to be excused, the captain is not forced to play them. Ultimately the decision remains with the
player.
10. Players who want to play must be placed in the rotation, whether a game has yet to begin or a
game is currently in progress. If a player arrives late to a game and wants to play in the game in
progress, they must be placed in the rotation immediately. Conversely, if this player wishes to
wait until the end of the game to begin playing, they are allowed, but it must always be based on

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 what the player wants to do. Any player who has a grievance in this area should contact the
league steering committee.
11. Disruptive behavior: any physical altercations or verbal abuse of other players will result in
immediate expulsion by that player’s captain. No trash talking through the net. Going under the
net during a dispute is forbidden.
12. Score must be announced: the score is to be called out clearly prior to every serve. If not, the
receiving team may stop play until the score is called and agreed upon.
13. Do-overs: if a point is in dispute, please consider playing the point over.
14. Standings: Standings are based on the total of matches won, then games won. In case of a tie,
the first tiebreaker is the head-to-head record.

Applicable USA Volleyball Rules

The Serve
• Server must not contact the court or end line until after contact with the ball. It is legal for a player
to jump from behind the end line, contact the ball while in the air above the court, and then land
on the court or end line.
• Ball may be served underhand or overhand
• Served ball may hit the net and drop to the other side for point No blocking or attacking (spiking)
a serve
Scoring
• Rally scoring will be used.
• There will be a point scored on every score of the ball.
• Offense will score on a defense miss (the ball hits on their court), defensive player fault, or out of
bounds hit by defensive player.
• Defense will score on an offensive miss, offensive player fault, out of bounds hit by offensive player,
or serve failing to cross the net.
• Game will be played to 25 pts.
• Must win by 2 points.
Rotation
• Team will rotate each time they win the serve
• Players shall rotate in a clockwise manner
Playing the Game
• Maximum of three hits per side (a block is not considered a hit)
• Player may not hit the ball twice in succession
• Ball may be played off the net during a volley and on serve
• A ball touching a boundary line is good
• A legal hit is contact with the ball by a player with any part of the body which does not allow the
ball to visibly come to a rest.
• If two or more players contact the ball simultaneously, it is considered one play and the players
involved may participate in the next play

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 • Switching positions will be allowed after the ball is served. At the end of the rally, players must
return to their positions before the next serve.
• Players in the back-row position at the time of serve may not block or spike.
Basic Rule Violations
• Stepping on or over the line on a serve
• Failure to serve the ball over the net successfully
• Hitting the ball illegally, generally through prolonged contact (Carrying, Palming, Throwing, etc.).
The ball needs to rebound from the contact
• Touches of the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play. If the ball is driven into the net
with such force that it causes the net to contact an opposing player, no foul will be called, and the
ball shall continue to be in play
• Only a ball that is on the player’s side or above the net (partially across) can be attacked.
• A player may only reach over the net to block a ball when:
The attacker has completed their hit
When the attacker has completed their final (3rd) hit.
• Reaching under the net to interfere with the ball being played by the opposing player
• Failure to serve in the correct order