Coed Volleyball

Health and Safety Protocols 

• We have added hand sanitizer stations that participants must use prior to play. Participants are also encouraged to bring and use their own hand sanitizer regularly throughout the game. 
• Players must complete a COVID-19 self-assessment prior to participation. 
• Players must maintain a physical distance of 2 meters from others before, during and after all activities. This includes but is not limited to arriving at your playing area, sitting on the bench/sidelines and departing from the facilities.   
• Sport specific rules may indicate different physical distancing measures taken on the playing surface, please review those rules.  
• Players must stay within their designated bench or standing area while not on the playing surface   
• Post-game handshakes are prohibited until further notice. Verbal cheers, however, are encouraged!  
• We ask that players come ready to play each game and must leave immediately after their game.  
• We ask that players arrive with water bottles filled and remind you that absolutely no food is permitted at the game-site.   
• Players/Participants should avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth 
• Players/Participants are to be mindful and must abstain from spitting  

Team Safety Ambassadors 
Team Safety Ambassador Guidelines  

• All teams must assign a Team Safety Ambassador (TSA) for the season.  
• The TSA must be a registered player.  
• Teams must select their team safety ambassadors and they must be confirmed prior to the start of their first game by the league supervisors. Failure to comply may result in suspension.  
• The role of the TSA  
  • ​Double check that the team’s attendance as indicated on the game sheet is accurate for each game. This record may be called upon by Ottawa Public Health for contact tracing.   
  • Ensure that participants have completed their COVID-19 self-assessment.   
  • Ask players to leave the game if they arrive presenting with cold of flu symptoms.  
  • Ensure physical distancing measures are enforced by their team. Physical distancing measures are mandatory when players are arriving on-site, playing the sport, resting, sitting on the sidelines and departing from the game.  
  • Sport specific rules may change physical distancing requirements on the playing surface.  

  • Remind all players to arrive on time and leave immediately after their game is over.  

  • Ensure that their team is following any verbal directions set forth by league supervisors, referees and management on site.   

  • Ensure all players have read and understand the following:   

    • ​Safe Return to Play Guidelines  (this document)  

    • COVID-19 self-assessment tool.

League & Sport Rule Modifications 

Due to COVID-19, some changes have been made to rules for the Fall 2020 season. These rule modifications supersede any previous rules or requirements set forth in the league and sport general rule guidelines: 

• Participants should arrive no more than five (5) minutes before any scheduled game  

• Though the leagues will still be 6vs6, if a team is short one player, we will allow them to play with 5 players.  

• There will be a maximum of 12 players per team. 

• The game ball must be sanitized before each set (three times throughout the game), before and after each set. 

• Teams will not switch sides in between sets.  

• Participants should leave the facility as soon as possible after completion of volleyball related activities. 

• Players are not to use shower facilities & must be mindful of limiting skin contact in the dressing room. 

• Participants should not congregate in dressing rooms, parking areas, or public areas before or after volleyball related activities. 

• Participants must limit all physical contact outside the normal parameters of adult recreational volleyball (i.e. no handshakes or high fives)  

• Participants must use individual water bottles – the sharing of water bottles is prohibited 

• Huddling or gathering in close quarters before, during or after the game will not be permitted 

• All garbage must be collected and removed from the bench and from the dressing room by each team after use. 

• A minimum of 5 people must be on the court in order to avoid forfeit, so long as the minimum gender requirements is met (based on league type). 

The referees apply the Fédération Internationale de Volley-ball (FIVB) rules. However, Sports Services has introduced a number of special rules to better comply with the philosophy and objectives of its intramural programs:

Distribution of Equipment

1. The Intramural program will distribute 11 T-shirts of the same dominant colour to team captains at the mandatory captain’s meeting. These shirts are to be worn during all seasonal games.
2. The captain is responsible for distributing the T-shirts to his or her teammates.
3. Individuals are responsible for providing all other required clothing and equipment: shoes, socks, shorts.
4. Net height will be set at 2.24 meters.
5. There can be NO jewelry worn at anytime

Players

1. Teams must have a minimum of 6 players on the court to start a game, 2 of whom must be must be female
2. Teams must have a minimum of 6 players with their Intramural shirt in order to start a game
3. Upon the referee’s discretion any players after the 6th player may have a shirt other than the intramural shirt that is of same colour as their team’s intramural shirt Should a female player become injured during the game and is no longer able to continue play, causing the team to fall below 6 players; the team may play one player down to a minimum of 4 players on the court under the discretion of the referee.

Scoring and Tie Breaking Procedures

1. No game shall end in a tie.
2. Standings are decided according to the team's winning percentage (games played / games won).
3. If there is a tie in the standings at the end of the regular season, the team with the greatest point differential (Sets Won - Sets Lost) will finish first.
4. If a tie remains after looking at the greatest point differential, the team who won the head-to-head game between the teams involved will be declared the winner.
5. In the case of a three-way tie, the team with the greatest point differential between the 3 teams involved will be declared the winner. The head-to-head results will determine which team receives the next highest placement.

Game Format

1. Prior to the match, both teams will be given a simultaneous 10 minute warm-up.1. It is up to the teams to run this themselves and communicate with the other team if they want to split the court to do hitting drills and serves.
2. Each team plays 3 sets in total during their assigned hour. Set 1 and 2 are rally points to 25, with a cap of 27. Set 3 will consist of a 15 point rally, with a cap of 17.  If the third set approaches the time limit, the referee will provide numerous warnings and will call the last serve of the game. 
3. There is no limit on substitutions however you must return to the game in the order you subbed out (*libero rule). 
4. At the end of each set, when the referee calls a "game-point" due to a tie and lack of time, the final game point will be given to the team who wins the rally. The team does not have to win by 2 points.

Rules of the Game

1. Each team must have 6 players on the court, 2 of which must be females.
2. Serve
   1. The referee must authorize the service by a hand signal and a whistle after he or she has checked that the two teams are ready to play and that the server is in possession of the ball.
   2. If the server hits the ball before the referee has authorized the service, the ball will be returned to the player for a second service. If the same player hits the ball again before the referee whistle, the team loses the serve and the ball will be given to the other team.
   3. Players are allowed one step into the court for their serve.
   4. If the ball hits the net during the service it remains in play, so long as it goes over the net.
   5. During a service only one toss or release is allowed. If the server releases the ball for service, and does not attempt to serve it, the referee will issue a warning, following a re-serve. If this occurs throughout the game, the referee will award the other team with a point. 
   6. The server must wait until both teams are ready before serving.
3. Net Rules (2015 rule)
   1. Any contact with the net during a play is a fault.
4. The referee is responsible for the tasks of the second referee, the scorekeeper and the line judge.
5. Any participant who is ejected for fighting will be suspended for the rest of the season and playoffs, as a minimum.
6. A piece of identification and the team's intramural T-shirts are required by each player at each game to gain access to the court.
7. A team consists of a minimum of 8 registered players, and a maximum of 20. There must be a minimum of 2 registered female athletes on the court at all times.
8. All calls are final and cannot be disputed. Zero aggression towards other players and the referee will be tolerated. A warning will be provided to the individual, if it occurs again the player will be given a yellow card warning. After a yellow card has been given to a team, if another incidence occurs from the team, a red card will be given to that / those individuals and will be forced to leave the game. If the loss of player’s results in the incorrect gender ratio or insufficient players on the court, the team will forfeit the entire game, resulting in a score of 3 losses and 0 wins. 

Defaults

1. Teams losing by default must pay a $20 performance-bond penalty, which is to be paid at the Montpetit Client or Sports Complex Services Desk before the next scheduled game. If a team fails to follow this, that team will be suspended until further notice and will incur further performance bond penalties for each subsequent game defaulted. For more information please see the Performance Bond section in the Intramural Guide.
2. A default takes place if, after the 10 minute warm-up, one of the two teams
   1. has fewer than 6 players on the court (2 women on court at all times) or if one or more of the 6 players on the court are not wearing the intramural T-shirt ;
3. If the defaulting team’s captain has given due notice 3 working days before the game to the Coordinator, the team having won by default may use the court to practice or play a friendly game.
4. In the event of a default, the score that will be given is 3-0, in favour of the team with the appropriate number and composition of players.

Note: The referees must stay to officiate a friendly game if at least 12 players are present.