Spike & Dig “98” Rules

2009 Spike = & Dig Rule Sheet

August 1-2, 2009; Spokane Falls Community College Athletic Fields

(a) Before each match, every player must sign their name to the game score sheet (which includes a waiver of liability) (important= : this means the Team Captain cannot sign for everyone; the match can’t start until completed).

(b) Teams must have a minimum of two women on= the court at all times (exception for the single sex junior and senior high tea= ms; all adult divisions are co-ed); teams OK with less than 6 people as long as= the two women rule is followed.

(c) As usual, there will be Court Marshals (w= earing an orange vest) rotating through the entire playing area. All Court Marshals are local certi= fied volleyball referees volunteering their time. For questions, problems or dispute= s, please find the nearest Court Marshal or send someone to the Master Scorebo= ard area (north end of stadium seating). They will find someone to fix equipment, answer your questions and resolve disputes. Appeals of decisions made by a Court Marshal can be made to the Head Court Marshal, wh= ose decision is final.

(d) A= ll matches should start promptly at the top of the hour and must be completed = by 5 minutes before the top of the next hour (even if they get a late start exce= pt for special circumstances with the approval of the Head Court Marshal). Please be sure that both captains = have determined the game ball and decided who serves first before the top of the hour.

(e) Following the USA rules format, all games will be rally scoring (ie, a point is scored on every service; eg, a point &= amp; the serve goes to the receiving team when the serving team commits a fault). Each match will be tw= o out of three games with the first two games scored to 25 and the third game, if necessary, to 15. One variati= on from the usual rules---it is not necessary to win by 2 points---the first t= eam to 25 (15 in= game 3) is the winner even if only ahead by 1 point.

(f) The third game (if necessary) will begin immediately after the second game = and after the Team Captains have determined serve/side; if match time is over, = (ie, 55 minutes after the hour) the team that is ahead= is the winner, even if by 1 point; if tied, the next point wins. If even the second game is not fin= ished, then total points will determine winner.

(g) Very Important: volunteer Scorekeepers will be provided whenever possible but if one is not available, the two Team Captains should still get the score sheet signed by their play= ers and recruit a person on the sidelines to keep score, keep time, etc.; please get play started on time (top of the hour)---if = not, it just reduces your possible playing time.

(h) Team Captains should initiate a rock/paper/scissors process to determine serve/side before the 1st and possible 3rd game.

(i) Scorekeepers will be asked to advi= se both teams when there are 5 minutes left in the match (ie, 50 minutes after the hour)

(j) Each team should provide a ball and the two captai= ns will decide which one is the game ball; this can change each game.

(k) A 30 second time out per team will be allowed in games 1 and 2; either team can take the full 30 seconds when a t= ime out has been called; the Scorekeeper will keep track of time; there will be no time outs in the 3= ^rd game.

(l) If a team is not on the court and ready t= o play by 10 minutes after the hour, they will forfeit the first game; the second = game and the match will be forfeited at 25 minutes after the hour.

(m) Substitutions are allowed freely between services,= so long as no rotation advance happens/ 2 women remain on the court.

(n) The court lines are in---if the line moves, the ba= ll is in-bounds; try to keep the lines as straight as possible (lift & snap).=

(o) Please call out the score before each serve; if you do not, then you have no reason to dispute a potential scoring discrepancy; please remember the Scorekeeper is not a trained scorekeeper but an appreciated volunteer.<= /p>

(p) Any attempted or actual blocking/spiking of the receipt of serve by the receiving team is an automa= tic point for the serving team; please note this includes a serve which is clea= rly going long or wide.

(q) Players can serve from anywhere behind th= eir back line but must stay within the extensions of the two sidelines; at the = time of serve all other players must be within court boundaries. It is permissible to step back into another court in order to serve but only if the other court is between serv= ices not actively playing at the moment.

(r) There are no antenna, center lines, or 10 foot attack lines; call your= own team for obvious violations and play over any close calls or disputes; if y= ou call a Court Marshal over, that is all he/she is going to do since they were not there.

(s) Since there is no center line, it is legal for players to step under the ne= t so long as there is no interference or physical contact with the other teams’ players. Of cour= se there should never be any contact with the net or poles during play.

= (t) Players cannot step into an adjacent court to hit a ball in play (even if empty); if they do, it is their opponent’s point.

(u) Players are strongly encouraged to wear shoes for = their own safety (sprinkler heads, etc.); no spikes or cleats are allowed.

(v) One re-serve per service term (not per serve) will be allowed; this is to allow = for the outdoor conditions. A replay/re-serve when another ball or player comes on your court does not count. It is OK to either cat= ch the ball or let it drop to the ground. <= /span>Net serves have been permissible for the last several years in USA Rules.

(w) Players are asked to play on the honor sy= stem and call themselves for violations---especially nets, double hits and carri= es; the Scorekeepers and Court Marshals are not there to referee; if there is a dispute, it should be decided by replay.&n= bsp; For serious questions about rule interpretation, a Court Marshal sho= uld be found by one of the extra players or spectators (not the Scorekeeper) and play should continue unless it is a game/match determining issue.

(x) Stop play if there is any blood= or serious injury; notify a Court Marshal or Scorekeeper who will get help from the first aid station which is located near the Master Scoreboard area at t= he north end of the stadium stands.

(y) Immediately following the match, the= winning Team Captain (not the Scorekee= per) is responsible for bringing the scoresheet to t= he Master Scoreboard area at the north end of the stadium stands.

(z) Rules not specifically addressed above wi= ll be governed by current USA Outdoor Volleyball Rules (the Head Court Marshal ha= s a rule book at the Court Marshall tent near the Master Scoreboard; again, his interpretation is final)

(aa) NO ALCOHOL OR TOBACCO = IS TO BE BROUGHT ONTO THE COLLEGE PROPERTY. <= /span>

(bb) Think safety---bring plenty of water (stay hydrate= d) and sun tan lotion (pace your exposure over the two days)

(cc) If there are any questions, please bring them to the Captain’s Meeting on Saturday at 8:30am in the stad= ium seats. Thanks for your suppor= t of Spike & Dig. ABOVE ALL, BE A GOOD SPORT, BE SAFE & HAVE FUN.