Welcome Summer 2025 Players

Rules for Lakes Region Leagues outdoor volleyball

Section One – Teams and Players

1. Each team may have up to six players on the court at a time, with at least two players of each gender. A team must have at least four players to start a match. Teams with fewer than four players will forfeit the match.

2. If a team only has one player of a given gender, they may play with a maximum of five players. If a team has no players of a given gender, they will forfeit the match.

3. All rostered players present must participate. If a team has more than six players, they must rotate players in at the serving position, following a consistent rotation order for the duration of the set.

4. No unpaid or unregistered players may participate. Teams found using illegal substitutes will forfeit any affected matches. However, teams may borrow registered players from other teams playing in the same division or night, pending approval from the opposing team’s captain.

Section Two – Equipment and Court Regulations

1. Lakes Region Leagues will provide all necessary game equipment, including nets and game balls.

2. The court dimensions will be approximately 29 feet, 6 inches wide by 59 feet long, with a net set at approximately 7 feet, 8 inches high.

3. Boundary lines are considered in play.

4. Teams will switch sides of the court after each set.

5. Teams may bring their own volleyballs for warm-ups, but all matches must be played with official LRL-provided volleyballs.

Section Three – Match Format

1. Each match consists of three sets played to 25 points (win by two, cap at 28 points).

2. Scheduled match start times are strict forfeit times.

3. Each team is allowed one 60-second timeout per match.

Section Four – Serving

1. A coin toss (or rock-paper-scissors) determines the first serve.

2. The server has five seconds after the official’s whistle to serve.

3. Serves must be taken from behind the end boundary line and within the width of the court.

4. A serve that contacts the net and continues over is live and must be played.

5. A serve is considered a fault if it:

• Fails to cross the net or goes under it.

• Lands out of bounds.

• Touches a teammate before crossing the net.

Section Five – Playing the Ball

1. A served ball may not be blocked or attacked while it is fully above the net.

2. Teams have a maximum of three hits per return (excluding blocks).

3. Players may reach over the net when blocking but cannot interfere with the opponent’s play.

4. Attacks must be initiated with at least part of the ball still on the attacking team’s side of the net.

5. Simultaneous contact by two teammates counts as one hit.

6. Players may use any part of their body except the feet or legs unless otherwise specified by the league coordinator for special divisions or tournaments.

7. Back-row players may not attack/kill during outdoor grass or sand leagues.  They may however hit the ball to the other side while at least 1 foot is in contact with the ground.

Section Six – Rotation

1. Teams rotate clockwise upon winning the serve.

2. Standard positioning:

• Six-player teams: Three in the front, three in the back.

• Five-player teams: Three in front, two in back.

• Four-player teams: Two in front, two in back.

Section Seven – Violations and Side Outs

1. A side out occurs, and the opposing team gains the serve if a team commits an error / foul, including:

• Hitting the ball out of bounds.

• Failing to return the ball over the net.

• Carrying, catching, or double-contacting the ball.

• Exceeding three hits per return.

• Blocking or attacking a serve above the net.

• Stepping over the serving line.

• Touching the net during play (unless the net moves into a player due to ball contact).

• Arguing with officials or engaging in unsportsmanlike behavior.

• Crossing into an opponent’s side of the court.

Section Eight – Scoring and Standings

1. Rally scoring is used—every play results in a point.

2. Regular-season matches consist of three sets, all of which are played.

3. Each set is played to 25 points, requiring a two-point lead to win, with a hard cap at 28 points.

4. Teams earn two points in the standings for a match win and one point for a match tie.

5. Playoff eligibility and seeding are determined by league standings. Tie-breakers and playoff structure are at the discretion of LRL.

Section Nine – Referees and Conduct

1. Referees oversee match time, scoring, and rule enforcement.

2. Players may not argue calls. Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in:

• A verbal warning.

• A player ejection for repeated offenses.

• A suspension or ban for extreme misconduct, including fighting.

Section Ten – Forfeits

1. A team forfeits if they do not have at least four players (including at least one of each gender) at the start time.

2. If both teams fail to meet the minimum player requirement, a double forfeit is recorded.

3. Teams forfeiting multiple matches may be removed from the league without a refund.

Lakes Region Leagues reserves the right to adjust rules and policies as needed to ensure fair and competitive play.