League Format
Thank you for joining SPIKE’S league play. This information is designed to help new teams adjust to league play quickly and answer as many frequently asked questions as possible.
LEAGUE PLAY FORMAT
Each team is on the courts for up to one hour per night.
In that hour, teams will:
– Warm up for 5 minutes,
– Spin the ball to see who serves/receives/picks side first,
– Play 2 full rally point games to 25 points with a 27-point cap.
– There will always be a 3rd game of the match. Spin the ball before this game to see who serves/receives/picks side first for the 3rd match.
– Time permitting; the 3rd game will be to 25 points with a 27-point cap. After 59 minutes, the buzzer will sound signaling last serve for any teams not finished their 3rd game. If after this serve, the score is tied, serve one more time to determine a winner for the 3rd game. Games can not end in a tie.
Please record the scores after each game and the team captains from each team must initial their approval of the scores recorded.
All teams make playoffs after the season ends. To be eligible for playoffs, players must have played at least two full matches (6 games) with team during the regular season. We have a whole page of information for player eligibility in our league rules section of our website. Definitely print this out and read these rules.
REFEREE’S
SPIKE’S does not use referees. We provide new teams with a league supervisor on site during games for the first one to two weeks to help new teams adjust to calling their own errors. After two weeks, teams are responsible to call their own errors. For playoffs, we have a league supervisor available on the courts to help with any discrepancies. Its a social sport. Be social.
Calling Your Own Games: It is important that everyone on your team read this info and the rules that pertain to the league you play in. This will help reduce confusion and discrepancies. If you have any questions please refer to the rules or email Earl at spikesvolleyball@rogers.com.
CALLING YOUR OWN DO’S:
Do call your own errors. Don’t wait for others to call you on it.
Do show up 5 minutes early for your games.
Do show up with a full team.
Do call Spike’s if you have to forfeit a game for any reason so we can possibly find a team to fill in or at the very least so we can contact the other team to let them know of the forfeit.
Do make sure the opposing team is ready to receive your serve.
Do be respectful when questioning opposing team about rule infractions.
Do request and allow a re-serve if 2 teams cannot agree on a call.
Do read all info regarding rules and league play format.
Do fill out a roster at the beginning of the season.
Do realize that everyone hates a cheater and respects an honest player. Save the cheating for your tax return.
Do record the numbers on the scoreboard after each point.
Do come see the counter person after your match if you feel the team you played is not living up to the “call your own game” responsibilities.
CALLING YOUR OWN DON’TS:
Don’t think that the loudest barking dog on the court will always get his/her way. We are all adults here. Be reasonable.
Don’t stop the play to accuse the opposing team of making a rule infraction. Wait until the play has stopped.
Don’t ask an extra player to act as referee for your match.
Don’t let your kids on the court area while games are in progress. It would not be good if they were hit by a ball and many players are not comfortable spiking with kids anywhere near the court area.
PLAYER FEEDBACK
We would just like to mention some concerns from players about players calling their own games for your reference.
If you cause a rule infraction, you lose a point and the opposing team gets to serve the next ball.
Not calling yourself when you make an error: Generally speaking most players know when they have made an error. And if they don’t know, other players on their team do know. If there are weaker players on your team or those new to the sport, help them out by calling errors for them. There is no glory in being known as the team that never calls themselves.
Not calling yourself because the other team didn’t call themselves: Please lead by example. Get the other team involved. Before the game starts, tell the other team that if they see any poor sets by your team that aren’t called to speak up. This will make them more aware of their own setting too. We do not want the quality of play to slide because of the actions of a few players.
Volleying The Ball Over The Net In Competitive 4’s Leagues: Due to confusion and discrepancies we have made it an infraction if any ball that is volleyed travels over the net. So in our 4’s leagues you CAN NOT Volley a ball over the net. For a ball to go over the net, you can; punch in, poke it, bump it or hit it.
BLOCKING A BALL AT THE NET.
Don’t break your wrists on contact. This is a rule infraction.
PLAYER ON THE NET.
If you touch the net with any part of your body or your clothing it is an infraction and you should call yourself on the infraction.
PLAYER UNDER THE NET.
Imagine an invisible line that goes from the net to the ground. If you cross this line it is a foul and you should call yourself on the infraction. It does not matter whether you interfere with the play or player when you cross the line. Cross the line and it is an infraction.
THE DREADED “SLAP” VOLLEY IN COMPETITIVE LEAGUES.
This is where the player volleying the ball has their hands above and behind their heads and they make a slapping motion to fire the ball over the net. This is an infraction.
LIFTING THE BALL.
If the palm of your hand is facing the roof and the ball touches your fingers when you make contact, then this is a lift (which is an infraction). Flip your hand over and use the back of your hand to make contact, as this scenario does not result in a lift or infraction.
TIMEOUTS DURING THE MATCH.
Each team is allowed 3 timeouts per match, not 3 timeouts per game. Please keep in mind the more timeouts called, the more likely it is that you won’t finish game 3 within the allowed hour of play. Rotating players can sometimes accomplish the same result and takes up a lot less time.
PLAYERS SHOWING UP LATE FOR GAMES.
The rule is after 7 minutes, the match starts or there is a default. If the team is short one player but still eligible to play (ie 2 girls and one guy for a coed 4’s league), the match starts. Don’t miss out on playing time because players are sitting on the sidelines talking instead of warming up on the courts. You only get an hour to play so arrive early.