Perpetual Motion’s Indoor Volleyball Leagues rely upon a Spirit of Sportsmanship that places the responsibility of fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect, adherence to the agreed upon rules or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate unsportsmanlike conduct from the Volleyball court. Actions such as taunting opposing players, belligerent intimidation, intentional infractions, or other “win-at-all costs” behaviour are contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all players.

At the end of each game, a spirit score is to be awarded to the opposing team on a scale from 1 to 5 (half scores are permitted). The team as a whole should have input on what spirit score should be awarded to the other team. At the end of the season, there will be a spirit trophy and prizes awarded to the team with the highest spirit average. In addition, if two teams are tied in points at the end of the season, then the team with the highest spirit point average will be placed higher. All teams should try to follow the guidelines set out below in order to keep the system equal for everyone.

Spirit rating = 5

The other team was a great team and we really enjoyed playing against them. They showed up on time and showed great sportsmanship throughout the game. During the game they played by the rules, but if we had a dispute they were open to discuss. This was one of the best spirited teams we have played against, and we are really looking forward to playing against them again.

Spirit rating = 4

The other team was a fun team and we enjoyed playing against most of their players. They showed up on time and showed decent sportsmanship throughout the game. During the game they generally played by the rules, but if we had a dispute they were pretty receptive to discuss. Not a bad team to play against.

Spirit rating = 3

The other team was an O.K. team and we enjoyed playing against only a few of their players. They showed up late and/or showed poor sportsmanship throughout the game. During the game, they really didn’t play by the rules and really didn’t want to learn them either. The captains should discuss what happened so it doesn’t happen again. This wasn’t a fun game and our captain will add a brief comment to the score submission explaining the low spirit score.

Spirit rating = 2

The entirety of the other team was not fun to play against. They showed up very late and/or showed very poor sportsmanship throughout the game. During the game they didn’t play by the rules and didn’t want to learn them either. The captains should discuss what happened so it doesn’t happen again. This wasn’t an enjoyable game and our captain will explain what happened in the score submission.

Spirit rating = 1

The other team was terrible to play against. We did not enjoy playing against any of their players. They showed up very late and/or showed horrible sportsmanship throughout the game. During the game, they were very negligent of the rules and of the safety and enjoyment of our team. They had no desire to learn the rules. This is the least spirited team we have ever played against. Our captain is going to send a report to the league convener explaining what happened.

Any team that defaults a game (because they do not have enough players) will receive a spirit score of 4 for the game and the non-defaulting team will not receive a spirit score (their spirit average will not be affected).

1. Player Requirements/Safety

• 6 players on the court (a default occurs if there are less than 5 players) – a minimum of 2 members of the same sex must be on the court at all times.
• The opposing team captain may waive the minimum player requirement AND have the results of the match COUNT towards the standings. Agreeing that the results of the match COUNT must be made clear at the net prior to the start of play by the team captains. Agreeing to play does not infer that the match counts unless this is explicitly decided by the opposing team captain.
• Each player must sign a waiver before his/her first game. Note: If you add a player to your team throughout the year, that player must sign a waiver before they play, even if it is only for one game.
• Should injury occur, a first aid kit (ice packs, band aids and tensors) will be provided in every equipment bag.
• Players must wear clean, non-marking, indoor shoes (no outdoor shoes or bare feet are allowed)

2. Start Time

• Please arrive 15 minutes early to ensure that your games start on time.
• If a team does not meet the minimum requirement 10 minutes after the official match start, they will default the first game by a score of 25-0. If the minimum requirement is not met 20 minutes after the match begins, and the third and final match will be defaulted 30 minutes after the office start time. (i.e a team that defaults the first game, can still play the second and third game, providing that enough players eventually arrive).
• No matter what time your game begins your game will always end on time to allow the succeeding games to begin at their scheduled time.

3. Serving

• Teams can use any suitable means to determine who gets to serve first or pick a side.
• Service alternates between team for the start of each game, so if you pick serve you will serve on the first and third game
• In the third game, if there any court obstructions that are considered a hinderance to play, teams will switch side once a team has reached 13 points.
• In facilities where the back-court line is within 3 feet of the wall, servers may step into the court to complete their serve
• Net serves are allowed (the ball is allowed to contact the net on the serve).
• In the Recreational Division after 5 consecutive points, the opposing team is awarded the serve and rotates one position.
• In the Intermediate Division after 5 consecutive points, the serving team rotates one position with the next payer continuing the serve
• In the Competitive Division there is no limit to the number of consecutive points per player

4. Scoring

• You will play 3 games to 25 points (win by two points, hard cap at 27 points) each against 1 team per night or 55 minutes (whichever comes first). If time expires before the game is complete, the team that is leading when the time expires will be declared the winner (a total of 5 combined points must be played for the game to count).  If the game is tied or didn’t get past 5 combined points it will count as a tie in the regular season.
• In the playoffs, a game that is tied at the end of regulation time is decided by a single “rally point”, served by the team in control of the serve.
• Each game is played to 25 points with rally point scoring (i.e. a point is scored on every serve). A team must win by at least 2 points, with a 27 point cap. Two points will be awarded for each game won.
• If teams have the same number of points (winning percentage is to be used instead of points in the event that teams have played an unequal number of games) at the end of the season, the tiebreaker is as follows:
  • Highest spirit score average
  • Head to head (If the two teams tied played each other, the winner of the games places higher)
  • Wins and losses counting only games against common opponents
    Flip a coin
• It is the responsibility of both team captains to submit the score of the games and spirit scores online by 5:00pm the following day.
• At the end of the last set of games of the night, the two captains are responsible for taking the net down and putting them in the bags to be stored away.

5. Referees

• All games are self-officiated (no referees), therefore, teams are required to call their OWN violations, and are expected to be honest and keep a high level of sportsmanship at all times. If you feel that your opponent is not being accountable, your team captain may politely intervene to discuss fouls called or uncalled. We rely on your spirit of sportsmanship and honesty to keep the matches pleasant for all. If there is a dispute, please re-serve the point.

6. Play

• A player may never block or spike a serve.
• Lifting, scooping the ball, and double hits are not permitted.
• A block is not counted as a hit.
• Maximum of 3 hits per side.
• If the ball lands on the line it is in. If there is a dispute, resume play by re-serving the ball with no point awarded.

7. Player Rotations

• Rotate new players in before your team starts a new server. In 6’s divisions, you must follow the same rotation as in court volleyball – i.e. Players must rotate positions (from back right, to back middle, to back left, to front left, to front middle, to front right)
• Players may switch positions after the ball is served.

8. Playing the Ball

• Players may play the ball off any part of their body, excluding feet.
• If the ball hits the ceiling or an overhead structure on your side of the court, is still in play as long as the team that played the ball to the ceiling hits the ball one more time within the allowable three touches before it sends the ball over to the opponent’s side.
• If the ball hits the side wall it is out of play and the ball is dead.

9. Contacting the Net and Center Line

• A player can not touch the net at any time during the game (if you touch the net, it is the other team’s ball).
• A player may pass under the net as long as the penetrating foot or hand remains either in contact with the centre line or directly above it. To contact the opponent’s court with any other body part is forbidden and a point should be awarded to the other team.

10. Playoffs

• Championship games are played as best 2 out of 3 games. The tie-breaker or third game is played to 25 points, but you must win by at least 2 points, hard cap 27 points or 55 minutes time cap.
• Playoff Eligibility: Each player must play at least half of the regular season games in order to be eligible to play in the playoffs, unless it has been cleared with the league convener. This prohibits teams from adding “ringers” to their teams for the playoffs.

11. Weather Conditions

• In the event the school is closed all games are cancelled.

• CANCELLATION POLICY: In the event that games are cancelled due to closures or other issues, the following policy will be applied:
  • • First Cancellation: Games are not rescheduled or refunded.
    • Second Cancellation: Games will be rescheduled as extra games on the night that they play or on another available date. If neither of these scenarios is viable, a partial team credit will be applied in the following season.
    • Third Cancellation or more: Games will be rescheduled as extra games on the night that they play or on another available date. If neither of these scenarios is viable, a partial team credit will be applied in the following season.
    • If a game is cancelled partway through a game, the halfway point of the game must be reached (13 points by one team) in order for the game to count towards the league standings.
    • If the halfway point of the night has been reached, it is considered a complete set of games (not a cancellation)

12. Abuse/Alcohol:

• Any abuse, whether it be physical, sexual, or mental is not acceptable in any manner. If any of these types of abuse are reported, the player or team will receive a verbal warning. If a second incident occurs, the player or team will be asked to leave the league or tournament without refund. Teams are responsible for other teammates’ actions; as a teammate, please encourage good sportsmanship at all times. Perpetual Motion Sports & Entertainment Inc. reserves the right to eject a player or team without a warning and without a refund. The Guelph Volleyball League is to be enjoyable and fun for everyone, let’s keep it that way.
• Alcohol is not permitted at any game or event; offenders will be asked to leave the league without refund. Playing while intoxicated is also prohibited.