A Christ-centered congregation in the reformed tradition

Bucks-Montgomery County Christian Volleyball League

2007 By-Laws and Rules of Play

Purpose:  The Bucks-Montgomery County Christian Church Volleyball League is a fellowship ministry designed for Christian denominational churches.  Our purpose is to bring youth and adults together in a positive atmosphere; to provide fellowship opportunities with other churches; and give churches another potential avenue for outreach.  We hope that Christ is honored with our attitudes and actions both on and off the court.  For questions, comments, and suggestions pertaining to this league contact the league president, Chad Benner. 

League President: Chad Benner (New Covenant BIC) 215-257-2493 (H) 215-453-6944 x4038 (W)

Game sites:  Immanuel Leidy’s Church, Souderton

                     Hilltown Baptist Church, Hilltown

                     First Baptist Church, Perkasie

                     Cornerstone Church of Skippack

Game times: 7:00 PM or 8:30 PM on Monday nights in January, February, March, and April.  The season will begin on Monday January 8.

Scoring:  Games will be played to15 as long as the team wins by at least two points.  Only the team serving will score, side-outs will be used.

Matches:  Five games played in each match.  All five games count equally in the standings, so all five games will be played regardless of the outcomes.  Match records will only be used for tiebreakers to determine playoff qualifications.

Standings: Based upon overall game won loss record.  EACH TEAM, whether home or away, shall report the final scores of each game to the league president by the Thursday following the match.  Scores should be emailed to  cbenner@pennridge.org or phoned in to my work phone at 215-453-6944 ext 4038 any time, 24 hrs a day.  Leave the scores on my voice mail if I do not answer.  Weekly standings will be emailed to each coach or designated team representative.

Playoffs:  The top eight teams will make the playoffs.  There is only one division and each team will play every other team once.  In the quarter-final round, the #1 seed will play the #8 seed and the #2 seed will play the #7 seed.  The #3 seed will play the #6 seed and the #4 seed will play the #5 seed.  The following week the teams will be re-seeded for the semi-finals with the new #1 seed playing the #4 seed and the #2 seed playing the #3 seed.  The winners will play each other in the finals the following week.

Tiebreakers:  Teams are ranked according to the best won-loss percentage of each individual game NOT match.  In case of a tie the following system will be used.  If the tie is broken at any step the process stops at that step.

Two team tie:

1.      Best head to head match record.

2.      Best head to head game record.

3.      Best overall match record.

4.      Best head to head point differential.

5.      Best overall point differential.

6.      Coin flip.

 Three or more teams tied.

1. If any team has won every match against ALL of the other tied teams then they are advanced, or if any team has lost every match to ALL the other tied teams then they are eliminated.
2. Best overall match record.
3. Best match record of games played between the tied teams.
4. Best game record between tied teams.
5. Best head to head point differential between tied teams.
6. Best overall point differential from all games.
7. Coin flip

If at any step a team is eliminated or advanced then the process starts over from the beginning with the remaining teams using the (two team) or (three or more team) procedure as needed.

Referees:  The Home team must provide a referee.  It may be a member from his or her own team or a knowledgeable spectator.  If the person selected is a member of the team, then they may not play in that particular game.  A new referee may be assigned for each game.  If mutually agreed upon by both teams, the Away team may provide a referee or the teams can agree to “Call their own game” when no referee is available.   The referee’s decision is final.  Players arguing calls may be ejected from the game or match by the referee.  If no referee is available and a call is argued the teams may mutually agree to replay the point.  Each referee must be familiar with and abide by the following guidelines:

1. Referees must be at least 18 years old.
2. Referees must be familiar with the rules of volleyball, as well as those written in this document.
3. The referee has control of the game and all calls are final.
4. The referee is responsible to see that the scorekeeper keeps an accurate score during the game.

 Scorekeeper:  In addition to a referee, the home team must also provide a scorekeeper.  The referee may also be the scorekeeper if no one else is available.  The scorekeeper must be at least 12 years old.  The final score of both teams for each game must be kept.  The score must be written down on paper and a copy given to each coach at the conclusion of the fifth game.  Coaches must report the final scores to the league president.

League fees:  Fees are only collected to cover the cost of purchasing a trophy for the league champion.  Fees are divided up equally among the teams.  Fees are due prior to the start of the first game.  Make checks payable to Chad Benner.  This year’s fee will be $5.00 per team.

Warm-up:  Teams can warm up for 5-10 minutes prior to the match.  Matches must begin no later than 7:00 and 8:30 to ensure ample time to complete five games.  If the 7:00 match is over early, please vacate the court as soon as possible to allow the 8:30 teams time to warm up.  At the completion of the last match please leave the facility as quickly as possible to be courteous to the people in charge of closing up.

Long matches:  Breaks between games should be kept to a minimum to ensure there is ample time to complete all five games.  If the fifth game has not started by 8:15pm (for the earlier time slot) and 10:00pm (for the later time slot) then rally scoring to 15 will immediately be used (even if in the middle of a game) to ensure the match ends on time.  If the fifth game is already underway at that time then the game may finish under normal scoring.

Late arrivals:  A team can play with as few as four players.  Teams may NOT wait to start the game if they have at least four players at 7:00pm and 8:30pm.  They may wait until 7:15pm or 8:45pm for a late arriving fourth player but must start as soon as that player arrives.  If any team is not on the court and ready to play the first game with at least four players by 7:15 or 8:45, they will forfeit the first game of the match.  Additional games will be forfeited at one game every 15 minutes that a team does not have four players.  Individual players arriving late are permitted to enter a game that is already under way between serves, and only if their team has less than six players on the court.  Otherwise the late player may come in under normal substitution procedures.

Cancellations:  Due to very tight scheduling limitations, any team canceling, failing to attend, or having insufficient number of players for all the games of a match will forfeit all five games by a score of 5-0.  Games will not be rescheduled except for inclement weather.  If a team knows in advance that they will not be able to put a team on the court, please notify the opponent and the league president at least 24 hours in advance whenever possible.  Then the match can be rescheduled.

Game ball:  The home team is responsible to provide a game ball for the match.  They may choose any available ball, but they must use the same ball for the entire game.  A different ball may be selected between games.  The ball chosen must be regulation in size and weight, properly inflated, and of the highest possible quality.

Rules of Play

All official rules of volleyball will be followed except as noted below.  Any league rule listed below will replace the official rule.

Rosters:  Any male or female may play provided they are at least 15 years old by March 31.  If a church has two or more teams in the league, all players must play for one team or the other, no switching of teams is allowed.  A church does not need to submit a roster.  However, since this is a church league, all players of a team should attend the church they play for.  However, one or two exceptions are permitted.  No stacking or recruiting of teams will be allowed.  Players are eligible to play in the playoffs provided they have played in at least three matches during the season.

Formations:  Each team shall have no more than six and no fewer than four players on the court at a time.  A two-line formation will be used except when there are only four players.  Valid formations are as follows:  (6 players) three in each row, (5 players) three in the front and two in the back, (4 players) a diamond shape.  In a four player formation all four players are considered front row players.  However, they still must follow a standard rotation.  Rotation occurs after side-out by the team receiving the ball in a clockwise direction.

Substitution:  Substitutions can be made throughout the game between serves.  Two methods of substitution are permitted.  Teams may not switch between method one and method two during the same game.  Any injured player may be replaced when needed and does not have to adhere to the substitution rule.

Method one:  If a team has more than six players and wishes to play everyone equally, they may rotate all players into the game in the order specified before the game.  This order must be followed for the entire game and remain unchanged.  The order of substitution must be presented to the referee and opposing team before the game begins.  During the game no further announcements of substitution are needed.

Method two:  A player may be substituted for another player individually at any time between serves.  The player is allowed to return later but must replace the same player who took their place.  The referee and opposing team must be notified prior to each substitution.

Start of Play:  The Home team gets the choice of which side of the court to use for the first game.  The teams will switch sides for each game.  The Home team will serve first in games 1, 3 and 5.  The Away team will serve first in games 2 and 4.

Service:

·         Foot fouls – All serves must be delivered behind the back line.  Because of the shortness of the courts we play on at Leidy’s and Hilltown, (Or when two courts are used at Skippack) the server may have one foot in contact with the line when serving the ball but not past the line.  If both feet are touching the line or past it when the ball is struck, then the serve is lost.  The single court at First Baptist and Skippack is longer and therefore, both feet must be completely behind the line when the ball is served.

·         Net serves – Any served ball contacting the net but goes over is a valid serve.

·         Blocking – Blocking the serve at the net is not allowed.

Net:

• No contact with the net is allowed, except if the force of the ball or another player pushes the net into the player.
• The ball must break the plane of the net before any offensive contact is made.
• A follow through on a spike is permitted to break the plane of the net.
• A defensive player may cross the plane of the net to block an attack hit or any third hit.

Blocking:  A block is considered a neutral hit and does not count against the three hit limit.  Three hits are allowed following a block.  The blocker may make the first hit following his/her own block.  Only players starting the point in the front row may make an attack hit or block above the net unless they are behind the ten foot line.

Digging:  The first hit following an attack hit or serve may be an inadvertent double hit as long as it is just one attempt to play the ball.  This ball may be played legally by two separated fists if it is just one attempt to play the ball.

Center Line:  Players may not cross the centerline with one or both feet unless part of the foot/feet is in contact with the line.  Hands follow the same rule as feet if touching the floor.

Ceiling & Obstructions:  If the ball hits the ceiling or an obstruction after the first or second hit, it can still be played if it does not cross the net.  The horizontal wood at the edge of the ceiling at Hilltown is considered out since it is part of the wall and not the ceiling.  The two basketball apparatuses at Hilltown are considered part of the wall and any ball contacting them is out.  Any ball crossing the net after hitting the ceiling or an obstruction is considered out.  A ball hitting the ceiling or an obstruction after the third hit is considered out.  All serves hitting the ceiling or an obstruction are considered out.  The only exception to the above rule is the basketball apparatus at the one end of Leidy’s gym.  Because the apparatus is so low, any ball hitting any part of it will be ruled a “replay of the point” except for a serve.  Any serve that directly strikes the apparatus before contacting a player is considered out.

Foot Rule:  Any ball hitting the foot or leg or intentionally kicked is a valid hit and may be directed over the net or to another player.

Playing off the Walls:  A player may not use the wall or any obstruction to assist his jump to hit the ball.  The ball must be played before the player contacts the wall.

Time outs:  Each team receives five timeouts per match.  No more than two timeouts may be used in the same game of the match.  After the fifth timeout is used, the team may not stop play except for injury.  Timeouts will last no more than one minute.