Volleyball

This league takes place between August-October. All teams will play 14 matches of league play, plus tournament participation. A match consists of three games up to 20 points using the rally point system. All leagues are 6-player leagues and players cannot play on more than one league/team per night. 

This league takes place between November-February. All teams will play 14 matches of league play, plus tournament participation. A match consists of three games up to 20 points using the rally point system. All leagues are 6-player leagues and players cannot play on more than one league/team per night. 

Note: Leagues are scheduled pending availability of gyms and days teams are available to play.

This league takes place between March-May. All teams will play 14 matches of league play, plus tournament participation. A match consists of three games up to 20 points using the rally point system. All leagues are 6-player leagues and players cannot play on more than one league/team per night. 

Sand volleyball leagues will play eight or nine weeks between May-August, plus tournament participation. The leagues will play outdoors on sand courts. The games will be informal without officiating. Players cannot play on more than one league/team per night.

1. ROSTERS & PLAYER ELIGIBILITY - Rosters must be completed and turned in to the referee before your first match. - Players may be added through the last day of league play. - No roster additions may be made once league play is complete. - To be eligible for the End-of-Season Tournament, a player must be on the completed roster and have played in at least one regular season match. - All Adult League players must be 16 years of age or older. - Players age 16–17 must have a parent/guardian signature on the roster.

2. LEAGUE STANDINGS & TIEBREAKERS - Standings are determined by games (not matches) won/lost. - Tournament seeding is based on league standings. - Tiebreakers (in order): Head-to-head games, Head-to-head points, Overall points, Coin flip.

3. FACILITY RULES - No smoking or alcohol allowed in Fargo Park District or school buildings at any time. - Possession of alcohol is punishable by law. - Do not bring pop/soda into schools or Park District facilities. - Clean up all spills immediately. - No food or spillable drinks in court areas (hallways/lobby areas are acceptable). - Anyone vandalizing property, smoking, or consuming alcohol will be punished by law. - Treat facilities with respect.

4. MATCH FORMAT & SCORING (LEAGUE PLAY) - Matches consist of 3 games to 20 points (rally scoring). - A 2-point advantage is required to win. - 22-point cap per game. - 45-minute time limit per 3-game match. - Referee announces remaining time only at the start of Game 3. If time expires during Game 2: Finish Game 2; Game 3 played to 10 points (1-point advantage). If time expires during Game 3: Game ends when a NEW 1-point advantage is reached with a minimum of 10 points. Each game counts toward standings. TOURNAMENT PLAY - Best 2 out of 3 games. - Same scoring rules. - No time limit. - One forfeit in tournament play = removal from entire tournament (unless 24-hour notice given).

5. WARM-UPS & TIMEOUTS - 5-minute warm-up if previous match lasted 45 minutes or longer. - 1 minute between games (or when both teams are ready). - Two 30-second timeouts per 3-game match (includes tournament). - Clock stops only for injury or unusual occurrence. - Delay of game = unsportsmanlike conduct (side-out or point penalty). - Teams must vacate court promptly after match.

6. FORFEITS - First game forfeited if team lacks enough players at scheduled start time. - Entire match forfeited if team is 5 minutes late. - Two forfeits = removal from league (unless 24-hour notice given). - Satellite/Cell Phone time is official time.

7. TEAM COMPOSITION (COED) - No automatic forfeits — teams may play with fewer than 6 players (more than one). - Must always have at least one male and one female on court in coed. - Unlimited number of women allowed. - NEW RULE: Team may play with one more male than female. - No 5-minute grace period to begin games. - If playing with fewer than 4 players, there must be a back-row player. - Women may not play in men’s leagues; men may not play in women’s leagues.

8. MULTIPLE TEAM PLAY RESTRICTIONS - Players cannot play on two women’s teams. - Coed players may only play on one coed team per night. - Players may not play more than one level up or down (Upper/Middle/Lower). - Exceptions require approval from Recreation Specialist, Recreation Manager, or Volleyball Coordinator.

9. SPORTSMANSHIP - Only the team captain may question referee rulings. - Only non-judgment calls may be discussed. - No unsportsmanlike conduct (yelling, swearing, arguing, fighting, etc.). - Referees may eject a player from a match. - Aggression toward officials/opponents = 1-year suspension. - Expelled player/fan must leave within 2 minutes or game is forfeited. - Only Volleyball Coordinator may eject a player for the season. - Players ejected for a season may return next season but any misconduct results in immediate suspension.

10. GAMEPLAY RULES - Ceilings are in play. - Let serves are allowed. - Multiple contacts on first ball allowed. - Pressing the block allowed. - Any player may attack. - Back-row players cannot attack above net height in front of the 10-foot line. - Net contact is always a violation. - Entire shoe must cross center line to be a violation. - Adjacent courts are always out of play. - Serve cannot be blocked or attacked. - Contact below the waist is legal under USAV rules.

11. SERVING RULES - 8 seconds to serve after referee whistle. - One team warning for serving before whistle; second offense= illegal serve (side-out). - One reserve toss per service turn. - Server gets additional 5 seconds after reserve.

12. SUBSTITUTIONS - Rotation substitutions only. - Must occur after serving position. - Male substitutes for male; female for female.

13. EQUIPMENT & ATTIRE - No objects that may cause injury (pins, bracelets, casts, etc.). - No watches or dangling earrings. - Padding required for braces/casts if permitted. - Fitbits/activity trackers allowed. - No hats. - Sweatbands/headwear at official's discretion. - Proper athletic, non-marking shoes required. - Marking shoes = removal from court.

14. COIN TOSS - Coin flip determines Serve/Receive or Side. - League play: Winner chooses Games 1 & 3. - Tournament: Second coin toss if Game 3 is needed.

15. HONOR CALLS - Only the team negatively affected by the call may correct it. - Used to assist officials on missed or screened calls.

16. CHILD SUPERVISION - Parents/guardians are responsible for children brought to the facility. - If children are disruptive, you must supervise or remove them.

All Fargo Park District volleyball leagues will follow the USVA Rules, except where FPD rules apply.

1. All teams referee themselves. Calls will be made on your honor. Upper leagues should call it tighter than lower leagues.
    
2. No signing in of teams before each match will take place this summer. Clipboards will be used for recording scores. These will be located at each court by one of the volleyball net standards. The winning team of each game reports the scores on the clipboard. If scores are not marked on the clipboard, that game will be recorded as a loss for both teams. Winner of the last game should return the ball to a supervisor. 
    
3. Players can play on more than one team (but not on the same night). If you play on an upper league team on one night you would need the Volleyball Coordinators or Supervisors approval to play in a lower league on another night. You can not play on a Women’s team on Wednesday and a Coed team on Wednesday. Women can only play on one women’s team. All players in our Adult Volleyball Leagues need to be at least 16 years of age or older. 16 and 17-year olds will need a parent or guardians’ signature on the roster along with their own.
    
4. Captains toss a coin, paper rock scissors, or odd or even for service and court side.
    
5. A match will be played to 20 points with a 22-pt. cap. (Using the rally point scoring system) A two-point advantage must be held at the end of a game unless the cap has been reached or time has expired (see below).  Each match will consist of 3 games.  All matches will have a 45-minute time limit.  (Please start matches on time whenever possible)

               a. Procedure if time limit expires during second game: If time expires during the second game, the teams will finish the second game and a 10-point third game will be played; that is the first team to score 10-points with a 1-point advantage wins the game

               b. Procedure if time limit expires in the third game: If time expires during the third game, the supervisor will tell the teams that time has expired, and the game will end when a (NEW) 1-point advantage has been reached with a minimum of 10-points scored by the winning team.

6. No automatic forfeits. A team can play with less than 6 players. There must always be at least one male and one female on the court in all coed matches. However, there may be more women than men (no limit). NEW RULE: A team can play with one more male than female on the court. (Example: if you only have 2 females and 3 males, your team can play with those 5 or you can play with 2 males and one female, your team can play with those 3). There is not a five-minute grace period to begin a game; all games must start at their scheduled time provided both teams have the minimum number of players. If a team does not have the minimum number of players, the first game will be handled as a forfeited game. The match will be forfeited if a team does not show up after 5 minutes from the scheduled start time. Any team forfeiting two matches is dropped from the league unless 24-hour notice is given. One forfeit in tournament play will constitute a forfeit from the entire tournament unless 24-hour notice is given. If a team plays with less than 4 players, there must be a back-row player. Women will not be allowed to play in men’s leagues and men will not be allowed to play in women’s leagues.  
7. Each team must rotate clockwise on the serve.
    
8. The ball may be hit with an open hand or closed hand with no lifting, carrying, or pushing the ball, the ball must be cleanly hit.
    
9. In case of a double violation the play will be replayed.
    
10. If any part of the ball touches the boundary line, it is considered good or in bounds.
     
11. No player may encroach on the opponent's court. The center line (imaginary line), under the net, may be stepped on but not over. (this is for the safety of all players)
     
12. A player may run outside the court to play the ball.
     
13. All other balls that role onto the courts should be removed immediately. If the ball anyway interferes with play the point should be replayed.
     
14. Each team will not play the ball more than three times before it is returned over the net.
     
15. Any body contact with the net is illegal and should be called by the team that was in the net.
     
16. Only front row players may block at the net-except on the serve. Back row players may not block at any time.
     
17. Multiple contacts on the first ball across the net by the same player will be allowed.   
     
18. The whole body is in play (kicking is allowed). Any intentional kicking a ball at any other player will not be allowed and subject to ejection.
     
19. Pressing the block is allowed.
     
20. Overlapping and out of rotation should be called.
     
21. Teams exchange sides at the end of each game-please keep social distancing in-mind when switching sides! 
     
22. Beer is permitted in the Rabanus Parking Lot only.  No beer/alcohol is allowed at the courts. An alcohol permit is required by law to drink in the PARKING LOT of the Rabanus Courts.   Alcohol permits can be purchased at the Fargo Park District Office at 701 Main Ave for $50.00.  No glass allowed in the parking lot.
     
23. Rosters are due on or before the first night of league.  Players may be added through last night of league play. Players are on completed roster are eligible to play in end of season tournament, provided they play in at least one regular season match.  
     
24. Each team is allowed 2 time-outs per match.
     
25. Substitutions: Teams may only substitute in the following manner
     
26. Rotation of players. (must be done after the serving position!)
     
27. If a team starts short, as the players arrive, they can enter at any dead ball in the position after the server.
     
28. When substituting, you must sub-Male for Male and Female for Female!
     
29. Rain-out procedure: We will try and make an announcement after 4:00 p.m. as to the status of the games. You may call 298-6915 ext. 4 for any information on rain days after 4:00 p.m. If there is nothing on the announcement the matches are on. After 5:30 the decision will be made by the on-site coordinator.  
     
30. All rules not included in the rule sheet or USAVOLLEYBALL rule book will be determined by the site coordinator.
     
31. Any team disregarding or violating rules and policies of this league may be suspended from future league play and from the following season.