GAMEPLAY RULES

We consider beach volleyball to be a rad, chill sport. Even as the game continues to grow, we’ll always choose to align with the principles of its early, surf-vibe roots: getting together with your buds for a great time on the beach. Get familiar with the league rules below, but remember why we’re all here in the first place.

#becausewelovetoplay

  • No Tips

    Keep that contact percussive! You can poke with knuckles, smack and hit, but you cannot push or direct the ball with your finger tips.

  • Block Does Not Count As A Touch

    In Olympic beach volleyball, the block DOES count as a touch, but for the sake of extending the rallies in this league, we’re not going to count blocks as touches. So, if your teammate makes a sweet contact off the block, you still have 3 touches remaining.

  • You Must Be Square To Your Target If You Are Volleying Over The Net

    No sneaky sideways sets! Your shoulders and hips have to face to where you are intending to place the ball.

  • Setting

    • If your intent is to set the ball to your hitter, but the ball goes over the net and you are NOT square, it’s okay.

    • If the ball is spinning and you feel it’s ugly (spinning a ton, goes in a complete different direction than your intent, it’s scoopy/lifty/down by your belly button), call yourself immediately and award a point to the other team. #sportsmanship

  • First Contacts

    • You cannot volley the ball off of a serve. You can bump it, pokey it, tomahawk chop it, hit it off any other part of your body, but volleying off of a serve is not allowed.

    • Friday Nighters: You CAN volley on a free ball, a roll shot, a spike/hit (📣 Monday nighters: our rule is different. Scroll down to see the Monday Nighters section below.) This breaks the rule of standard Olympic play, but hey, we’re all a few training sessions away from the Olympics, so no probs here to volley that first contact (JUST NOT ON A SERVE!)

  • Is It IN Or OUT?

    *If you see the line jump, it’s very likely that the ball has landed in. Respectfully check the ball mark - both teams can engage in a respectful conversation about the mark. Do not touch that ball mark evidence! If you can’t come to an agreement, smile nicely, and re-serve the ball.

    *If the ball touches the wire or the wood doweling that’s attached to the wooden pole, the ball is out. If the ball travels over the wire (as in, not across the net) the ball is out.

  • Net Touches

    *You are not allowed to touch the net in any circumstances. Call yourself immediately if any part of your body makes contact with the net.

    • There is no centre line in beach volleyball. On the beach, you ARE allowed to step underneath/around the net. If you make contact with your opponent, or affect their ability to play the ball, call yourself immediately and award the point to your opponent.

    ⚠️: This is how most injuries occur. Please be careful at the net, and try to avoid contact with others at all costs.

  • You Cannot Step On, Under, Or Over The Line On Your Serve.

    Cool?

  • 🏐 Not So Sure About a Play? A Rule? Got Questions?

    If there’s a disagreement or question at any point during your game, please seek out Dave - your beach volleyball butler - for clarification. We think it makes everyone a better player, teammate, and competitor to have a good grasp on knowledge of the game, and we’re here to help you with that.

    We’re all out here to have a great time. #beagoodhuman

Monday Nighters: same rules as above, but with 2 important differences.

  • SETTING

    Spin: If you are setting in a balanced and stable position and the ball comes out of your hands spinning SLIGHTLY, we’re cool with that. Carry on. If you are unbalanced in your positioning, reaching outside of your body, falling backwards, etc and the ball is spinning, it is a fault. Call hands on yourself immediately and award a point and possession to the other team.

    Jump Setting: If the ball comes out spinning from a jump set, it is a fault. Call yourself immediately.

    No Room at The Net: If you’re having to make the set on a tight-to-the-net ball, you may set with one hand. If the ball goes over on this one-handed set, it is a tip. Call yourself immediately.

    Set Goes Over: If the set that you are intending to go to your hitter ends up going over the net, totally cool. Ball is still alive.

  • FIRST CONTACTS

    This rule is a real MF-er. It evolves all the time, changes league to league, and often causes arguments.

    Here’s what we’d like to see happen with this rule on Monday nights:

    ON A SERVE:

    You CAN have open palms.

    Your hands DO NOT have to be together

    It MUST be a percussive contact

    You CANNOT use your fingers in a tipping or volleying type motion.

    A clear double contact IS allowed (again, so long as the contact is percussive)

    ON A HARD-DRIVEN BALL: All of the above applies, and it CAN be a double contact.

    ON A FREEBALL or ROLL SHOT: All of the above applies, but it CANNOT be a double contact.

    Guys, talk it out respectfully, consider a reserve in the case of non-agreement, and discuss how you’d like to handle similar plays through the rest of your match.