IM Wallyball

League:    Mondays & Wednesdays 8-10 pm @ Merrill Gym racquet courts

League Play Begins:         Wednesday, Apr. 23
Playoffs/Championship:     Week of May 19

Game Schedule.

BASIC RULES: (Comprehensive rules listed below.)

1.   Matches: the best 2 out of 3 games. Each game is played to 21 points.

2.   Scoring: every time the ball is served, a point is scored by the winning team (called rally score).

3.   Server: the team who wins a point, becomes the next server. The team rotates, clockwise, to serve.

4.   In the 3rd and deciding game, when either team reaches 18 points, a "freeze" occurs, whereby standard side-out volleyball scoring will apply. (Only the team who serves may earn a point.)

5. Varsity / Club players: Only 1 member of the women's varsity or men's club team may play on a team.

6. Team Makeup: A team consists of 4 players (may be co-ed, or single gender). Two players play front row (left front, right front) and two player play back row (left back, right back). The right back player is the server.

7. Back row players may NOT block or spike at the net. However, they may attack from the back row.

8. Time-Outs: each team is allowed 2 time-outs per game; it lasts for 30 seconds.

9. Net: Players may not touch the net while the ball is in play.

10. Centerline: Players may not cross under the net to the other side while the ball is in play.

11. 3rd Game: If a team wins the first 2 games, but both teams would like to continue playing, they may do so as long as time permits.

12. Ceiling: A ball that hits the ceiling on a volley or block is illegal unless it remains on the same side as the team that hits it, in which case, they may continue to play the ball to get it over the net (if they have not already used their 3 contacts).

13. ILLEGAL PLAYS:
- A served ball that hits the ceiling
- A served ball that hits the back wall
- A serve, volley or block that hits the back wall or 2 or more walls consecutively
- Using more than 3 contacts to send the ball over the net (a block does NOT count)

14. The Back Wall: is in play ONLY on the side of the team that is returning the serve or volley, provided a player on that team touches the ball first. (Example: Team B serves ball over the net, hits the side wall, Team A player contacts the ball and it goes to the back wall. Team A members may play it off the wall to get it over the net.)

15. The Side Walls: teams may play the ball of the side wall and may hit the opponent's side wall when sending it over the net. HOWEVER, the ball may not hit 2 walls (2 side walls or side wall and back wall).

16. ILLEGAL CONTACT: No intentional kicking the ball is allowed. A ball is considered in play if it bounces off any part of the body and counts as 1 contact of the 3 allowable contacts for the team.

17. Heading the Ball: the ball may be played with the head and counts as 1 of the 3 allowable contacts for the team. The ball may be sent over to the other team by heading.

WALLYBALL
Playing Rules

Choice of Court Side or Service.
The team listed first on the score sheet is the home team. They are allowed to choose which side they would like to start on OR if they want to serve first.

Service.
The Right Back player puts the ball into play by hitting the ball with open hand or fist in a overhand, sidearm, or underarm motion. The ball must clear the net and cannot hit more than 2 walls or the ceiling or the back wall on the serve.

Points.
A point is awarded for each serve. If the serving team wins the point, they continue to serve. If the receiving team wins the point, they rotate clockwise (right front to right back position) and begin serving.

The first team to 21 points wins. However, when either team reaches 18 points, a "freeze" occurs, whereby standard side-out volleyball scoring will apply. (Only the team who serves may earn a point.)

Games/Match.
After game 1, teams change sides. If, after game 2, each team has won a game, then the team who has scored the highest number of points (both games added together) gets to choose side or service for the 3rd game. If there is a tie in points, flip a coin or choose a number between the two teams. It is NOT necessary to play a 3rd game if one team won the first two; however, if time is available and both team would like to play, they may.

Players/Positions.
Each team must have 4 players (does not have to be co-ed); if not, the team who does not meet the rule forfeits. Two players on the front row (Left Front, Right Front) and two players on the back row (Left Back, Right Back). Back row players may not block or spike the ball at the net (front row).

Illegal Plays.
- No player may touch the net while the ball is in play.
- Players may not cross under the net to the other side while the ball is in play.
- A ball that hits the ceiling on a volley or block is illegal unless it remains on the same side as the team that hits it, in which case, they may continue to play the ball to get it over the net (within the 3 contact rule). A served ball that hits the ceiling is always illegal.
- Using more than 3 contacts to return the ball over the net (blocks do NOT count as a contact).
- A ball that hits the back wall on the opponent's side or two or more walls consecutively on a serve, volley, or block is illegal.

- No player may intentionally kick the ball to keep it in play. A side-out or point is awarded to the other team.

Back Wall in Play or In Bounds.
The back wall is in play only on the side of the team that is returning the serve or volley, provided a player on that team touches the ball first.

Example: ball is served over the net, hits the side wall, Team A player contacts the ball and it goes to the back wall. Team A members may play it off the wall to get it over the net.

Hitting the Ball out of the Court Area.
Any time the ball is hit outside the court area, i.e. into the spectator's gallery on the first or second hit or volley, the ball shall be declared dead and the point replayed. No loss of point or serve will be called. However, if the ball is hit into the spectator's gallery on the third hit or volley, a point or side-out will be called.

If the ball touches the opponent's ceiling before leaving the court area, the ball will be called out of bounds and a side-out declared (loss of point or serve).

Time-outs.
Each team is allowed to have 2 time-outs per game, 30 seconds each. Time between games shall be no longer than 2 minutes between games 1 & 2 and 5 minutes between games 2 & 3.

Pre-Game Warm-ups.
Warm-ups may be done with both teams on the court together (6 minutes) or each team alone (3 minutes each).

Substitutions.
Substitution occurs only during a dead ball. Time to substitute:

1. When the team rotates to serve, a player may enter the game to sub. They must then play all 4 positions before coming out.

2. When a player is injured or can no longer play, a substitute may enter the game (during a dead ball) to replace the injured player.

Officiating.
No officials will be used. Team captains are responsible for understanding and implementing the rules, as well as encouraging good sportsmanship of all team members.

Score Reporting.

Team captains shall email the scores and results of the match to <mgraef> or write the results on the white board on her office door after each night of playing. Seeding for the Single Elimination Tournament will be based on the results of league play.

Championship Tournament.

All teams will participate in the Championship Tournament at the end of the season, with the winning team receiving IM Champion T-shirts.  Seeding for the Single Elimination Tournament will be based on the results of league play.

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