Adult Volleyball Education (A.V.E.)
Seattle, Washington
VOLLEYBALL RULES
Rules of Play
A.V.E. programs generally follow the volleyball rules established by USAVolleyball with some additional rules to meet the unique characteristics of our facility. Please note the following:
* Our courts are quite close together - we need to be especially diligent in following USAV's rule that a player may not enter another court before, during, or after going for a ball. This is a safety concern!! If you see another player moving into an adjacent court to make a wide approach to the ball, please explain this rule to them.
* When it is necessary to cross a court in which a game is being played, we expect everyone to wait until a rally is over before going. When crossing the court we expect everyone to jog or run, we call this a courtesy jog. This minimizes game disruption for everyone.
* During all A.V.E. program activities there is at least one supervisory staff. Those supervisors are in full charge of the gym and play. We expect all participants to follow any directions given by the supervisors. Anyone who disrupts play or in any way threaten the safety of other participants may be ejected by the supervisors.
* Our landlords, the Seattle School District, require that there be no food or drinks on the gym floor at any time!!
* The School District also asks that we do not practice or hit the balls in the hallways of the building, only on the gym floor.
* Understand that we can only accomodate a limited number of players/participants at any A.V.E. event. There may be times that individuals are turned away at the entrance because we are full. To avoid this situation it is suggested that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the event. (In general, we open the gym about 15 minutes before the scheduled start; i.e. Open Play starts at 8:00 pm, so we open the doors at approximately 7:45).
* When more than 36 players arrive for Open Play, the gym supervisor normally announces that teams need to consist of 7 players, with the additional player enters the court at the server's position during normal rotations. Everyone who pays their entry fee are entitled to play, so no one may refuse to allow them to join a team which is not full. If necessary, the supervisors are empowered to place players on teams which have openings.
* When the maximum number of players arrive for Open Play, there is then 8 teams of 7 players to play on three courts. The gym supervisor may announce that games will end at 11 points instead of the normal 15.
* During Open Play, when there are more than 6 teams, the seventh (and eighth) teams wait in the hallway. The teams that are playing complete their first game, then the loser is replaced one of the waiting teams. Thereafter, each team stays on the same court for two games, then goes to the waiting area and re-enters the gym, in order, when the next team comes off the floor. We call this "two on, one off".
* When a ball flies or rolls from one court to another, then anyone seeing the situation should yell "ball on", all play stops, and the disrupted rallies are re-played. Players should not run from one court to another court to retrieve a ball. We require players to stay on their own courts and await someone from the court where the ball has gone to return it to its proper place.
* Again, for safety, we ask that volleyballs never be kicked. USAV requires that any volleyball be rolled from one person to another when it is not in play. That way no one will be hit in the face or otherwise injured by a hard kicked ball.
* At the end of an evening's play, the supervisor will normally loudly call out "last serve" to indicate that time is up. After that final rally, regardless of the score, we expect everyone to leave the gym so that the building can be closed.