SPORTSFEST BYO4s Sand Volleyball Tournament (April 26th, 2025)

BRING YOUR OWN 4’s TOURNAMENT FORMAT

Volleyball teams of four will compete in a round robin format followed by playoffs. Teams must play with 2 females and 2 males on the court. Based on the results of the round robin games we’ll rank all teams based on the criteria listed below and the top teams will move onto the playoffs. The number of playoff teams will be determined and announced at the event. Based on the results of the round robin games all teams will be ranked based on the following criteria:

1. Overall record of your games played
2. Total point differential of all the matches
3. In the rare case where there is a tie after these two factors we will go to a coin flip

SCORING

All volleyball games are rally scoring in one set to 21, teams must win by 2 with a cap at 25. Teams will switch sides once one of the teams reaches 11 points. Rally scoring simply means that a point will be awarded each time the ball is served regardless of who served it.

SERVING

A team earns service possession for the start of the first game by winning Rock/Paper/Scissors.

• A legal serve is one that crosses the net and is either touched by an opposing player or lands within the opposing team’s area of the court within the boundary lines. A serve that makes contact with the net and carries over to the opponent’s side of the net is a live serve and must be returned.
• No jump serves are allowed.
• When the serving team wins the rally, the player who served before, serves again.
• When the receiving team wins the rally, it gains the right to serve and must rotate server but does not have to rotate position on the court.
• Players on the receiving team cannot block or attack a serve.

PLAYING THE BALL

• Volleyball team members do not need to rotate positions on the court. They do have to rotate service though.
• Every player is eligible to attack the net.
• Each team is allowed a maximum of 3 successive contacts of the ball in order to return the ball to the opponent’s area.
• Open hand tips are illegal.
• Returning a serve with a set is illegal and must be "passed" with a bump (hands together below the wrist) or with your hands together (above the waist).
• When setting the ball over the net, the player's shoulders must be square to the direction of the set.
• Players are not permitted to scoop, hold or lift the ball. The ball must be clearly hit.
• There is no centerline. You may cross under the net providing that you do not contact a player from the other side or hinder their play of the ball.
• The ball must cross the plane of the net before contact may be made unless it is the 3rd hit by the offense and the contact is made to block the shot.
• Contact with the net is a violation. This includes contact made by hats, hair or clothing.
• Crossing or playing over any of the ball guards is a dead ball.
• Crossing into the other courts is a dead ball.
• A stray ball onto the court constitutes a replay if it comes in during play

BLOCKING

• Blocking is the action close to the net which intercepts the ball coming from the opponent's side by making contact with the ball before, during or after it crosses the net.
• A block contact is not counted as a team hit, and a team is entitled to 3 hits to return the ball.
• The first hit after the block may be executed by any player, including the one who blocked the ball.

OFFICIALS

• All games in the tournament will be officiated by a league official.

CONCLUSION

• We enforce a “Zero Tolerance Policy” in regards to behavior of players, team managers, and fans. Taunting, trash talking, or abusive language will not be tolerated. Officials and volleyball league staff will have the right to reprimand or eject players, managers, or fans depending on the severity of the situation. Abusive behavior toward the official will not be tolerated. An ejection carries a one game suspension (including the current game). In extreme cases, the player will be asked to leave the premises without refund. The severity of the punishment will be based on the discretion of the official and league staff. Only CAPTAINS of respective teams are allowed to approach the official with questions or concerns in a respective manner. Teams charging the field of play to question or complain a call will be subject to an automatic forfeit for that game.
• Any rules not covered or protests will be handled by the Tournament Director.
• All decisions of the Tournament Director are final. The Tournament Director shall also have the final authority to make adjustments to match schedules, match duration, and other aspects of the tournament as may become necessary during the course of the tournament.