Waverly Community Volleyball | League Rules | WCF 2026

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6 X 6 Game Play Rules

Rules are based partially on the National Federation of State High School Rules Book with the addition of applicable coed sand volleyball rules.

Team Players

1.     An on-court team shall consist of up to six players, no less than half of which must be females.

  • Teams may play a set with more than three females. Example: Two males and four females are allowed.

2.     A team may play with four or five players without a forfeit. However, again, in no case may a team play with more males than females.

3.     Serving order and position on the court must be an alternation of men and women, unless playing with more women than men in which case the extra woman will alternate in place of a man.

4.     If a team has only four or five players, the ghost rule will not be enforced at any time. In other words, no points will be lost to the opposing team. The team with four or five will keep rotating serve as if they had 6 players.

5.     Tournament Rosters: Players are not allowed to sub on different teams during the tournament unless they subbed on that team during the regular season. All players must play in at least one regular season game to be eligible to play in the tournament. Rosters will be made available at a team captains request at any time during the regular season to allow updates. One set forfeiture will result for not following the roster.

Match Format

1.     Match time is as scheduled, unless slower play dictates in which case league/tournament organizers will determine times.

  • If less than three players are present at 5 minutes past match start time, the first set will be forfeited.

  • If after 15 minutes past match start time four players are not present, the match is forfeited.

2.     A match consists of up to 3 sets or approximately one hour of running time play. In tournament play, the match winner is the first team to 2 set wins.

3.     Three sets are played to 21 points using rally point scoring. If there is an advantage with the weather, during the third set, teams must exchange sides when the first team reaches 11 points.

  • If the serving team wins the rally, it receives a point and continues to serve.

  • If the receiving team wins the rally, it receives a point and the ball for service.

  • A team must win by two points with a cap of 25.

4.     Each team is allowed two 30-second timeouts. In the event of extreme heat, additional water breaks are ok.

5.     Reschedules: Reschedules come up from time to time due to conflicts, kids sports, etc. If a game needs to be rescheduled vs a forfeit, the following must occur.

1)     Contact the captain on the other team to let them know and see if they’re ok with rescheduling vs a forfeit. Please provide as much advance notice as possible.

2)     If the other team agrees to a reschedule, the game can be made up at any point prior to the end of the last night of regular season. When rescheduling, please notify the WCF contact so they can adjust the schedule and mark that time slot as available.

3)     Once a date/time is agreed upon for the reschedule, please let the WCF contact know so they can verify if the court is available on that date/time.

4)     If a date/time cannot be agreed up and the game is not played, then the score for that game will go as follows: Team that did not have to reschedule will receive 2 sets won and the team that had to reschedule will receive 1 set won.

The Serve

1.     The team to serve first in game 1 will be determined by volley. Loser of the previous game serves first in the second and third sets.

2.     The serving order and positions on the court at service shall be male and female alternated or vice-versa.

3.     The first server of the set for each team is the right back position.

4.     The server may serve anywhere laterally from behind the end line but the servers foot may not touch or cross the end line.

5.     Silver Recreational Play Serve Rule: During each rotation, the server may serve 3 consecutive points using an overhand serve. Any additional serves during that rotation must be underhand. Gold Recreational Play Serve Rule: During each rotation, the server may serve 3 consecutive points using overhand server. Then they must serve at least one point underhand before returning to overhand serve for 3 more points.

Competitive Play Serve Rule: The server may serve overhand or underhand as desired for each point with no limitation on the number of consecutive serves of any one type.

Ball Contact

1.     A team shall not have more than three contacts before the ball crosses the net to the opposite side.

2.     When the ball is played more than once by a team, a female player shall make at least one of the contacts.

3.     When the team’s first contact is a block, the next contact is considered the teams first hit.

(Blocking a serve is not permitted)

4.     Legal contact is a touch of the ball by the player’s body which does not allow the ball to visibly come to rest or involve prolonged contact or a double hit. Teams are asked to police themselves when officials are not available. Please replay disputes.

Player Actions

1.     Front row players may contact the ball from any position inside or outside the court provided the ball has not completely crossed the vertical plane of the net or the net extended.

2.     Back row players, while positioned generally in the back row area, may contact the ball from any position inside or outside the court above or below the top of the net.

3.     A back row player, while positioned generally in the front row area, may not attack or block a ball that is completely above the height of the net.

Net Play

1.     A player shall not contact a ball which is completely on the opponent’s side of the net unless the contact is a legal block.

2.     Blocking a ball, which is entirely on the opponent’s side of the net, is permitted when the opposing team has had an opportunity to complete its attack. The attack is considered complete when the:

  • Attacking team has completed its three allowable hits.

  • Attacking team has had the opportunity to spike the ball or directs the ball toward the opponent’s court.

  • Ball is falling near the net and no member of the attacking team could make a play on the ball.

3.     Blocking a serve is not permitted.

4.     A net foul occurs when a player contacts (except for the hair) any part of the net. Teams are asked to police themselves when officials are not available. Please replay disputed plays.

5.     A player may touch the sand across the centerline plane directly below the net with one or both feet/hands provided part of the foot/hand(s) are still within the centerline plane.

General Park Rules

1.     Alcohol is permitted in the park for individuals 21 years and older. ID is required. If ID is requested and not provided a one game forfeiture will result.

2.     Aluminum cans are the best way to drink. Solo cups work well also. Glass bottles are very bad for the park, even if you are responsible and dispose of your bottle in the trash. Someone could get it out of the trash and break the bottle in the sand. This could result in serious injury. Thanks for understanding.

3.     The Waverly Community Foundation is not responsible for ensuring the appropriate behavior of your children in the park while you are playing. If you have young children, please be sure to have someone in your group available to keep an eye on them. Also, please advise children not to hang on the nets in-between sets. Thank you for your cooperation.