Beach Volleyball Rules

Sandstorm Beach Club uses the FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules as the standard for all competitions. However, most of the players competing at Sandstorm probably won't make it on to the international stage of the FIVB World Tour. So, to make things a little easier, we've had to modify some of those rules to fit with our competition.

Click HERE to download a free copy of the current FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules.

The following are amendments & inclusions to the FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules;

4. TEAMS & 9. TEAM LINE-UP

4.1 Composition & Registration
4.1.1. A team is comprised exclusively of;

Men's 2's	Men's 4's
2-a-side comp. for  teams of male players only 2 players required on court at all times Max. of 2 players per game	4-a-side comp. for teams of male players only Min. of 3 players required on court at all times Max. of 6 players permitted per game
Mixed 2's	Mixed 4's
2-a-side comp. for a team of 1 male & 1 female player 2 players required on court at all times Max. of 2 players per game	4-a-side comp. teams of male & female players Min. of 1 and max. of 2 male players on court at all times Min. of 1 and max. of 2 female player on court at all times Min. of 3 players required on court at all times Max. of 6 players permitted per game
Mixed 6's	Open 2's
6-a-side comp. for teams of male & female players Min. of 2 and max. of 4 male players on court at all times Min. of 2 and max. of 4 female player on court at all times Min. of 5 players required on court at all times Max. of 8 players permitted per game	2-a-side comp. for a team of male and/or female players 2 players required on court at all times Max. of 2 players per game
Open 3's	Open 4's
3-a-side comp. for a team of male and/or female players 3 players required on court at all times Max. of 4 players per game	4-a-side comp. for teams to male and/or female players Min. of 3 players required on court at all times Max. of 6 players permitted per game
Women's 2's	Women's 4's
2-a-side comp. for teams of female players only 2 players required on court at all times Max. of 2 players per game	4-a-side comp. for teams of female players only Min. of 3 players required on court at all times Max. of 6 players permitted per game
NB: Teams can have as many team members participate in their team throughout the season. However, all players are required to become Sandstorm members after 3 games.

5. PLAYER'S EQUIPMENT
5.1 Equipment
5.1.1 A player's equipment consists of shorts or a bathing suit. A "playing top" to be a jersey, shirt, or singlet, crop/bikini-top (women) is also required.
5.1.2 Players in 2-a-side competitions must compete in identical playing tops.
5.1.3 Players in a 4-a-side or 6-a-side competition are required to compete in playing tops that are of the same colour.

7. SCORING SYSTEM

Matches will be played according to the following;

Competition	Set 1	Break betweencSets	Set 2	Break between Sets	Set 3	Total Game Duration
2 & 3-a-side	10 minutes	1 minute	10 minutes	1 minute	10 minutes	32 minutes
4 & 6-a-side	15 minutes	1 minute	15 minutes	1 minute	15 minutes	47 minutes

	Set 1	Break between Sets	Set 2	Break between Sets	Set 3	Total Game Duration
2-a-side	10 min.	1 min.	10 min.	1 min.	10 min.	32 min.
4-a-side	15 min.	1 min.	15 min.	1 min.	15 min.	47 min.
6-a-side	15 min.	1 min.	15 min.	1 min.	15 min.	47 min.

 

 

 

7.1 To Win A Match
7.1.1 The match is won by the team that wins at least two sets.
7.1.2 All matches will consist of 3 sets.

7.2 To Win A Set
7.2.1 A set is won by the team that has scored the most points in the permitted time period.

7.3 To Win A Point
7.3.1 Whenever a team fails in its service or fails to return the ball, or commits any other fault, the opposing team wins the rally with one of the following consequences;
7.3.1 If the opposing team served, it scores a point and continues to serve.
7.3.2. If the opposing team received the service, it scores a point and gains the right to serve.

7.4 Faults, Default And Incomplete Team
7.4.1 Any team delaying the start of a game  will be penalized 1 point for every minute, or part thereof, it delays the commencement of the game.
7.4.2 If a team is not available to commence the match before the completion of Set 1, the match will be declared a forfeit.

10. PLAYER'S POSITIONS

10.1 Positions
10.1.1 At the moment the ball is hit by the server, each player must be within it's own court (except the server).
10.1.2 Players are free to positions themselves. There are no determined positions on the court except for 6-a-side.
10.1.3 In the 6-a-side game, players begin the rally in aligned in two rows of three across the court. After the server hits the ball players are permitted to move any where on the court but must return to their starting position at the conclusion of the rally. Players must rotate one position in a clockwise direction upon winning the right to serve.
10.1.4 Substitute players are permitted to make unlimited entries into the court but may only replace a player at the completion of a rally.

10.2 Service Order
10.2.1 Service order must be maintained throughout the set.

13. PLAYING THE BALL

13.1 Team Hits
13.1.1 Each team is entitled to a maximum of three hits for returning the ball over the net.
13.1.2 For Mixed competition, if a team uses more than one hit in returning the ball over the net, one of these contacts must be made by a female player.

19. TIME-OUTS
19.1 No time-outs are permitted.

Click HERE to download a free copy of the current FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules.

Do you know the rules, check out the Referee's Signals used to indicate their calls.