We simply need the team name, division, team captain, and contact info. The team captain is responsible for making sure the full team fee is paid. People looking for teams should contact us and we will try to find them a team.
Usually, there is an early entry deadline a few weeks before the start date, which is usually $5 off per player. At this time we are letting teams pay the early entry fee on the first night if it is all done in one hand off.
Teams play on one day of the week for a league only. For ex: Monday is always on Monday.
Teams can check the website (www.fairplayvolleyball.com) for their initial start times 6 days before the start date. Teams may still enter after the entry deadline, which is one week before the league start, until the weekend after the first official night of play for that day of the week.
Levels of play can be anywhere from A to C-, in a school grade system (which is easier for the common man to understand as opposed to the USAV letter system).
"A" level features a higher level of play, and the most likely to have former college players.
"B" level features an intermediate level of play. It is still bump, set, and spike but results may not be as consistent as in the "A" division. Sets may be a little rough in "B", but should be somewhat cleaner in the "B+" level.
"C" level is more a recreation level of play. Teams may bump, set and spike, but you may have to be ready for anything.
Various nights may flutter what a letter grade is compared to other nights due to what it takes to congregate a division.
Alternate description by JL)
C- recreational; key focus is fun and some excercise; not a lot of controlled volleys or plays
B- players are more focused on the game itself and playing 3 hits, working on fundamentals and as a team, learning strengths and weaknesses in the court, still a social environment for many
B+- structured game play and competitve nature seems to take priority over socializing and clowning around; players have developed fundamentals and are comfortable playing at a faster pace, controlled plays and volleys utilizing 3 hits are more common than not; hits are more aggressive; defense and blocking are stronger as well. Typically this level is used for people working to play more competitively and also can be a transition point to the A level, if your B team is constantly beating everyone in the B division or you're not feeling challenged, b+ is the logical next step.
A/open- is the place for strong and competitive players. Balls are hit hard on offense and defense and blocking are equally as tough. If your team is constantly winning the B+ division or you feel you are not being challenged by the people in that league the logical next step is the A division.
For Monday through Friday, start times tend to be from 6 pm to 10 pm.
Sunday indoor times tend to be from 12:30 pm to 6 pm.
Sunday beach times tend to be from 3:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Teams may make time, or bye, requests. Early, or late, requests usually aren't a problem. Teams requesting middle times are not as easy to grant... in fact, teams should stop making middle requests.
Time requests cannot be granted for the league tourney. We have to start as early as we can to get it all in, so teams that want late games may have to start early.
Players may play on 2 teams a night if they want, as long as they are in different divisions, preferably without a space between divisions. The best attempt will be made that both teams & both team's tourneys are not played on the same night/time, but sometimes it is very difficult, and players/teams should understand how much I am bending to make this all happen for them...
The full schedule is usually made the weekend, after the first week, of play. This allows teams to move divisions, etc...
Seasons are often 12 matches , but they could go longer, or shorter. Teams normally play 2 matches per night, but may play more if the team needs to catch-up, because they requested a bye, or joined late. Teams never play just one match a night.
A normal match takes 25 minutes... sometimes 30, if its close. There is no third game until the league tourney part of the season, because we are on a tightly timed schedule.
All leagues are followed by a seeded accelerated double-elimination tournament (Loser bracket matches are normally one game, and winner bracket matches are normally 2 of 3).
For beach, we play every night except when there is extreme weather. Rain is not a problem. We have a lightning detector. Storms often pass quickly, and why cancel a while night when just a small part of it is bad?
In Winter, we will usually play unless the facility closes.
Coed sixes teams may not have more than 3 men on court at any time. They may have more women than men, or all women for that matter. During the league season teams may play with 3 guys and 2 gals, or even 3 guys and one gal if it is ok with the other team. During league tourney teams, need 3 gals in order to play with 3 guys. Coed sixes teams need at least 2 players, and one must be a female, to not forfeit. If playing 6's with 3 players, the server position is back row.
Coed fours teams need at least 2 players, and one must be a female, for league or league tourney, to not forfeit. Team may play with 2 guys and 1 gal in league tourney.
Men's or Women's teams need at least 2 players, for league or league tourney, to not forfeit.
Women may play in the Men's league but men may not play in the Women's league.
Teams may have an unlimited roster. They may not be on another team in the same division. Your league tourney roster is whoever played with you during the season (even just one play).
Lower levels may play at higher levels, but there is a limited number, if any, of higher level players that may play at a lower level.
13, and over, players are legal for the adult leagues.
Matches are 2 games to 18 (win by 2), with a 21 cap, with rally scoring.
One 30 second time out per game.
We basically use USAV rules, but not all of them. For example, we have no "girl touch" rule. And most of our gyms do not have enough room for the pursuit rule (chasing the ball outside the antennae on an opponent's side).
The server only gets one toss to complete a serve.
You cannot block the serve or attack a serve.
Once the ball is contacted on a serve, players may change positions.
Any ball that comes in contact with the ceiling or an object hanging from the ceiling, light, support beam, etc. may be played as long as it remains on that side of the court and there is a contact remaining. If a ball goes to the other side of the court and contacts the ceiling, the play is dead. Basketball rims are low enough that they are an obstruction, and a replay may be awarded, if the referee judges that play may have continued had the obstruction not been in the way...
Touching the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play is a violation, the exception being if the ball is driven into the net causing it to touch an opposing player.
Touching the net outside the antennas, or touching the net poles, is legal.
A double contact is allowed on the first ball over as long as it is one continuous motion. That includes off of a blocked/deflected ball.
To play the first ball over the net on a serve, overhand, the ball must be completely below the tape/top of the net.
You can step on the center line. A center line violation occurs when any body part is entirely over the line or when the player interferes with the opposing team or the opposing teams play. If your foot or hand are above the line, but directly above the line, it is not a violation.
A player may use any body part to play a ball provided it is not a violation.
A player may not enter another court to play a ball at any time, the ball is out of bounds and unplayable.
Hair may contact the net however a jersey or loose clothing may not.
If players make a simultaneous contact, either player may play the ball next.
Beach fours rules: No tips, no setting the serve, and no setting over (For indoor fours we allow you to set the serve). Anyone can stand anywhere on court in fours, but you must keep the same serve rotation (girl, guy, girl, guy in coed). Since there is no center line on the beach, interference is the only violation there.
Rotation:
Coed teams need to alternate male and female on the court and in their serve rotation. Teams should rotate if they side out on their opponent's serve to begin the game.
Teams of 3 or 4 must make their server position (back row player), clear to the ref, and their opponent. Late arriving players should sub in the back row, or at the referee's designation.
Blocking:
Coed sixes teams may bring a male up to the front row to block, if there is only one female in the front row in the current rotation. That male player may not hit above the plane of the net.
For beach leagues we do not count a block as a hit.
In college, high school, and professional matches, there are four refs/line callers. We only have one. We need players to be honest on their own violations, and to understand that line/judgment calls do not have the checks that professional matches do. If you do not agree with a call, realize they often even out. Don't waste the time of your opponent, your team, the ref, and all waiters on hand, arguing excessively. It will lessen credibility on legitimate questions. The ref has the final word... Anything more, and a player risks a warning, or an ejection.
The league is for fun. Any violent actions or behavior may result in a league ban from River City, and all other league play sites.
Most matches are at the River City Complex. The google location point is 1550 Griffin Street. The physical mailbox is 405 River Bend Court. A few matches may be played at the Plex at 1807 East California Road.
For Monday through Friday leagues only 13 and over people are allowed to play or watch. On Sunday all ages are ok. No pets are allowed at the site.
At River City, please do not park in restricted areas, such as the truck dock, or the side alley, behind the courts, or any place that may block an overhead door. Motorcycles are now restricted from the sidewalk per fire department code. You may not carry in alcohol.
