Advanced  

For advanced players only. Players would be considered AA - BB players in Asheville. This is the best level of player at Highland. Advanced rules will be honored in ALL Advanced leagues and tournament. Players should have a full understanding and mastery of the posted rules. Players should be well-practiced in clean touches, advanced serving and hand setting. Inexperienced players should NOT register for Advanced leagues or tournaments and may be asked to drop out for safety purposes.  

 

Intermediate 

For intermediate players who would be considered BB or B players in Asheville. Intermediate players should be experienced sand volleyball players who play with three hit rallies, consistent serving, and are comfortable with or learning clean hand setting. Advanced rules will be honored in Intermediate/Advanced leagues. Inexperienced players or players should NOT register for Intermediate leagues and may be asked to drop out for safety purposes. 

 

Recreational

For any volleyball player looking to have a great time! These leagues are open to players of all levels including beginners. Players should have a general understanding of how to play volleyball and will abide by Highland Brewing League Rules. Players should know how to serve overhand or underhand and pass. Advanced rules DO NOT apply to Rec Leagues.  

 

Below rules apply to all Highland leagues. Rules will be posted during league play.

Rules in red apply to Advanced and Intermediate/Advanced Leagues 

 

Rosters & Tardiness

- Teams have a 10-minute grace period to begin play with the required number of players. 10 minutes after the hour the first game is forfeit. 20 minutes after the hour, the whole match is forfeit 

- Player must be present at start of game to play. Unless approved by opponents, player cannot join mid-game 

- Captain must notify Highland Sports Coordinator if team will not be present for a match 

2v2  

- Must have 2 players registered NO LATER THAN 3 days before the first scheduled match  

- If co-ed league/tournament, must have one player of each gender on roster   

4v4  

- Must have 6 players registered in advance of first game NO LATER THAN 3 days before the first scheduled match  

- If Co-ed league/tournament, must have at least one player of each gender on roster and on the court 

- A minimum of two players (one of each gender, if co-ed) are required to begin a game 

6v6 

- Must have 8 players registered per team NO LATER THAN 3 days before the first scheduled match  

- If co-ed league/tournament, must have two players of each gender on roster and on the court 

- A minimum of 4 players (two of each gender, if co-ed) are required to begin a game 

- A team can play with 3 players (regardless of gender, if co-ed) but the game will be forefit until the required number of players arrive 

  

Free Agents & Subs 

- Free agents are listed in LeagueLab and may be recruited by captains. If a team’s roster is not full 3 days prior to the first match, Highland will fill out teams with free agents 

- Subs should be approved by opponents before game – rosters and contact information will be shared at the start of each season. If you cannot find an approved sub, please reach out to Highland or plan to play down a player 

- Subs are NOT allowed for play-offs – no exceptions 

   

League Match Play (tournament play may differ)

- Rock, paper, scissor or flip a coin to determine first server. Winner may choose to serve first or may select which side they play on first 

- Loser of game serves first for the next game 

- Each match consists of three games 

2v2 

- Game 1 and 2 are to 21, win by 2, cap at 25  

- Game 3 is to 15, win by 2, cap at 21  

4v4 

- Game 1 and 2 are to 21, win by 2, cap at 25  

- If game 3 begins with less than 15 minutes left of the allotted match time, game is to 15, win by 2, cap at 21. If more than 15 minutes remain, game may play to 21, win by 2, cap at 25  

6v6 

- Game 1 and 2 are to 21, win by 2, cap at 25  

- If game 3 begins with less than 15 minutes left of the allotted match time, game is to 15, win by 2, cap at 21. If more than 15 minutes remain, game may play to 21, win by 2, cap at 25  

 

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General Rules of Play 

 

Contact & Serve Receive 

- Each team has a maximum of three contacts to return the ball 

- A player may not contact the ball two consecutive times unless blocking or at serve return (so if the serve hits you in the face and then you bump it, that’s OK) 

- You cannot block or attack (jump) a serve 

- The ball must be contacted cleanly and not held (including lifted, pushed, caught, carried or thrown) 

- The ball cannot roll or come to rest on any part of a player's body 

In Advanced & Advanced/Intermediate Play Only 

- For single-hand contact, ball must be cleanly hit with the heel or palm of the hand, or with straight and locked fingertips, with knuckle, or with the back of the hand. No open-hand tips 

 

Net & Boundaries 

- The ball may touch the net while crossing the net, including during the serve 

- A ball driven into the net may be recovered within the limits of the three team contacts 

- If a player goes under the net, it is not a fault unless it interferes with play 

- It is a fault for a player or a player's clothing to touch any part of the net with the exception of: incidental contact of the net by a player's hair OR if wind blows the net and causes the net to touch a player   

- If the ball touches the outer boundary net, it is out of play 

- If the ball goes into another court and a different game is occurring on that court, ball is out of play 

 

Blocking 

2v2

- A block counts as one of team’s three touches

4v4 and 6v6

- Block does NOT count as one of team’s three touches 

- If two opponents simultaneously contact the ball over the net, the ball remains in play and the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball lands out of bounds, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side of the net from where the ball lands  

- In blocking, the player may place his/her hands and arms beyond the net provided that his/her action does not interfere with the opponent's play. Thus, player is not permitted to touch the ball beyond the net until the opponent has executed an attack-hit 

 

Setting / Open Hands 

- A contact of the ball with two hands, using the fingers to direct the ball, is a set 

- Ball cannot visibly come to rest during a set 

In Advanced & Advanced/Intermediate Play Only 

- If setting the ball over the net, shoulders must be square to your target. Accidental hand sets over the net that are NOT square count as a fault 

- You CANNOT open hand receive a serve, hands must be together 

-  Open hand receives on the first ball are ONLY allowed if it's a hard driven ball (no open hand receives on serves, bumps or pushes over).

- Sets must be clean with minimal spin and no holding – captains, please establish how strictly you will enforce this prior to each match 

 

Rotating 

4v4 

- Serve order must rotate consistently 

6v6 

- Serve order must rotate consistently 

- All players present for the game must rotate into the game in the same order 

- Players must rotate positions around the court, but can swap into new positions once ball is in in play