League Rules - September 2007
1. Introduction
1.1 These are the rules for Yorkshire Volleyball competitions. In the event of situations not covered here, refer to Volleyball England NVL rules and FIVB International rules.
1.2 All clubs should have a committee (with constitution), be well organised and capable of supporting and sustaining a full fixtures program within the Yorkshire region.
2. Yorkshire Volleyball Competitions
2.1 Yorkshire Men's Premier League (Men-only league)
2.2 Yorkshire Ladies Premier League (Ladies-only league)
2.3 Yorkshire Division One League (Men's league, but ladies may play)
2.4 Yorkshire Cup (Men) - Knock-out competition
2.5 Yorkshire Plate (Men) - Knock-out competition
2.6 Yorkshire Cup (Ladies) - Knock-out competition
2.7 Yorkshire Men's Premier Trophy - Men's Premier play-off
2.8 Yorkshire Ladies Premier Trophy - Ladies Premier play-off
2.9 Yorkshire Men's Challenge Trophy - Yorkshire Div One play-off
3. Registration (Teams)
Before the season commences (1 September):
3.1 All teams must be registered with Volleyball England.
3.2 All teams must be registered with Yorkshire Volleyball.
3.3 League fees paid before 1 September: £50
3.4 League fee paid before 1 October: £55
3.5 If league fees are not paid by 1 October, the team will not be allowed to take part in league matches until the fee is paid. (Any matches missed will be defaulted to the opposing team and league points deducted)
3.6 If league fees are not paid by 1 November the team may be asked to leave the league.
3.7 Each team shall pay a goodwill bond of £30 (when they first join the league). Failure to comply with these rules may result in fines, which will be taken from the offending team's goodwill bond (see Sanctions, below).
4. Registration (Players)
4.1 All players must be registered with Yorkshire Volleyball.
4.2 Additional players may be registered after the start of the season, but the league secretary must receive registration prior to involvement in any league match.
4.3 Once registered, all players will have a registration card with attached photograph.
4.4 Registration cards must be made available to the officials and the opposing team's coach or captain at each match. Failure to do so will mean that the player(s) involved will not be permitted to take part in the match.
The simplest way to cover all eventualities is for the team coach and captain to carry a portfolio of player registration cards to every game. This portfolio may simply be all the cards printed on a sheet of A4 card.
4.5 Clubs with multiple teams competing in the same league competition must register each squad separately.
A player may play up to two games for the other team. Only a maximum of two players from the other squad may be on court at any one time. Once a third game is played that player is automatically transferred to the other team and may not return within the same season.
4.6 No player may transfer between teams in the final month of the season.
4.7 Premier League players may play in Yorkshire Division One, but only subject to rule 4.5. Only 2 Premier League players may be on court at any one time.
4.8 Players may not play in the Premier League and Yorkshire Division One for different clubs.
4.9 National League players are welcome in the Yorkshire Men's and Ladies Premier Leagues, but their involvement is subject to limitations. There are no limits on NVL Division 3 players playing in the Premier Leagues, but NVL Division 1 and Division 2 players are not permitted to play.
4.10 National League players are not permitted to play in the Yorkshire Division One.
It is the opinion of the YVA Rules Sub Committee (2007) that it is important that Volleyball is played in the region. However, rules are important in the fair and equitable completion of a league season. Wherever possible and within the spirit of the game we would like to see all matches played even where one team (if they contravene these rules) must default the game.
5. Meetings
5.1 The pre-season meeting (September) is designed to make sure that the season gets off to a good start. It is also the time when league fixtures will be organised. It is important that your club is represented by someone who can make important decisions and organise matches. The date and venue for this meeting will be set at the AGM at the end of the previous season.
5.2 The end of season meeting or AGM (May) is held to draw the season to a close. It is a time to celebrate success and a time to review the season and make important decisions about the new season to come. It is vital that your club is represented. The date and venue for this meeting will be set at the pre-season meeting in September.
5.3 All clubs must be represented at the pre-season meeting and the end of season meeting (AGM). Failure to do so will result in sanctions (see section 13)
Yorkshire Volleyball is only as good as its member clubs. It is your association, it is important that you support it and attend these meetings. We value your point of view; this is the forum where you get to express it.
6. Arranging Matches
6.1 The fixtures program will be circulated at least 2 weeks prior to the pre-season meeting, so that club secretaries can be fully prepared, ideally organising fixtures provisionally by email, which can then be confirmed at the meeting.
6.2 It is always the responsibility of the home team to negotiate and confirm their home fixtures.
6.3 Initial contact with the visiting team may be made in one of 3 ways:
(i) telephone, (ii) email or (iii) pre-season meeting.
6.4 Arranged matches must be confirmed in writing either by email or by post, not less than 2 weeks prior to the arranged match date, by both teams. You should save all written confirmations (print or save all email confirmations) until the season has ended, in case of dispute.
6.5 Once a match is confirmed (written confirmations exchanged) if a team should have a justifiable reason to call it off and rearrange, then they have only one further chance to play the fixture. However, if for any reason they have to call it off again, then they shall default the match to the opposition.
6.6 Teams cancelling matches with less than 7 days notice will default automatically. The only exception to this rule will be if there are exceptional circumstances, e.g. adverse weather conditions or venue closed. If teams cannot agree on what constitutes exceptional, the matter should be referred to the league secretary.
6.7 Any team who is experiencing difficulty in contacting an opposing team should contact the league secretary immediately.
7. Match Organisation
It is the responsibility of the home team:
7.1 To provide a registered 1st referee.
7.2 To meet the expenses of the referee.
7.3 To provide a competent 2nd referee.
7.4 To provide a competent scorer with regulation scoresheet and a clearly visible scoreboard.
7.5 To make a copy of the league rules available for consultation at every match.
7.6 To provide a minimum of 2 hours court time.
Two hours is considered adequate to complete a match, including warm up, time-outs and turnarounds, provided the following timings are followed.
The match is to begin no later than 20 minutes after the start of the 2-hour period. Start time is defined as the start of the 2-hour court booking.
If either team (home or away) is not ready to play 20 minutes after the start time, for any reason, they will forfeit the 1st set (25-0).
If the team is still not ready to play 40 minutes after the start time, they forfeit the second set (25-0).
If the team is still not ready to play 60 minutes after the start time, they forfeit the 3rd set (25-0) and the match 3-0.
7.7 All matches shall be the best of 5 sets.
If the court is only available for 2 hours, the home team must make it clear at the start, the time at which play must stop and the court cleared.
7.8 If only 3 sets have been completed and there is less than 5 minutes of court time left, the match will end and the score will stand as a result.
If there is 5 minutes or more of available time left, the 4th set must start immediately and the team leading at the end of time will be deemed to have won that set (there shall be no time-outs). If the match is then tied at 2 sets each, the winner will be the team with the highest accumulative points from the 4 sets played. If the teams are still tied then both teams shall be awarded 2 league points.
7.9 If the 4th set has been completed and there is 5 minutes or more of available time left, the 5th set must start immediately and the team leading at the end of time will be deemed to have won that set (there shall be no time-outs), providing that one team is leading by at least one point.
7.10 It is the duty of the referee to monitor the time in the closing stages of the match and ensure that no team takes an opportunity to slow time to gain an advantage.
It is the duty of the scorer to inform both teams when only 1 minute of playing time remains and to inform them when the last serve of the match is about to be played.
7.11 All playing kit must be numbered and of uniform colour (with the exception of the libero who must have a numbered shirt of a different colour).
8. Scoresheets
8.1 It is the responsibility of both teams to ensure that all details are recorded accurately on the scoresheet:
- Date, time and venue.
- The correct name of the league.
- The correct names of the teams taking part. (Remember some clubs have more than 1 team in each league.)
- The home team should be entered first on the scoresheet.
- The names and registration numbers of all players should be clearly recorded.
- The scoresheet should be signed by both teams captains and coaches prior to the start of the match.
8.2 After the match, it is the responsibility of the scorer to ensure that all scores are accurately recorded, totalled up and that any players sanctions are recorded on the scoresheet. The scoresheet should be checked and then signed by both captains. Mistakes cannot be rectified later.
8.3 Only the referee can write comments on the scoresheet. Any dispute arising from a match should be sent to the league secretary in writing within 7 days of the match.
8.4 It is the responsibility of the home team to send the scoresheet to the league secretary using the s.a.e.'s provided. Failure to send the sheet in within 7 days could result in the home team defaulting the match and incurring the relevant sanctions.
8.5 Scoresheets not received before the deadline date at the end of the season will not be included in the final table.
9. Points and Tables
9.1 League points will be awarded as follows;
3 points for a win
1 point for a loss
-1 point for a loss by default
9.2 The league champions will be the team who have the most points at the end of the season.
9.3 In the event of a tie, positions will be decided as follows:
i. Least matches lost by default
ii. Most sets won
iii. Least sets lost
iv. Most total points scored
v. Least total points conceded
vi. The results of the matches played between the teams involved in the tie.
9.4 All club secretaries should supply the league secretary with a list of all confirmed matches, so that the website can be kept up to date. It is the responsibility of each club secretary to keep the league secretary informed of any changes.
10. Promotion and Relegation
10.1 In the interests of fairness and in order that issues of promotion and relegation can be settled legitimately:
All league rules must be adhered to. There are no exceptions. The rules are voted on and ratified annually at the YVA AGM.
10.2 Currently there are places for 10 teams in each league.
10.3 The number of teams playing in each league may be discussed and amended each season, if it is beneficial to Yorkshire Volleyball and provided that promotion and relegation issues are not compromised. It is expected that any rule changes take place at the AGM, prior to the season in question.
10.4 Currently, promotion and relegation only applies to the Men's Premier League. The teams finishing 9th and 10th in the Men's Premier League face relegation.
10.5 The teams finishing top of Yorkshire Division One and the Hull & East Yorkshire Division One are entitled to be promoted to the Men's Premier League. Should either team choose not to take their promotion, then the team finishing 9th in the Premier League shall be saved from relegation. If both teams choose not to take promotion, then there shall be no relegation that season.
10.6 New teams wishing to join the association must enter the league system at the lowest point.
11. Cup Competitions and Tournaments
11.1 The top 4 teams from Men's Premier qualify to play for the Yorkshire Men's Premier Trophy
11.2 The top 4 teams from Ladies Premier qualify to play for the Yorkshire Ladies Premier Trophy
11.3 The top 4 teams from Yorkshire Div One qualify to play for the Yorkshire Challenge Trophy
11.4 In all competitions (to be held after the league season has ended):
1st will play 4th (semi final 1)
2nd will play 3rd (semi final 2)
The teams who finished 1st and 2nd in the league will host the matches, unless by mutual agreement they switch to their opponent's venue. Yorkshire Volleyball will provide the officials.
11.5 The Trophy finals will then take place at a neutral venue, with officials provided by the Association on a date in May.
11.6 Player Eligibility - Play-off Trophy competitions
Players must have played (actually play, not merely appear on the scoresheet) in at least 50% of the team's matches that season.
11.7 A Knock-out competition for men and for ladies will run concurrently with the league season: Yorkshire Men's Cup, Yorkshire Men's Plate & Yorkshire Ladies Cup.
11.8 The 50% rule (11.6 above) will also apply to these cup competitions.
11.9 There shall be a pre-season tournament in mid September.
11.10 There shall be an end of season tournament in May.
12. Match Discipline
12.1 EVA rules are binding and the referee is always right.
12.2 Each club has a responsibility to ensure that any spectators at a match conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the positive sporting ethos of Yorkshire Volleyball. Spectators who fail to appreciate the concept of true sportsmanship will be warned of their conduct by the referee. If this does not resolve the issue, then it is the responsibility of the team which is being supported to ensure that the supporters, who are causing the problem, leave the premises.
12.3 Each club has a responsibility to Yorkshire Volleyball to ensure that their club's publicity material/website carry only positive reports and images, and that no negative reference is made about any other club in the Association.
12.4 If any team has any complaints whatsoever, they should contact the league secretary in writing, within 7 days of the incident. A copy of the letter should also be sent to the secretary of the other team involved. The executive committee will settle disputes. All decisions are final and binding.
13. Sanctions
13.1 Player sanctions should be recorded on the scoresheet by the scorer/referee
Yellow card 1 point
Red card 3 points
A player who accumulates 3 points will receive a £10 fine
If the same player accumulates a further 3 points they will receive a second £10 fine and an immediate one-match ban.
13.2 Failure to send a team rep to any compulsory meeting (pre-season or AGM): £10
The only exceptions are adverse weather, breakdown and road network gridlock.
13.3 Failure to attend a confirmed match:
- The team at fault will lose its goodwill deposit to the innocent team
- The result will be 25-0, 25-0, 25-0 to the team that attends
- The team at fault will have 1 league point deducted
13.4 Failure to provide the necessary facilities and officials for a home match:
- First and second offence - a written warning
- 3rd and 4th offences - £10 fine for each
- 5th and subsequent offences - deduction of 1 league point
13.5 Use of any unregistered player. The match shall be defaulted to the opposition.
13.6 Use of a player serving a one match ban. The match shall be defaulted to the opposition and the offending team fined £10.
13.7 If the referee travels to a cancelled game but has not been informed by the home team, the home team shall meet the referee's expenses.
13.8 If the referee travels to a game where the visiting team does not turn up (for whatever reason) the visiting team shall pay the referee's expenses.
13.9 Any fines levied will be subtracted from the clubs goodwill bond and any shortfall in the bond must be made good within 14 days.
13.10 A club must have cleared its debts by the time of the AGM or its application to the league for the following season will not be accepted.
13.11 A club with debts to the league must clear them before they receive any trophies.