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Cornell University

Recreational Services

Sand Volleyball Rules

Description

  • Describe it.

Location

  • All games will be played on the sand volleyball courts located outside of Dickson Hall on north campus.

Format

  • This is a team activity with four players per team playing on the court.
  • FOR OPEN RECREATIONAL
    • Open Rec teams will receive two additional regular season games.
    • There are no playoffs or t-shirt prizes for Open Rec
  • FOR OPEN COMPETITIVE, FRATERNITY, AND WOMEN'S
    • Teams will be placed in a round-robin pool play for the regular season.
    • The top half from each pool will be placed into a single-elimination playoff bracket.

Officials and Staff

  • All games are self-officiated, and the expectation of sporting behavior is emphasized in self-administration of rules.
  • On-site personnel and professional staff reserve the right to rule on situations not specified in the rulebook or IM Participant Handbook when safety and sporting behavior are involved.
  • The supervisors present at the contests will make final decisions on any questions regarding rules interpretation. Their decision will be final and are not to be disputed by members of either team.
  • Any participant that refuses to abide by Intramural Sport rules, policies, or instructions from Intramural Student and Professional Staff cannot participate and may be removed from the playing area.

Eligibility

  • All individuals must have an active ID from Cornell University, overseen at Day Hall.
  • Club Players - No team may have more than
    • One (1) club player on an Open Rec team
    • Two (2) club players on an Open Comp, Fraternity, or Women's team
  • All individuals may play on:
    • One open competitive team
    • One open recreational team, and
    • One single-sex team (Women's or Fraternity)

Forfeit Procedure

If a team fails to have the required number of participants at the scheduled match time, the opposing team who is present will have the following options:

  1. Take the win by forfeit at that time. No contest will be played.
  2. Give the opponent ten (10) minutes for the minimum amount of players to arrive. The following will occur if this option is chosen:
    • The official game clock will start and run as scheduled.
    • The team present will immediately lead the first set 10-0 on the scoreboard and scoresheet.
    • Game commences once the minimum amount of players arrive and check-in with IM Staff.
    • If the opposing team is not ready to play (having the minimum number of players here and checked in) ten (10) minutes after the scheduled game time, IM Staff will declare the game a forfeit for the waiting team.

A forfeit fee of $20 will be applied to the team captain bursar account if a team forfeits. Teams with two forfeits will be removed from the league and ineligible for playoffs.

Default Procedure

A team may default a game if the team is unable to field the minimum amount of players for their scheduled game.

  • Teams can default their game by contacting the IM Sports Office prior to 4:00pm the Friday before games.
  • All teams have one default per season per activity. Using a second or subsequent default will be counted as a forfeit.
  • Defaults will not be rescheduled, and teams using a default will have the game count as a loss.
  • A default will not be charged a forfeit fee.

General Rules

  • Proper attire must be worn for intramural sport activities. Items that may not be worn during activities may include, but are not limited to:
    • Jewelry other than nose studs and ear studs (TAPED JEWELRY is NOT acceptable),
    • Casts and exposed metal braces.
    • Any clothing or items that may be deemed potentially injurious or advantageous.
  • Religious and medical identifications/devices must be approved by the Director of Intramural Sports prior to the contest, and must be secured.
  • Players bleeding or that have blood on clothing will be prohibited from participation until appropriate measured have been administrated.

Specific Rules

During Play

  • A coin toss will be conducted prior to the match. The winning team may choose side or serve.
  • Serves may be underhand, overhand, or jump serve. Serves may be taken from anywhere along the end line.
  • If the serve touches the net, inside the antennas (sidelines), it is live and must be played. The ball will be deemed out of play if it hits the post, net support, or net outside of the court boundary.
  • Players may cross the centerline but may not interfere with their opponents.
  • Double hits should not be called on a hard hit or a serve; however a lift may be called.
  • Players may contact the ball with any part of the body, including the feet, whether intentionally or not.
  • Boundary lines that are moved during play shall not cause a rally to stop. If it cannot be determined whether a ball lands "in" or "out" the rally shall be cancelled and replayed.
  • Each team is granted one (1) 60-second timeout per game. Unused timeouts do not carry over from game-to-game.

Players

  • Substitution method must be designated at the start of each set.
    • Player for player (must always be for the same player)
    • One at a time through the server's position

Scoring

  • Matches will consist of a best-of-three game series (21, 21, 15)
  • All games are a win-by-two format.
    • The first two games will cap at 25 max, and the third game (if necessary) will cap at 18 max.
  • Teams will switch sides before the second game, and the team that did not serve first in game one will begin the second serving.
    • If a third game is to be played, another coin toss will take place, and the winner will choose either side or serve.

Sporting Behavior Points

Sporting behavior ratings will be determined by the accumulation of unsporting acts and penalties for individuals and teams during the activities' season. Any acquisition of unsporting behavior conduct fouls during a contest will be added to an individual's and team's unsporting behavior foul total for the activity's season.

The following will be in effect for the activity:

  • The accumulation of TWO (2) unsporting behavior conduct fouls in a game by an individual will result in the ejection of the individual from the game, as outlined in the Intramural Participant Handbook.
  • The accumulation of THREE (3) total unsporting behavior conduct fouls by an individual during an activity's season will result in the dismissal of the individual from the activity for the remainder of the season, as outlined in the Intramural Participant Handbook.
  • The accumulation of FOUR (4) unsporting behavior conduct fouls by a team in a game will result in the team forfeiture of the contest, as outlined in the Intramural Participant Handbook.
  • The accumulation of FIVE (5) total unsporting behavior conduct fouls by a team during an activity's season will result in the dismissal of the team from the activity for the remainder of the season, as outlined in the Intramural Participant Handbook.

Accumulations of unsporting behavior conducts do not reset during playoffs.

  • If an individual or team meets the prior criteria during playoffs, they will be subject to dismissal during playoffs.

Additional actions may be taken depending upon the infractions outlined in Section IX., Disciplinary Procedures, as outlined in the Intramural Participant Handbook.