Rules of Play –
- The number of players in each team shall be compulsorily 6. The number of players including the substitutes in a team cannot exceed 12.
- All international matches are played to the best of five or to the best of three sets. In all international matches, five winning sets are played.
- At the start of the game the captains of both the teams toss to decide ends and service. The toss winning team is free to choose either service or ends.
- After each set the ends are changed. In the last set when a team has made 8 points, the ends are changed.
- No team can play the game with less than 6 players.
Time out:
- The referee or umpire will grant time-out only in case the ball is damaged (dead).
- A captain or a coach may ask for time-out for rest.
- During a time-out the players cannot leave the court to talk to any one. They can only seek advice from their coach.
- Each team can take two times-out in a set. The duration of such a time-out is not more than 30 seconds. Two times-out can be taken consecutively.
- If a team, after getting two times-out, requests for the third, the referee shall give a warning to the concerned captain or coach. If the time-out is demanded even after this, the concerned team has to lose a point or service.
- During the time-out for rest, neither can the players leave the court without permission nor the coach can enter the court. Of course, the coach, while remaining out of the court, can talk to the players.
- A maximum interval of 2 minutes is permitted between two sets, but the interval between the fourth and fifth sets is of five minutes.
- The game starts immediately after the substitution of a player.
- In case a player is injured a time-out of 3 minutes is granted. It is allowed if the player is not substituted.
Obstacles of Play:
If a match is interrupted for some reason and cannot be completed, the problem shall be solved like this-
- The game shall be re-started on the same court, and the score also shall remain the same as it was left earlier.
- If the interruption in the game does not exceed 4 hours, the match shall be resumed at the fixed court.
- In case the match is resumed on another court, the score of the interrupted set shall be deemed to be cancelled but the results pf the completed sets shall remain the same.
Passes:
1. Under-hand Pass. This technique is now considered to be very useful. It makes even a difficult service easy. In this pass, the left hand is tightly closed. The ball is placed on the right fist such a way that the thumbs remain parallel to each other. The under-hand ball is received when the ball is quite low.
2. Back Pass. The back pass is made use of to dodge an opponent. The player who is to make pass makes it behind his head. The volley server volleys.
3. Under-hand Ball with Back Rolling. When the ball is beside the net, the hit should be made by opening the fingers and touching them with the ball.
4. Under-hand Ball with Side Rolling. When the ball is to one side of the player, the hand is opened in the direction of the ball. The ball is received by side rolling.
5. Under hand Pass with the Hand. This method is used to return the ball when the ball is to the one side of the player in the direction in which it is to be received. The ball is taken by slightly bending the leg, extending the arm and closing the fist.
6. Taking the Ball Struck with the Net. This type of ball is taken by under-hand, otherwise it is cut towards the fellow players so that it may be passed carefully.
Service:
(a) By service we mean the putting of the ball into play by the right hand back line player. The player hits the ball with his hand either open or closed or any part of the arm in such a way that the ball passes over the net to the opposite court. The service should be done from the fixed place. Throwing the ball by hand is prohibited. A player after service can remain on the boundary line or enter the court.
If the served ball falls on the ground untouched by any player, the service is re-taken. If the service ball passes over the net without touching it and between the antennae, the service is considered to be good. The service will have to be re-taken as soon as the referee blows the whistle. A player shall continue to serve until a fault is committed by any player of his team.
(b) Faults of Service.
If any of the following faults are committed, the referee will blow his whistle for the change of service :
- When the ball touches the ground.
- When the ball passes under the net.
- When the ball touches the antennae or it does not pass over the net completely.
- When the ball touches a player or an object before it reaches the opponent’s court.
- When the ball lands outside the limit of the opponent’s court.
- When the player’s foot, while the service is being taken, is on the line or touches the line.
(c) Second and later Service:
In each new set that team shall serve which has not served in the preceding set. The service in the final set is decided by toss.
(d) Obstacles of Play: If, in the opinion of the referee, a player deliberately obstructs a game, he is penalized.
Change in Service:
When the serving team commits a fault, the service is changed. The service also undergoes a change when the ball is side-out.
