Source: We use a combination of the American Wallyball Association Rules and the Association of United Wallyball Players Rules, with some additional modifications made for the purposes of safety, game-play, and clarity.

Self-Refereed: These are the official rules for our tournament, however it is up to the on-court players to be aware of them and enforce them. If there is a dispute as to what happened on the court (if a ball was out or a hit was legal), please consider replaying the point. If there is a dispute regarding the rules, a tournament organizer will be available to clarify the rules only. It will still be up to the players to determine what actually occurred on the court.

Major Rules:

The following MAJOR rules are strictly enforced for ALL groups:

1. Do not cross the median line.  Feet landing even “partially” across the median line will be considered a fault. Please note that the red racquetball line on the floor is *not* the median line, and is offset about 2 inches to one side of the net.
2. Do not cross the vertical plane of the net. The only time that touching the net is permitted is when the plane of the net is altered and pushed into you (such as by the ball hitting the net)
3. The ball cannot be served with finger tips or finger control. The ball must be contacted with a solid part of the hand so that it pops off of the server’s hand. Finger control with one hand to spin the ball should be strictly enforced at A and AB level.
4. When using open hands to set the ball or send it over the net, the hands should be above the forehead, in front of the body, and the fingertips on both hands must contact the ball simultaneously.
5. The serving team MUST call the score before each serve. Otherwise, it will be a side out.
6. Making noises, screaming, stomping foot, etc. to distract the opponents is illegal.
7. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. We are doing this to have fun in a competitive environment. We expect the Captains to manage the temper of their teams, and work things out with the Captain of the opposing team. If not, the Tournament Manager will get involved. First offense is a loss of point for the offending player’s team (yellow card) and second offense is player disqualification from the rest of the tournament (red card).

Tournament Dependent Rules: 

Playoff Format:

At the end of regular play teams are ranked by the number of games won. If two teams have the same number of wins, the team that won the game between the two teams is ranked higher. If more than two teams have the same number of wins, the teams are ranked in reverse order of the total number of points scored against them in the regular round of play.

If there is time for two rounds of playoffs, Team 1 will play Team 4 and Team 2 will play Team 3 in the first round. In the second round the winner of Team 1 vs 4 will play the winner of Team 2 vs 3 for first and second place. The remaining two teams will play for third and fourth place.

If there is only time for one playoff round, Team 1 will play Team 2 for first and second place and Team 3 will play Team 4 for third and fourth place.

Basic Rules:

1. Service ball should not strike more than one wall. For B level play, only under hand serves can hit a wall; over hand serve should not hit wall
2. A service ball cannot be received with open hands. The ball should be received with a fisted hand, bumped, both hands linked, etc. so that there is a clean sit. This rules does not apply to B level play
3. Ball hitting the glass frames or the protruding wall corners close to the ceiling and deflected should be replayed provided this happens on the first or second hit. If it happens on the third hit, then the ball is dead (even if it goes over the net). This rule applies to the courts at Providence Rec Center for ALL 3 levels
4. A ball going through the holes on the sides of the net should be replayed provided this happens on the first or second hits (third hit and a serve going through the holes are dead balls).
5. Service area is 3 feet from each end of the court. Jump serves can land entirely beyond the 3 foot mark provided the server jumps from behind the line and contacts the ball before landing a foot beyond the 3 foot line
6. Game ends at 15 points when playing with side outs; must win by 2 points or first team to 18 points. For rally scoring, game ends at 21, must win by 2 points; OR first team to 25.
7. Time outs called by captains only at the end of point played.
8. Limit: 2 time outs, 30 seconds each per game.
9. If more than 2 time outs are called then other team is awarded point or side out.
10. A 5-minute injury time out can be awarded to the team with the injury by captains/organizer.
11. Two substitutions per game allowed. Substitutes will enter in the position they are substituting. An injured player returning will go back to his/her original position. Can only substitute during a timeout by you or the opposing team. Always must maintain girl on court for coed.
12. Volley for serve or coin toss will determine first service or choice of court side. Second game service to other team. Third game if necessary will need another coin toss. We use volley for serve as the default. Captains may agree on an alternative method.
13. A fault occurs when the ball crossing the net hits the ceiling, back wall of opponent’s side (not your side) or two walls consecutively (applies for service, volley and block) The ball can hit any number of walls or ceiling on your side of the court provided that that ball is touched by one of your players before it goes over the net.
14. Hitting the ball off of the ceiling, own back wall, or multiple walls to a teammate is allowed
15. Server cannot spike or block in (4) four person play. All players on a 2 or 3-person team can spike.
16. If server catches the ball on service toss, the server can replay the serve.
17. The service must be a clean contact with the ball. Pushing the ball or rolling the ball off the fingers (paint brush) is not allowed.
18. Service order must be kept prior to serving.
19. If a ball on 1st or 2nd hit goes into the gallery, a replay is awarded.
20. If the ball is partly across the net, both teams may hit it.
21. Touching the net is not allowed by players, unless the ball is driven into the net and the net hits the player.
22. In the attack, the player must contact the ball before the ball has completely crossed over the net.
23. Blocker’s can reach over the net to block, provided the other team has made its third contact of the ball.
24. The opponent cannot block a set on the first or second hit. However, if any part of the ball has crossed the vertical plane, a free ball is in effect and both teams are entitled to it.
25. If two opposing players touch the net simultaneously the point is replayed.
26. If a ball is hit under the net on a first or second hit, a teammate is allowed to cross the vertical plane with an arm or hand to retrieve it, provided they do not at any time touch the net or the floor on the opposing side with any part of their body.
27. A ball on the vertical plane above the net is open to both sides.
28. If players on both teams commit a fault, the fault that occurred first is enforced. If the two players commit faults simultaneously, a replay is awarded.
29. On a block, any number of hits on any number of body parts by any number of blockers count as a single block, provided that no carry or control occurs on any of the contacts, and all contacts are above the waist.
30. After a block, the team still has 3 hits and the blocker(s) can make any of these hits.
31. Holding, pushing, scooping, lifting or carrying the ball is not allowed, it must be a clean hit.
32. Holding the ball at the top of the net by both sides is a replay.
33. If two players on the same team hit the ball simultaneously, it counts as two hits and either player can play the third and final hit.
34. No climbing or using the walls or players assisting each other to gain height at the net.
35. A ball can hit the back wall and over the net directly (when being played by your side), but if two walls are touched, another player must touch it before going over the net.
36. If a ball spins across to the opponent’s side and back to yours on the 1st or 2nd hit, you can play your 2nd or 3rd hit. If it is on the 3rd hit that it spins back, loss of point or side out occurs.
37. An open hand dink of the ball is illegal; it must be a paint brush hit, a clean hit, closed fist, knuckle, cobra shot or soft spike.
38. A ball can not contact below the waist.
39. Rude / unsportsmanlike conduct is not permitted. Yellow Card: 1 point penalty; Red Card: player is disqualified from remainder of tournament
40. Setting or dumping the ball over the net is legal on any hit provided that a legal setting motion is used (2 hands, simultaneous contact by all ten fingertips, ball set directly away — perpendicular — to setter’s body)
41. Blocking, Spiking or attacking a serve is Illegal.
42. Do not land across the center line. If any part of the foot or body touches the opponent’s floor of the court, it is a fault.
43. Do not attempt to block receiving team’s view of the server.
44. After the ball is served, players can reposition themselves on the court. However, if the player occupying the server position spikes or blocks, it is still a fault.
45. For coed play, the 2-guy rule of Volleyball does not apply. Any combination of hits by guys and gals is acceptable.