Competitive Youth Leagues

    More than half of the team has played club or school volleyball

    • Tighter set calls since players should know how to properly set

    • Controlled passing

    • Almost always attempt 3 hits

     

    Recreational Youth Leagues

    Less than half the team has played club or school volleyball

    • Looser set calls since players don’t know how to do properly

    • 3 hits are not common during a volley

    • Excessive double contact will be called

     

    GENERAL RULES for all leagues

    • Be respectful to your ref! We like to allow kids to ref youth leagues as a fun summer job and encourage responsibility. But all refs are not the same, meaning they will each be trained and make calls to the best of their ability. If you have a big problem with a ref, please take it up with a manager. Do NOT yell at your ref, whether it’s an adult or child.  
    • Each team is permitted one 30-second timeout per set, but they do NOT accumulate. (Medical issues do NOT require a timeout).
    • NO PROFANITY!
    • No intentionally delaying the game.
    • No unsportsmanlike conduct (see “UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT” for more details).
    • No smoking or tobacco products on the sand courts or near the entrances of the building.
    • No outside food, drinks, or coolers.
    • Animals are NOT permitted inside the facility, which is the whole fenced-in area outside. Exceptions for service animals only.
    • We love kids! However, our staff are NOT your babysitters. Please do NOT drop off your child under 14 years of age unless supervised by another parent. Also, please do not allow young children to be unsupervised while your other kids are playing. We do not allow kids to play with small sand toys near the courts (even if the court is not being played on) because they often get buried and cause a painful hazard when stepped on by players. Also, please do not allow your child to run across the courts while teams are playing.
    • 5 Serve Rule (applies to grades 3-8 only): if a single player serves 5 consecutive times, the ball will then go the opposing side for them to rotate once and serve. This helps prevent a team from losing due to a single server or going a whole game without getting to rotate and serve.

    PLAYABLE AREA

    • A player may only use the sand covered area or grass. Once player steps on the concrete, the ball is dead.
    • A player may play the ball all the way up to the boundary of the next court over but NOT cross into that court (even if that court does not have an active game going).
    • A player may serve from the sand ONLY. A player may utilize the grass area for their approach but must make contact with the ball while in the sand.
    • Any part of the net inside the metal/cement poles (including the wooden dowels) is deemed playable.
    • Any contact between the ball and the metal or cement part of the ref stand is instantly a dead ball and ruled out of bounds.

     

    TEAM COMPOSITION

    • Players are allowed to get subs for both league games and tournament nights. However, please be respectful and choose players of similar ability and level for the league. At least HALF of your team is required to be present on tournament night to be eligible to play.
    • You may only play on 1 team per league on tournament night UNLESS you paid to play on both teams. (Ex: if you play for team 10 and lose, but team 4 asks you to sub with them for the next round, you can NOT since it is in the same league).
    • All youth leagues are any mix of boys and girls. Only 6 players are allowed on the court at a time.
    • Teams need to be a majority of the grade they are signed up for. Ex: an 8th grade rec team may have a mix of 7th-9th graders, but no more than 2 of those players can be above the 8th grade. This is obviously on an honor system.

    SCORING

    • All league matches are played 3 games to 21 straight. You do NOT have to win by 2.
    • Tournament matches are played best 2 out of 3 games. The first 2 games are played to 21 straight and the 3rd game if needed is played to 15 straight

     

    ROTATION

    • All teams must rotate clockwise upon siding out for the serve.
    • You can have as many players on the team as you’d like. Players may rotate in however you’d like, as long as they stay in the same rotation pattern.
    • Back row players may NOT attack a ball at the net. (Reach above the net while standing or jumping from in front of the 10 foot line. Obviously in sand, this “line” is imaginary and will be at the ref’s discretion).
    • If a player enters after the game after it has begun, the new player enters as the next possible server if all other players have served (prioritizing gender rules).

     

    SERVING

    • Foot Faults – On the serve, your foot cannot contact the line or go under the line
    • A player may only stand/jump from behind the end line and within the side lines when serving.
    • A player may serve from the sand ONLY. A player may utilize the grass for their approach but must make contact with the ball while in the sand.
    • A serve must be performed by tossing the ball (or resting it in the non-serving hand) and contacting the ball with only one hand/arm. The ball can NOT be thrown, kicked, or passed over with 2 hands/arms as a serve.
    • A server may drop the ball after toss to redo their serve attempt once per rotation (if a serve contact was NOT made).
    • A server has 5 seconds to perform their serve once the whistle is sounded by the referee.

    LEGAL CONTACTS

    • The ball may be played off any part of the body as long as it is NOT lifted/thrown.
    • The serve may NOT be blocked or attacked. Attacking the serve is performed when the ball is contacted ABOVE the top of the net and hit back towards the serving side with a downward trajectory. This does NOT mean the player has to jump for a penalty to be called.
    • NO lifts, carries or throws are permitted (ref’s discretion based on level).
    • When two teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is counted as two hits (with the exception of blocking), and neither player is permitted to touch the ball again if there is a 3rd hit remaining.

     

    hand sETTING

    • Due to new AVP guidelines, youth teams may now receive a serve with a hand set.

     

    NET VIOLATIONS

    • You cannot have any contact with the net inside the antenna.

    –         Exception: when the ball is driven into the net and the net touches a player, no fault is committed.

    –         Exception: A player touches the net outside the antenna to stabilize themselves.

    • You may go under the net, provided there is no interference or contact with the opposing team.
    • If the ball is down and a player illegally contacts the net as a result of a play, the fault is called.
    • When two opponents touch the ball simultaneously over the net (joust) and the ball remains in play, the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball goes “out,” it is the fault of the team on the opposite side.
    • A player may NOT reach over the net to attack a ball that is completely on the opponent’s side.

     

    INTERFERENCE

    • A player interferes with the opponent’s play while going under the net into the opponent’s space.
    • If a ball from another court or other foreign object interferes with the play at hand, the play is immediately stopped and a redo is called. Refs will NOT stop the play if they feel a ball is not interfering with the play.
    • A player may NOT run under/around the net with the intent to play a ball on the opposing side.

     

    UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

    • Do NOT kick the ball to the other team. Roll it under the net.
    • Participants must NOT refute or dispute a referee’s decision. (Clarification may be asked by the team captain).
    • Offensive conduct: Players must NOT use defamatory or insulting words or gestures including any action expressing contempt, towards the opposing team or ref.

    CINCINNATI SAND RECREATIONAL PARTICIPATION WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY:

    READ CAREFULLY – THIS IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS

    In consideration of being permitted to enter, access, and/or use the facilities, property, and equipment provided by Cincinnati Sand, including but not limited to participation in recreational sand volleyball games, practices, tournaments, or other related events (collectively, the “Activities”), the undersigned Team Captain agrees to the following:

    1. Acknowledgment of Risks

    I understand and acknowledge that participation in sand volleyball and related Activities involves inherent risks, including but not limited to: falls, collisions, physical contact, environmental hazards, weather conditions, uneven playing surfaces, and other risks that may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, or death. I further understand that such injuries may arise from my own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others, the conditions of the facility, and/or the negligence of Cincinnati Sand.

    1. Assumption of Risk

    I, the Team Captain, voluntarily choose to allow my team and its associated players, spectators, and any other individuals connected to our team (hereinafter referred to as “Affiliated Parties”) to participate in these Activities and fully assume all risks, known and unknown, even if arising from the negligence of Cincinnati Sand or others.

    1. Release and Waiver of Liability

    I, on behalf of myself, my team members, and all Affiliated Parties, hereby waive, release, and discharge Cincinnati Sand, its owners, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, sponsors, and affiliates from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, actions, or causes of action, known or unknown, arising out of or related to any injury, illness, loss, or damage that may occur as a result of participation in the Activities or presence on the premises.

    PLAY AT YOUR OWN RISK. Cincinnati Sand is not responsible for any injuries, accidents, or damages resulting from participation in sand volleyball or any recreational use of the facilities by the Team, its players, spectators, or any Affiliated Parties.

    1. Team Captain’s Responsibility

    As the Team Captain, I acknowledge that I am responsible for ensuring that all players, spectators, and Affiliated Parties are made aware of and agree to the terms of this waiver. I further agree to indemnify and hold harmless Cincinnati Sand for any claims made by my team’s players, spectators, or other Affiliated Parties arising from participation in the Activities.

    1. Medical Treatment

    I understand and agree that I am solely responsible for any medical care, treatment, or insurance coverage arising from any injury or condition resulting from participation by me, my team, or any Affiliated Parties.

    1. Use of Likeness

    I grant Cincinnati Sand the right to photograph, videotape, and/or record me, my team members, and any Affiliated Parties during participation and use such media for promotional or commercial purposes without compensation.

    1. Governing Law

    This agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

    I, THE TEAM CAPTAIN, HAVE READ THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, AND AGREE TO IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, MY TEAM, AND ALL ASSOCIATED PERSONS, INCLUDING PLAYERS AND SPECTATORS.

    Acknowledgment of Waiver by Affiliated Parties:

    The Team Captain affirms that they have made all players, spectators, and any other individuals associated with the team aware of the terms of this waiver and have received their consent to abide by the terms outlined herein.

    Team Captain Acknowledgment:
    I acknowledge that by agreeing to this waiver, I am also confirming that the individuals associated with my team, including players and spectators, have been made aware of this waiver and agree to its terms. I understand I am responsible for ensuring their compliance.