Campus Recreation
Students playing intramural basketball in the Student Recreation Center.

Volleyball Rules

All Montclair State University School Policies are in effect, including Student Code of Conduct.
All Montclair State University Department of Campus Recreation “Intramurals 101” policies are in effect.

ELIGIBILITY

    1. All team sports are broken down into 4 different leagues which include: Men’s, Women’s, Organization, and Open. The Organization league is open to all MSU-affiliated Clubs and Organizations who register using the $60 team fee. The Open league places no restriction on gender, gender identity, or gender expression. Each player can only join one team per league (I.e. A player is allowed to play in one Open league and one Women’s/Men’s league). In leagues with multiple divisions, such as basketball, players are permitted to play in Men’s A or Men’s B only. 
    2. A team’s roster should be completed prior to their first game, but additional players are more than welcome. Be advised that they MUST play in ONE regular season game before being eligible for the playoffs. All players participating in a game must be listed on that game’s scoresheet. The players who are listed will be entered onto that team’s roster. Names of individuals can be added to the original roster, prior to the new team member playing, by listing that player’s name as well as his/her ID number on the scoresheet. A player must play in at least one regular season game to be eligible to participate in the playoffs. Rosters can have a maximum of 16 players.
    3. Assumption of Risk, Waiver and Release from Liability Form: All players must pay and sign up on imleagues.com. You MUST PAY YOUR REGISTRATION FEE BEFORE YOU PLAY in order to be eligible to play because your payment counts as your waiver. The only players who MUST sign a physical waiver as well as pay are those who play on Greek and Organization teams. 
    4. Checking ID’s: Before a contest, event, or activity, all members of a team shall present to the scorekeeper their pictured Montclair State University ID card. Those players listed on the scoresheet and verified by a scorekeeper are considered to have participated in that contest. Should a participant arrive at the contest after it has started, the participant must still sign in with the scorekeeper to verify that they are on the roster. Should a player not be verified by a scorekeeper, that individual shall be considered an ineligible player.
    5. Forgotten ID Policy: If a player forgets his or her ID, that player is ineligible to participate in the SRC activity.
    6. The captain is the representative of his/her team and may address an official and/or Director on matters of interpretation or to obtain essential information so long as it is done in a courteous manner. Any player may address an official to request a time-out in the case of an emergency or when applicable.

    *Only 2 Club Sport Volleyball players may play on a team.*

COURT

  1. All Games will take place in the Student Recreation Center, on the basketball courts.
  2. The net will be placed at Men’s height (7’11”). 
  3. The game will be played within the red lines, marked on the gym floor.
  4. No bumping or practicing shall take place next to the court while a game is being played. Space is extremely limited so safety is our number one concern.
  5. ONLY drinks are allowed on the courts. Any team that leaves any trash on the court will receive an F for sportsmanship. (Sportsmanship is the deciding factor of making the playoffs).

GAME PLAY

  1. There is a minimum of four (4) players on the court to play and a maximum of six (6) players on the court.
  2. Any team that does not have the required minimum number of players at game time will lose the first game.  Five (5) minutes later, the same team will lose the second game if it still does not have enough players. Ten minutes later (ten total minutes), if the team still does not have enough players, it will lose the third game and receive a forfeit.
  3. The game will start with the designated home team serving first in game one and game three. In game three, teams will switch sides when after 11 points.
  4. Teams play three-game matches, not best of three. For example, if a team wins the first two games but loses the third, their record shall reflect this and be 2-1. All games played reflect your team record.
  5. There is one timeout per team per three-game match. The timeout shall last no more than 30 seconds.
  6. Games are played FIRST to 21 points (rally scoring).
  7. Players that begin a serve in the back row may not attack the ball in front of the 3-Meter Line.
  8. Players on the receiving team may not block or attack the ball on a serve.
  9. Any ball that touches the ceiling (or any attachments to the ceiling) or any other obstacles outside or above the court will be ruled out-of-play and the service will restart.
  10. Violation/Faults include: 
      • Mishandling of a ball
      • Hitting the ball more than three (3) times in one possession
      • Coming in contact with the net 
      • Committing a foot fault (crossing the lines) while hitting the ball 
      • When service is made interference with the opposing team underneath the net
      • Double hits
      • Contact with the ball in the opponent’s half before the completion of an opponent’s attack
      • When a blocker is over the net and the blocker cannot break his wrist when contacting the ball.
    • *The penalties for committing these violations/faults are as follows: 1.) The serving team will lose possession of their serve. 2.) The receiving team will concede the point to the serving team.*
  11. A player’s hand and/or foot may touch the centerline but may NOT cross it. A fault is called when there is interference or safety concern.
  12. A player may take a blocking position with the hands and arms over the net before the opponent’s attack, if in so doing there is no interference with the opponent’s play before their attack. It is always permitted to block with the hands and arms over the net to intercept the opponent’s attack.   
  13. If the ball is contacted simultaneously by opponents and it is not held, the play shall continue. After simultaneous contact by opponents, the team whose side the ball falls shall have the right to play the ball for three (3) hits. If after simultaneous contact the ball falls out of bounds, the team on the opposite side shall be deemed as having provided the impetus necessary to cause the ball to be out of bounds and a side out or point will be awarded.
  14. A player is allowed to use their foot to keep the ball in play on THEIR side but NOT allowed to use their foot to get the ball to opposing side. 
  15. Pancakes are legal – A a dig in which a player gets the ball up by placing a flat hand on the ground (palm down) and letting the ball bounce off the back of their hand. 
  16. The team must rotate properly each time they serve. 
  17. Players may substitute only for the rotating server on a regained possession. 
  18. Any player with blood must leave the game immediately, and may not return until the blood flow has been covered properly, and any clothing with blood on it removed.

*All rules are subject to change at a moment’s notice and are at the discretion of the Intramural Sports Director. If any participant argues with an official or Director, they maybe be ejected from the game and/or the field space. If any issues occur, Campus Police maybe called.