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Volleyball Leagues Rules

The Sand Club has 10 basic rules to prepare you for league play. Please handle all violations in a respective manner, polite tone & redo the play if there is a disagreement. Please feel free to e-mail us with comments or suggestions. Please be aware that all players who sign the waiver are responsible for knowing and abiding by their location's rules: McQueen Park Rules • Gene Autry Rules.

  1. The game ball will be provided by The Sand Club.
  2. Regular league matches consist of 3 games with rally scoring to 21 (straight to 21, no win by 2).
  3. All 3 games count and are recorded.
  4. Let serves are live and not a fault.
  5. Blocks do not count as a hit, and serves may not be received open-handed (fingers must be locked with hands together) and no attacking the serve.
  6. Captains are expected to call their own team's faults (lifts, carries, throws,etc.) - NO HAND-SETTING OVER THE NET, ANYTIME
  7. Captains establish hand-setting calls before the game. Any discrepancies result in a replay.
  8. Captains record scores & communicate concerns via voicemail, TEXT or e-mail.
  9. Rain-outs & holidays will be rescheduled as needed.
  10. Forfeited matches are not refundable and are not rescheduled by The Sand Club. There is a $1 million fee for no-shows (missing a match without providing us with at least 2 hours notice). All kidding aside, remember - some players have a long commute, so please be considerate.

For the most recent official beach volleyball rules, click here New Edition of Beach Volleyball Rules

League Tournament Rules

League rules apply.

  1. Double elimination, rally scoring, all games straight to 21
  2. One switch at 11 if needed due to sun, wind, etc
  3. Substitutions must be approved by majority of league captains


Definitions of Common Violations

The Sand Club is a Player's League, first & foremost, which means that all violations should be handled in a respectful manner by the Captains. Please redo the play if you choose to call your opponent for any first time violation or if there is a disagreement.

For the most recent official beach volleyball rules, click here New Edition of Beach Volleyball Rules

  • Double Hit is a violation that occurs when players use two parts of their body to pass or hit the ball. "Beach Digs" are legal on the first pass only after a hard-driven or over-head hits, not a serve. Technically, a clean (absolutely no spin) "beach dig" is legal after a bump-passes or roll shot--captains may replay or allow it
  • Open-Hand Receiving The Serve is a violation when the player's hands are not connected when receiving the ball. The ball should "pop" and the player's hands should clearly be together to avoid a fault. Even if the player's thumbs are touching, players can cause a double-hit
  • Attacking The Serve is a violation that occurs when players attempt to use any over-head strike on the first hit after the serve and the ball goes over. If players are more than 10 feet from the net, then players are NOT committing a fault. For those teams that receiving the serve in a "box formation" the two front players are not allowed to over-head strike the ball but may pass the ball over or on their own side. That is, everything underhand is legal
  • Throw is a violation that occurs when the player attempts to strike the ball over-head and continues to follow through the ball causing the ball to backspin. The ball should "pop" and typically have a forward rotation. A spike that appears to look like a basketball “dunk” is a throw. A roll shot will have a forward rotation and is legal. When players are spiking but it appears that they miss-hit the ball and there is an arch with backspin, then they are committing a throw
  • Lift or Carry is a violation that occurs when the player attempts to bump the ball underhand with the palm or open hand. A closed fist must be obvious to make the bump legal, even on a hard-driven ball
  • Tipping is a violation when the player attempts to strike the ball over the net with open fingertips. In order to avoid subjectively whether players are using a "cobra" or closed fingertip (which is legal when you a referee to make the call) ONLY knuckle shots are legal
  • Hand-Setting with more than one rotation in any direction is a violation however it is up to the captains to decide how tight to call the rotation on the ball. Due to high controversy, there is no hand-setting over the net in The Sand Club leagues, unless both captains agree to play it. Technically, if a player is square and there is no side or back spin, then the ball may be set over
  • Net Violations when any part of a player's body touches the net while the ball is in play. Violations occur even on the continuation of a hit or block, that is, if a blocker or hitter touches the net before the player's feet are in the sand, even if the ball is considered dead, players are charged a violation. Hair or a loose t-shirt is NOT a violation
  • Over-The-Net violations occur when players are reaching over the net and making contact with the ball. Even if a players is attempting to spike the ball on the 3rd hit, the attacker is not allowed to reach over the net. The blocker is not allowed to touch the ball before the attacker, however, the blocker may make contact over the net as long as the attacker touches the ball first or touch the net
  • Under-The-Net violations occur when players cross the plain under the net and interfere with the ability of another player to pass the ball. When players are contacted under the net but they are not making a play on the ball then there is no fault