2025 Volleyball Rules

CSCC VOLLEYBALL RULES

CSCC Volleyball Rules

Updated 12/29/24

The City Suburban Catholic Conference follows IHSA (Illinois High School Association) rules unless otherwise noted below.

CSCC 4th & 5th Grade Volleyball Rules-Continuous substitution Rules and Guidelines can be found at the end of this document.

Volleyball Rules for all grades

Matches
1. Matches will be the best 2 out of 3 games
2. An unnecessary 3rd game will be played until 5 minutes before the next scheduled game.
3. A 3rd game which is needed to determine the winner of the match will never be stopped due to time.
  1. The third game that is needed to determine a winner will need to be played to 25 points.
Match Scheduling
1. All matches are to be scheduled one hour apart.
Beginning a match
1. To begin the match, the starting teams must line-up on the end lines. The referee will call the teams together to shake hands before the match begins.
Ending a match
1. After each game, teams will line up on their respective end lines. When the referee signals, the teams proceed to the appropriate team bench.

Game time
1. Each team must be prepared to begin the contest promptly at its scheduled start time.
  1. If a team is not prepared to play by 5 minutes after the scheduled start time, a forfeit will be assessed.
2. A minimum of 5 players must be available to begin the match.
  1. The game official may make special allowances for weather or other special circumstances if necessary.
  2. Ghost rule will be used if one team only has 5 players to start.
    1. Ghost rule is that the team with 5 players will lose the serve and the opposing team gets the rally point when that missing/ghost person would serve.
3. Lineup Card
  1. Coaches must submit a lineup card to the contest official prior to the start of each game in the match.
    1. Two (2) minutes prior to the first game, a written line-up shall be submitted to the scorer of your six starters. (6th-8th Grade only).
  2. The official lineup card is available on the league website.
  3. The first server is listed first on both receiving and serving team’s lineups.
  4. Receiving teams will "back up one” so the server starts right front.

IHSA Rule for Contact
1. Multiple contacts are more than one contact by a player during one attempt to play the ball. Multiple contacts are permitted only when
2. When the first ball over the net rebounds from one part of the player’s body to one or more other legal parts in one attempt to block
3. One any first team hit, whether or not the ball is touched by a block.
4. Blocking a served ball is not permitted. (Rule 9-6.4c)
5. Attacking a served ball while the ball is completely above the height of the net is not permitted.
  1. However the contact is legal and the ball is not out of play until it completely crosses the vertical plane of the net or is legally contacted by an opponent. (Rule 9-6.6)
6. Back row players shall not participate in a completed block. (Rule 95.5)
7. IHSA Rule: Kicking is legal. Legal contact is a touch of the ball by any part of a player’s body which does not allow the ball to visibly come to rest or involve prolonged contact with a player’s body. (Rule 9-4.5) Player may intentionally kick the ball.

Timeouts: In 25 point/rally score matches, there are 2 timeouts per game.

Playing time-
1. MINIMUM PLAYING TIME (Referees will not enforce this, coaches must address this through the appeals process, not on the floor)
2. 4th & 5th Grade (Instructional Levels) -
  1. Equal Time for all players.
3. 6th Grade.
  1. Each player must play a minimum of 12 points scored by either team at any time during the First Two games.
  2. Points do not need to be consecutive.
  3. Playing time in the third game does not count towards this.
4. 7th & 8th Grade -
  1. Each player must play a minimum of 8 points scored by either team at any time during the First Two games.
  2. Points do not need to be consecutive.
  3. Playing time in the third game does not count towards this.
5. All players in attendance at the match
  1. must play in accordance with these rules.
  2. Any player who is ineligible to play due to school policy must not "suit up” for the match.
  3. An ineligible player may sit on the bench in "street clothes” and will be considered bench personnel.
6. Playing time during play-offs is the same as the regular season (new rule).

Warm Ups
1. 4th & 5th:
  1. 3 minutes passing
  2. 2 minutes serving
2. 6th
  1. 5 minutes passing
  2. 3 minutes serving
3. 7th & 8th
  1. 3 minutes passing
  2. 3 minutes spiking
  3. 2 minutes serving

Substitution Rules
1. A team is allowed a maximum of 18 substitutions per game.
2. Each player is allowed unlimited entries within the team limit.
3. Starting the game does not count as an entry.
4. Coaches must stand and signal for a substitution.
  1. Players must stand facing each other off center and wait for the officials signal to enter the game.

Scoring
1. Rally Scoring-All grades will play three 25 point rally score games.
2. A game ends when one team reaches 25 points and is ahead by 2 or more points.
  1. Three games will be played even if the third game is a friendly.
  2. A ref can only reduce points and time if it is a friendly
  3. If this game is needed to decide a winner the game is played to its full 25 points or by two with the cap 27 points.
3. Subsequently there is a 27 point cap for each game.
  1. The first team to score 27 points wins regardless of scoring margin.
  2. There is no cap during playoffs. A game must be won by a margin of at least two points.

Official Score book
1. The home team shall provide the official scorebook and the official scorers.
2. If for some reason the home team is unable to provide an official scorebook or scorer, the game official may designate the visitor’s scorebook as the official scorebook.
3. The official scorer and scorebook must be located at the scorer’s table.
4. It is recommended that the visiting team keep a score book as well. It is also recommended that the visiting scorer compare notes with the official scorer at the end of each game.
5. Any discrepancies should be immediately addressed by the game official for a ruling.
Serving
1. The first server of the game is the player in the right back position. If your team is receiving, your first server will be in the front right position.
2. Net serves will be considered live balls.
  1. If a ball hits the net, and goes over the net it is a live and playable.
  2. Balls that hit the net and do not go over the net will result in a point.
3. 4th/5th grade only
  1. If a player has 5 consecutive successful serves for points then that player is done serving
  2. The team still keeps the service but there is a rotation to the next server.
4. Serving lines
  1. 4th and 5th grade girls/boys 20 feet
  2. 6th grade girls/boys 25 feet
  3. 7th & 8th grade girls/boys end line (30 feet)
5. Reserve Serve
  1. One reserve allowed during each term of service.(Refs: be more lenient with this at the lower levels…)
  2. Explain when this happens. After beckoning for serve, players have 5 seconds to serve.

Contest Result Reporting to CSCC website
1. 4th/5th only-
  1. No standings
  2. Games are reported as completed only as a tie
2. 6th,7th,8th grade only
  1. Both teams are responsible for reporting scores via the www.gocscc.com website.
  2. All scores need to be updated by the end of each week Sunday.
  3. Any contest not reported by 7:30pm on the season end date (as shown on the volleyball important dates section of the volleyball home page) will be considered a double forfeit.

Playoffs, Official Standings and Tie Breakers
1. Playoffs are held only for the 6th,7th and 8th grade levels only.
2. Playoffs are conducted in a single elimination tournament format
3. Playing time during play-offs is the same as the regular season (new rule)
4. Playoff Formats
  1. Playoffs will be determined on a 1 – 8 seeding as opposed to the wildcard format for all volleyball playoffs.
  2. In this scenario, best record gets the #1 seed, the #2 seed is the other division winner, and the 3 – 8 seeds are determined by record.
  3. The tie breakers would apply with a coin flip by an executive board member of a non-participating team. This is a more straightforward approach that everyone can understand and eliminate confusion which occurs every year. Ultimately, both the wild card and 1 thru 8 seeding results in very similar if not identical brackets, just the wildcard is just a lot more confusing.
  4. Best Records” – When the regular season schedule has every team playing every other team the exact number of times, then the top 8 records make the playoffs (mo matter what division they are in during the regular season). The seeding is as follows:
    1. First Round (Quarter Finals)
    2. Game 1: 1st Record vs. 8th Record
    3. Game 2: 4th Record vs. 5th Record 9
    4. Game 3: 2nd Record vs. 7th Record
    5. Game 4: 3rd Record vs. 6th Record Semi-Finals
    6. Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
    7. Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 Championship Game
    8. Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6
  5. Tie Breakers –
    1. These tie breakers are used for determining the playoff seeding.
    2. Ties which would determine inclusion in the playoffs will be determined through an elimination contest:
  6. Head To Head
  7. Division Record, if it applies
  8. Coin Flip
  9. Play-in Game(s) –
    1. In the case of ties for the last playoff spot, the teams must play a game to determine which team is in. The game must be played immediately – FIRST MONDAY after the season ends.

All Star Game-The conference sponsors an All-Star game for the 8th graders.
1. All star selections must be submitted to the conference chairperson immediately following the end of the regular season.
  1. Division champs may select 3 players
  2. Playoff teams may select 2 players
  3. All other teams may select 1 player

Officials
1. Payment
  1. Each coach is responsible for paying the contest official prior to start of the match.
  2. Fee is $20 per team.
  3. For single matches $30 for the home team and $20 for the visiting team.
2. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT:
  1. Red and Yellow cards will be used.
    1. YELLOW CARD: warning for a minor offense.
    2. RED CARD: Penalty, a point/side out is awarded to the opponent.
    3. RED AND YELLOW CARD: Disqualification – if both cards are given at the same time, that person receiving the cards is disqualified from further participation in the match. A point/side out will be awarded to the opponents.
    4. When any card is given, it will be recorded on the score sheet. It will also be reported to hosting schools AD, opposing teams AD and the Conference board. The home court AD is responsible for reporting it to the correct groups.
    5. If any one person (player or coach) received the following during the season:
    6. 2 yellow cards - 1 game suspension
    7. 2 red cards - 2 game suspension
    8. 3 red cards - suspended for the remainder of the season
    9. If a coach or parent, in the opinion of the official, is verbally abusive to that official after the game is completed the official may assess the equivalent of 2 red cards on that person by reporting the incident to the league. This would result in an automatic 2 game suspension that is not subject to review.
    10. If a coach or parent, in the opinion of the official, is verbally abusive to that official beyond the confines of the gym building then that official may assess the equivalent of 2 red cards on that person by reporting the incident to the league. This would result in an automatic 2 game suspension that is not subject to review. In addition, the Officers of the Conference Board of Athletic Directors will determine if that person will be dismissed from coaching or if that parent will be allowed to attend any more games.
    11. Note: Existing rules already address conduct during the contest.
    12. Additional Note: Physically abusive behavior is addressed by the State Penal Code.
3. Sportsmanship
  1. A handshake between the two teams must be performed following each contest.

Protests and Appeals.
1. Protested contest results must be submitted to the protesting team’s athletic director within 24 hours of the completion of the contest.
2. The athletic director will then evaluate the protest and present it to the league chairperson for a ruling.
3. No protest will be considered regarding judgment calls made by the official.
4. Protests will only be considered where there is a question of rules interpretation which affects the outcome of the game.
5. No protest will be considered if the coach could not immediately produce a copy of the league rules for the contest official at the time questioned call.
6. Violations of league playing time rules may only be addressed through the appeal process:
7. The Referee is not permitted to determine a forfeit based on playing time infractions.
8. If a coach feels a player has not played the minimum amount of time the coach is to advise
9. The opposing coach and the referee of the situation at the scorers table. If the official scorer's book shows that the player(s) in question have not played the minimum amount of points the referee is to sign the score sheet ONLY as a witness.
10. The referee is to act as an impartial third party witness. The referee will not be monitoring playing time points.

Procedure for canceling or postponing any given match.
1. All scheduling changes must be made by the athletic director.
2. Coaches are not permitted to cancel or reschedule games.
3. Changes cannot be made within 72 hours.
  1. If a match is canceled within 72 hours, the official will still be paid by the canceling team.
4. Please notify the other team, then contact Gerry Krusinski 847-431-1507 and then be sure to make the necessary changes through the gocscc.com.
  1. If we are unaware of a schedule change, your team will be credited with a forfeit because a score was not called in.

Player Eligibility
1. No Cut Policy
2. Players can play up but no down
3. Players must be full time day students attending the school that they represent.
4. Age Restrictions. Players are eligible to play for a given grade based upon their birth date.
  1. 8th Grade - Has not reached their 15th birthday before September 1st of the current year.
  2. 7th Grade - Has not reached their 14th birthday before September 1st of the current year.
  3. 6th Grade - Has not reached their 13th birthday before September 1st of the current year.
  4. 5th Grade - Has not reached their 12th birthday before September 1st of the current year.
  5. 4th Grade - Has not reached their 11th birthday before September 1st of the current year.
5. Any coach and/or school that violates any of these age rules shall be suspended from the league on that level for the remainder of the season and must forfeit all games.

Player Promotion/Call up Players
1. This rule is intended to avoid rescheduling games. NOT FOR MAKING YOUR TEAM BETTER.
  1. If you have a team that is less than 8 or 9+ players but are going to be short players at your game you will be allowed to call up players under the following guidelines:
    1. You are going to have 7 or less players at your game you can call up players.
    2. You can call up players from the immediate grade below only. If your school did not field a team the grade below you can go one more grade lower only.
    3. You can only have a maximum total of 8 players on bench if you are calling up players.
    4. Call ups have to be declared prior to the start of the game at the score table and with the opposing team.
      1. Score table needs to indicate the call up player in the official book with an asterisk.
      2. Coaches of the opposing team must be made aware prior to the start of the game.
    5. Call up players must play the minimum point requirement only.
    6. Call up players are not there to take away playing time from the REGULAR ROSTERED TEAM MEMBERS.
      1. Call up players should be used to give a break to the fatigued players, injured players or to get their minimum playing time quota. They are not there to relieve a rostered player for serving purposes. Call up players are not to serve over rostered players.
      2. Call up players may not play more than any regular rostered player. Exception: Player availability and injury. They only play the required points needed and no more.
    7. There cannot be more call up players on your bench than regular rostered players.
    8. You can try to reschedule with the school but the school has the right to decline the reschedule because of availability.
      1. If an arrangement cannot be worked out the team who does not meet the guidelines above will still play but will forfeit the game.
2. Player Promotion.
  1. Is when a student no longer plays for his or her grade level.
  2. A student athlete may play up a grade but may not play down.
  3. Once a player has played up he/she may not go back down for league competition for the remainder of the season.
3. All players must attend the school they represent.

Rosters
1. Every school must submit a complete roster of all team members before the start of the season games begin.
2. The following items must be on the roster.

first and last name and issued jersey number.
Coaches information must be on the roster
Coaches First and last name
Email address
Cell #

Rosters must be submitted to the league using the google doc that is provided prior to their first contest.
1. Failure to supply said rosters will result in forfeiture of all contests played prior to the receipt of the rosters by the league chairperson.
Rosters must be found on the score table for every CSCC contest.
Players may be added, but only in writing and signed by the School principal, up until 30 days prior to the first scheduled playoff date, at which time rosters will be considered frozen.
Any request to alter rosters after the freeze date must be approved by the league chairperson.

Positions
1. The Libero position is not recognized in the conference

Net Height
1. The net height should be 7 feet 4 and 1/4 inches for all grade levels.

Jewelry
1. IHSA Rule: earrings that are studs only can be worn.
2. Hugging hoops for newly pierced earrings can be worn but must be taped.
3. No earrings dangling below the earlobe or below the chin will be allowed. Penalty: Administrative delay (Newly pierced earrings may be covered by bandages) Feathers are not allowed. The jewelry rule will follow the IHSA rule.

Select Illinois High School Association Rules/National Federation Rules

The Following IHSA rules have been Highlighted for the benefit of all participants.

IHSA Rules can be found in the National Federation of State High School Association.

(NFHS) rule book. The book can be purchased by calling 317-972-6900 or on their website www.nfhs.org. Score books can possibly be purchased at Palos Sports at 1-800-233-5484. The scorebook should have 18 subs and rally scoring if needed.

CSCC 4TH & 5TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL

Continuous Substitution Rules and Guidelines

PLEASE NOTE: The Snake Rule is in effect for 4th & 5th Teams

List all available players on the scoresheet (not just the starting 6)
Starting positions: (note-this is the normal VB starting setup for serving and non-serving teams)
1. All starting players will line up at the end line.
  1. On the officials whistle will run to the net and shake hands with players under the net and take their positions.
2. Serving Team: line up in positions #1-#6 on the court (positions #1 is the server)
3. Non-Serving Team: line up 1 spot prior so that the team will rotate into the correct positions on their first serve.
Substitutions for both teams:
1. All substitutions will occur in position #6 on the court
2. Proper Substitution
  1. The substitution will come to the sideline between the net and the 10 foot line.
  2. The player coming out will meet that player and high five them
  3. The new player will take the position and the player exiting will take the seat at the end of the players on the bench.
3. During the rotation prior to a new serve, the previous server (position #1) will sub out and the next player, in order, on the scoresheet will sub in to position #6
4. This process continues throughout the entire game.
5. Note: the non-serving team in Game 1 (only) will not substitute during their first rotation.
Game 2 and 3:
1. The starting positions for the following games will be based on how the previous game ended.
2. The change between games is treated simply as another substitution rotation
  1. The 6 players on the court at the end of the preceding game will be “rotated” and “substituted” using the same guidelines
  2. The player position #1 will sub out, the player on the court rotate, and the next player in line will sub in to position #6 (these substitutions occur as if the previous game never ended;i.e. The “starters” for game 2 and 3 are determined by who was on the court at the end of the previous game and cannot be reset by the coaches.
End of Match
1. All players will lineup on their end line
2. On the refs command will run to the net and shake hands with the opponent under the net.
Serving
1. If a player has 5 consecutive successful serves for points then that player is done serving.
2. The team still keeps the service but there is a rotation to the next server.