Competition Rules

1. All games shall be played as per the FIVB Rule Book, except where these rules contradict, these shall take precedence
2. Teams shall consist of 4 to 6 players on court, and a maximum of 2 substitutions.
3. Games are played without libero in place.
4. GENDER: Volleyball competitions at CitySide sports are non-gender specific.
5. Substitutions are permitted after each side-out by the serving team or for injury.
6. Time does not stop for substitutions and teams must make the change immediately and swiftly or will be penalised for delay.
7. Games are played in 55-minute time slots, with a 5-minute warm up and 50-minute game time.
8. Games are best of 5, within the allocated time frame. Once (and if) one team has won three sets, no further sets shall be recorded.
9. At the completion of time, a set will be counted and scored, should at least one team have scored 12 points, and have a 2-point advantage for the set to count.
10. Time shall not be stopped for injuries.
11. If at any time a team believes the score is incorrect, they must appeal to the referee IMMEDIATELY. The two captains and referee shall convene on the matter however the referee's decision is final.
12. The scores shall be recorded on the "Court Run Sheet" at the end of the match and both captains must sign to acknowledge the score.
13. If a team disagrees with the score, they have 48-hours to lodge a dispute in writing to CitySide Sports management. By signing the score sheet, the Captain acknowledges the scores are correct and no dispute of the scores may be lodged.

1. Game Fees ($72) must be paid prior to each game.
2. Game Fees can be paid via cash at the venue, online in the myTeam Portal, or within the CitySide Sports Mobile App.
3. Teams who are unfinancial for finals, will not be able to take the court until all owing fees have been paid.
4. During Competition Rounds, teams who do not have 4-players ready to play shall be penalised 1-point per minute.
5. Where both teams are late, penalty timing will only start once one team has 4 players and are ready to play.

1. All players must be 14 years of age or older at the time they take the court.
2. Players must have downloaded the CitySide Sports Mobile App and have created a QR-User Account.
3. Prior to each game, a player must check in via the CitySide Sports Check In App with their mobile app, and record their playing of the match.
4. Players who fail to check in, will not have their game registered toward finals qualification and are not covered by insurance.
5. Any player who does not have an available phone at the time of checking in, can use our Manual Check In process.
6. Players are deemed to be a Qualified Member once they have played three (3) games with a team in the one season including Grading and Prelim Rounds. [*this has changed from Summer 2023/2024, down from 4*]
7. Any player who is a Qualified Member of a team, cannot fill in for another team of a lower division on the same night and type (mixed/ladies) of competition. REFER FURTHER: 5. Fill-In Players
8. CitySide Sports guideline for pregnant players is that they must stop playing after the completion of the second trimester, however it is advised to seek personal medical advice on whether the pregnant player should stop earlier.
9. Any person who participates in a game while pregnant accepts full and sole responsibility for any injury sustained to her unborn child or herself and shall not make any claim against CitySide Sports or any of its officials, or any other player or umpire for such injury now or anytime in the future.
10. Any player who is bleeding or has blood on their body or uniform, must leave the court immediately. A player that has had all blood removed and/or covered, may return to the court (once checked by the referee or referee supervisor) the moment a stoppage of play occurs, including any penalty called by the referee.
11. All players in a team must be wearing the same colour top OR a team may have a uniform deemed the same style but varying colours (e.g., themed). Players are not required to have numbers.
12. Players must be wearing appropriate sport-attire and non-marking footwear.
13. The following items are NOT permitted: Anything that a referee, referee supervisor or management deem dangerous as per their duty of care requirements - specifically dangerous footwear.
14. Teams are permitted to have players out of playing-top colour uniform during the Grading & Preliminary Rounds. Teams shall be penalised 1-point per player out of uniform during Competition Rounds and Finals.

1. Once the season enters the period of 'Competition Rounds' a player who is a Qualified Member of a team, cannot play in a lower division of the same competition. PENALTY: Team who played player, forfeits 25-0, 25-0, 25-0.
2. A team may only use a maximum of two fill-ins that is a Qualified Member from teams of the same division. PENALTY: Forfeit 25-0, 25-0, 25-0
3. Players who fail to check in, will not have their game registered toward finals qualification and are not covered by insurance.
4. A player who was first qualified with a team in a lower division and then plays enough games to be registered with a team in a higher division, may continue to play for both teams and participate in finals for both teams. However, the player may not fill in for other teams lower than the higher division team.
5. A player is permitted to play enough games to be qualified in multiple teams from the same division, however, may only participate in one team for finals from the same division.
6. Ladies and Mixed are classed as two separate competitions. Example: A player who is registered in a Ladies Division 1 may fill in for any mixed team on that night from any division.
7. The rules set out in this section apply per competition. A player's team qualification has no effect on their ability to play or fill in for a team on another night or venue.

1. A maximum of 2 rounds of grading games will be played each season. These are played while the finals of the previous season are being played and played by new teams or those who missed out on finals.
2. Grading games have no effect on ladder positions. While results are recorded, they are purely for the purpose of grading teams.
3. Grading games are not optional, and Game Fees and Forfeit Fees apply.

1. Preliminary Rounds are not optional, and Game Fees and Forfeit Fees apply.
2. Preliminary Rounds shall be used at the start of the season to determine the divisions the teams shall play in during the next stage, known as 'Competition Rounds'.
3. A maximum of three Preliminary Rounds will be scheduled. The amount of Preliminary Rounds will be determined by management and pre-set when registration is opened for the Competition and listed on the CitySide Sports website under Season Dates.
4. During these rounds, management will release the matches week by week. A team's game time and their opponent shall be listed on the CitySide Sports website and app 4-days before the next round. An SMS and email shall also be sent to the team captains.
5. Results along with match official and supervisor feedback on each game shall assist management to decide upon divisional places for each team, for competition rounds.
6. Management may move into competition rounds early, if they believe that they have enough information to grade teams into divisions.
7. Match results will count toward a team's final ladder position, only if they end up in the same division as any team they played during Preliminary Rounds. REFER FURTHER: 7. Competition Rounds

1. After the 'Preliminary Rounds', teams shall be separated into divisions for the 'Competition Rounds'.
2. Approximately 4 days prior to the commencement of this phase of the season, management shall release the fixture in full for each team on the website and send one SMS and email to the teams to notify them that the fixture has been released.
3. Once the fixture has been released in full, it is the responsibility of the team to look up their fixture, know their game times and attend.

1. The ladder shall be determined by a win-draw-loss %, known as match-ratio %.
2. The match-ratio % shall be determined by matches only played against teams from the same division.
3. In the case that a team withdraws from a competition, all previous results against this team shall be void and the ladder updated accordingly, with a 25-0, 25-0, 25-0 walkover score awarded to the opposing team.
4. Teams shall not be awarded a win (which relates to percentage) for a game that do not need to attend (bye or pre-notified forfeit).
5. Teams shall be awarded a win 25-0, 25-0, 25-0 when attending a match and the opponents have not attended and forfeited (known as a walkover).
6. Teams who forfeit shall have the loss recorded on the ladder (listed as 'LOF') and it will have a negative impact on their ladder match-ratio %.
7. In the case that two teams are on the same match-ratio %, then they shall be separated on the ladder by set % (sets won / sets played * 100), followed by points % (points for / points against * 100), followed by points difference, then based on the most recent result between the two teams where either team won.

1. Teams who do not have 4 players to take the court by the end of the first 15-minutes are deemed to have forfeited.
2. Teams that forfeit more than twice in a season may face expulsion at management's discretion.
3. Teams who receive a forfeit during the day will be offered to play a scratch match against a team arranged by management (if a team can be arranged) at no charge. No win will be recorded for a scratch match from a forfeit.
4. Forfeit Fee: A team will pay their own game fee for forfeiting, and their opponent's fee will be payable. If the team notified CitySide Sports after 2pm on the day of the match, a $30 late fee will apply.
5. WALKOVER: A walkover shall occur when a team does not show up for their game without notifying the office previously. The non-offending team shall be awarded a win 25-0, 25-0, 25-00. The offending team will be deemed to have forfeited and be responsible for paying both team's game fees, plus a $30 late fee and face possible expulsion from the competition.

1. CitySide Sports shall apply their Weather & Condition Policy when deciding if any games should be cancelled.
2. Captains acknowledge in our Terms & Conditions when registering their team, that CitySide Sports management shall make the final decision on whether a game shall be cancelled or not and should the decision be for a game to be played, their team must participate or will be deemed to have forfeited.
3. Should a team forfeit despite management's decision that a game shall not be cancelled, a forfeit fee shall be applied in accordance with Rule 9.
4. Should a game be cancelled during the first set, the two teams shall be refunded their game fee in full, and no result shall be recorded.
5. If a game is stopped during the second set, play will be suspended, and players must wait until a decision is made by the Venue Manager and Referee Supervisor. If the conditions are deemed safe to play, players shall take their position and play shall resume. If the decision is to call the game off completely, the scores shall stand, and half a game fee is payable.
6. If the game is in the third set or later, scores stand, and the full game fee is applied.

1. Forfeiting a final will incur a double game forfeit fee (own game fee + opponent's) plus a late fee of $30 will apply if notified after 2pm on the day of the final.
2. Any team that cannot participate in finals for any reason, must notify Management prior to the third last round before finals. Any team that fails to do so and does not field a team during finals will be deemed to have forfeited and the appropriate fee will be payable, unless Management can find an alternate team from the same division who are willing to replace the team in finals.
3. The finals shall consist of two rounds (two weeks), and the top four positional teams on the ladder of each division at the completion of the Competition Rounds shall participate.
4. The finals will be played under a knock-out format. Week 1 Semi Finals: 1v4, 2v3. Week 2 Grand Final: Semi Winners
5. A team may only field Qualified Members during finals (REFER Rule 3.7) PENALTY: Forfeit without Notice
6. Semi Final Timing: Shall be played as a standard timed game as the Competition Rounds.
7. Grand Final Timing: Games shall be extended to a 90-minute timeslot, 5-minute warm up and 85-minute match play.
8. If a deciding set is being played when time elapses, a team must be leading by 2-points in the current set (with no minimum score).Play shall continue until one team can be declared the winner.
9. Finals shall be timed by the referee and not visible to players.

If a referee feels that a player has delayed play or persistently breaks the rules, they shall decide if a player is intentionally breaching these rules or can be managed effectively by educating the player. On this basis, the referee may choose from the following actions:

1. Manage the player e.g., 'Hurry up please';
2. Penalise the team;
3. Penalise the player by placing them out of play and advancing the penalty to a maximum of half a third;
4. Call in both Captains and notify the offending player's Captain that if the player continues to breach the rules/delay play that they may be suspended for 3-points.

1. If a referee deems that a player's conduct warrants, they may choose to suspend a player.
2. The conduct may include but not limited to poor sportsmanship, persistent breaking of rules, foul/abusive language directed at an opponent or referee, rough play.
3. In most scenarios, a referee will choose to call in both Captains to issue a warning before suspending or ordering off. It is the Captain's responsibility to control their players and the referee may allow the Captain a moment to speak to their player/s.
4. A referee is not required to issue a warning before suspending or ordering off.
5. Should a referee choose to suspend a player, the length shall be 3-points.
6. Should a player be ordered off, they shall no longer participate in the game.
7. A player who has been suspended or ordered off cannot be replaced.
8. Any player who has been suspended or ordered off shall be reported to Management. Please refer to Rule 14

1. Any player deemed to be involved in any misconduct shall be dealt with by CitySide Sports Management and may find themself suspended or permanently banned from participation at any CitySide Sports competition.
2. Misconduct includes but is not limited to, physical or verbal abuse or discrimination of any kind including on the basis of gender, nationality, religion or sexuality toward any player (opponent or fellow teammates), referee, supervisor, staff member or game spectator.
3. In accordance with our Terms & Conditions, a Captain is responsible for controlling their own players on and off the court, and any spectators. A team with a player or spectator, who is found to be involved in any misconduct may find the whole team removed from the competition.
4. As a private enterprise, CitySide Sports has the right to suspend or permanently ban any player or team from participating in our competitions. Management's decision is final, and no appeals will be considered.

1. All games shall be played as per standard Beach Volleyball rules based on the FIVB Rule Book, however, with some variations to suit Rebound Volleyball. Where these rules contradict the FIVB rule book, these rules take precendence.
2. Rebound Beach Volleyball is played across the country, but each centre has their own rules. As founding members of Rebound Victoria, we aim to stick as close to the RV rule as possible.
3. Teams shall consist of:
   1. 5 players on court for 5-A-Side
   2. 2 players on court for Pairs
   and any amount of substitutes
4. GENDER: Volleyball competitions at CitySide sports are non-gender specific.
5. Substitutions are permitted after each side-out by the serving team or for injury.
6. Time does not stop for substitutions and teams must make the change immediately and swiftly or will be penalised for delay.
7. Time shall not be stopped for injuries.
8. The court nets will be marked with a 'service line' (not on the court surface) at a distance of 1m from both ends of court, from where players must serve from behind. No penalty will be awarded for not serving behind the line, the referee will just call for a replay.
9. The serve must not hit any net (including centre net) before an opposing player touching the ball.
10. The receiving team of the serve, must touch the ball twice before returning it back (only on the initial return of serve).
11. The ball cannot hit the ceiling net, when crossing over to an opponent's side. This is classed as out (it can within a team's own three touches before the ball crosses over).
12. PAIRS ONLY: The ball cannot hit the back net when crossing over to opponent's side. This is classed as out.
13. A 'block' shall not be deemed as a part of a team's three touches.
14. A player cannot intentionally 'head' the ball.
15. A player cannot hit the ball with any part of the body lower than their hips.
16. Technique (Double, Carry/List): Referees will determine the standard of calls that will be called based on the ability of players on court and the division, and communicate to players accordingly.
17. Game Length:
    1. 5-A-Side: 5 x 9-minute sets with a 90-second break between the 3rd and 4th sets
    2. Pairs: 3 x 11-minute sets with a 90-second break between each set.
18. Teams will win points on both serve and non-serve. Scores shall be reset after each set. The winning team shall be determined by who wins the most sets. A set can be a draw. A match can also be a draw.
19. If at any time a team believes the score is incorrect, they must appeal to the referee IMMEDIATELY. The two captains and referee shall convene on the matter however the referee's decision is final.
20. If a team disagrees with the score, they have 48-hours to lodge a dispute in writing to CitySide Sports management.

1. Game Fees must be paid prior to each game:
   1. 5-A-Side: ($60)
   2. Pairs: $30.
2. Game Fees can be paid via cash or EFTPOS at the venue, online in the myTeam Portal, or within the CitySide Sports Mobile App.
3. Teams who are unfinancial for finals, will not be able to take the court until all owing fees have been paid.
4. During Competition Rounds, teams who do not have the minimum required players ready to play shall be penalised 1-point per minute.
   1. 5-A-Side: Minimum 3 players
   2. Pairs: Minimum 2 players
5. Where both teams are late, penalty timing will only start once one team has the required amount and are ready to play.

1. All players must be 14 years of age or older at the time they take the court.
2. Players must have downloaded the CitySide Sports Mobile App and have created a QR-User Account.
3. Prior to each game, a player must check in via the CitySide Sports Check In App with their mobile app, and record their playing of the match.
4. Players who fail to check in, will not have their game registered toward finals qualification and are not covered by insurance.
5. Any player who does not have an available phone at the time of checking in, can use our Manual Check In process.
6. Players are deemed to be a Qualified Member once they have played three (3) games with a team in the one season including Grading and Prelim Rounds. [*this has changed from Summer 2023/2024, down from 4*]
7. Any player who is a Qualified Member of a team, cannot fill in for another team of a lower division on the same night and type (mixed/ladies) of competition. REFER FURTHER: 4. Fill-In Players
8. CitySide Sports guideline for pregnant players is that they must stop playing after the completion of the second trimester, however it is advised to seek personal medical advice on whether the pregnant player should stop earlier.
9. Any person who participates in a game while pregnant accepts full and sole responsibility for any injury sustained to her unborn child or herself and shall not make any claim against CitySide Sports or any of its officials, or any other player or umpire for such injury now or anytime in the future.
10. Any player who is bleeding or has blood on their body or uniform, must leave the court immediately. A player that has had all blood removed and/or covered, may return to the court (once checked by the umpire or umpire supervisor) the moment a stoppage of play occurs, including any penalty called by the umpire.
11. All players in a team must be wearing the same colour top OR a team may have a uniform deemed the same style but varying colours (e.g., themed). Players are not required to have numbers.
12. The following items are NOT permitted: Shoes/Footwear of any kind excluding socks. Anything that a referee, referee supervisor or management deem dangerous as per their duty of care requirements - specifically dangerous footwear.
13. Teams are permitted to have players out of playing-top colour uniform during the Grading & Preliminary Rounds. Teams shall be penalised 1-point per player out of uniform during Competition Rounds and Finals.

1. Once the season enters the period of 'Competition Rounds' a player who is a Qualified Member of a team, cannot play in a lower division of the same competition. PENALTY: Team who played player, forfeits 25-0, 25-0, 25-0.
2. A team may only use a maximum of ONE fill-ins that is a Qualified Member from teams of the same division. PENALTY: Forfeit 25-0, 25-0, 25-0 EXCEPTION: Any team in the bottom division (or if only one divisio on the night) may use up to TWO players from the same division.
3. Players who fail to check in, will not have their game registered toward finals qualification and are not covered by insurance.
4. A player who was first qualified with a team in a lower division and then plays enough games to be registered with a team in a higher division, may continue to play for both teams and participate in finals for both teams. However, the player may not fill in for other teams lower than the higher division team.
5. A player is permitted to play enough games to be qualified in multiple teams from the same division, however, may only participate in one team for finals from the same division.
6. The rules set out in this section apply per competition. A player's team qualification has no effect on their ability to play or fill in for a team on another night or venue.

1. A maximum of 2 rounds of grading games will be played each season. These are played while the finals of the previous season are being played and played by new teams or those who missed out on finals.
2. Grading games have no effect on ladder positions. While results are recorded, they are purely for the purpose of grading teams.
3. Grading games are not optional, and Game Fees and Forfeit Fees apply.

1. Preliminary Rounds are not optional, and Game Fees and Forfeit Fees apply.
2. Preliminary Rounds shall be used at the start of the season to determine the divisions the teams shall play in during the next stage, known as 'Competition Rounds'.
3. A maximum of three Preliminary Rounds will be scheduled. The amount of Preliminary Rounds will be determined by management and pre-set when registration is opened for the Competition and listed on the CitySide Sports website under Season Dates.
4. During these rounds, management will release the matches week by week. A team's game time and their opponent shall be listed on the CitySide Sports website and app 4-days before the next round. An SMS and email shall also be sent to the team captains.
5. Results along with match official and supervisor feedback on each game shall assist management to decide upon divisional places for each team, for competition rounds.
6. Management may move into competition rounds early, if they believe that they have enough information to grade teams into divisions.
7. Match results will count toward a team's final ladder position, only if they end up in the same division as any team they played during Preliminary Rounds. REFER FURTHER: 7. Competition Rounds

1. After the 'Preliminary Rounds', teams shall be separated into divisions for the 'Competition Rounds'.
2. Approximately 4 days prior to the commencement of this phase of the season, management shall release the fixture in full for each team on the website and send one SMS and email to the teams to notify them that the fixture has been released.
3. Once the fixture has been released in full, it is the responsibility of the team to look up their fixture, know their game times and attend.

1. The ladder shall be determined by a win-draw-loss %, known as match-ratio %.
2. The match-ratio % shall be determined by matches only played against teams from the same division.
3. In the case that a team withdraws from a competition, all previous results against this team shall be void and the ladder updated accordingly, with a 25-0, 25-0 walkover score awarded to the opposing team.
4. Teams shall not be awarded a win (which relates to percentage) for a game that do not need to attend (bye or pre-notified forfeit).
5. Teams shall be awarded a win 25-0, 25-0, 25-0 when attending a match and the opponents have not attended and forfeited (known as a walkover).
6. Teams who forfeit shall have the loss recorded on the ladder (listed as 'LOF') and it will have a negative impact on their ladder match-ratio %.
7. In the case that two teams are on the same match-ratio %, then they shall be separated on the ladder by set % (sets won / sets played * 100), followed by points % (points for / points against * 100), followed by points difference, then based on the most recent result between the two teams where either team won.

1. Teams who do not have the minimum required players to take the court by the end of the first set are deemed to have forfeited.
2. Teams that forfeit more than twice in a season may face expulsion at management's discretion.
3. Teams who receive a forfeit during the day will be offered to play a scratch match against a team arranged by management (if a team can be arranged) at no charge. No win will be recorded for a scratch match from a forfeit.
4. Forfeit Fee: A team will pay their own game fee for forfeiting, and their opponent's fee will be payable. If the team notified CitySide Sports after 2pm on the day of the match, a $30 late fee will apply.
5. WALKOVER: A walkover shall occur when a team does not show up for their game without notifying the office previously. The non-offending team shall be awarded a win 10-0. The offending team will be deemed to have forfeited and be responsible for paying both team's game fees and a $30 late fee, and face possible expulsion from the competition.

1. CitySide Sports shall apply their Weather & Condition Policy when deciding if any games should be cancelled.
2. Captains acknowledge in our Terms & Conditions when registering their team, that CitySide Sports management shall make the final decision on whether a game shall be cancelled or not and should the decision be for a game to be played, their team must participate or will be deemed to have forfeited.
3. Should a team forfeit despite management's decision that a game shall not be cancelled, a forfeit fee shall be applied in accordance with Rule 9.
4. Should a game be cancelled during the first set, the two teams shall be refunded their game fee in full, and no result shall be recorded.
5. If a game is stopped during the second set, play will be suspended, and players must wait until a decision is made by the Venue Manager and Referee Supervisor. If the conditions are deemed safe to play, players shall take their position and play shall resume. If the decision is to call the game off completely, the scores shall stand, and half a game fee is payable.
6. If the game is in the third set or later, scores stand, and the full game fee is applied.

1. Forfeiting a final will incur a double game forfeit fee (own game fee + opponent's) plus a late fee of $30 will apply if notified after 2pm on the day of the final.
2. Any team that cannot participate in finals for any reason, must notify Management prior to the third last round before finals. Any team that fails to do so and does not field a team during finals will be deemed to have forfeited and the appropriate fee will be payable, unless Management can find an alternate team from the same division who are willing to replace the team in finals.
3. The finals shall consist of two rounds (two weeks), and the top four positional teams on the ladder of each division at the completion of the Competition Rounds shall participate.
4. The finals will be played under a knock-out format. Week 1 Semi Finals: 1v4, 2v3. Week 2 Grand Final: Semi Winners
5. A team may only field Qualified Members during finals (REFER Rule 3.7) PENALTY: Forfeit without Notice
6. FINALS SCORING: No set can be a draw. When the siren plays, and the final point completed, if the scores are level, one extra point shall be played to declare the winner of the set.
7. DECIDING SET: If for the final set, the sets are level (and only when they are), the set will continue after the siren has sounded until one team has a two-point advantage.

If a referee feels that a player has delayed play or persistently breaks the rules, they shall decide if a player is intentionally breaching these rules or can be managed effectively by educating the player. On this basis, the referee may choose from the following actions:

1. Manage the player e.g., 'Hurry up please';
2. Penalise the team;
3. Penalise the player by placing them out of play and advancing the penalty to a maximum of half a third;
4. Call in both Captains and notify the offending player's Captain that if the player continues to breach the rules/delay play that they may be suspended for 3-points.

1. If a referee deems that a player's conduct warrants, they may choose to suspend a player.
2. The conduct may include but not limited to poor sportsmanship, persistent breaking of rules, foul/abusive language directed at an opponent or referee, rough play.
3. In most scenarios, a referee will choose to call in both Captains to issue a warning before suspending or ordering off. It is the Captain's responsibility to control their players and the referee may allow the Captain a moment to speak to their player/s.
4. A referee is not required to issue a warning before suspending or ordering off.
5. Should a referee choose to suspend a player, the length shall be 3-points.
6. Should a player be ordered off, they shall no longer participate in the game.
7. A player who has been suspended or ordered off cannot be replaced.
8. Any player who has been suspended or ordered off shall be reported to Management. Please refer to Rule 14

1. Any player deemed to be involved in any misconduct shall be dealt with by CitySide Sports Management and may find themself suspended or permanently banned from participation at any CitySide Sports competition.
2. Misconduct includes but is not limited to, physical or verbal abuse or discrimination of any kind including on the basis of gender, nationality, religion or sexuality toward any player (opponent or fellow teammates), referee, supervisor, staff member or game spectator.
3. In accordance with our Terms & Conditions, a Captain is responsible for controlling their own players on and off the court, and any spectators. A team with a player or spectator, who is found to be involved in any misconduct may find the whole team removed from the competition.
4. As a private enterprise, CitySide Sports has the right to suspend or permanently ban any player or team from participating in our competitions. Management's decision is final, and no appeals will be considered.