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GENERAL RULES

OF WALLYBALL

                                                                                                 

 

                                                           

              The following rules closely follow the rules set by the Association of  United Wallyball Players

                        (AUWA), and are universally accepted as regulation wallyball rules for league play.

 

 

 

                      A-COURT DIMENSIONS:

 

¨   [A1] A wallyball court is 40' long x 20' wide x 20' high.

      The court is divided into two equal sides with a centerline

      between each side.

 

¨   [A2] The net is eight feet high for men's and coed teams, and

      seven feet four and a quarter inches high for women's teams.

 

¨   [A3] The serving area is three feet from the back walls, extending

      across the entire width of the court.

 

                        B-SCORING:

 

¨   [B1] Matches will consist of three games.

 

¨   [B2] A team can score points only when serving.

 

¨   [B3] All games are played to fifteen.

 

¨   [B4] A team must win by two points.

 

                        C-TEAM AND PLAYERS:

 

¨   [C1] Generally, each team will be composed of four players (although

      three player teams are allowed).

 

¨   [C2] In four-person play, the server on the offensive team is

      prohibited from spiking or blocking the ball. This player is not

      allowed to either fake or even attempt to spike or block the ball. 

      This rule does not apply to three-person teams.

 

                       

                        D-THE SERVE:

 

¨   [D1] A volley determines the opening serve.  The ball must cross

      the net three (3) times to be considered official.

 

¨   [D2] The ball must be served within the service area (see A3).

 

¨   [D3] If the server catches the ball on a service toss, the server can

      replay the serve.

 

¨   [D4] The ball must pass over the net without touching a member

      of the serving team.

 

¨   [D5] The ball cannot contact the net or net hardware, two or more

      walls before being played or landing on the floor, the opponent's

      back wall or the ceiling of the court.

 

¨   [D6] A jump serve is legal.

 

¨   [D7] Players must maintain the original serving order throughout the

      game.

 

¨   [D8] No members of the serving team may block the server from the

      view of the opposing team by raising their hands above their heads,

      flailing their arms from side to side or forming groups of two (2) or

      more to hide the actions of the server. Players on the serving team

      may not deliberately switch their positions to block the server from

      the view of the opposing team.

 

¨   [D9] In three-person play, players may be in any position on the court.

      Only the serving order (rotation) must be maintained.

 

¨   [D10] In four-person play, players must be in their designated

      serving positions. After the service, players may move to an

      alternative offensive or defensive position.

 

¨   [D11] The losing team gets the first serve of the next game played

      in that match.

 

                      E-PLAY AT THE NET:

 

¨   [E1] A ball (other than a served ball) that touches or rebounds off the

      net or net hardware may be played.

 

¨   [E2] If only part of the ball crosses the net (breaks the vertical plane

      of the net) and is hit by an opponent, the ball is considered as having

      crossed the net.  The receiving team has three additional touches of

      the ball.

 

¨   [E3] A player may not touch the net while the ball is in play.

 

¨   [E4] In returning the ball, a player's arm may follow-through over

      the net provided he/she first makes contact with the ball on his/her

      side of the playing court or when the ball is within the vertical plane

      of the net.

 

¨   [E5] A player may step on, but cannot go over the centerline.

 

¨   [E6] Either team may play a ball that breaks the vertical plane of the net.

 

¨   [E7] Any ball passing through the net opening on the first or second

      hit of a volley will be replayed.  Similarly, any ball that strikes an

      object deemed “out of bounds” (an observation gallery, an air vent,

      etc.) will be replayed. A ball passing through the net opening on the

      third hit or on the serve will result in a side-out.

 

      F-PLAYING THE BALL:

 

¨   [F1] Each team is allowed up to three successive contacts of the

      ball in order to play the ball.

 

¨   [F2] A player may not make multiple contacts with the ball except

      when playing a hard driven spiked ball. For the purposes of this

      rule, multiple contacts can come from a ball hit directly at a player

      or from a ball that is spiked off the wall.

 

¨   [F3] A block does not count as one of the three allowed touches of

      the ball by a team.

 

¨   [F4] If, on an offensive hit, the ball contacts two or more walls a

      side-out will be called. However, a team in possession of the

      ball may cause the ball to make contact with two or more walls

      on their own side of the net, as long as the ball does not cross

      over the net.

 

¨   [F5] The ball must be handled in such a manner that it rebounds

      cleanly after contact with a player. Throwing, scooping, lifting,

      pushing or carrying the ball with one or two hands or arms

      (either underhand or overhand), will be considered to be a form

      of holding or throwing.

 

¨   [F6] If two teammates hit the ball simultaneously, it counts as one

      hit and either player may play the next hit.

 

¨   [F7] If a conflict becomes unresolved, the volley is replayed.

 

¨   [F8] “Pain brushing” or placing an unusual spin on the ball is legal.

 

¨   [F9] Violating teams are encouraged to call illegal plays.  All

     “illegal calls”, however, are the responsibility of the violated team.

      All calls must be made before a new serve is introduced.

 

                   G-BLOCKING:

 

¨   [G1] Any player may block the ball before it breaks the vertical plane

      of the net, as it crosses the net or immediately after it has crossed

      the net. A block does not count as one of the three successive

      contacts allowed a team.

 

¨   [G2] To qualify as a block, the player must be at the net and have

      their hands above their head.

 

¨   [G3] A team may attempt a block if a player on the attacking team

      spikes the ball, the opponents have made three contacts on the ball

      and if the ball falls near the net but no player on the attacking team

      can reasonably make a play on the ball.

 

¨   [G4] A served ball may not be blocked or spiked.

 

¨   [G5] Players may not climb the wall to make a play on the ball.

 

¨   [G6] A player may bounce the ball off the back wall on his/her side

      of the court in a manner that propels the ball over the net as long

      as the ball does not contact a second wall on either side of the

      court before being touched by another player on the opposing team.

 

¨   [G7] A player may not attack spike a ball coming from the team on the

      other side of the net until the ball breaks the vertical plane of the net.

      As long as the spiker's hand or arm does not contact the net or

      an opponent, the hand or arm may cross over the net as a part

      of the spiker's natural follow-through motion.

 

¨   [G8] A ball that spins off the net into an opponent's court

      and subsequently returns to the team originally in possession of the

      ball will be good, provided it takes place on the first or second contact

      by the team. Any team member other than the last player to hit the ball

      can play the ball. If the ball spins off the net into an opponent's court

      and subsequently returns to the team originally in possession of the

      ball on the third hit, a side-out will be called.

 

¨   [G9] Players attempting a block may reach over the net, but they may

      not touch the ball until an opponent strikes the ball in an attempt to

      send it into the defensive court. A player cannot block an opponent's

      set or pass. If an opponent's set or pass (or any played ball) breaks

      the vertical plane of the net, it is considered a free ball and both teams

      are entitled to play it.

 

                    H-DINKING:

 

¨   [H1] To qualify as a "dink" shot, the offensive player's intention must  

      be to lightly drop the ball over the net so that it hits the floor

      within approximately 2-3 feet of the net. The player must be at the       

      net (within approximately two feet of the net) when the shot is made.

 

¨   [H2] The ball must be propelled over the net in one of the following

      four ways: (a) Using the knuckles of the hand (b) Using the closed

      fist (c) Using the back of the hand (d) Using the cobra shot.

 

¨   [H3] Open hand dinks are illegal. A "mis-hit" ball is not a "dink", as there

      is no intention to drop the ball lightly over the net. A ball that drops

      more than 2-3 feet from the net is likewise not a "dink". In this

      situation, the ball may be hit with an open hand as long as there is

      no "carry", "push" or "throw" involved.

 

                    I-DURING-PLAY FAULTS:

 

¨   Any of the following actions that take place during play by a player or a

      team will count as a fault:

[I1]    The ball is touched more than three (3) consecutive times by a team.
[I2]    The ball touches the ceiling on the opponent's side.
[I3]    The ball is hit over the net and it hits two (2) or more walls consecutively.
[I4]    The ball is hit over the net and it hits the back wall on a fly or volley.
[I5]    The ball hits the floor on the court.
[I6]    The same player hits the ball consecutively.
[I7]    A player touches the net while the ball is in play.
[I8]    A player crosses the centerline.
[I9]    The ball contacts a player below the waist.
[I10]  A player illegally handles the ball, such as holding, throwing or pushing.
[I11]  An illegal block is attempted.
[I12]  A time-out exceeds 60 seconds.
[I13]  A player illegally assists a teammate.
[I14]  A defensive player attempts to block or spike the serve.