Star Hill Family Athletic Center | 100 Gerber Dr. Tolland, CT 06084 | 860-871-8800

Volleyball Rules

League Format

Monday Co-ed Adult Competitive - Individual sign-ups. All participants must be a minimum of 18 years of age. All players should have prior league experience and have excellent bumping, setting and spiking skills, and the ability to pass to the team’s designated location of the setter. Players also have played on teams that have used various rotational patterns (i.e. 5-1, 4-2). Officials will tightly officiate all three sets. Teams are created with the help of the league refs based on individual skill levels to create an even playing field as well as creating an opportunity to meet new people that are at the advanced level. Requests can be made to be paired with 3 or 4 other players but remaining positions on the team will be filled at Star Hill’s discretion to ensure teams are balanced and to create an opportunity to meet other players at the same skill level. All individuals are knowledgeable of the rules, comfortable playing in various rotational formats, and the ability to play at the Competitive level. Sets will be officiated to facilitate a safe, fair, & competitive match while allowing advanced players to hone their skills. Note: In the event that there are more than 48 players registered for the league, tryouts may be used. It will be at the discretion of the league director and refs for placement into the league to maintain a competitive environment.  

Tuesday Co-ed Adult Intermediate – Teams consist of 6-8 players per team based on sign-ups. All participants must be a minimum of 18 years of age. All players should have prior league experience. Players/Teams should be able to consistently use all three hits in a volley, be comfortable playing in a 4-2 rotation format, controlled passing abilities to the location of the setter, and have good knowledge of the rules. Officials will officiate at a moderate level for lifts, carrier, throws, and catches. We will try to honor all team requests but team rosters must consist of 8 registered players to secure a whole team. Teams with less than 8 players may be filled with individual sign-ups. Teams with less than 8 players, that do not want additional players added to their team must pay for the remaining available spots. League director and refs may make recommendations as to level of play for individuals or teams. Note: Tuesday Recreational and Intermediate Leagues may be combined if there are not enough teams/players registered for each level

Tuesday Co-ed Adult Recreational – Teams consist of 6-8 players per team based on sign-ups. All participants must be a minimum of 18 years of age. This level is geared toward individuals that are trying to learn the game, have minimum to no prior league experience, or trying to improve on basic level skills and are looking for a less competitive environment. Players are learning or developing their bump, set, and spiking skills, gaining experience in using all three hits in a volley, learning how to play in a 4-2 format and the rules of the game. Officials will be generous on calls but obvious lifts and carries will be called. We will try to honor all team requests but team rosters must consist of 8 registered players to secure a whole team. Teams with less than 8 players may be filled with individual sign-ups. Teams with less than 8 players, that do not want additional players added to their team must pay for the remaining available spots. League director and refs may make recommendations as to level of play for individuals or teams. Note: Tuesday Recreational and Intermediate Leagues may be combined if there are not enough teams/players registered for each level

Friday Co-ed Competitive Advanced– Co-ed Adult Competitive Teams, team sign-ups only. All participants must be a minimum of 18 years of age. All players should have prior league experience, comfortable playing in various rotational formats (i.e. 5-1, 4-2), and have a thorough understanding of the rules. Initial Rosters of players must be submitted to the referee or league director by the end of the 2^nd night of league play. Any player that has played a game must be declared on a team roster. Rosters can contain up to a max of 12 players including subs. Finalized rosters with subs must be submitted to the league director by week 5. Players must have played at least 50% of regular season games in order to be eligible for post season play. Exceptions for player eligibility due to injury or other extenuating circumstances will be at the discretion of the league director. Individual players interested in playing on this night can request to be put on an “Available Player List” that team captains can select from to add to their teams. Individual player selection is at the discretion of the team captains. Please contact the league director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., if you would like to be added to the “Available Player List.”Players should have a thorough understanding of all rules, and the ability to play at a Highly Competitive level. Sets will be tightly officiated to facilitate a safe, fair, fast paced & highly competitive match allowing accomplished players to deomonstrate the spectacular elements of the game.

** Questions on format or level of play can be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

General Info

Each session contains minimum of 10 weeks of regular season play with no bye weeks, 3 Sets per night, 30 Sets total. Semifinals and finals are best-of-5 Sets. Top 4 teams with the best win-loss record and point differential (GD) will determine the tie-breaker to make it to the playoffs. Playoffs will be best of 5 Sets, the first 4 Sets will be played to 25, with a cap at 27. If a 5^th set is needed, the set is played to 15 points, cap at 17. There must be a minimum of four teams to run a league.

No matches on major holidays.

Game Format 

1. Monday and Tuesday night: At least one player of the opposite sex must be on the court at all times.
2. Friday Night: At least 2 women should be on the court at all times. In the event that only one female is present, the team must play with the female gender rule (i.e. if three touches, one must be by a female)
3. Teams must have at least four players on the court at game time to prevent a forfeit.
4. Two 30 sec time-outs are given per game

Monday and Tuesday Night Sub rules:

Monday and Tuesday night teams are permitted to use substitute player(s) in the following situations: 

1. To achieve a total number of players of 4 or 5, but not 6;
2. To achieve a legal team (minimum 1 male & 1 female player on the court);

Teams that use substiture player(s) must abide by the following rules:

1. A team’s substitute player(s) must be chosen from those players already participating in the current Monday or Tuesday night’s league;
2. A team cannot select a substitute player(s) from the team they are scheduled to play that evening;
3. Substitute players must replace a same gender player.
4. The team is responsible for seeking out substitute players and only requires that player’s concurrence.

Teams that use substitute player(s) must abide by the following rules:

General League Guidelines 

1. Have FUN and encourage other to have fun!
2. Rally point to 25, win by 2, cap at 27
3. Players must be on the court ready to play at the start of the scheduled game time. Warm-ups are to be done prior to the scheduled playing time on the secondary court. Sets are forfeited at 5 minute intervals.
4. There is no gender rule for Monday or Tuesday night league (i.e. if three touches one must be by a female). The gender rule is in effect in certain conditions on Friday night only.
5. Double rotation on side out will be allowed only in the situation where it is needed to maintain a legal line-up on the court (i.e. maintaining at least one of each sex on the court at all times)
6. Referee has final word on all calls and may eject a player after 1 warning
7. General NHFS rules will be followed:Any unsportsman like conduct would be a cause for a warning. ANY use of threats or violence will not be tolerated and are grounds for immediate expulsion from the league without prior warning or sanction.
   1. Double contact is permitted when receiving any first ball over the net
   2. Blocking or attacking the serve is not allowed
   3. Ball may contact any part of the body and still be played
   4. Player must never step on another court – even if playing or chasing a ball.
   5. When a ball enters a playing court, play is halted and the point is replayed
   6. Players may not contact any part of the net. Players may touch the pole, guidelines, or net outside of the “crossing space”.
   7. Players may touch, but not go over, the center line at any time
   8. No Libero
9. Players are expected to play with sportsmanship at all times, call yourself on net touches and assist the referee with line calls. The Referee has FINAL say on all calls. 

*** Rules are subject change at any time at the discretion of the league director. Players will be notified of any changes that are made.