Co-Ed 6's Sand Volleyball League Rules
ACES Co-Ed 6’s Sand Volleyball Rules
Teams
You can sign up individually or as a team. Individuals will be placed on a team of 6, with requests to pair with a friend honored when possible.
Teams consist of a minimum of 6 players and a maximum of 9 players.
A team must have at least 5 players on the court at all times (including at least 2 female players) — otherwise it is a forfeit.
At least 4 rostered players are required to play a match.
Exception: If only 3 rostered players are present, the match can still be played officially as long as the team adds up to 2 substitutes (meeting gender requirements) to reach the 5-player minimum.
Subs may never increase a team’s lineup above 6 if fewer than 4 rostered players are present.
Subs need to remain in the game throughout the match, they may not be replaced by another sub during the match.
League jerseys should be worn every week, and required Week 1 and Playoffs to show team support, social media videos, and sponsor appreciation.
First set is considered a loss after 10 minutes late; full forfeit after 15 minutes.
Division Rules
All teams play under the same rule set (rec/social & intermediate combined).
Open-hand receive is allowed.
Open-hand dinks are allowed.
Doubles will not be called on hand-sets.
Players must be squared (shoulders/feet facing forward or backward) when pushing a ball over the net.
Fingertip redirection is allowed.
Scoring & Matches
Rally scoring is used (every rally = a point).
Matches are best 2 of 3 sets:
Sets 1 & 2: to 25, win by 2, cap at 27.
Set 3: to 15, win by 2, cap at 17. Switch sides at 8.
Same player may not contact the ball twice in a row unless the first was a block.
Lines are in.
Net contact = loss of point.
Player Rotation
Teams must rotate (clockwise) whenever they win serve back.
All players must serve in correct rotation order. Wrong server = point and serve to opponent.
Back-row rule: a back-row player cannot attack the ball within 3–4 feet of the net (referee judgment, since there’s no line). Essentially can’t be near the net when hitting.
Serving
Rock–paper–scissors (best of 3) decides first serve/side.
One serve attempt only. If you drop the ball without swinging, you may re-toss one more time. Once you swing, the serve counts — no second attempt.
Kick serves are not allowed.
Overhand, underhand, and jump serves are allowed.
The server must remain completely behind the end line until contact is made. Stepping on or over the line before contact is a foot fault and results in a loss of serve/point.
Ball may touch the net and remain in play on a serve.
Blocking & Net
Definition of a block: making contact with the ball close to the net and above the plane of the net.
A block does not count as a team hit (3 contacts remain).
Cannot block a serve.
No reaching over until the attacker makes contact with the ball.
Double-block counts as one team hit.
If net contact is caused by ball rebound, it is not a violation.
Timeouts
Each team is allowed one timeout per set for up to 45 seconds.
Violations
All referee decisions are final. Disputed calls → replay encouraged.
Only the team captain may speak with the referee regarding calls. Players should not all argue.
Illegal hits include lifts, carrying, scooping, or throwing.
A player may cross under the net, provided it does not interfere with the opponents’ play. Any contact or action that hinders the opponents’ ability to make a play on the ball will be ruled a fault.
Players must show sportsmanship — no arguing, disrespect, or unsportsmanlike conduct.
Playoffs & Rosters
Each team must update its official roster halfway through the season. Only those listed are eligible for playoffs.
To qualify for playoffs, players must have played in at least 2 matches during the season. The exception is if they are fully paid and listed on the roster. Rosters may be checked during playoffs.
Only 1 sub not on the original roster is allowed in playoffs, and must be approved by ACES. You may also pick-up a second player from the losing team during playoffs. Please also email us at info@acesintexas.com for any sub requests to get approved.
Refereeing
Teams will be assigned 3–5 matches per season to referee. Responsibilities can be shared.
All refs must know these rules before officiating.
Scheduling
Season length: 6 weeks + playoffs (7 total).
Weather updates posted by 4 PM (email + Facebook). If not posted, games are assumed ON.
Be on time; 5-minute warmup unless schedule is behind.
