Rules of Play

Scoring:
All games are rally scoring: where points can be won by the serving or receiving team.
Refereeing:

All games are refereed by the teams playing; players are asked to commit to the honor system when calling shots. If disagreement arises, the point is to be replayed. If there are continuous problems, please inform the Muddy Sunday Bracket Table and a Muddy Sunday referee will be assigned. Please remember the point of the day is to raise money for Habitat and have some fun!

Rules:

Regular volleyball rules apply with some MUDDY exceptions. All players and especially captains should know the rules below by the day of the event:

  1. Shoes: must be worn at all times (bring duct tape to keep them on). No sandals!
  2. Time Rules: As noted in the Information section of the website, the Round Robin Games are to last no longer than 30 minutes. At the 29 minute mark, a horn/bell will indicate that only 3 more points are left to be played. If the horn/bell occurs in the middle of the point, that point is finished and then the next 3 points are the last points of the game. No exceptions- do NOT have to win by 2.
    Note: There will be no time rules applied to the single elimination games; however, if running behind schedule, the tournament director reserves the right to place a time restriction on a match at any juncture of the match and at any given court to ensure the steady flow of the tournament.
  3. Absent Team Rule: Each round of the tournament will begin with an announcement/bell and since the games are timed, teams that are absent will be penalized: (1) For a round robin game, the absent team loses 3 points every minute they are not present. If the team is not present after 5 minutes, they automatically forfeit. (2) For a single elimination round, the absent team will lose 3 points every minute they are not present and forfeit the first game after 5 minutes. Then there is a 5 minute grace period. Then, the same penalization is applied to the second game. Thus, after 15 minutes, the absent team forfeits the entire match.
    Note: The present team must notify their court monitor (located at easy to identify stations) as soon as they realize their opposing team is absent from the court. Time is kept at the court by the court monitor.
  4. Out of Play Ball: Players are not allowed to cross the back court line to play any ball (crossing the side court lines is permitted). This rule has been created for the safety of all Muddy Sunday players.
  5. Time-outs: In round robin games, 30 second time-outs are only allowed to be called by a team that is losing. In single elimination games, each team is allowed one 30-second timeout per each single-elimination game and can be called at any time.
  6. Injuries: Each team is allowed as many two-minute injury time outs as necessary. If participant is unable to continue after two minutes, they must be replaced. He / She may not reenter for the remainder of that game.
  7. The serve: The ball must be served in the back corner of the court, just inside the boundary lines. If the serve hits the net as it is going over the net, it is still in play. No adding extra mud to the ball before serving.
  8. # of Players: Each team must have a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8 players, of which at least 2 must be women. The only exception to the “2 women on the court at all times” rule is in the situation that one woman gets injured and must sit out and there are no female subs to take her place. Then the team continues with 7 players (6 male, 1 female) but cannot play with just 6 male players.
  9. General Rules:
    • Holding or throwing the ball is a “carry”. The play must be a distinct batting of the ball.
    • Net rules: It is a foul for players to touch the net, to touch an opponent by reaching over or under the net, or to interfere with play on the opposite side.
    • Boundaries will be marked by lines. A ball landing on any part of the line is considered "in”.
    • If a ball touches a player or a player touches a ball he/she is considered as having played the ball.
    • The ball may be touched only three times on a side and a player must not touch it twice in succession. A block is not considered a touch.
    • Players may shift positions after the ball is served.
    • Paper, rock, scissors to decide who gets to pick serve or side. In single elimination rounds, paper-rock-scissors will be used in the FIRST GAME ONLY; teams will alternate courts and serve next two games.
  10. The Muddy Sunday tournament director can alter rules at his discretion.