WALLYBALL RULES                                                  revised 10.10.04             

BASICS:

1.) NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Each team shall be composed of two (2), three (3) or four (4) persons.  Each team shall be allowed one substitute or alternate player on the court at any time.  When a team has been reduced to less than the allotted number of players, a substitution may be called, the game may be forfeited or the game may continue with remaining players, i.e. two (2) against three (3), three (3) against four (4) (must continue to play by 4 person rules).

2.) OUT OF BOUNDS: The ball shall be called out-of-bounds whenever it hits the ceiling, back wall on the opponent’s side or two or more walls consecutively on a serve, volley or block.

3.) BACK WALL IN PLAY OR IN BOUNDS: The back wall is playable only on the side of the team that is returning the serve or volley, provided a player on that team touches the ball first.

4.) CEILING IN PLAY OR IN BOUNDS: The ceiling is in bounds only on the side of the team that is returning the serve or volley, provided a player on that team touches the ball first.

5.) PLAYING TWO OR MORE WALLS: Contacting two (2) or more walls with the ball are allowed only by the team in possession of the ball on their own side provided a player on that team touches the ball first.  If the ball crosses the net after contacting two (2) or more walls without making contact with a player, a side-out of serve will be called.

6.) FOUR-PERSON PLAY: In four (4) person play, the server on offense or defense cannot spike or block the ball, fake either one or even attempt either one. This means NEVER, not even behind a “10 foot” line. Doubles and (3) person play excepted.

7.) SERVICE: The service area is three feet from each end of the court.

8.) SCORING: Game ends at 15, 18 or 21 or 25 points.  Teams must win by 2 points with a cap being 2 points over the standard winning score. (For example: 25 equals a cap of 27, 21 equals a cap of 23).        

9.) Each team is allowed two 30-second time outs per game, to be called only by the captain. A five-minute injury time out can be awarded to the team with the injury by the referee.

10.) A coin toss will determine first service or choice of courtside. The second game service goes to the other team. The third game is decided by another coin toss.

11.) SUBSTITUTION: Each team is allowed two substitutions per game. A position of a substitute shall be that of the player replaced without change in service order.  Two substitutions per game are permitted.  Only in case of injury, can a player make a third entry substitute in a different position.  A substitution may only be made when the ball is dead and upon request of the playing caption.  Once the referee acknowledges a substitution, the substitute is required to report in proper uniform and stand ready to enter the court when directed by the referee.  A new substitution may not take place until play has resumed and the ball becomes dead or another time-out is called.

12.) TEAM OR PLAYER ASSISTANCE: Teammates shall not hold or assist one another while making a play.  It shall be legal for a player to hold a teammate not making a play on the ball in order to prevent a fault.

PLAYING THE BALL:

13.) CONTACTED BALL: Any player that makes contact with the ball shall be considered as having played the ball.

14.) Out of bounds: when a ball while crossing the net hits the ceiling, back wall of opponent’s side or two walls consecutively on service, volley or block.

15.) DEFLECTION THE BALL OFF THE BACK WALL: If a player contacts the ball in such manner that the ball deflects off the back wall on his side of the court and goes over the net, the ball shall be  considered good.

16.) THE BALL SPINNING INTO THE OPPONENT’S COURT AND RETURNING: A ball that spins off the net into an opponent’s court and subsequently returns to the team originally in possession of the ball shall be good, provided it occurred on the first or second contact by the team. If the ball spins off the net on the third hit allowed a team, a side-out will be called. Any team member other than the last player to hit the ball can participate in the second or third hit after a ball that is spinning, enters an opponent's court and returns.

17.) A ball crossing below the net across the vertical plane can be played back by your side if it is not over (3) three hits. 

18.) If the ball is only partly across the net, and the opponent hits it, it is good. If any part of the ball has crossed the vertical plane, a free ball is in effect and both teams are entitled to it.

19.) “Dinks” will not be considered a legal hit. A “dink” is defined usually as a one-hand hit in which the tips of the fingers are used to hit the ball to an area of the opponent’s court.

20.) MISHANDLED OR HELD BALL: A ball coming to rest momentarily in the hands, arms or any other area above the player's waist, or against the wall(s), shall be considered as having been held.  The ball must be hit in such a manner that it rebounds cleanly after contact with a player. Scooping, lifting, pushing or carrying the ball with one or two hands or arms either underhand or overhand, shall be considered to be a form of holding and is a fault, and a side-out or loss of serve will be called.

21.) Touching the net is not allowed by players unless the ball is driven into the net and the net hits the player.  If two opposing players touch the net simultaneously the point is replayed.

22.) THE BALL PASSING THROUGH THE NET OPENING: Since some nets may not extend the full width of the court, any ball passing through the net opening on the first or second hit of a volley will be replayed.  A ball passing through the net opening on the third hit or serve will be a side-out or point.

23.) SIMULTANEOUS CONTACT BY OPPONENTS: A double fault will be called and the point replayed when opposing players contact the net simultaneously.

24.) In the attack, the player must contact the ball before the ball has completely crossed over the net.

25.) Blocker's can reach over the net to block, providing the other team has made its third contact of the ball.  Players attempting a block may reach across the net, but shall not contact the ball until an opponent strikes the ball in an attempt to send it back into the opponent’s count. If an opponent’s set crosses the vertical plane of the net, it is considered a free ball and both teams are entitled to it.

26.) In returning the ball, a player may follow-through over the net provided he first makes contact with the ball on his side of the playing court. 

27.) The opponent cannot block the set, or spike a serve.  

28.) SIMULTANEOUS BODY CONTACT WITH THE BALL: Any part of the body including or above the waist can hit the ball simultaneously so long as the ball rebounds quickly after such contact.

29.) SIMULTANEOUS CONTACT WITH THE BALL BY BLOCKERS: A player who participates in a block and makes only one attempt to play the ball during the block, may make successive contact with the ball during such play even though it is not a hard driven spiked ball.  Players participating in a block may participate in the next play; this second contact shall count as the first of three (3) hits allowed a team.

30.) SUCCESSIVE CONTACT WITH THE BALL BY A PLAYER: A player shall not make successive contacts with the ball except when playing a hard driven spiked ball, provided there is no finger action used during the effort and the ball is not held or thrown.  Successive contact with the spiked ball shall count as one attempt to play the ball.  A hard driven spike can be played off the wall(s).

31.) A double fault shall be called and the point replayed when the players from opposing teams simultaneously hold the ball.  If holding is not called, play shall continue.  Which ever side of the net the ball falls after simultaneous holding, that team shall be allowed up to three (3) contacts with the ball.

32.) CROSSING THE CENTER LINE: A player may not cross over the center line at any time.  A player may step on, but cannot go over the center line.  If a player lands on the center line and intentionally interferes with an opponent, the referee shall declare a side-out or loss of service, depending on which team committed the fault

33.) SCREENING: No members of the serving team may block the server from 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 who deliberately switch their positions and block the server from the opposing team may be subject to penalty.

SERVICE:

34.) Service order must be kept prior to serving.

35.) LEGAL SERVICE: The player in the back position of the court shall put the ball in play by hitting it with one hand only or any part of the player’s arm in an attempt to send the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court.  The serve is good if the ball passes over the net without touching a member of the serving team or the net.  A served ball that hits a wall on either the serving team’s side or the receiving side is good provided the ball contacted does not contact two or more consecutive walls before being played or landing on the floor.

36.) PRELIMINARY SERVICE ACTION: Bouncing the ball prior to executing the serve is legal.  Tossing the ball and touching it before it drops to the floor is a service fault and side-out or point will be call by the referee.  The server has five (5) seconds after the referee calls the game score beckoning the server to release the ball and execute the serve.  Once the ball is tossed in the air, the ball shall be struck for service.  If the server catches the ball after being tossed, this action shall be counted as a faulted service and side-out will be called.  Guiding or directing or pushing the serve is illegal.  The serve must be cleanly struck.

37.) SERVING BEFORE THE REFEREE CALLS THE SCORE: A serve that is attempted before the referee calls the score shall be canceled and replayed. In the case where you are referee to your own game, this rule applies to the announcement of the score by the serving player.

38.) THE SERVICE LINE: When the ball is hit for service, no part of the server’s body can be in contact with the service line.  The server may step onto or over the service line after the serve has been executed.  The server’s body may be entirely in the air over the service line at the moment of service as long as the last contact with his body and the floor were within the legal serving area. In cases where there is no visible service line, a reasonable distinction may be made by either the referee (or the players in absence of a referee) to determine if arms length is applicable to specific players.

39.) ILLEGAL POSITION OF THE SERVER: The game shall stop immediately when the server has been discovered out of the designated serving order.  Any points earned while the server was in an illegal position shall be canceled and a side-out declared.  If the server is discovered out of the designated service order after a side-out is called, all points shall count. The team captains may request a verification of the service order from time to time. It is the responsibility of the playing captain to tell the referee if there is a player serving out of order.

40.) PLAYER POSITIONS AT SERVICE: All players, except the server, shall have both feet fully on the ground during the serve.  In four (4)-person play, players must be in their designated serving positions.  After the service players may move to an alternative offensive or defensive position.  In two (2) or three (3) person play, only service order (rotation) must be maintained.