Regular season matches consist of three games played to 21 points (cap 23). Each game counts separately in the standings, so all three games will be played regardless of the outcome of the first two. Rally scoring is used, meaning that a point is awarded after each rally.

All matches have an allotted amount of time of one hour or less to play all three games (dependent on location or facility). Warm-up time is included within this time slot, so be sure to warm up as much as possible before the actual start time. If, prior to the third game, the official decides that time won’t allow for a complete third game, the official may inform the teams that the game will be played to 15 or less.

Playoff games are played best two out of three games to (21-21-15) points without a cap. Once again, refs have the right to decide on how many points can be played in the final game.

The official will call both captains to the net at the beginning of the game to clarify any court rules and conduct a coin flip. The winning team can choose to serve, receive, or pick a side to play on. The losing team then picks the remaining choice. Prior to the second game, teams will switch sides and the serving team from game one will receive and vice versa. Prior to the third game, teams will switch sides again, returning to the original serving team. For time saving purposes, no coin flip will be conducted before the third game.

Teams will have to agree on the ball being used for play. If teams agree, any ball is fine. If they don't, we fall back on a Players ball.

• Coed 6’s: Each team consists of six players on the court at a time, with a maximum of three males on the court at a time. A team may play with a minimum of four players and a minimum of two females. If a team has fewer than these minimums, the game will be forfeited.
• Coed 4’s: Each team consists of four players on the court at a time, with a maximum of two males on the court at a time. A team may play with a minimum of three players and a minimum of one female. If a team has fewer than these minimums, the game will be forfeited.
• Men’s & Women’s 4’s: Each team consists of four players on the court at a time. A team may play with a minimum of three players. If a team has fewer than three players, the game will be forfeited.

• Whenever Players Sports Group rules don’t address an issue, USA Volleyball rules will be used as a default set of rules. Click here for the USA Volleyball Rulebook.
• Each team has one timeout per game that they may choose to use (thirty seconds in length).
• Let serves (serves that contact the net and then cross to the receiving side) count as legal serves.
• A double contact by the same player while making one attempt to play the ball is allowed on the first contact on a side. This applies each time the ball crosses the net to the other side.
• There are no male/female attacking rules in coed leagues.
• A block does not count as one of a team’s three contacts.
• A player may not block a serve or attack a serve above the plane of the net.
• No player may touch the net during a play, unless the ball or an opposing player causes the contact with the net. Player contact with the net in a manner not directly relating to or affecting the course of play is NOT a violation.
• Players may reach over the net to block any attack or attempt to play the ball over the net. Other contacts can be played only once they cross into the plane of the net.
• If games are being played on adjacent courts, players may not cross into another court. If a player crosses into an adjacent court either before, during, or after playing a ball, he or she will be called out of bounds with the point awarded to the other team.
• Subbing is allowed in between points. All subs must be made in a consistent manner throughout a game. Traditional subbing rules will not be followed, as long as the team does not gain an unfair advantage from a type of substitution. The official will determine what forms of subbing are acceptable.
• Officials will call to the level of play, meaning that matches will be called more tightly in “A” and “BB” leagues than in “B” and “Rec” leagues.
• Officials will look for and call the following faults:
  Carry/LiftDouble Contact4 ContactsFoot Fault (on serve)Out of BoundsBack Row AttackNet ViolationCenter Line ViolationOver the Net (Roofing)
• Officials can issue yellow and/or red cards at their discretion. Players Sports Group reserves the right to suspend any player receiving a red card.
• For Coed 6’s, a Libero is NOT allowed in Players Sports Group leagues/tournaments.

Teams will forfeit one game every ten minutes past the designated start time that they do not have the legal amount of players. If ZERO players from a team are present after fifteen minutes, the team will forfeit all three games. All teams consenting to play a legal game with their opponents having less than the allowed minimum waive their right to a forfeit win.

Teams are allowed to pick up players during the regular season in order to field a full team. Substitutes from other teams will not be allowed during playoffs.

PROTESTS: There are no protests once a match begins. All issues of player eligibility must be addressed with the official before the match starts.

If your team forfeits a match during the season, the following rules apply:

If you know in advance that your team will be forfeiting a match, we encourage you to call our office (773.528.1999) so we can let your opponent know that you won’t be showing up.

In order to participate in the league, each participant must sign the team waiver. Waivers are provided and must be completed and handed in no later than the second night of play. Players not present the first week of play will still be required to sign a waiver with our staff before participating. Players must play in a minimum of one regular season game to be eligible for playoffs.

All teams make the playoffs. Teams will be seeded based on the following criteria:

1. Game record is used to determine place in standings and will be used to determine playoff seeding.
2. If two teams are tied in game record:
   1. Head to head result(s) (matches first, then games)
   2. Least number of forfeits
   3. Overall match record
   4. Combined winning % of opponents
   5. Earliest sign up date/time
3. If three or more teams are tied in game record:
   1. Head to head game record versus all tied teams
   2. Head to head match record versus all tied teams
   3. Least number of forfeits
   4. Combined winning % of opponents
   5. Earliest sign up date/time

All leagues that have 12 or more teams will be split into a Flight A & Flight B Playoff Bracket. At the end of the season all captains are responsible for confirming their team’s end of season team record. Once playoff brackets are posted and playoff games are played the tournament seeding will not be changed. If there is an incorrect score posted for your team, the captain is responsible for notifying the league office prior to the playoffs being played.

Being competitive on the field is applauded & encouraged in all of our leagues! It is also important to understand that there is a fine line between being competitive & being unsportsmanlike. All players and referees should treat one another with respect on the field & after the game. Everyone has to go to work tomorrow, so please keep safety & sportsmanship in mind out there!

Every individual participating in a Players Sport & Social Group program may compete as a member of the gender that they identify with, regardless of their gender at birth. We expect all players to be respectful and honor the spirit of this policy. We are LGBTQIA+ friendly (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and other sexualities and gender identities/expressions).

We have found that open communication between teams is super helpful. If there is a situation that may raise some questions from opposing teams, captains are encouraged to have a quick conversation with our umpire/official before the game to ensure everyone is on the same page. At the end of the day, inclusivity is key.