Volleyball Rules

• All players and guests of Sandbox enter our complex at their own risk.
• Adults are responsible for minors in their group.
• Outside food and drinks are prohibited. If you bring a reuseable water bottle/cup, it needs to be empty and can be filled once entering the facility.
• You must be 18 to play volleyball at Sandbox. Exceptions to this rule may be granted by management. Teams must contact the Sports Coordinator at leaguemanager@sandboxkc.com for approval.
• You must be 21 or older to be at Sandbox after 10:00 pm.
• We do not allow smoking within the complex, even if you are in an outside area. There are designated smoking areas outside the facility. Vaping inside the complex is allowed, but not inside the building.
• Marijuana or illegal drug use is strictly prohibited at Sandbox.

Minors at Sandbox

• Children need to be supervised by an adult who is not playing at all times.
• Children need to be by your team’s table. Do not let them run loose.
• There is no digging in the sand allowed on or near the volleyball courts.
• Children need to stay away from the volleyball courts. The best place for them to be during games is at your team’s table.
• Children should not use any water hoses or water jugs for play.

Game Callenations/Rainouts

• Leagues are subject to weather and holidays. In the event of inclement weather, we reserve the right to delay or cancel any matches. We will do our best to keep our social media pages and website up to date as conditions change. An email will also be sent out if games are canceled or delayed (ensure we have a valid email address for you).  If league play has to be canceled, we will make every effort to reschedule matches, but it may not always be possible.
• If your team is not going to be able to make it to your game you need to contact us ASAP so that we can attempt to find a replacement team and or inform your opponent before they arrive at Sandbox. You can reach our Sports Coordinator at leaguemanager@sandboxkc.com. Please include your team’s name, day, and time of your league.
  • While we understand things come up, your team’s attendance affects others. We reserve the right to remove your team from the league if multiple matches are missed, with no refund. We highly recommend your team find subs to play. To assist teams in finding subs, we have a Facebook group called Sand Volleyball at Sandbox KC.

Matches and Game Time

• Each match consists of three sets to 21 points with rally scoring. Team must win by two points. Cap at 25 points.
• If third game is not completed by the time the hour is up, the score is reported as is. If it is tied, then the next point wins.
• If you win/lose the first two sets you should still play the third one. All games matter.
• Matches are exactly one hour (60 minutes) and may be forfeited 15 minutes after the scheduled match tiem.

Officiating

• Matches are self-officiated. If a dispute persists, please notify the league manager.
• Players are expected to call their own teams’ faults. (Net violations, lifts, throws, etc.)
• Any dispute should result in the point being replayed unless the infraction is pointed out in the rules.
• If disputes persist, please notify the league manager.
• Sandbox strives to provide a fun and clean competition environment. Any and all physical or verbal abuse, intimidation, audible cursing, fighting, or other physical contact are strictly prohibited and risks temporary or permanent eviction with no refund.

Court and Antennas

• Boundary lines consist of two end lines and sidelines.
• A ball is considered in if it lands within the boundary line or makes contact with any part of the boundary line.
• A ball is considered out if it makes contact with the ground outside the boundary line.
• A ball is considered out if it touches the antenna at any time during the play.
• A ball is considered out if it passes on the outside of the antenna on its way over the net, even if the ball lands within the boundary line.
• A ball is considered out if it passes directly over the antenna during play.

Serving

• Ball may be served overhand or underhand. It cannot be kicked.
• Any serve that touches the net when it goes over is valid and playable unless it lands outside of the boundaries.
• The server may serve from anywhere within the service zone. At the moment of service contact or take-off for a jump serve, the server is not allowed to touch the court, the end boundary line included. If the server steps on or over the end boundary line, it is considered a fault and the point and serve goes to the opposing team.
• In the Rec & Beer leagues, the server must serve one underhand serve each series of three consecutive overhand serves, unless both captains/teams agree to waive the three-serve rule before the beginning of a match.
• Blocking or attacking a serve at the net is a violation and results in a point and possession for the serving team.
• Jump serves are not allowed in the Rec & Beer leagues.

Basic Violations

• Four hits.
• Double contacts, unless it is the first hit when defending a spiked or served ball. (A player may not hit the ball twice in succession).
• Stepping on, over, or under the line on a serve.
• Failure to serve the ball over the net successfully (serving it into the net, or out of bounds).
• Serving out of service order or being in the wrong rotation when the serve occurs.
• Hitting the ball illegally (carrying, palming – lifting the ball with an open palm, throwing, etc.)
• Touching the net with any part of your body while the ball is in play unless the net is pushed into you.
• Stepping or reaching under the net if it interferes with opposing players.
• A player may not go into another court to make a play on a ball.
• Blocking or attacking a serve at the net. No person in the front row can receive and return a serve with a hit above the shoulders unless the ball is completely below the top of the net when contact is made.

The Game

• First set service is determined by a volley or by rock, paper, scissors. The winning team will serve the first set and the other team will serve first in the second set. In the third set, the serving team is determined by who lost the 2nd set.
• Each team is entitled to a maximum of three hits to return the ball to the opponents.
• Blocking does not count as one of the team’s 3 hits and any player may make the first contact of the ball after the block, including the blocker.
• If two opposing opponents contact the ball at the same time over the net (a joust), the ball remains in play and the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three contacts. If the ball lands out of bounds, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side of the net from where the ball lands.
• While blocking, a player may touch the ball beyond the plane of the net, provided that that player does not interfere with the opponent’s play before the attack.
• A player may not hit the ball twice in succession (a block does not constitute a hit).
• If two or more non-blocking teammates contact the ball simultaneously, it is considered one contact and the players involved may participate in the next contact.
• In coed, a female must contact the ball at least once if more than one contact is made.
• A ball may be played off the net.
• When a ball is driven into the net causing the net to contact a player on the opposite team, no net fault is committed.
• No throws, catches, lifts or carries are allowed. A slight double hit by hands or fingers is allowed when defending a hard-driven ball, such as a spike or serve, and only counts as one contact.
• Teams change sides of the court after each set.
• Wind Rule: if high winds play a factor in the game, teams will change sides on the 3rd set at 11 if playing to 21 or 8 if playing to 15.
• Captains are responsible for reporting scores.

6s Leagues:

• Teams may play with no less than 4 players.
  • We highly recommend your team find subs to play to avoid this, we have a Facebook group called Sand Volleyball at Sandbox KC to help teams find subs.
• A team intentionally playing quads vs. 6’s may only compete at the intermediate level and must adhere to all 6’s rules.
• In coed play, teams with two more men than women will forfeit the game. For instance, 3 males and 2 females are allowed, but having 4 males and 2 females is not.
  • *NEW for 2025* A team with 3 men and 2 women should follow the”ghost rule,” which requires them to leave an open spot in the rotation for the missing female player. This prevents creating an unfair advantage, such as having two males in the front row for additional rotations. When the “ghost” player comes up in the service rotation, it will be considered a missed serve, resulting in a point for the opposing team and the next serve awarded to them.
• Teams will rotate clockwise each time they win the serve.
• All players must remain in the service order. Once the ball is contacted on the serve, players may switch positions on the court.  
• Service order does not need to be alternating men and women, although that is most common.
• In 6-person leagues, any hit above the net by a back-row player must occur behind the 10-foot line. A back-row player cannot block an opponent’s attack at the net. The player’s row is defined by the position that they started in before the serve.
• Girl Rule: if more than one person on your team hits the ball, one of them must be a female before it goes over the net. The order of contact doesn’t matter. *Reminder a block does not count as a hit, so a male can partially block a ball and then another male teammate can send it over the net.
• An unlimited number of rotations may occur, if teams have a new player rotating in, they need to do so in the middle back position. (male for male, female for female)

Beer League

• Beer League is considered an open league meaning there is no female-to-male ratio requirement.
• No girl rule is used.
• The server must serve one underhand serve after each series of 3 consecutive overhand serves.

Quads and Doubles Leagues

• Teams may play with 2 or 3 players without incurring a forfeit.
• Players do not need to rotate positions, the players are free to position themselves anywhere on the court; however, teams must maintain the same service order throughout the set.
• No open hand tipping. The ball cannot be played off of a player’s fingertips. It is ok to use almost every other part of the hand ex. knuckles
• Lifting, throwing, or double hits are a violation.
• When setting the ball over to the opponent’s side, the player’s shoulders must be square with the net and the ball must travel/land in line with the setter’s shoulders (forward or backward). No side setting over the net.
• There is no girl rule in quads or doubles
• For co-ed games teams may not have more guys than girls on the court at any given time unless they are playing with only 3 players. 2 guys and a girl is permitted in this case.
• For OPEN leagues there may be any combination of men and women on the court.
• Doubles Only: no open hand serve receive using fingers. Hands must be together as one unless passing a hard hit.