Sand Volleyball Rules

Governing Rules

The rules of USA Volleyball will apply in all cases except where a special Oregon State University Intramurals rule applies.

Eligibility

All participants must be either students registered at Oregon State University or Faculty/Staff/Affiliate with a Recreational Sports Membership. For more information on eligibility, consult the Intramurals Handbook. Only one club volleyball player per team is allowed.

Uniforms/Equipment

  • No jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc.) is allowed on the court at any time. Players must remove items immediately or leave the game. Appropriate athletic attire is required.
  • Participants must wear a shirt. Tank tops and cut-off T-shirts are acceptable. Athletic pants/shorts are also required.
  • No shoes that leave black or scuff marks, boots, or sandals are permitted on the court. Athletic, closed-toe shoes must be worn if play occurs indoors.
  • No braces, casts, guards, or supports that may cause other players harm are permitted.
  • Teams must provide their own game ball. Volleyballs may be checked out from Equipment Issue in the Dixon Recreation Center.

Pre-Event

  • All participants will need to bring their ID card to play.
  • Team managers need to check in with the supervisor on duty before each game.

Event Structure

  • Game time listed on the schedule is the official game time.
  • You must have two (2) players on the court ready for play at game time; otherwise a forfeit will be awarded to the opposing team.
  • Scoring will be rally scoring throughout the whole game (a point is scored no matter which team is serving).
  • Games will either be one (1) set to 21, or best of three (3) sets using the 21-21-15 format.
  • Court switches will occur every seven (7) points, except in third-set cases where it will be every five (5) points.

Beach Volleyball Specifics

  • One-handed placement or redirection of the ball with the fingers (an “open-hand tip”) is a fault. The ball must be hit cleanly with the hand, straight locked fingers, curled fingers, or a fist.
  • Contact with the net is a fault if contact is made during the action of playing the ball or if it interferes with play.
  • Players going under the net or entering the opponent’s side of play is a fault only if it interferes with the opponent’s play.
  • A player of the serving team must not prevent the opponent, through individual screening, from seeing the server and the flight path of the ball.
  • Each team is allowed one 30-second time-out per game.
  • Game over: At the completion of the game, each manager must sign the score sheets.

Serves

  • It is illegal to attack or block a serve.
  • A let serve is allowed (a serve that hits the net and goes over to the receiving side is a live ball).
  • It is legal to set or contact the ball with separated hands on the first contact after the serve, although the resulting contact must come out clean.

Setting

  • Any ball that is intentionally set into the opponent’s court must be contacted with two hands above the shoulders and set directly forward or backward in relation to the player’s body. An exception is granted if the set goes over either because of wind, or in an attempt to set a teammate (an “accidental set over”).
  • When determining a double contact, the ball must contact and be released at the same time with both hands.
  • Spin does not determine a double contact, but can be helpful in determining an occurrence.
  • When determining a lift or carry, the ball’s motion cannot stop and must stay continuous.
  • Sets may be brought low to the torso, but must not stop at the bottom for any amount of time.

Conduct

The Intramurals program promotes positive sportsmanship at all contests and activities. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes actions which are unbecoming to an ethical, fair, and honorable individual. It consists of acts of deceit, disrespect, or vulgarity and includes taunting.

Ejections

Any player ejected from a game will be immediately suspended from participating in all Intramurals activities. The ejected player must then make an appointment with the Coordinator of Intramurals and Sports Coordinator to determine the length of suspension and any other sanctions. The following actions can result in ejections from Intramurals Volleyball Doubles:

  • Improper language
  • Unsporting conduct

Contact: Sports and Special Programs Office, (541) 737-4083, 111 Dixon Recreation Center
Revised: 4/2/2025