National Governing Body: United States Volleyball Association (USVBA)   www.usavolleyball.org  Venue Coordinator: Katie Bering  Venue Assistants: Jeffrey Stevens, Catherine Dewling, Tiffany Allard  Technical Delegate: Jeff Keyser  Location: Team - Jake Nevin Fieldhouse, St. Mary's Gymnasium, the Pavilion;                  Individual Skills - Alumni Hall Gymnasium                  Campus Map

Events

• Team Competition
• Individual Skills Competition
  • This is an entry-level event.  Athletes entered in this event may not participate in other events.  They may, however, be listed as alternates for team competition.

Attire

Awards

Facilities

Modified Servers

Rules — Download the Special Olympics Official Volleyball Rules

1. Individual skills athletes may not participate in team competition unless they are listed as a team alternate and then activated before the competition.  If they are activated to team competition, they cannot participate in the individual skills competition.

1. Any team has the option of using a Libero player.  This player must be listed on the roster.           

   a.   You may only have one (1) Libero player per tournament.

2. The Libero player must wear a uniform of a different and contrasting color than the rest of the team.
3. The Libero may replace a player in the back row position.  The Libero may not serve, block, or attempt to block or attack when the ball is higher than the net.  The Libero may not come into the front zone. 
4. When the Libero replaces a player in the back zone, it is not counted as a substitution. 
5. These replacements are unlimited.  Only the players whom he/she replaced may replace the Libero.     

1. A served ball touching the net shall remain in play and the receiving team has three plays to return the ball to the opponents. 
2. All teams must serve within designated areas. (If service area does not have a minimum of a three-foot perimeter, then one step past the designated service line is permissible.)
3. There will be no modified servers for the highest division competition.
4. In the lowest division, there will be a maximum three-side out serving format.

1. Each team may have a maximum of 12 substitutions per game (except for the Libero).

1. The roster size may not exceed 10 players for this competition. 
2. Divisions will be based upon the team skills assessment scores, prior competition, and preliminary round of play.  Top players must start each preliminary or classification game on Friday.  What is divisioning?
3. After divisions are selected, round-robin tournament play will be used for divisions of three or more teams.  If there are only two teams, a best of three series will determine the outcome.
4. Final competition will be conducted as follows:

   a)   Rally Scoring shall be used.  When the serving team wins a rally, it scores a point and continues to serve. If the receiving team wins the rally, it scores a point and gains the right to serve. A game is won by the team which first scores 25 points with a minimum lead of two points.

   b)   The first team receiving shall rotate upon the first side out.

   c)    A match is won by the team that wins the best of three games.

   d)    If there is a tie, the deciding (third) game is played as a tiebreaker with rally point scoring procedures to 15 points.

   e)    A 45-minute time limit will be used for all matches.

5. The process to be used to break a tied record for the tournament for teams involved in the tie   only will be as follows:

   a)  Head to head competition (for a two-way tie)

   b)  Point differential (all games for the teams tied within pool play)

   c)  Least points scored against (all games for the teams tied within pool play)

   d)  Tie

6. If time permits, medal rounds will be played to determine the final standings.  In medal round competition, the following format will be used:

   a)   A one-game playoff match will be played and won by the team that scores 15 or more points.

   b)  Teams change sides when one team has scored eight points.

Tentative Schedule of Events

Sports Rules Committee (per respective venue)

• Venue Coordinator: Katie Bering (All Venues including St. Mary's), Jeffrey Stevens (Jake Nevin), Catherine Dewling (Pavilion), Tiffany Allard (Individual Skills)
• SOPA Sport Director: Jeff Keyser
• Head Coach: TBA
• Alt. Head Coach: TBA