1. General League Information

• A team must have a minimum of 6 players on the roster.
  • A minimum of 1 female is required on the court at all times.
• In case of severe weather, official word about cancellation will be emailed/texted between 4:00 pm & 5:00 pm
• Teams must use the designated balls provided by OSSO

2. Pregame

• At least 4 players must be present to begin a match including 1 female. Only players on your team roster may play with your team for a game to count! 
• Roster checks may be enforced at any time 
  • if your team is playing with a sub, your game will be an automatic forfeit. 
  • You are allowed to still play the game and enjoy the court for your allotted time slot, but it will count as a loss in your overall standings!
• If a team is more than 10 minutes late that team will forfeit that game (all 3 sets), but may still play in their allotted time slot for fun (and may have to buy beers for the other team)
• Captains or designated players of each team will rock/paper/scissors to decide which team serves first.
• All players must be wearing their designated OSSO team uniform.

3. Scoring and Match rules

• Each match will be the best of 3 sets (21 / 21 / 15)
  • Must be won by 2 points
  • Cap of 25 / 25 / 19
• Rally scoring will be used. 
  • A point is earned each time the ball touches the ground.
• All games are self-reffed, and scores will be kept by the competing teams. 
• Teams will report their scores to the League Coordinators or they will be recorded as a 1-1 draw.
• Games are scheduled for 40 minute time slots, please be considerate of everyone's time.
  • Warm up before your game time
  • Be ready to start your game as soon as the court is available. 

4. Game Play Rules

• HAVE FUN!!!
• No more than 3 hits before returning the ball to the other side of the court. 
• When it's 2 hits or less and over, any combination of players may hit the ball.
  • In any 3-hit combination, at least one female player must touch the ball, or a point will be awarded to the other team. 
• Blocking or attacking the serve is not allowed.
  • Attacking the serve is when on the first contact from a serve, a player's feet leave the ground and they use one or two hands above their shoulders to hit the ball at a downward driven angle back over the net.
• Breaking the plane of the net is not allowed unless blocking.
  • Players may not reach over the net into the opponent’s side unless they are actively blocking an attack at the net.
• Lifts will be allowed unless deemed excessive.
  • A lift is when the ball sits in your hands for too long, almost as if you caught it.
  • Don’t catch it and throw it.
• A player may not touch the ball 2 consecutive times.
  • A block does not count as a touch.
• If the ball touches the out of bounds line it is considered in.
  • If teams can not agree where the ball landed/touched you will replay that point. 
• When the ball is returned, it must stay between the antennas.
• An incidental or minor touch of the net will not be called, unless deemed excessive.
  • Full arm and/or chest would be considered excessive. 
• Interfering with players under the net is not allowed. 
  • Landing under the net without interfering with another player is okay.
• Teams must rotate servers. 
  • All players on the court must serve in rotation.
  • When your team wins a point while the other team is serving, your team gains the serve and the next player in your serving order serves.
• Throughout the course of the match should any disagreements regarding a play arise, teams will agree to replay the point.
• Teams will rotate their players in and out of the game in a set order as each player must serve and get equal playing time. 
  • During player rotation, one player exits the court as one player enters.

5. OSSO Code of Conduct

• Lighthearted trash talking is permitted.
• Players who instigate and / or use personal profanity, such as "F*** You" will receive a warning.
  • A second event with the same player(s) will result in an ejection for those involved.
    • Repeat offenses by the same player(s) will result in a suspension. 
    • The duration of the suspension will be determined on a case by case basis depending on the severity of the incident.
• Racial slurs, hate speech, or discriminatory language of any kind will result in immediate ejection, complete suspension, and removal from the league.
  • Individuals who engage in this behavior are not welcome back.
  • This applies to players, spectators, and anyone involved with the game.
• Any act of physical violence - including fighting, shoving, or intentional aggression - will result in immediate ejection, complete suspension, and removal from the league.
  • Individuals who engage in this behavior are not welcome back.
  • This applies to players, spectators, and anyone involved with the game.
• If there is a dispute about a score or a rule, a Captain may ask for a meeting with the opposing Captain and the League Coordinator/Official to discuss the dispute. 
  • If a judgement call goes in your team's favor when it shouldn't have, your Captain CAN and SHOULD speak up to the correct call. 
• A player(s) arguing with or being disrespectful to the officials will receive a warning.
  • A second event with the same player(s) will result in an ejection for those involved.
    • Repeat offenses by the same player(s) will result in a suspension. 
    • The duration of the suspension will be determined on a case by case basis depending on the severity of the incident.
• Remember that we are a SOCIAL SPORTS LEAGUE that values FUN and COMMUNITY above all else.
  • As a result, we must acknowledge that we are all imperfect people playing an imperfect game, and that wrong calls will inevitably be made.
  • These errors should be accepted with grace.
• Our goal is to create a FUN and INCLUSIVE environment for ALL players while always striving for fairness.