Volleyball Rules and Procedures

_(2011-2012)

REGULAR SEASON:

A. Volleyball is organized on an Area basis with a state championship in four (4) classifications: AAAAA, AAAA, AAA, AA/A. Beginning and ending dates for practice and competition can be found at the front of this publication.

B. The National Federation Volleyball rules committee has given each state its option about the number of games that determine a match.

1. The GHSA will limit all matches to best-of-three except for championship matches in the Area Tournament and in all post-season play.

2. EXCEPTION: Non-area dual matches may use the best-of-five format on nights before a school day.

3. In non-area competitions that occur in a tournament or play-day format, the third set shall be played to fifteen (15) points.

C. Notification of entry in Volleyball must be filed in writing with the GHSA State Office no later than April 1, for the next school year. Schools will be assigned by the GHSA Executive Director to a geographic area for competition, and then will be notified of that assignment.

D. Playing dates:

1. Schools have four (4) options when scheduling playing dates:

(a) 15 playing dates with no invitational tournaments.

(b) 14 playing dates with one (1) invitational tournament.

(c) 13 playing dates with two (2) invitational tournaments.

(d) 12 playing dates with three (3) invitational tournaments.

2. An invitational tournament is defined as three (3) or more schools competing in a single or double elimination format that leads to a champion being declared. The use of pool play is acceptable.

3. The maximum number of days for an invitational tournament is two (2) days.

4. No school shall enter any tournament unless it has been approved by the GHSA Executive Director.

5. The Area and State playoffs are not counted as part of the allotted playing dates.

6. Regular season playing dates on days/nights preceding a school day should be limited to no more than three matches per court per night.

(a) dual matches - must start no later than 7:00 p.m.

(b) multiple matches - must start no later than 6:00 p.m.

7. In accordance with By-Law 2.66, only one night before a school day per week may be used with competitions beginning at 6:00 p.m. or later.

E. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:

1. Artificial noisemakers may not be used (regular season or post-season) while the ball is in play.

2. Display of signs is not allowed during regular season or post season competition.

3. Competitors must stay in uniform while in the competitive area.

4. All varsity Volleyball matches shall be officiated by at least one (1) officially-dressed volleyball official who is registered under the GHSA plan for the registration of officials

5. Each school will have a contract with an officials association for regular season matches, play days and invitational tournaments.

(a) For regular-season matches, each team will be billed by the official's association for one-half of the fees for the games in which they played.

(b) For invitational tournaments and play days, the host team will be billed for the officiating fees.

6. In accordance with National Federation rules, teams may use multi-colored balls in the regular season and post-season competitions.

AREA AND STATE PLAYOFFS:

A. Each Area shall determine if it will use single-elimination or double-elimination format - or if it will determine Sectional representatives by regular-season play. That choice must be submitted to the GHSA Volleyball Coordinator for that classification on or before August 5, 2011.

1. Four teams from each Area will advance to the State Playoffs.

2. Finances will be the responsibility of the Area, including securing and payment of officials.

3. Ticket prices are to be set at $5.00 for all persons.

4. The GHSA will receive 5 percent of the gross gate receipts.

5. Results of each Area Tournament must be sent to the GHSA office AND to the GHSA Volleyball Coordinators (AAAAA & AAAA: Patty Craven pattycraven@bellsouth.net; AAA and AA/A: Jona Braden jonab@westminster.net) within 24 hours of the completion of the event.

B. The State Volleyball playoffs will involve dual matches in Rounds 1, 2 and 3, semifinal matches at centralized sites, and championship matches at a central site.

1. All playoff matches will be a best-of-five, single-elimination format.

2. Matches in the first three rounds will be held at the site of the higher-seeded team. The seeding for the first two rounds will be determined by the ranking out of area competition. The seeding in the third round will be determined by the GHSA Volleyball Seeding Committee.

(a) Tickets will be priced at $5.00.

(b) The GHSA will receive 12 percent of the gross gate receipts.

(c) Officials' fees will be taken from the gross gate receipts and paid by the host school.

(d) The visiting team will be paid mileage at the GHSA-approved rate.

(e) Any residual funds will be split between the two teams.

(f) The host school will be entitled to all concession funds.

3. Semifinal matches will be played at four sites - one classification at each site.

4. Finances for the Semifinal matches and the Championship matches shall be handled as follows:

(a) Ticket prices will be $7.00 per day.

(b) The host schools will retain 20 percent of the gross gate receipts for expenses.

(c) The remainder of the gate receipts will be sent to the GHSA office.

1. GHSA will retain 12 percent of the gross receipts.

2. GHSA will pay the officials.

3. Any funds remaining will be dispursed to the competing teams.

5. Scorekeepers and Line Judges will be supplied by the various officials' associations from the third round through the Championship matches.