BASICS OF BEACH CITY SPORTS VOLLEYBALL

These rules were updated in February 2026 by the BCS Rules Committee

1. Team Composition

• All games are co-ed 4 vs. 4
• A minimum of 3 rostered players is required to avoid a forfeit.
• A maximum of 2 male players is allowed on the court at any time (3 male players + 1 female is not allowed).

Regular Season Exception:

• If a team has only 1 female available, they may play with 3 male players only if the opposing team captain agrees.
• If the opposing team does not allow it, only 2 male players may be on the court, and the third male player must act as a substitute.

During Playoffs:

• Teams may not play with 3 male players and 1 female at any time.
• If this is discovered during a match, that team automatically forfeits. If discovered after the match, the recorded result stands.

2. Determining Side or Serve

• Before the match, captains play rock-paper-scissors to decide:
  • Whether their team serves first OR
  • Which side of the court they start on (not both).
• If a match goes to a third set, captains play rock-paper-scissors again.
• In the third set, teams switch sides every 5 points to balance sun/wind conditions.

3. Serving, Rotation & Substitutions

• The server may serve from anywhere along the back line within the sidelines.
• The server must keep both feet behind the boundary line until the ball is served.
• Players may serve overhand or underhand
• A serve that hits the net and continues over is a live ball if it lands inbounds or is played

Rotation:

• All players must rotate positions.
• Teams cannot have a fixed front or back player, prior to serves being made.
• Players must start in their rotation spots prior to the serve. Once the serve has been made, players are allowed to freely move to any position on the court.

Substitutions:

• Teams must choose one position for substitutions for the entire match.
• If teams sub at the server position, that is the only spot they may sub for the entire match.

4. Grace Period & Forfeits

• A 10-minute grace period is allowed for teams to field the required 3 rostered players.
• If a team is still incomplete at 10 minutes, they forfeit the first set.
• If a team is still incomplete at 15 minutes, they forfeit the entire match.

5. Courts & Match Format

• BCS reserves courts at multiple locations but only maintains nets and lines at the Newport Beach site.
• Court dimensions: 60 ft x 30 ft.

Match Format:

• Best 2 out of 3 sets.
• Game 1 & 2: Played to 21 points (win by 2).
• Game 3 (if necessary): Played to 15 points (win by 2).
• No point cap, except in Summer Season, when games end at 25 points due to daylight limits.
• Matches must be completed within the 1-hour allotted time.

6. Officiating & Fair Play

• Games are self-officiated by players.
• Players should avoid calling out or penalizing others for minor skill mistakes.
• Captains should agree on foul enforcement before the match begins.

Playoff & Championship Games:

• BCS staff will monitor but not referee matches.
• Staff may settle disputes upon request during Championship matches.

7. Playing the Ball

Ball Contact Rules:

• The ball may touch any part of the body (head to foot), but each contact must be clean and simultaneous.
• The ball must not be held, lifted, pushed, caught, carried, or thrown.
• The ball cannot roll or come to rest on a player’s body.

Three Contacts Rule:

• Teams are allowed 3 contacts to return the ball (exception: blocking does not count as a contact).

Blocking & Attacking Restrictions:

• Blocking a serve is illegal.
• The front player cannot attack the ball immediately off a serve.
• A ball that is passed on first contact but pushed over by the wind is legal.

8. Setting the Ball

• Open-hand setting off a serve is not allowed.
• Directional setting rule:
  • A set must go straight forward or backward (shoulders perpendicular to net).
  • Intentional redirection is illegal.

Spin Rule:

• Minimal spin is allowed.
• Excessive spin indicates a double-hit and is a fault.

9. Net & Court Violations

• Players may not touch the net while the ball is in play
• Exceptions:
  • Incidental contact that does not affect the play is not a fault.
  • Hair or clothing touching the net is not a violation.

Crossing Under the Net:

• Players may step into the opponent's side if they do not interfere with play.

10. Antennas & Boundaries

• Some courts have antennas on the net.
• Balls must pass between the antennas to be in play.
• If a ball hits an antenna or crosses outside the antenna, it is out of bounds.

11. Recording Scores

• Captains (or a team representative) must record scores on the scoreboard or whiteboard at the BCS tent before leaving the site.
• Scoresheets are available at the tent if captains wish to use them.
• If a score is not recorded, please email info@beachcitysports.com ASAP
• BCS staff may follow up with captains if scores are missing.

12. Standings & Playoffs

• Standings are updated weekly based on winning percentage.
• Tiebreakers are determined in this order:
  • 1.) Head-to-Head results
  • 2.) Point Differential (sets won vs. sets lost)
  • 3.) Points Scored
  • 4.) Points Against
  • 5.) Record Versus Common Opponents
  • - If three or more teams are tied with the same record, the system will automatically use Point Spread Differential as the first tiebreaker, and works down the list from there.

Playoff Eligibility:

• Not all teams qualify; eligibility is based on division size each season.
• Playoffs are single elimination.
• Summer Leagues: Game lengths may be adjusted based on available daylight.

13. Volleyball Tournaments

• Tournament rules may vary from regular league play.
• Captains will be notified beforehand if adjustments are necessary.

14. Alcohol Policy

🚨 Drinking in public is illegal in California.

• No alcohol is allowed on beaches or park courts.
• Players found drinking will be asked to leave.
• Refusal to leave may result in team forfeits and further disciplinary action.

15. Forfeits

If a team forfeits, a loss will be recorded for that scheduled game, with the final score being recorded as 2-0. Please plan ahead to avoid last-minute forfeits! For any questions or issues, captains can easily reach us at info@beachcitysports.com.

Forfeit fines will go into effect Spring 2026. Team Captain's must notify the league (by emailing info@beachcitysports.com), at least 4 hours prior to the first scheduled league games for that day, to avoid being levied a forfeit fine. Failure to email the league 4 hours before games, will result in the Team Captain being fined $25, with the card on file.