Contents:

·         Scheduling

·         Rainouts

·         Baby sitter information

·         Emergencies

·         Club rules

·         Game rules

·         Volleyballs

·         Practice Times

·         Web site

 

Scheduling

Teams are scheduled in the order they are received.  The first team in gets the first pick of day and time.  If we cannot give you one of your picks, we will contact a team captain.  You can either give us another choice or get a refund.  Slots are not held for specific leagues.  The pools are generally posted for the Season Opener and the last week of first session.  After the Season Opener, we call the Team Captains to give them their day and time.  If you sign up for fourteen weeks your day and time will remain the same unless you request otherwise.  If you signed up for seven weeks, a slot is not held for second session.  Second session’s fees are the same as first’s.  Don’t dawdle, every year teams get bumped from their slot because they didn’t get around to signing up for second session.

Teams play one night per week.  Your games are at the same time each week.  A match is three games to fifteen points.  There is a one-hour time limit.  Win by one point.  Your schedule for the session is posted on the schedule board. By your team name there is a number.  To find out where you play this week, look to the chart below the team listings.  At the top of the chart are the court assignments.  The left column denotes the match number.  Find your team number.  Check the top of the chart for your court assignment and you’re set.  Check for Byes.  Pools with odd numbers have byes in them.  If your pool has byes, make sure you have a match next week.  Keep an eye on the weather!  If we are rained out, you still have a bye.

Question: “What week are we on?”  Games are played in order.  The first time you play is match #1.  The second time you play is match #2.  Example:  Let’s say you are a Tuesday 7:30 team.  The first Tuesday of the season is a beautiful day.  You show up, find your court, have a good match followed by a couple of beers.  The following Tuesday, there has been some rain, the forecast calls for chance of thunderstorms.  Being the smart player that you are…you checked the web site o called 255-9004 and check the recording an hour before your match.  You told “At this time all leagues are still a go.”  You and your team show up.  At 7:20 the sky opens up.  What do you do?  First, order a pitcher of beer (prices drop $1.00 when it is raining).  Second listen for an announcement.  You match may be canceled or slightly delayed if the shower is very brief.  This night the 7:30 leagues are canceled.  By 8:30 the sky is clear, the 8:30 teams play.  Next Tuesday what week are you on? Answer match #2 (6:30 & 8:30 are on match #3) 

 

Rainouts

                The decision on whether or not we will play is officially made one hour before your match.  Example:  If you play at 7:30, the decision is made at 6:30.  If there has been a lot of rain sometimes we can call Volleyball at 4:00 when we decide on Softball.  (I hate scattered thunderstorms!)  If it is below 60 degrees, call or check the web site.  We have never canceled league play due to heat.  Once we had to cancel due to gale force winds.  We will not play in unsafe conditions.

 

Baby sitter information

Team Name: _______________________________

Captain: __________________________________

Game time: ________________________________

Leave the above information with the sitter.  If there is an emergency we will pull members off the court or relay a message.  Without team information it is very difficult to find a person.

 

Emergencies

Injury: Tell a staff member.  They will call an ambulance if wanted.  Ice is available in the clubhouse and at the Cabana.  For liability reasons we cannot prescribe treatment or medication.  If you have any doubts, have a Doctor look at it.  Story:  Two softball players got their legs tangled at first base.  A third year medical student twisted and pulled on a leg, pronouncing it not broken only sprained.  No need to go to the hospital.  The next day the player was at the hospital for x-rays and a cast.  Free advice may be worth what you pay for it.

                At the Sands play is at your own risk.  Your team is not covered by any medical insurance.  If you know a player should not be playing, be a friend and say something to them.  You are playing to have fun, do not aggravate an injury to complete a match.

 

Club Rules

·         All players must be members and be at least twenty-one years of age.  No exceptions.

·         Play is at your own risk.

·         Pets, packaged beverages and coolers are not allowed.  State Law.

·         Children must be under direct adult supervision at all times.  If both parents are playing the child is not under direct supervision.  For everyone’s safety, children are not allowed on the courts or between the courts.

·         Violation of club rules or policies can result in suspension and forfeiture of fees.

 

Game Rules. 

·         At the start of the match, teams volley for serve.  The ball must pass over the net three times before the serve is decided.

·         A team must serve to score a point. Games are to 15 points, win by 2.  If time has expired, win by 1.

·         A team can rotate players in at any position.

·         The Co-Ed Rule: If there is more than one hit, a women must be involved.  The number of men cannot exceed the number of women on the court.

·         Stay out of the net!  If you are in the net, call yourself.  This is very important if you to have an injury free game.

·         In the sand there is no centerline.  However, you cannot interfere with a player on the other side.  If a player feels they were interfered with, they were.  REPLAY THE POINT

·         The line is in.  (If the line moves… the ball is in.)

·         In the sand, the standards are the antennas.  If the ball passes over or outside the standards, it is dead.

·         In the sand there are no ten-foot lines.  Therefore a back row player cannot hit down.

·         If there are two women in the front row, a back row player can come up to block.

·         You cannot block a set or a bump.  A team has a right to three hits.

·         A serve cannot be attacked.  The ball must fall below the plane of the net before it can be contacted. The top of the net is the "plane of the net".

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         A block does not count as a hit.  You can play the ball immediately after blocking it.  A woman blocking does not satisfy the Co-Ed rule.  A male bumping the ball over after a partial block does not violate the Co-Ed Rule.

·         Serving:  You may serve anywhere behind the back line and between the standards.  If a player does not like their toss, too bad.  A server gets only one toss.  The serve cannot contact the net.

·         Out of Bounds.  A player cannot enter another court. 

·         Double hits are allowed on the serve and on a driven ball (spike).  Lifts are not!  If the momentum of the ball forces the hand back, there has been a lift.  A player must attack the ball.  (Change ’98)

·         Call your own side of the net.  Volleyball at the Sands is a game of honor.  Referee your side of the net.

 

Doubles and Fours Addendum:  In Doubles and Fours open hand dinking is not allowed.  Oversets must be clean and square with your body.  There is not a Co-Ed rule in playing the ball.  Service must be rotated (boy-girl) but positions do not need to be rotated.  Any player can hit.

 

Volleyballs

Members can check out volleyballs or use their own. A ball can be checked out with various forms of ID.  You are responsible for the ball you borrow.  Return the ball and pick up your ID.  Be sure you have the right ball and ID.  Replacing a ball costs $30.00.

                The Sands provides regulation outdoor volleyballs.  An outdoor ball is heavier, has stitched seams and is much less inflated than an indoor ball.  You should be able to presses your thumbs at least one inch into the ball.  The softer ball improves ball handling and decreases injuries.

If there is a disagreement on whose ball to use, house ball wins.

 

Practice Times

 Club members may practice on open courts Sunday beginning at 6:00.  On league nights we leave the lights on until 11:00 or so.  Weekends we host private parties.  When the club is not open or we have a private party we cannot allow open play.  To use the Sands’ courts all people must be members and a staff person must be present.  West Des Moines’ Holiday Park has two sand courts available during pool hours.

Open Court Edict.  After league play, or during Sunday practice times, teams can practice on an open court.  If the courts are all in use, a team cannot refuse a challenge.  Another team can challenge the winner.  Doubles are limited to three courts.

 

Web Site

The Sands Volleyball Club is part of the www.DesMoinesFun.com network.  Rainout, league, tournament and party information for the Sands are all posted at the web site.