Association Competition Rules 2011-12
Thursday 15th September 2011
These rules govern competitions organised by the West Midlands Volleyball Association (herein after referred to as “the Association”). Membership consists of clubs approved by West Midlands Volleyball Association and affiliated to Volleyball England (V.E). The league will normally run from the first Sunday in September to and including 30th April.
Late application may be accepted at the discretion of the League Managers.
The playing rules to all these competitions will be those currently issued by the F.I.V.B. and endorsed by the National Executive Committee of Volleyball England unless otherwise stated and endorsed by the Executive Committee of the Association
Administration:
Rule 1
To enter the West Midlands League (W.M.V.A.) each team must:
a) Be affiliated to Volleyball England.
b) Have paid in full any competition entry fees that are due 7 days prior to the AGM>
c) All other entries received after this date is subject to a 20% surcharge.
d) Have paid a surety of £20.00, per TEAM; if any fines have been deducted from their initial deposit, they must be restored to £20.00, 7 days prior to the AGM.
e) Should, during the season, the surety held drop below £5 then an Invoice will be issued to restore the surety to its full amount. This Invoice must be paid within 14 days.
f) Any entry or surety fees will not normally be refunded after acceptance of entry.
g) Register all players.
h) All Teams are subject to the League and Cup fines as detailed in Appendix A.
The Executive Committee of the Association will decide the competition entry fee and surety annually.
Conditions of Entry to K.O. Cup:
Rule 2
a) Once a player has played for one team in a cup competition, he/she is not eligible to play for another team.
b) Women are not allowed to play in any Men's Cup Competition and vice-versa.
c) Each club that enters the cup competition will provide a minimum of 1 person to assist in the running of the W.M.V.A. Cup Final. Failure to meet the requirement will be penalised by loss of surety.
d) Cup and Plate Semi-finals MUST have an independent 1st Official not associated to either club.
e) A new player cannot be registered after the cup/plate semi final.
League fixtures:
Rule 3
a) All matches will be played to the best of five sets.
b) In sets 1-4, two additional 60 second "Technical Time-Outs" are applied automatically when the leading team reaches the 8th and 16th points.In the deciding 5th set there are no "Technical Time-Outs". If they are missed at either 8 or the 16th point, then they cannot be taken at a later point.
c) Men are not allowed to play in women’s competitions.
d) Women are not allowed to play in Men’s competitions; approval of the League Managers may be given if;
(i) The club does not have a women’s team.
(ii) Player doesn’t play for another women’s team within the West Midlands structure.
If permitted, this will only apply to the lowest men’s league.
e) Fixtures must be arranged and confirmed by the opposition by 30th September.
f) Home team MUST contact away team, league manager and match officials 10-14 days before fixture to confirm:
• Date of match.
• Warm up time.
• Match start time.
• Venue and travel directions (including postcode).
• Names of match officials where known.
g) If confirmation of the match has not been received 7 days before the scheduled date, the visiting team should contact the home club secretary and the League Manager.
h) Volleyball England score sheets should be used for all matches. Match results MUST be e-mailed/phoned to the League Manager within 24 hours of completed match. Scoresheets should be sent off within 2-3 days (in order that yellow/red cards, illegal players etc can be identified before the next match).
i) All players should wear a clean strip of uniform colour and design with numbers front and back.
Cancelled Fixtures:
Rule 4
a) Matches can only be cancelled with a good reason, and with a minimum of 3 days notice. Games cancelled within 48 hours of the match will only be allowed to be played at the discretion of the League managers. Any game cancelled on the day will be automatically awarded to the non-offending team.
b) League Managers must be informed immediately by the home team of cancellation.
c) To prevent backlogs and games not being played, the Home team must offer 3 alternative dates (where possible), immediately. The dates can be anytime during the season, but the new date must be confirmed to the League Manager within 2 weeks of the original date by both teams.
d) Non compliance of the above will result in warnings and fines as detailed in Appendix A.
League Structure:
Rule 5
a) League points will be awarded as follows:
Winning Team: 3 points, Losing Team: 1 point
b) Any team failing to fulfil their match commitments without reasonable excuse will have no points awarded for that match and their opponents will be awarded 3 points. The match score will be deemed to be 3-0 (25-0, 25-0, 25-0).
c) At the end of the season in the event of two or more teams finishing with equal league points league positions will be determined as follows:
i. Number of matches won
ii. Fewer matches lost
iii. Sets for less Sets against
iv. Number of sets won
v. Points for less points against
In the event of a tie still persisting a new clarification will be drawn up considering only the results of games between the teams involved.
d) In the event of a tie still persisting and it being necessary, the Competitions Secretary will arrange a play off.
f) If 75% of the games have not been played by the end of the season ALL played results will be removed from the table.
g) It is the aim of the association that Men’s & Women’s division 1 will consist of 8 teams; all other divisions will be subject to the level of entries for the forthcoming season.
h) The teams with the lowest number of league points in each higher division shall be relegated and the champions and runners-up in the lower divisions will be promoted unless otherwise decided at the Annual General Meeting.
i) New teams entering the league will be entered into the lowest divisions. Teams leaving the National League will be entered into division 1 at the discretion of the League Managers.
Registration:
Rule 6
Players
a) All teams must register their players by the start of the season. A valid registration requires a completed registration card with photo attached (Division 1 only). Failure to adhere to the above may result in warnings and fines as in Appendix A.
b) It is the responsibility of the team or club registering a player to ensure the eligibility of the player to be registered. Players who are subject to transfer requirements must be correctly transferred.
c) Clubs with more than one team may delay allocating their players to a specific team until a week before their Club’s first match, informing the League Manager which team a player will play for, but the players must all be registered by 30th September. Until the required allocation is made, all players will be deemed to be registered with the lower/lowest team.
d) New players can be registered during the season by recording the players name in the “REMARKS” box on the score sheet and informing the respective league manager immediately after the game.
e) Player registration cards must be presented to the scorer prior to the start of the match. Failure to present to the scorer will attract a penalty as detailed in Appendix A.
f) In any season, no player may play for more than one Club in the same competition unless they are officially transferred. A player may only transfer once during any season. No player may play for different teams in a cup competition, under any circumstances.
g) Where Clubs have two or more teams in the same competition, a player will become ‘Cup tied’ to the team they played their first cup match with, regardless of transfers and the playing up rule. (Rule 7). Transfer regulations apply to movement of players between different teams within the same Club.
h) A junior player (Under 18 on 1 September of the current season) is allowed to play for more than one team. The League Managers Committee must be informed by the Club, if they intend to use this rule (and for which players) at the beginning of the season.
i) In the lowest men’s and women’s division, it is permitted to nominate a different Libero for each set, but the Referee must be informed before the start of the game and the first Libero must be entered in the designated box on the score sheet and any additional names must be entered in the comments box.
Playing Up:
Rule 7
a) A club, having two or more teams competing in the league, once having nominated the team to which each player belongs, shall be entitled to play a lower team player in that club's higher team for up to 10 sets during the current season (i.e. appearance in that set whether for 1 point or the whole set) without the necessity of transfer.
b) It is the Club's responsibility to notify both Referees and Scorer before the start of the match as to which players are involved.
c) If a player is found to have played for the lower team after automatically being transferred up, then that player will be considered an unlawful player.
d) The first referee is to record the appropriate sets on the score sheet. During the current season any player playing up who reaches eleven sets, or more, will automatically be deemed to be transferred to the higher team.
e) Note: 'Playing up' does not constitute a transfer, until eleven sets are reached. Cup-tie provisions apply in all KO Cups.
f) A club having more than one team in the same division cannot use the playing up rule. To change teams will require an official transfer.
Home team responsibilities:
Rule 8
a) Arranging the availability of the venue and equipment. Only equipment approved by the BVF should be used, unless otherwise agreed by the Association. The playing conditions should conform to those laid down in the current F.I.V.B. rulebook. Referees should note down on the score sheet any inadequacies of the court equipment. Any such inadequacies are deemed to be responsibility of the home team and NOT of the sports centre or its staff.
b) The venue MUST be booked for at least 2 1/2 Hours and the time and date should be reasonable.
c) Appointing officials for the match and for the payment of £12.00 referees fees per match and travelling expenses at 25 pence per mile incurred by these officials. Payment must be made at the conclusion of the match.
d) The payment of any entrance fees to the venue of the officials or visiting team.
e) Supplying a scorer, two lines persons and a visual scoreboard.
f) The appointed referees must normally hold a Grade IV Refereeing Qualification or above. The Scorer and lines persons must be competent in their duties. Any inadequacies in these respects should be noted by the First Referee on the score sheet.
g) The stated match time should be the start of the match proper. At least 20 minutes should be allowed for setting up the court and for adequate warm-up.
Match Delays:
Rule 9
a) Any team failing to appear on court ready to start the match within fifteen minutes of the scheduled start time shall forfeit the first set. The set shall be 25-0.
b) The second set shall commence 15 minutes later i.e. 30 minutes after published start time. A team arriving between the start times shall be able to use the available time for warm-up. If a team is not on court ready to play 30 minutes after the published start time, then they shall lose the second set 25-0.
c) The third set shall start 15 minutes later; i.e. 45 minutes after the published start time. A team not on court ready to play at that time shall lose the third set 25-0 and thus loses the match 3-0.
d) Any team arriving late MUST be given at least 10 minutes to warm up and stretch.
e) Exceptions to this rule will normally only be considered in case of: Bad weather conditions making travel impossible, other circumstances beyond all reasonable control of the team concerned.
f) If time at the venue runs out then:
If less than 2 1/2 hours sports hall hire time has been booked, normally the home team will lose the set in progress and any subsequent sets but will retain all points and sets it has already won.
g) If a player is not present at the start of the match, notice of the expected late arrival must be made to the Referee and the name of the player recorded on the score-sheet. A player arriving late may not take part in the set in progress unless through an injury whereby a legal substitution cannot be made. He/she will be permitted to play in subsequent sets.
h) In any season no player may play for more than one team in the same competition, unless officially transferred by agreement with the Competitions Secretary. The Competitions Secretary must be informed verbally or in writing of any transfers of players that take place between clubs. The club who the player transfers too, should ensure that the competitions secretary and the club that the player is leaving are informed of the transfer in writing as soon as possible after the transfer is agreed.
Penalties:
Rule 10
a) The referee shall record on the score sheet each occasion on which a player or coach is warned or penalised. In the event of disqualification or expulsion the referee will submit a written report to the League Manager.
b) Disciplinary points will be awarded as follows:
Yellow Card (Penalty) 3 points
Red Card (Expulsion) 5 points
Red & Yellow Card (Disqualification) 8 points
c) The following penalties shall apply when a player, coach or authorised bench personnel accumulate disciplinary points in the same season:
8 Disciplinary points 1 Match suspension
16 Disciplinary points 3 Match suspensions
d) Player’s suspension applies to the next fixture in any competition; all matches in whom a suspended person participates will be forfeited. Such suspensions must be for either the same team or, if transferred, the new team in such competition. The onus rests with the team to ensure the suspension is served correctly. Coaches and authorised bench personnel, who receive suspensions, will serve their ban in their next scheduled match with the team they accumulated the points with.
e) Disciplinary points shall not carry forward from one season to the next. If suspensions have to be served and there is no opportunity to do so in the current season then such suspension shall be served in the next available match/matches of the following season.
f) It is anticipated that teams will abide by both the letter and the spirit of these competition rules, and of VE playing rules and that defeat will not be seen as an excuse for making a complaint.
g) Before making any decision League Manager members must declare an interest in any matter that they are remotely associated with.
h) Penalties will be applied to all breaches of the rules. Where not actually stipulated in the rules, the penalty will be determined by the League Managers for the event.
i) Administrative failures will have a maximum fine of £5 for each offence. See Appendix A.
j) Failure to pay any fine levied within the timescale stated will be reported to the League Managers who will consider imposing further sanctions, including, but not limited to, financial penalties, points deduction, relegation or expulsion.
k) All persons liable to disciplinary proceedings will have the right of appeal to the Association and ultimately to the Volleyball England Disciplinary Sub-Committee. Any appeal to the Association shall be in writing within seven days of notice of such proceedings. A deposit of £25.00 must accompany the notice of appeal, which is refundable only in the event of the appeal being upheld.
l) Any player found to be using substances defined as being in contravention of the official list of approved drugs published by Sport England in an attempt to enhance performance, will automatically be banned from further competition until his/her case can be considered by the Association. The ban is likely to become permanent unless it can be shown that the player was undergoing approved medical course of treatment for illness or injury.
Administrative Disputes:
Rule 11
a) Disputes relating to administrative matters and interpretation of competition rules shall be the responsibility of the League Managers
b) Disputes arise only where teams are unable to resolve difficulties amicably between themselves, and they are urged to make every endeavour to do so. It is intended that matches should be decided on the court of play. Therefore, in all but the most exceptional administrative cases, and unless a penalty is otherwise stipulated, any team found to have broken the rules will be fined, and their match result may stand. However, teams must be aware that breaches of the Rules may mean forfeiture of matches.
c) The League Managers, however, have the right to deduct points, fine and suspend any team should the situation warrant it.
Remarks on Scoresheets:
Rule 12
Comments relating in any way to the competence of the match referees and match officials are not to be recorded on the scoresheet. If the referee is not qualified, any comments should be placed before the Competitions Commission; if the referee is qualified, complaints should be forwarded to Referee Commission.
Protests:
Rule 13
All disputes must be referred in writing to the League Managers as soon as possible prior to the scheduled match date, or within five days after the match has taken place. Disputes beyond this period shall not be entertained. All interested parties (referees and opposing team) to the dispute must also be informed in writing by the team making the complaint.
i. Non confirmation of Matches. 1st Offence is a warning, Additional Offences will result in a £5 fine.
ii. Not informing League Manager of change of date. 1st Offence is a warning, Additional Offences will result in a £5 fine.
iii. Not rearranging match within 14 days. 1st Offence is a warning, Additional Offences will result in a £5 fine.
iv. Using Non Registered players. 1st Offence is a warning, 2nd Offence will result in a £5 fine, Additional Offences will see you forfeit the Match.
v. Failure to produce Registration Cards at a Match. 1st Offence is a warning, Additional Offences will result in a £5 fine.
vi. Not emailing or texting score within 24 hours. 1st Offence is a warning, Additional Offences will result in a £5 fine.
vii. Not sending Scoresheet within 3 days. 1st Offence is a warning, Additional Offences will result in a £5 fine.