Area of Game
The area of game includes the court and the free zone.
a) The game's court is rectangular, measuring 18 x 9 meters. It is surrounded by a free zone of a minimum of 3 meters in width with an obstacle-free space of up to 8 meters in height from the ground.
b) For the official national competitions, the free zone must be a minimum of 5 meters from the lateral court lines and 8 meters from the end lines. The obstacle-free space, above the ground, must have a minimum of 12 meters in height.
The Court's Surface
a) The floor must be made up of sand, leveled, plain and uniform.
b) If possible, free of rocks, shells or any other objects that may pose a threat to the athletes.
c) In official national competitions, the sand must be composed of thin grains covering a minimum space of 30 centimeters in depth.
d) The surface of the game must not pose as a threat to the athletes such as hard nor slippery floors.
Boundary Lines of the court
a) If boundary tapes are used to mark the court, these must be from 5 to 8 cm in width, and if cords are used instead, these must be between 20 to 30 millimeters in diameter.
b) Limit lines. The court is surrounded by two lateral lines and two end lines, situated within the court's dimensions. There are no middle lines.
SAQUE Zone
a) The SAQUE zone is the area situated behind the end lines, between the prolongations of the lateral lines, extending itself to the end of the obstacle-free zone.
Temperature
a) The temperature should be compatible to one of an outdoor competition.
Lighting
a) The official national competitions that take place at nighttime, the lighting must be 1.000 to 1.500 lux, positioned one meter above the height of the court.
NETS AND POLES
The Net
a) The net measures 9.5 meters in length by one meter in width, and will be extended vertically above the center point of the court.
b) It must be made of fabric ruled in squares of 10 cm, on its superior and inferior edges delimitated by horizontal strips of 5 to 8 cm in width, double-faced canvas and sewed along the length of the net. In each of the center points there is an opening, allowing the fixation of the net on the poles by means of ropes, maintaining it stretched over the superior edge, running through the strips as on the inferior part which are tied onto the poles maintaining the net evenly stretched.
c) Advertising is permitted on the horizontal strips of the net.
Lateral Strips
a) Two lateral strips of 5 to 8 cm in width and one meter in length must be fixated on the net, vertically, above the lateral lines. These are integral parts of the net and available for the use of advertisement.
Antennas
a) The antennas will be flexible rod measuring 1,80 meters in height and 10 millimeters in diameters. These are made up of glass fibers or similar materials.
b) These are positioned perpendicularly in the external part of each lateral strip, parallel to the rod, supported by the inferior edge of the net.
c) These must expose 80 cm above the superior edge of the net.
d) These must be painted, preferably, in red and white every 10 cm from one end to the other.
e) The antennas are considered an integral part of the net and set laterally, the space of the game above the same.
The Height of the Net
a) The height of the net for pair competitions must be 2,20 meters. The height must be measured from the center of the court.
Poles
a) The poles used to fixate the net must measure 2,55 meters e must be fixated to the ground from a distance of a maximum of one meter and a minimum of ½ meter from each of the lateral lines of the court.
b) Any kind of equipment and/or obstacle that may hurt the athletes must be eliminated.
Additional Equipment
a) Every additional equipment will be determined by the organization planning the event.
THE BALL
Characteristics
a) Pressure 0,56/0,63 kg/cm.
b) Circumference 68 to 70 cm
c) The use of Mikasa Kickoff SWL 310 - Mikasa F5 balls are highly recommended.
Uniformity of the Balls
All the balls used within the same game must have the same characteristics in circumference, weight, internal pressure and type.
Three-Ball System
In official national competitions three balls are used, in which case, the ball-handlers are positioned one in each zone of sack, and a third one behind the second referee.
PARTICIPANTS
Teams
Registration and Competition
a) One team is composed of two players in pairs and composed of five players in teams (one side-reserve).
b) Only those that have been registered in the summary are allowed to participate in the game.
Captain
The captain of the team will be selected summary.
Presentation of the Players
a) The players' uniform consists of shorts or swimsuit and a cotton t-shirt.
b) The t-shirts and shorts in official competitions are numerated - 1 and 2 for pairs, and 1 to 5 in teams.
Participants' Rights and Responsibilities
Players
a) All of the players must be informed and will to comply with the rules and officials of Footvolley.
b) The participants must accept the teams' referee's decisions with a positive sportive spirit, without questioning. In case of doubts, an explanation may be requested.
c) The participants must have a courteous behavior, not only in reference to the team of referees, but with the other officials, opposing teams, other team members, ball-handlers and spectators.
d) The participants must refrain from actions and attitudes that may influence the decisions of the referees or cover faults made by one's team members.
e) The participants must refrain from actions that may provoke a delay in the game.
f) Communication between team members is allowed during the rounds.
g) During the game, only the captain is authorized to speak to the referees, as long as the ball is not in motion, with the purpose of:
· Request authorization to change uniforms or equipment, verify the players' number, check on the net, the ball, etc.
· Straighten a delimitation line of the field, which may be off positioning or request time.
· Request an explanation regarding the application or interpretation of a rule. If the explanation is not satisfactory to the player, one must communicate immediately with the referee who has the right to make a formal registration of the players' protest in the summary of the game, at the end of the game.
The Captain
a) Before the game, the captain of the team -
· Sign the summary of the game.
· Represents one's team in the raffle.
· In every moment of the game, will be the channel of communication between the organizers, the referees and one's team.
The Head Coach
a) In the event that a team is directed by a head coach, he/she will remain within the limits of the game area during the game.
b) Is responsible for signing the summary of the game.
The Positioning of the Participants Players
Chairs and water coolers must be placed, in both sides of the scorekeeper's table, outside of the free zone and be protected by guards - only.
Competition
The ways in which the tournament and competitions are handled and organized are designed by the organizational committee, considering the available time of game and number of registered teams.
Before the Initiation
After the warm-up, which should not exceed five minutes in duration, the first referee and the two captains conduct a raffle, whose winner will select its field or sack.
Positioning of the Team
The order of sack of each team will be communicated to the second referee before the beginning of the game.
PLAYS/MOVES
Quality of Play
Ball in Game
Each play begins with the whistle of the first referee, however the ball will only be considered in the game after the execution of the sack.
Out-of-Game Ball
Each play ends with the whistle of the referee. In the case of a whistle due to a fault committed during a play, the play ends after the execution of the sack.
The In-game Ball
The in-ball occurs when the ball touches the ground of the game including the boundary lines.
The Out-game Ball
The Out-game ball occurs when -
· It hits the ground outside of the limits of the court, without touching the boundary lines,
· It touches an object place outside of the court, the ceiling or a person outside of the game (non-participant person),
· It touches the antennas, cords, poles or the net outside of the lateral strips' limits or antennas,
· Crosses the vertical plain of the net, totally or partially, outside of the crossing space.
The Conferencing of a Fault
a) Every fault will result in a penalization and the other team will win the play.
b) If two or more faults are committed, consecutively, only the first one will be considered.
c) If two or more faults are committed simultaneously by both teams, it is considered as a double-fault and the play will be repeated, starting with the sack.
Touching of the Ball
a) Each team has is permitted to touch the ball a maximum of three times, and a minimum of one time to return it over the net to the opposing field.
b) These touches include, not only intentional touches by the players, but any involuntary contact with the ball.
c) Two consecutive touches on the ball are not permitted.
Simultaneous Touches
a) Two players may touch the ball at the same moment.
b) In the event that two same-team members touch the ball simultaneously, two touches are marked.
c) If two same-team members attempt to touch the ball but only one member actually accomplish it, one touch is marked. If the two same-team members collapse into each other, a fault is not registered.
Supported Touch
The leaning or pushing on another team member or on another object in an attempt to reach the ball is prohibited. However, the player that is about to commit a fault (touch the net or interfere in the opposing team's play) may be impeded or prevented by another team member.
Touch Characteristics
a) The ball can be touched by any part of the body, except the hands, forearms and arms.
b) The ball must be visibly touched, without being touched twice by the same player.
Touch-Ball Fault
a) Four Touches - Occurs when the team touches the ball four times before returning it to the opposing field.
b) Irregular Touch - Occurs when the ball touches the arm, forearm or hand of the player.
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