1.  Gay Ottawa Volleyball uses the rules defined by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB).  For the latest information on the rules, visit the FIVB website at http://www.fivb.org/en/volleyball/Rules/Rules.htm, or download the following files (in PDF format) provided by FIVB.

2.  We have also created a GOV Referee and Rules Handbook for you to use as a quick guide to officiating games on Wed. night.  It contains some changes that GOV has modified for our league (from the FIVB rules) so please take some time to look it over.

3.  Spares or subs:   Any person (let's call that person "Spare") can play on any team for a night, but once a game is started Spare has to commit and play for that team for the rest of the night.  Now, Spare can be an actual spare (not a regular player) or can be a member of another team.  However, once a game is started on the night in question Spare cannot go back to his/her old team or switch to another team.   Spare cannot play for teams at both the early time and the late time (since that would be 2 teams).  We don't want to be policing who is a "spare", a "casual team member" or an actual full member and feel that this is a general rule that covers all the bases.  It also levels out the playing field a bit for teams that consistently have their teams out in full.

4. GOV injury policy:  If a player becomes injured during a game and cannot continue, and there is no substitute for that player, then the team can finish that game with 5 players (but only that game).  All subsequent games, however, will be considered defaults and the scores will be written as zero.  We encourage all teams to come prepared and have a 7th player for the night.

5. Score sheets and captains' signatures:  This is a reminder to all captains to sign the score sheets after each match played.  Your signature validates the scores listed so please make sure you agree to what is written before signing.  If there is a score dispute please come and approach the night's convenor before the end of  your time tier.

6. Time caps:  A Soft Time Cap occurs in the middle of the night and is meant to finish off a game early when there is another match to follow. A Hard Time Cap is at the end of the tier or end of the night (at 20:15 and/or 21:55).

     When a Soft Cap is reached, 5 points will be added to the score of the currently leading team (with a final cap of 7 points). The game is played to that mark and ends with the first team to reach that point, winning by two or until the final cap is reached. This rule will not be used to extend a game past the standard 25 point win. Nor does it allow for the game to go past the 27 point cap. And please remember that you, as the ref, are responsible for watching the clock and calling the time caps.  Once the 5 minute warning is given, no team can take a time out.

     Examples:

   ·The Soft Cap is reached with the score 11-8. The game is played to 16 points (win by 2), with a cap at 18 points.

   ·The Soft Cap is reached with the score 18-17. The game is played to 23 points (win by 2), with a cap at 25 points.

   ·The Soft Cap is reached with the score 21-16. The game is played as usual to 25 points (win by 2), with a cap at 27 points.

  When a Hard Cap is reached, play continues to the end of the point in play. The team in the lead at the end of that point is declared the winner. Should the teams be tied at the end of that point, one more point is played to determine the winner. Please don't give the ref a hard time if s/he has to call the Hard Cap.

Note: the official should announce the possibility of a hard cap at least 5 minutes before the hard cap time.  Once the 5 minute warning is given, no team can take a time out.