It is the responsibility of schools, players and officials to know and apply these NIVA School Competition rules and the FIVB rules of the game.

1. TITLE AND MANAGEMENT
   
   1.1. The Northern Ireland Volleyball Association (NIVA) organises each season's Schools Leagues and Cup Competitions for U18, U16 and U14 boys’ and girls’ teams.
   
   1.2. The NIVA Schools Commission is responsible for the organisation of the same.
   
   1.3. All Competitions shall be played to FIVB rules.
   
   
2. ENTRY TO COMPETITION
   
   2.1. Only schools affiliated by having paid the annual fees may take part.
   
   
3. FORMAT AND RULES

3.1. The Northern Ireland league structure shall be as directed by the Schools Commission. The structure will be outlined at start of the school year in September.

3.2. The Cup competition structures shall be as directed by the Schools Commission and will be forwarded to schools by the end of November.

3.3 All matches must be played. Matches must be played on the agreed date, unless approved by the Schools Commission.

3.4 All fixture dates for the league will be arranged between each school. Each school must forward its home fixtures (dates, times and venues) to the Schools Commission at least 1 week prior to the start of the league

3.4.1 Home and away schools should make contact to confirm the match details at least 3 days prior to the relevant fixture date.

3.4.2 All schools should keep copies of correspondence in case of a dispute.

3.4.3. Procedure for claiming points

3.4.3.1. The school who wishes the appeal to be made should contact the Schools Commission as soon as possible after the problem is discovered. A NIVA Points Claim Form should be completed and returned to the Schools Commission (or appointed official see point 3.4.4) within 14 days of the original fixture. Please note that it is the schools responsibility to check that the forms arrive.

3.4.3.2. Schools Commission will make a decision and will communicate this to both schools involved within one working week. This decision will be communicated in writing to both schools within 2 weeks of receiving the complaint in writing.

3.4.4. Schools that wish to have the matters considered by NIVA personnel other than the Schools Commission may do so for the following reason:

The Schools Commission are involved with one of the schools concerned in the decision.

3.4.4.1. In this case the school with the objection should inform the Schools Commission at the time of the appeal. The Schools Commission will inform the NIVA General Secretary whom will appoint a neutral NIVA official who will assume the role of the Schools Commission for the duration of the appeal.

3.5 All matches should be played as the best of 3 sets. 3 points will be awarded for a win, 1 point for a loss and 0 points for a forfeit.

3.6 The school winning the League will gain the title "Northern Ireland Schools League Champions" relevant to that division.

3.6 Any matches remaining at the end of the season (i.e. after the deadline for fixtures as stated by the Schools Commission) will automatically be forfeited by the home school.


4. RULES
   
   The normal rules of playing volleyball apply but the following rules will be strictly applied in the interests of safety and fairness.

   4.1 UNIFORM

   All teams must play in uniform shirts and preferably uniform shorts.

   4.2 DURATION OF MATCHES

   (i) The First two sets are up to 25 points.
   (ii) If a set reaches 24-24 the set is played until a team has a two point lead ie. 26-24, 25-27, 26-28 etc.
   (iii) If a third deciding set is needed it is up to 15 points.

   4.3 SERVICE

   Service is made anywhere behind the base line.

   The player, once they have thrown the ball up must make an attempt to serve it.

   The service is still in play if it crosses the net after it has struck the net.

   4.4 BALL CONTACTS

   Volleyball attempts to play the ball cleanly with the upper body but, since the serve is often the most difficult shot to return, some allowances are made for this hence

   (i) The ball should be played with one touch. It should not be held, lifted or scooped.
   This is for the judgement of the referee who will make extra allowance for this on receiving service.
   (ii) The ball may be played with any part of the body at U-18 level and any part of the body above the waist at U-16 or U14 level (i.e. U-16 or U14 cannot use thighs, knees or feet to play the ball)

   (Coaches are asked to ensure that teams at U-18 level do not allow over-use feet and head when attempting to play the ball – this can be penalised by the referee if it is interfering with the spirit of the game)

   4.5 COURT AND NET TOUCHES

   (i) No player may touch the net when attempting to play the ball or block the ball from crossing the net.
   (ii) No player can touch the opponents court with the whole of the foot or any other part of the body.

   4.6 TIME-OUTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

   There are two time-outs per team per set. Play will be halted for 30 seconds to allow coaches to talk to players and a whistle will sound to inform players to return to the court.

   There will be unlimited substitutions during matches.

   4.7 CONDUCT OF PLAYERS

   The decision of the referee is final.

   The only player allowed to talk to the referee is the team captain who may ask why for clarification on the referee’s interpretation of a rule but may not argue against that interpretation.

   Sanctions include:
   (i) A warning
   (ii) A yellow card (which awards one point for the opposing team)
   (iii) A red card (the player is sent off for the set and the loss of one point for the team)
   (iv) A red and yellow card (the player is sent off for the match and the loss of one point for the team)

5. PLAYER REGISTRATION
   
   5.1 All players participating in any of the official competitions must be registered. Players must be registered with the Schools Commission at least 1 week before the player participates in a match. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in a loss for the offending school (1 point will still be awarded for fulfilling the fixture).

   5.2 All player registrations must be completed on the correct NIVA form.

   5.3 A player may only be registered with a school if he/she is a current full time student with that school.

   
   5.4 The Eligibility for each league/cup is players born on or after the below date or births

   Division	DOB
   U14	1/7/95
   U16	1/7/93
   U18	1/7/91

   5.5 For schools with more than one team in the same division, two players may be nominated to play for any of the teams in that division. All other players may only play for one of these teams. These nominated players must be made clear to NIVA at the time of registration and for games should be clearly indicated on the score sheet.
   The nominated players may not be changed over the league season.

6. FIXTURES PROCEDURE

   6.1 It is the home schools responsibility to inform the visiting school and referees of the venue and court/starting times of each match
   

7. MATCH PROCEDURE

   7.1 The home school is responsible for providing match equipment (nets, posts, balls and scoreboard). The net and posts should comply with the FIVB rulebook.

   7.2 All schools must play in numbered jerseys of uniform style and colour

   7.3 It is the referee’s responsibility to ensure the warm-up and match start times (time of latest serve) are adhered to. The match must start no later than 30 minutes after the beginning of court time e.g. Court time starts at 1.00pm then match start time is no later than 1.30pm.

   Where a school is not ready to play at the latest time of first serve, a forfeit of 1 set (25-0) shall be applied and a further forfeit of 1 set per each 15 min period thereafter.
   
   7.4 It is the responsibility of the match officials to maintain a safe competition area i.e.

   a) No unauthorised personnel should be within the competitions area

   b) All players’ / coaches’ equipment (bags, balls, bottles etc.) should be behind the team benches.

   7.5 A 2009-10 NIVA schools score sheet must be used. The 1st referee will complete its sealing. The home school must notify the score of the match (sets and set points) to the NIVA office within 24 hours of the match and send the score sheet to the NIVA office within 1 week of the match. Failure to do so may result in sanctions including loss of points or fines. Secretaries should keep photocopies of their home score sheets and a record of results and set scores of away matches.

   7.6 All appeals, properly recorded on the score sheet as arising from the match, must be sent in writing to the Competitions Commission within 1 week of the match.
   

8. MATCH OFFICIALS
   
   8.1 It is the responsibility of the home school to organise the match officials.
   
   8.1.1 Only when the Schools Commission decides, and for final stages of competitions, will NIVA appoint officials.
   
   8.1.2 The home school must organise a competent 1st Referee and a scorer.

   8.2 Failure to have the appropriate officials will result in disciplinary action.
   

9. TROPHIES
   
   9.1 Trophies will be awarded to the winners of each competition.
   
   9.2 The trophies shall be returned to the Schools Commission by 1 December of the following year.
   
   9.3 The school will be responsible for the damage or loss of any trophy.
   
   9.4 Disciplinary action will be taken for non-repair or non-replacement of damaged or lost trophies.

10. DISCIPLINARY ACTION
    
    10.1 Any player receiving 2 red cards in a season shall be suspended for 2 matches.
    
    10.2 Any player being expelled for a set shall be suspended for 2 matches.
    
    10.3 Any player being disqualified for a match will be suspended for 4 matches.
    
    10.4 All suspensions will be carried over to the following season where insufficient matches are available for the suspension to be carried out in the present season.
    
    10.5 The suspension of a player is immediate, but shall be held in waiting pending an appeal. The Schools Commission must be informed in writing of the player’s grounds for appeal, within 1 week of the suspension taking effect. The player involved will be informed within 1 week of receipt of an appeal of the date of any appeal hearing.
    
    10.6 Any further appeals must be addressed to the full NIVA Business Commission, (according to the time scales outlined above at 9.6). The Business Commission’s decision is final
    

11. FEES

    Affiliation £30.00
    League Entry £15.00
    Cup Entry (U18 and U16) £20.00
    All league registration fees are to be paid 1 week before the start of the league. If the fees have not been paid then any games played will be forfeit by the offending school(s).

12. PENALTIES

    If a Team refuses to play after being summoned by the referee to do so, it is declared in default and forfeits the match with the result 0-2 (25:0, 25:0).