Tournament and Game Rules

The FIVB 2001 - 2004 official Rules apply to games played in the tournament. However, because  in this tournament teams are mixed and most of the games have time limits some of the FIVB rules are changed and adapted. In short, a blitz tournament games is a game where:

  • Teams are mixed, must have 6-8 players, and must have at least 3 women on-court at all times during play.
  • Teams must wear the same colour tops. Same colour bottoms are optional
    The net is set at a height between the normal men and women net heights: 2.35m ca
  • Qualifying games and the mid-knockout stage (2nd round and/or Quarter Finals) games are timed and 2 sets only:
    •   o Sets are timed
    o Matches start once the control desk alerts/announces the start buzzer
    o Teams are restricted to 1 timeout per set of 30 seconds
    o 4 substitutions allowed, 2 maximum at any same time
    o There will be a 2-minute warning before the end of each set - NO timeouts or substitutions are allowed in these 2 minutes.
    o The end of the timed set/match will be announced/alerted by the control desk. Rallies MUST continue if the alert comes during a rally. NB - The rally starts from the moment that the 1st referee blows the whistle for a team to serve the ball.
    o In the Pool/Group Stages, 3 points are assigned to a team that wins the match and 1 point is assigned to each team if each team wins 1 set each, regardless of score lines/aggregates
    o Positions in Pool/Group tables are determined in the following order:
      § Pool/Group Points
    § Score Difference
    § Match points scored
    § Result against team tied with
    § Tiebreaker match up to 5 points (no 2-point lead needed)
    o In the knockout stages (2nd round/Quarter Finals), where both teams win 1 set each, score aggregate WILL determine the winner. However, if the aggregates are the same, play continues for just 1 more rally to determine the winner.

  • The Cup and Plate Semi Finals are the best-of-3-sets, un-timed.

    •   o Teams are restricted to 2 timeouts per set
    o 6 substitutions allowed, 2 maximum at any same time
    o Tiebreaker up to 15 points

  • The Cup and Plate Finals are the best-of-5-sets, un-timed.

    •   o Teams are restricted to 2 timeouts per set
    o 6 substitutions allowed, 2 maximum at any same time

  • Penalties apply to teams showing up late on court for both playing AND officiating matches. Please see Penalties & Procedures for more details.

    • Anybody interested in participating in this event should review the complete list of modifications to the official FIVB rules, posted here.
    Modifications were done to the following chapters:

    Chapter Rule FIVB Rule “Blitz” Rule
    2. NET AND POSTS 2.2.1 Placed vertically over the centre line there is a net whose top is set at the height of 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women. Placed vertically over the centre line there is a net whose top is set at the height of 2.35 m.
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    Chapter Rule FIVB Rule “Blitz” Rule
    4. TEAM COMPOSITION 4.1.1 A team may consist of a maximum of 12 players, one coach, one assistant coach, one trainer and one medical doctor. A team may consist of a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8 players.
    4.3.5 It is forbidden to wear uniforms of a colour different from that of the other players (except for the Libero), and/or without official numbers. Teams must wear the same colour tops. Same colour bottoms are optional
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    Chapter Rule FIVB Rule “Blitz” Rule
    6. TO SCORE A POINT, TO WIN A SET AND THE MATCH 6.3.2 A set (except the deciding, 5th set) is won by the team which first scores 25 points with a minimum lead of two points. In the case of a 24-24 tie, play is continued until a two-point lead is achieved (26-24; 27-25; …). A set is won by the team which first scores 25 points with a minimum lead of two points. In the case of a 24-24 tie, play is continued until a two-point lead is achieved (26-24; 27-25; …). In timed matches, the team that scored most points wins the set that is being played when the time limit is reached.
    6.3.1 The match is won by the team that wins three sets. In timed matches, the team wins the match with most sets won. In case both teams have an equal number of sets, the match is a draw. (No aggregates tallied)In timed knockout stage matches, where a draw occurs, aggregates are tallied, with the higher aggregate determining the winner. If the aggregates are the same, play continues for just 1 more rally to determine the winner.Semi Finals are best-of-3-sets and Finals are best-of-5-sets. Both have tiebreaker up to 15 points.
    6.4.2 A team that, without justifiable reason, does not appear on the playing court on time is declared in default with the same result as in Rule 6.4.1. (3-0 Defeat) If a team does not appear on the playing court on time, in a timed match, 2 points per minute of delay will be awarded to the opponent team. If a team does not appear on the playing court within ten minutes of the start of the match, on a timed match, it will loose the game by: 0-2 (25-0; 25-0) in case of a un-timed game, best of 3 sets; 0-3 (25-0;25-0;25-0) in case of a un-timed game, best of 5 sets; 2-0 (20-0;20-0) in case of a timed match.
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    Chapter Rule FIVB Rule “Blitz” Rule
    7. STRUCTURE OF PLAY 7.1 Before the match, the first referee carries out a toss to decide upon the first service and the sides of the court in the first set. The team on the home side of the fixture gets the 1st serve in the 1st set.
    7.3.1 There must always be six players per team in play. There must always be six players and at least three women per team in play.
    7.3.2 Before the start of each set, the coach has to present the starting line-up of his/her team on a line-up sheet. The sheet is submitted, duly filled in and signed, to the second referee or the scorer. No sheet indicating the starting line-up is submitted to the referee or scorer. The starting line-up and rotational order is determined by the players’ position on the court when the first ball of each set is played.
    7.3.5 Because of 7.3.2, this rule does not apply.
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    Chapter Rule FIVB Rule “Blitz” Rule
    8. SUBSTITUTION OF PLAYERS 8.1.1 Six substitutions is the maximum permitted per team per set. One or more players may be substituted at the same time. In timed matches only, 4 substitutions is the max permitted per team per set. 2 players max may be substituted at the same time. Substitutions are not allowed within the last 2 minutes of each set of timed matches.In un-timed matches, 6 substitutions is the max permitted per team per set. 2 players max may be substituted at the same time.
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    Chapter Rule FIVB Rule “Blitz” Rule
    16. REGULAR GAME INTERRUPTIONS 16.1 Each team is entitled to request a maximum of two time-outs and six player substitutions per set. In timed matches, each team is entitled to request a max of 1 timeout of 30 seconds and 4 player substitutions per set. Time outs and substitutions are not allowed in the last 2 minutes of timed sets.In un-timed games, each team is entitled to request a max of 2 time-outs and 6 player substitutions per set.
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    Chapter Rule FIVB Rule “Blitz” Rule
    20. THE LIBERO PLAYER 20.1 Each team has the right to designate among the list of 12 players one (1) specialised defensive player “Libero”. One LIBERO is allowed per team and it must wear a heat while playing oncourt. FIVB rules apply.
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    BLITZ PENALTIES & PROCEDURES

    Considering previous Blitz tournaments, a major effort will be made this year to stamp out lack of punctuality & principle. All teams are simply asked to be organized and be on time, for both playing and officiating matches. Any teams that fail to do this are deemed to be bringing the competition into disrepute. This will result in a number of penalties on teams including forfeiting deposits, point deduction during matches and from total Pool/Group tallies, suspension and disqualification. All penalties occur accordingly in the following manner:

    A) Playing teams:

    1. If a team of six players (including at least three women) is not present at the playing court on-time, the opposing team will be awarded 2 points per minute of delay until the set’s opening serve. This applies to both timed and un-timed matches.

    2. If the team is still not present after 5 minutes of the start-time, it will FORFEIT its DEPOSIT and also automatically forfeit the set by:

    o 0-20, in the case of timed 2-set matches
    o 0-25, in the case of un-timed best-of-3-sets matches
    o 0-25, in the case of un-timed best-of-5-sets matches

    3. Un-timed matches ONLY - If the team is still not present after 10 minutes of the start-time, it will then automatically forfeit the 2nd set by:

    o 0-25, in the case of un-timed best-of-3-sets matches
    o 0-25, in the case of un-timed best-of-5-sets matches
    Note – In timed matches, the 2nd set will have a scheduled start-time alike the 1st set; hence penalties 1 & 2 above re-apply.

    4. Un-timed best-of-5-sets matches ONLY (Finals) - If the team is still not present after 15 minutes of the game-start-time, in un-timed best of best-of-5-sets matches only, it will then automatically forfeit the 3rd set by 0-25.
    Note – In timed matches, there are no 3rd sets.
    Note – In un-timed best-of-3-sets matches, a 3rd set will not be needed, by virtue of a 0-2-forfeit score line having already been determined.

    5. Score sheets – The captain of the winning team at the end of a match will be handed the score sheet by the officials and left responsible for making sure the score sheet is brought to the control desk and handed to a member of the Blitz Committee. If the score sheet is NOT returned before the start of the proceeding matches, BOTH teams will be deducted 1 point from their Group/Pool points tally.
    Note - In the case of a draw match during the Group/Pool stages, both team captains must agreeably appoint a person to send the score sheet to the desk. If this cannot be organized, BOTH team captains are obliged to return the score sheet to the desk together.

    B) Officiating teams:
    Positions:
    Teams that are scheduled to officiate a match are responsible for ensuring that ALL of the following positions are taken up prior to the start of the according match:


    · 1st referee (essential)
    · 2nd referee (essential)
    · Scorekeepers (1 essential)
    · 2 Line judges

    Duties:
    As well as refereeing, the match officials must ensure that:
    · Matches are started on time (as soon as the control desk announces/alerts the starting of matches)
    · Matches are ended adequately; rallies MUST continue if the end-game alert comes during a rally. Rallies start from the moment that the 1st referee blows the whistle for a team to serve the ball.
    · Score sheets are given to the Captain of the winning team of the match; if the match is drawn, the officials must ask BOTH captains to discuss and agreeably appoint somebody to bring the score sheet to the control desk.

    Penalties:
    1. If a scheduled team-to-referee fails in their responsibility to have at least the three essential positions filled within 1 minute of the match start time, the team in question will be deducted 2 Group/Pool points AND FORFEIT it’s DEPOSIT.

    2. If the team fails to have at least the three essential positions in place for the match after 5 minutes, the team will be deducted a further 2 Group/Pool points.

    3. If the team fails to have at least the three essential positions in place for the match after 10 minutes, the team will be SUSPENDED from playing in the tournament until either:


    o The end of the stage of the competition that they are currently partaking in
    OR
    o The end of the day’s play.

    The above will be determined by the soonest to occur from the start-time of suspension. All games affected until the end of the suspension will be considered as walkovers to the opposing teams, as follows:

    o (0-20, 0-20) in the case of timed 2-set matches
    o (0-25, 0-25) in the case of un-timed best-of-3-sets matches
    o (0-25, 0-25, 0-25) in the case of un-timed best-of-5-sets matches

    4. The team must referee all further games that it is scheduled to do so, regardless of its stance from any suspension imposed, as in penalty 3 above. If the team cannot comply with this, or offends repeatedly, it is deemed to be bringing the competition into further disrepute and will result in its DISQUALIFICATION from the tournament.

    NOTE – Once the Blitz Committee is made aware of lack of officials, it will immediately seek replacement referees until the appointed referees turn up. Regardless of these efforts of the Committee however, penalties will still be imposed accordingly to the team that fails in their relevant responsibility.

    The penalties may seem severe but are more so considered as fair and just, in a major effort to rightly keep the competition running smoothly for the sake of the Blitz and the partaking players’ enjoyment.