Referee Guidelines

ALL net violations must be called – no exceptions
NO underhand lift or reverse underhand throws are allowed. (The only exception is on a hard-driven ball.)
NO reaching over the net to interfere with a ball unless your opponent is directing the ball to your side of the court.
All games are rally scoring to 21 points (with no cap). Teams will change sides when one team scores their 11th point or as soon as it is realized that this point has been scored. In extreme weather conditions, the referees will be instructed by league officials to change sides every 7 points (cumulative i.e., 6-1, 5-2) or as soon as it is realized. Change sides without causing any delay, such as beverage breaks.
Teams always start a subsequent game on the side of the court where they finished the previous game. EXCEPTION – when the wind rule is in effect, captains will alternately decide to choose serve or side before each new game.
It is OK for a serve to hit the net.
The ball can be hit out of the hand on the serve and does not have to be released.
A server has 5 seconds to strike the ball. If a ball is poorly tossed, the server may allow the ball to drop or catch the toss. The referee will authorize a re-serve. A player is allotted one re-serve for each successful serve executed.
A serve before the ref’s whistle is replayed (once per term of service).
Serves may NOT be received with open fingers. Any return other than open fingers is allowed.
No centerline violation occurs unless there is interference with an opposing player.
Double hit on any first ball is OK.
A hard driven ball can be lifted or pushed.

GUIDELINES:

Coin toss should be at 6:20 p.m. whether the net is set up or not.
Actual start time should be noted on the score sheet. If the match starts late, please indicate which team/s were at fault.
There is only one coin toss per match. There is no re-toss before game 5.
Substitutions are made in the left and middle back positions only.
Two timeouts per game are allowed. Each timeout lasts one minute.
There are no rain dates. If matches are rained out the party is still on.
Rotate every side out, even the first one of the match.
Players must be at least 14 years old.
Game 1 may be played with 5 players with at least 2 women.
If a team questions the eligibility of any opponent’s players, the ref should ask all players from that team to sign the back of the score sheet. If the match has not begun, collect the signatures immediately. If a game is underway, collect the signatures after the game is completed. Do not wait until the match is over.
Referee assignments are at the discretion of the league and may change during the course of an evening, particularly in the case of a forfeited match.