Volleyball Rules and Regulations 

Court and Equipment

• Court Size: Standard court size for both 3rd–4th and 5th–6th grades.
• Serving Lines:
• 3rd–4th Grade: Basketball 3-point line (18’10” from net).
• 5th–6th Grade: Basketball free throw line (24’9” from net).
• Note: Foot faults will be called from the first game.
• Net Height: High school regulation height for both grades.
• Game Ball:
• 3rd–4th Grade: Softplay volleyball.
• 5th–6th Grade: Regulation volleyball.

Uniforms and Jewelry

• Players must wear the program-provided game tee shirt/uniform with numbers.
• Knee pads are required for all players.
• No jewelry or objects that may cause injury or provide an advantage are allowed (no exceptions).

Game Format and Scoring

• Coin Toss: Conducted by the referee with team captains. Home team picks side; visiting team calls the toss to choose serve or receive. Teams switch sides for Game 2. A new coin toss occurs for a third game, with home team picking side.
• Match Format: Best 2 out of 3 games.
• Games 1 and 2: 25 points, win by 2, cap at 30.
• Game 3 (if needed): 15 points, win by 2, cap at 17.
• Scoring: Rally scoring (point scored on every play, offensively or defensively).
• 3rd–4th Grade Serve Limit: Servers can score up to 5 points; then a side-out is called (no point awarded for side-out).
• Minimum Players: No minimum required to start, but teams may play with up to 6 players regardless of opponent’s roster size.

Line-Up, Rotation, and Substitutions

• Line-Up: Submit serving order to scorekeeper 5 minutes before the match.
• Rotation:
• Teams rotate before their first serve.
• 3rd–4th Grade: After a side-out or max 5 serves, a new player enters the back-row middle, and the server (back-row right) exits. No other substitutions except for injuries; all players must rotate.
• 5th–6th Grade: Substitutions follow CHSAA rules; players must check in per high school rules.
• Rotation Violations:
• First violation: Warning, players corrected, play resumes.
• Second violation: Loss of ball, point awarded to opponent, and any points from incorrect serve removed.

Playing the Ball

• Touches: Maximum 3 touches per side (4 if a block occurs). A block does not count as a touch.
• Consecutive Touches: No player may touch the ball twice in a row, except on a block.
• Simultaneous Touches: Count as one touch; the primary toucher cannot take the next touch.
• Illegal Hits: Carries and illegal hits will be called.
• First Touch: Playing the ball back on the first touch is allowed.

Net Play

• Players may not touch the net (except loose hair, e.g., ponytails).
• Players may step on or partially over the center line but cannot fully cross into the opponent’s court.
• Attacking or blocking a serve is prohibited.

Overhead Obstructions

• A ball hitting the ceiling or obstruction on the hitting team’s side remains in play if legally hit next by the same team.
• A ball hitting the basketball rim’s face, side, or bottom stays in play if on the hitting team’s side.
• Otherwise, the ball is dead, and a point is awarded to the opponent.

Linespersons

• 3rd–4th Grade: One referee required.
• 5th–6th Grade: Two referees required.
• Each team provides a linesperson (13+ years old), positioned at the left back corner opposite the serve. Linespersons do not switch sides; referees may overrule linesperson calls.

Out-of-Bounds

A ball is out-of-bounds if it:

• Touches the wall, wall-mounted objects, or floor outside the court.
• Touches the net antennas or does not cross the net within the antennas.

Timeouts

• Two 30-second timeouts per set per team.
• Exceeding timeouts results in loss of ball and a point to the opponent (if serving) or a point to the opponent (if not serving).
• Injury/Bleeding: Official timeout; wounds must be covered, and blood-stained items replaced before a player returns.
• Between games: Maximum 3-minute break.

Referee Oversight

• Referees (16+ years, qualified) conduct the match; their decisions are final.
• Coaches may request a call explanation or lineup check but cannot question or justify calls during the game.

Flag Football Rules and Regulations

Field and Game Format

• Field Size: 40 yards by 20 yards, with 10-yard end zones.

• Game Duration: Two 20-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime. The clock stops only during timeouts.

• Scoring: No score is kept to focus on fun and skill-building!

• Timeouts: Each team gets two 1-minute timeouts per half.

• Players: 8 players per team on the field. If one team has fewer players, both teams must play with the same number.

• First Downs: Achieved by crossing the midfield line or either 10-yard line (field divided into 4 sections).

• Kick-Offs: Start from the kicking team’s 10-yard line; the ball must travel at least 10 yards.

Equipment and Uniforms

• Flags and Belts: Must be worn outside jerseys, visible at all times. Shirts and belt straps must be tucked into pants/shorts.

• Safety: No jewelry or objects that could cause injury are allowed.

Gameplay Rules

• Tackling: A player is tackled when one flag is removed by an opponent. If a flag falls off without contact or the player falls, the ball is dead at that spot.

• Eligible Players: All players can catch passes, run, or kick the ball.

• Punting:

  • No punting allowed after crossing the midfield line (unless pushed back).

  • Defensive team cannot rush the punter.

  • Offensive team cannot leave the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.

  • No onside kicks; defense automatically recovers.

• Kick-Offs and Punts:

  • Dead upon possession.

  • If untouched and entering the end zone, the ball is placed at the receiving team’s 10-yard line.

  • If touched and entering the end zone, the receiving team must down it (cover or touch a knee to the ground).

• Blocking: No cross-body blocks or leaving feet while blocking.

Defensive Line

• No defensive player may touch the offensive center until the ball is snapped and feet are set.

• Maximum of 5 players may rush; the other 3 linemen must stay 5 yards off the ball.

Substitutions and Conduct

• Substitutions: Allowed only between plays, not during live play. Coaches must substitute players exhibiting unsportsmanlike conduct.

• Spectator Conduct: Parents and non-participants are not allowed on the field. All coaches, participants, and spectators must act respectfully or will be asked to leave the park.

Referee Oversight

• Referees ensure fair play and enforce rules. Decisions are final, but coaches may request clarification between plays.

San Luis Valley Tee-Ball Rules

(5-7 years old)

Game Length

• Three innings. 

Lightning Protocol

• The Home team must monitor the lightning for the duration of warmups and games using a weather app.

• Lightning within 10 miles requires a 30 minute delay of game.  If lightning occurs again within the 30 minutes the clock restarts.  Game will be delayed a total of 40 minutes before being rescheduled/called as per the below guidelines.      

Batting

• All hitters will hit the ball from a batting tee.   The tee should be adjusted to such a height the batter will be able to swing level.  

• All rostered players present for the game shall bat in order, whether playing defensively or not. 

• There is no bunting

• An inning is over when both teams bat their entire line up.  The last batter of the inning will run all the bases until he /she reaches home base. Batting helmets must be used at bat and as base runners.

• No stealing or leading off.

Fielding

• Nine (9) or ten (10) players are on the field at any one time, 6 infielders- including a catcher and 4 outfielders.  

• Each player present must play a minimum of two innings defensively.

• A coach may be stationed beyond the infielders in order to provide instruction to all defensive players.  

Coach Emphasis

• Basic fundamentals should be taught, emphasizing format of game.  

• Drills should include those that will build hand & eye coordination.  Such as self-toss, coach toss and partner toss.

Field

• The field of play is shared by an infield and an outfield and is separated into fair and foul territory.

• The field is similar to dimensions of a youth baseball / Little League type field but with only 50 feet between the bases.

• The diamond is a square with a base at each corner.

• The bases include first, second, and third base. They are made of canvas, soft, 15 inches square and appx. 2½ inches thick and may be fastened in place.

• The playing line is an imaginary line running between first base and third base. It can also be an arc, a curved circle extending out 40 feet from the point of home plate.

• Home plate is made of white rubber, is five-sided and is set flush with the ground. It is 17 inches wide across the edge facing the infield, 8½ inches long on each side and 12 inches long on the sides of the point facing the catcher.

• The center of the pitcher’s area is 38 feet from the point of home plate.

• The batter’s boxes are to be 5 feet long by 3 feet wide. The batting tee is placed on home plate, 2 feet from the front edge of the boxes and 3 feet from their rear border.

• The outfield is the wide area of the playing field beyond the diamond and most distant from home plate.

• If there are any outfield fences, they shall be 115 to 125 feet from the batting tee.

• The foul lines extend from home plate past first and third bases. Fair territory is the playing field within and including the foul lines; foul territory is the area outside the foul lines.

• A foul strike area is within an imaginary or drawn arc between the baselines, 10 feet out from the batting tee.

San Luis Valley Baseball Rules

(Coach Pitch 7-10)

Player Eligibility

• Age is as of June 1 of season year; proof of age documentation will be required, if age is protested. Documentation must be provided or shown to the team’s local coordinator within 24 hours of the protest or the game shall be forfeited and the player will not be allowed to play until age is verified (documentation shall be required within Coordinators and/or director of each town ONLY).

Sportsmanship

• All players, coaches and fans are expected to behave in a manner befitting of youth sports.  Any violations of this code will result in the ejection of that player, coach or fan from the park.

• The local site coordinator also shall have the authorization to enforce sportsmanlike conduct, to declare a forfeit, and to remove parents, coaches or fans if necessary.

• Negative cheering and taunting are considered unsportsmanlike conduct.

Umpires

• Hosting team will provide both a home plate umpire and an in-field umpire.  

• The umpire shall have the complete authority of the game, shall enforce sportsmanlike conduct, and has the right to declare a forfeit if necessary.

• Umpires will enforce a maximum of three adults in the dug-outs without pre-approval from the Sports Coordinators of both teams.  Head coach, assistant coach(es) and/or team ‘parent’.  All others will NOT be allowed in the dugout.  

Game Specifics

• Official time is kept by the HOME scorekeeper.  Umpire shall announce the game time at the start of the game, Time limit 5 innings or 90 minutes, whichever comes first, (see Run-rule below). A scorekeeper from each team will sit behind home plate. Final decision will be made by the home bookkeeper and Umpire. 

• Lightning Protocol

  • The Home team must monitor the lightning for the duration of warmups and games using a weather app.

  • Lightning within 10 miles requires a 30 minute delay of game.  If lightning occurs again within the 30 minutes the clock restarts.  Game will be delayed a total of 40 minutes before being rescheduled/called as per the below guidelines.      

• A game is considered regulation if each team has batted four times or at the end of 4th inning, in the event of game suspension due to adverse weather or unforeseen circumstances.  If the game is called in the 3rd inning, a new day will be established where the rest of the 3rd inning will be played.

Number of Players

• All players on the roster are allowed in the batting order. Up to 10 players on the field (4 outfielder).

• Team can start with up to 7 players. If a game starts with 7 players, the game will count, unless coaches agree to consider a game a forfeit by either team.

Batting Order:

• Continuous Batting Order will be used in all games.  This means a team must bat every single player on the roster at all times as part of the SLV Youth League’s mandatory play.  If you have 14 players on a roster, all of them bat, in the same order for the entirety of the game.

• Players can be swapped in and out of fielding positions without affecting their position in the batting order.  

• In a continuous batting order, you may not change the order that your players bat once it is set prior to the game start.  

Substitutions

• A player or players may be substituted during a game at any time the ball is dead.

Player Equipment

• All players must wear uniform shirts.  Baseball Pants or Sweatpants color may vary.  Cleats or tennis shoes are allowed; NO METAL STUDS CLEATS. Protective cups are required for all male participants, mouthpieces are encouraged.  All jewelry must be removed.

Catcher's Equipment

• All catchers must wear a catcher’s helmet, chest protector and shin guards.  When warming up a pitcher without the use of a fully-suited catcher, the temporary catcher, if a minor, must wear a catcher’s helmet.  Helmets with throat protectors are recommended.

Bats

• Wooden, aluminum or composite-must be up to 2 ¼” in diameter.  If aluminum or composite, the bat must be manufactured to achieve a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or less through its life.  All bats shall not be less than 25” nor more than 33” in length.  The handle of any bat may have a gripping material not to exceed 16” from the knob.  All bats must be free of dents, cracks or other defects.  Unmarked bats may be used unless they are challenged.

• Any batter who uses an illegal bat shall be called out and all runners shall return to the bases occupied by them at the time such batter took his position in the batter’s box if protested by the opposing team coach prior to the first pitch to the next batter.  The first offense shall result in a warning; the second offense shall result in the coach’s ejection.

Pitch Rules

• The Pitcher should be (at least one foot) on the mound, on either side of the mound during the pitch from the coach. 

• The coach shall not interfere with the play.  

• Ball will be considered dead after the ball is returned to the pitcher and the pitcher, if the base runner is already in motion, continues play.

• Strike Zone

  • The strike zone is that area over home plate which is between the batter’s armpits and the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance.  The umpire, along with coaches from each team, shall determine the strike zone according to setting the pitching machine at the beginning of the game and/or before first game pitch. 

• Pitching Distance/Speed

  • At least 30 feet from the front of the pitching plate to the rear tip of home plate.

  • All pitches from the coach must be thrown overhand. 

• Pitcher Conferences/Delay of Game

  • A coach shall be entitled to request time, on defense, to talk to his players twice during the same inning while the same pitcher is on the mound without penalty.  On the third request for time with the same pitcher on the mound, the pitcher should be replaced.

• Hybrid Option to Introduce Player Pitching

  • In innings 1-2, a player pitcher will pitch to the batter.  If the pitcher delivers 4 balls before the ball is put in play or 3 swinging strikes, the Coach Pitcher will finish the at bat for the batter.

  • The batter will maintain his strike count when the Coach Pitcher takes over the at bat.

  • Coach Pitcher will deliver a maximum of 5 pitches, until 3 swinging strikes, or the ball is put into play.  

  • A Foul Ball on the 5th pitch will grant the batter another pitch but they must swing or will be called out.

  • There are no walks in this division.  However, if the kid pitcher does hit the batter, the batter will be awarded first base.

  • Innings 3 and on will be straight Coach Pitch.

Offense Conferences/Injury Time Outs

• One time-out shall be allowed on offense to talk to a batter during the same time at-bat.  Requesting a second time-out to talk to the batter during the same at-bat shall result in the coach being removed from the coach’s box and placed in the dugout for the remainder of the game.

• A time-out because of injury or sickness or for the purpose of discussing a play situation with an umpire shall not be considered a charged time out for the purpose of this rule.  Also, coaches are cautioned that an umpire is the only one who can call time; coaches may only request that time be called by the umpire.

Dug-Outs

• Only Head Coach and Asst. Coaches are allowed in the Dug-outs.

Bunting

• Bunting Is allowed. 

• For safety purposes, batters will not be allowed to fake a bunt.  Once a batter shows bunt, he must; either attempt to bunt the ball or pull the bat back and allow the pitch to pass without swinging.  On the first occurrence, the batter will be warned; on the second, he will be called out.

Throwing the bat/Throwing a mitt or batting helmet

• A batter shall not throw the ball, regardless of whether it is intentional or unintentional.  On the first occurrence, the batter will be warned; on the second, he will be called out.

• If a fielder throws his glove, hat, or any other equipment in an unsportsmanlike manner, he will receive a warning for the first offense and on the second and subsequent offense, runners shall advance two bases.

• If a batter or runner throws a helmet in an unsportsmanlike manner, he will receive a warning for the first offense and on the second and subsequent offense, will be declared out by the umpire.

• The umpire has the authority to eject any player for unsporting behavior without prior warning.

Live Ball

• The ball is considered live after the umpire calls “play” and is in play.  The ball remains live until it is legally caused to become dead or at the umpire’s call, “time”, suspending play.  While the ball is dead, no player may be put out, no bases may be run, and no runs may be scored.  Exception: runners may advance one or more bases as the result of acts which occurred while the ball was live, such as but not limited to a balk, an overthrow, interference, a home run or other fair ball hit out of the playing field.

Leading off/Stealing

• There is NO leading off, NO stealing allowed. 

Overthrow Rule

• If a fielder overthrows a ball and the ball goes out of play, a runner shall receive a one base award.

• Once the ball goes back to the pitcher at the “mound” play ends and a new batter is up.

• Limited to one overthrow per play if it is in the field of play.  

Run Rule

• 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 after 4 innings, with the home team getting last at bat, except if ahead.  

Scoring

• There will be a five (5) run max per inning per team until the last inning.

3rd Strike Rule

• NO running allowed on the dropped 3rd strike ball.

Sliding

• For safety reasons, on close plays at 2nd base, 3rd base and home plate runners must get down and slide.  If not, the runner will be called out. NO HEAD FIRST SLIDES... (when going forward to a base only to retrieve back to their base from where they started).

Infield Fly Rule

• An Infield Fly is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, when there are less than two outs.  The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder stationed in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.

Protests

• A protest of a judgment call will not be heard; only protests of a rule interpretation can be made.  A coach should inform the umpire of a protest immediately, and no later than five minutes after the conclusion of the game.  Local coordinators should be notified by the next business day by coaches and/or officials.  An official ruling will be determined by a majority vote of the council of coordinators.

Ties/Tie Breakers

• Season games may end in a tie; tournament games may not.

• Tournament seeding will be determined by:

A. Win-Loss-Tie record percentage

B. Head-to-head winner between two teams with tied records

C. To break a head-to-head tie for two teams who also tied in a regular season game, each tied team’s record will be compared against other teams in descending order of the standings (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.); whichever team beat a higher seed shall surpass the other for seeding purposes

D. If all the above fails, a coin flip will be used

Home Team

• Hosting team on schedule will be Home team for season games. There shall be no coin toss.  The schedule-maker will make every attempt to balance total home and away games

End of Season Tournament

• In tourney play, the higher seed will have the home field/home team advantage.  There shall be no coin toss.  The tournament will be single elimination, including a game to determine third place.

• Monte Vista will host tournament championship games ON A SATURDAY afternoon.