🌟🌟 Beehive's Golden Rules 🌟🌟

Be nice to each other,

Be nice to your referees,

Show up on-time, 

Know the rules.

Game Play

• Games are played with two individuals on each team. Breakdown of gender does not matter as the league is coed.

The Serve

• The serve must be made underhand.
  • Paddle contact with the ball must be below the server's waist (navel level).
  • The serve is initiated with at least one foot behind the baseline; neither foot may contact the baseline or court until after the ball is struck.
  • The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
  • Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a let (the ball touches the net on the serve and lands on the proper service court; let serves are replayed).

Service Sequence

• To start the games one player serves and has the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault or lose a point..
• The first serve of the first player's turn to serve is made from the right side of the centerline.
• If the point is won, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left side of the court.
• As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed or they lose the point.
• When the first server loses the serve the second team begins to serves from the right side of the court and keeps serving until their team loses a point.
• The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault or loses a point.
• Once the service goes to the opposing team, the first serve is from the right side of the court and both players on that team have the opportunity to serve and score points until each server loses a point.

Scoring

• Points can be scored by either team regardless of who is serving. This is rally scoring format.
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MONDAY LEAGUE: Teams will play one 50 minute match per week. Matches are best of 3 games. The first two games will be played to 21. Winner must win by 2. If a third game is necessary, that game is played to 15. Win by 2. If the third games isn't necessary but there is still time in the match window, play another game for fun!

TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY LEAGUES: Teams will play two 25 minute matches per week. Matches are best of 3 games. The first two games will be played to 15. Winner must win by 2. If a third game is necessary, that game is played to 11. Win by 2. If the third games isn't necessary but there is still time in the match window, play another game for fun! The 25 minute matches may be back-to-back or a team may have a 25 minute break in between matches. 

Two-Bounce Rule

• When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.
  • After the ball has bounced once in each team's court, both teams may either volley the ball before it touches the ground or play it off a bounce.
  • The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.

The Kitchen

• The Kitchen is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
  • Volleying is prohibited with one's feet in the Kitchen. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position in the Kitchen.
  • It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps in the Kitchen or has a foot on the line.
  • It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the Kitchen, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.
  • A player may legally be in the Kitchen any time other than when volleying a ball.

Line Calls

• A ball contacting any line, except the Kitchen line on a serve, is considered in.
  • A serve contacting the Kitchen line is short and a fault.

Faults

A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.

• A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.
• A fault by the serving team results in a point for the returning team.

Determining Serving Team

Teams will play rock, paper, scissors before gameplay begins to determine serve.

Substitute Players

Subs are welcome to join Beehive during the regular season for up to 3 weeks. They can fill in for any reason without needing to notify us. Just show up with a good attitude and a basic knowledge of the rules. 

If they wish to continue playing they need to join the roster by registering on the website. No, we don't have an enforcement mechanism for this except our trust in your human integrity.

During the playoffs the following stipulations will be strictly observed:

• You must have all playoff subs approved before the start of playoffs. (This means your team should have a chat before the playoffs to ascertain if/when roster players aren't going to make games so the captain can find subs/contact the league with appropriate requests).

• There is a limit on the number of subs that you may request (Kickball/Softball/Flag Football - 3 subs; Soccer/Dodgeball/Sand Volleyball/Indoor Volleyball/Futsal/Basketball - 2 subs; Cornhole/Darts/Pickleball - No subs are allowed).

• You cannot request subs if you have enough rostered players to field a team. For example: Kickball is a 10v10 sport. If you have 14 players on your kickball roster and 4 are injured, you cannot request subs as you still have 10 (enough to field a full team). If you have 11 on your kickball roster and 3 are injured, you may request 2 subs so that you have 10 players.

• Teams found to be in violation of any substitute player rules here can be retroactively forfeited from advancing (ie we find out after your first round game but before your second round game that you violated the rules, the team you beat will advance in your place).

• In the past, subs would only be approved for injury and illness. Now, subs will be approved for whatever reason you deem them necessary (work trips, concerts, weddings, etc all fine).

• The season being extended due to inclement weather doesn't change any of the other substitute player stipulations listed here.

• Approved subs (or your rostered players) must be used the entirety of the playoffs (you can't have Jane and Sally sub the first week of playoffs and Joan and Sarah the second week of playoffs). ​​​​​​​