Intramural Sports - Volleyball Rules

Intramural Sports 

6v6 VOLLEYBALL RULES Updated: January 9, 2026 

OVERVIEW: 

Three weeks of pool play on the day and time that a team signed up for, followed by two weeks of single elimination playoffs at varying days and times in the evenings. All games will be played on the 3rd floor courts of the Hamel Recreation Center. It is expected that players will wear athletic shoes and activewear. It is recommended that you bring two different colored shirts, one light and one dark. Please arrive 15 minutes before scheduled game time to check in with the supervisor using UNH ID. You MUST bring your UNH ID. 

PLAYER AND ROSTER REQUIREMENTS: 

This is a 6 v 6 league. You may start the game with 4 players if you do not have enough of your team in attendance. If a team is unable to meet gender requirements, they may play down, but there can be no more than 4 of the same gender on the court. 

Mixed Gender Ratio 

  • When playing, no more than 4 players of the same gender are permitted to play on the court at a time. 

You may add players to your roster on site and on Fusion Play all season until playoffs. They just need to bring their UNH student ID to be added at check in. If your team does not have enough players, you may temporarily borrow players from another team or bring temporary players for that night. This is ONLY during regular season. Rosters become locked at the start of playoffs. 

Club and Division 1 Athlete Eligibility 

  • Division 1 volleyball athletes are not eligible to play intramural volleyball. Division 1 athletes from other sports may play intramural volleyball. 
  • Club volleyball athletes are eligible to play. However, there may be no more than 2 club players (men or women) on their intramural team roster. 

RULES: 

USA VOLLEYBALL RULES WILL PREVAIL WITH THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS: 

  • All games will use rally point scoring. No cap, a team must win by two. 
  • A match consists of the best 2 out of 3 sets. First two sets to 25 points, third set to 15. 
  • Each team must start the game with at least four (4) players. Teams may finish with less due to an injury or other reasons 
  • Net serve is in play. 
  • No pursuit rule. 
  • Liberos will not be used. 
  • If two opponents simultaneously contact the ball and it remains in play, the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If a ball goes out, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side. 
  • Back row players: 
  • A back row player can spike behind the attack line (10 Feet Line) only. At take-off the foot (feet) must neither have touched nor crossed over the attack line or its imaginary extension. After the attack, the player may land within the front zone. 
  • A back row player may also carry out an attack-hit from the front zone if, at the moment of the contact, any part of the ball is below the top of the net 
  • Each entry must be to the same position as the player exiting in the service order 
  • When the ball is contacted for a serve, each player must be in their own position. After a serve, a player may cover any section of their own court playing the ball. A deliberate change of rotation is a fault and can result in a point for the opposing team. 
  • Any ball landing on the line is considered inbounds. 
  • If the ball hits the ceiling on your own side, it is still in play. If the ball hits the ceiling when crossing over the net and lands on the other side, the point is awarded to the opposing team. 
  • You cannot block or attack a serve. 
  • When serving, the server must stand entirely outside the court behind the end line but within the sideline boundaries until they strike the ball. Stepping on the boundary line when serving is considered a fault and can result in a point for the opposing team. 
  • The ball may not be caught or thrown. 
  • Any part of the body may cross the center line, provided some part of the body remains either in contact with or directly above the centerline, and there is no interference with opponents’ ability to play the ball. 
  • Contact with the net by a player anytime they are in the action of playing the ball is a fault. 
  • Each team must rotate after they regain possession of the ball. 
  • Mixed teams must consist of at most 3 of one gender on the court at one time. 
  • Substitutions are to be made when the ball is dead in between serves after a point is scored 
  • Unlimited substitutions are allowed for a team 

 

PENALTIES: 

  • Verbal Warning may be issued for minor unsportsmanlike behavior. 
    • Yellow card is issued for repeated misconduct or offensive conduct Defamatory or insulting words or gestures 
    • One point is awarded to the other team. 
    • Red card (automatic ejection)- is issued for a 2nd yellow card or extremely offensive conduct. Intramural discipline procedures will follow. 
    • The ejected player must leave the playing site/building within five (5) minutes 

PLAYOFFS: 

Playoffs will start week 4 of the season. Games will be scheduled at different times than regular season to accommodate seeding and facility schedule. Single elimination bracket. Schedule is subject to change. Check Fusion Play daily. ROSTERS ARE LOCKED. Champion teams will be awarded shirts and a Domino's pizza party. Only players who have played in the final game will get shirts. 

FORFEITS: 

If a team forfeits in week 1, they will be removed from the league. Week 1 is considered commitment week. 

When a team forfeits a game, they will be emailed by the intramural staff. It is required that the team captain replies to the email within 24 hours. If intramural staff does not receive a reply within 24 hours, the team will be removed from the league and replaced by a team on the waitlist. 

A team that forfeits twice will be automatically removed from the league. 

If your team is unable to play and must forfeit, please email unh.intramurals@unh.edu by noon on game day so we can try to find another team to fill your spot. 

Teams with any number of forfeits ARE NOT ELLIGIBLE FOR PLAYOFFS. 

Don’t have enough players? There are options! You can play down players, bring new players on the night of your game, and/or borrow players from another team when you get to your game. New players should check in like any other player would with intramural staff. 

If a team fails to have the required number of participants at the scheduled game time, the opposing team who is present will have the following options: 

  1. Choose to wait 10 minutes until the opponent arrives to compete with the official game running as scheduled. The waiting team has the option to lead the first set 10-0. 
  2. If the opposing team is still not ready to play 10 minutes after the scheduled game time, the intramural staff will declare a forfeit win for the waiting team. No game will be played. 
  3. If both teams do not have the minimum number of players at game time and/or arrive late but get enough players within ten minutes of the scheduled game-time, the game shall commence with a starting score of 10-10 

SPORTSMANSHIP: 

Following each game, the intramural staff will rate each team on their sportsmanship with a 0-5 score. The default score for all teams successfully completing a game is 4. Teams receiving a 0, 1, or 2 rating twice in the same season, will be removed from the league or playoffs. Depending on the severity of the incident, a team may be removed from the league and/or face additional sanctions for only one unacceptable rating (0-2). 

  • Teams will receive a 0 rating for a game that is forfeited. This includes for reasons of no-show, disqualification, or misconduct. 
  • Teams are required to have an average sportsmanship of 3 or higher to be considered for playoffs. 
  • Scores are given based on the discretion of intramural staff and cannot be contested. 

Good sportsmanship is required of all participants. Players and spectators are always to conduct themselves respectfully. UNH Campus Recreation reserves the right to suspend or disqualify groups or individuals for unsportsmanlike conduct at any time. Unsportsmanlike conduct before, during, and/or after a game will not be tolerated. 

By participating in intramural sports, players agree to follow all Campus Recreation policies and those outlined in the UNH Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities. Prohibited behavior includes but is not limited to: consuming or being in possession of alcohol, nicotine, and other prohibited substances, physical or verbal altercations, vandalism, theft, or unauthorized participation. 

The decision of an official or intramural staff member to eject a player or spectator for any unsportsmanlike conduct (be it verbal or physical) will be firmly upheld by UNH Campus Recreation. All ejected players must leave the playing area/facility. Individual players’ conduct may impact team eligibility to remain in the league. 

If you have any questions regarding intramural policies or rules, please contact unh.intramurals@unh.edu or Gabby Merrill (Intramural Sports Coordinator) Phone: (603) 862-2038 or email: gabby.merrill@unh.edu