Rules

General rules of the game: 

All matches in both categories (A and B) will be played according to the FIVB Volleyball Rules with the following specifications and exceptions:

• The net height is 2.43 m in the Category A and 2.35 m in the Category B. 

    • At any time during the match there must be at least 2 women on the court. 

    • Teams may play with 6 or 5 players.

    • A player is allowed to play only for one team during the tournament. 

    • If a team becomes incomplete, the organizers and the captains of opponent teams have to analyze the possibilities to add other player(s) to the team concerned.

    • Teams change court sides between sets.

    • The game starts at scheduled time, there is no warming up time.

    • The referee and captains of both teams must verify and sign the match record of every match once it has been finished.

    • The tournament organizers reserve the right to adjust the tournament playing mode during the tournament in case of a time delay, or for other reasons.

    • Other than the FIVB rule it is not allowed to pass a (part of a) foot over the middle line. This is to help less expirienced referees to decide if a foot fault happens.

Specific rules of the game in groups except finals: 

 • All matches in basic groups (A and B) are played for two sets (with a 2-0 victory or a 1-1 tie) within a maximum time of 25 minutes.

    • In all categories a set is won by the team, which first scores 15 points without 2-point difference (may end at 15-14) or has the highest score after 25 minutes. 

    • No time-out is allowed. 

    • For 2-0 victory the winner gets 2 points, for 1-1 tie both teams get 1 point. 

    • If any team in the basic groups is not present on the court at the scheduled time, when the referee starts the match, after the 5 minutes warm up, the missing team shall forfeit the first set with score 0-15. After 15 minutes of the scheduled time (5 minutes warm up plus 10 minutes of waiting), the missing team shall forfeit the match with score 0-2 (0-15, 0-15).

    • In group A a second round identical to the first will be played, and these points will added to the points in the first round.

    • In group B there will be 6 poules created based on the rankings from the first round, as follows: 

        ◦ The 6 teams that finished 1st will be devided in 2 poules supplemented by the 2 best 2nd placed teams; 

        ◦ The remaining 4 teams that finished 2nd will be devided in 2 poules supplemented by the best 4 third-placed teams; 

        ◦ The final 2 teams that finished 3rd will be devided in 2 poules supplemented by the 6 fourth-placed teams.

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Final ranking in groups is determined based on: 

     1. Higher number of sets won in all matches. 

     2. Higher quotient of ball points (won:lost) in all matches. 

     3. For tied teams: Higher number of sets won in mutual match(es). 

     4. For tied teams: Higher number of ball points in mutual match(es). 

     5. Result of drawing lots.

Specific rules of the game in the finals (1°-2° placement) of both categories: 

 • After the second round matches will be played to determine the final tournament ranking, where the top 2 teams from group A and the top 2 teams from group B will play the final.

    • Final matches for 1°-2° placement in both categories will be played for two sets to 25 points with a 2 point difference. 

    • In the case of a 1-1 tie, the deciding third set is played to 15 points with a 2 point difference. 

    • There is a 2 minute pause between sets

    • Two time-outs per team in a set are allowed.