MERSEYSIDE VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE (“MVL”) COMPETITION RULES
(Approved – 10 October 2012)
ITEMS IN BLUE ARE A REMINDER TO TEAMS ON RULES WHICH HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN ENFORCED IN RECENT SEASONS.
ITEMS IN RED WERE RULE CHANGES SUBMITTED TO, AND AGREED BY, THE A.F.M.ON 10.10.2012.
ITEMS IN GREEN WERE AMENDMENTS MADE TO THE SUBMITTED PROPOSALS, AGREED BY THE A.F.M.ON 10.10.2012.
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A. ANNUAL MEN’S & WOMEN’S WINTER LEAGUES:
1. DIVISIONS:
The number and size of Divisions will be decided at the Annual Fixture Meeting (“AFM”).
2. SEASON:
a. The Winter Leagues will run from October to 15th May inclusively.
b. Fixtures may begin as soon as after the AFM as teams agree.
c. Fixtures must be arranged to be played before 30th April.
d. Only approved re-arranged matches will be allowed from 1st to 15th May and these must have prior permission from the relevant Results Secretary.
e. All matches must be completed by the 15th May or they will be declared void.
3. FORMAT OF MATCHES IN THE WINTER LEAGUES:
a. Matches will be played to FIVB Rules, except where stated differently in these rules.
b. Teams should book a minimum of 2 hours of court time for a home match.
c. Matches will be best of 5 Sets, with the first four (4) sets being played first to 25 points, with 2 clear points; and the fifth (5th) set being played first to 15 points, with 2 clear points.
d. Each other team in the Division will be played once at home and once away, unless agreed differently at the Annual Fixture Meeting
e. Any match, which starts on time, but is unfinished when the 2 hour court booking ends, should be replayed on another date, with the costs being met by the home team if it started on time, but by the away team if it arrived late.
f. Such replayed matches will be played the best of 3 sets, starting at 1 set all (25 – 0; 0 – 25), but being recorded as the best of 5 sets.
g. However, if both teams agree in advance, then the 2 fixtures may be played as a “Double Header” at the same venue on the same evening.
h. “Double Headers” will be played the best of 3 sets, starting at 1 set all (25 – 0; 0 – 25).
i. “Double Headers” scores, however, will be recorded as best of 5 sets (see “f” above.)
j. The home team must book enough time for the “Double Header” (at least two and a half hours.).
4. START TIMES:
a. Teams are not obliged to accept “fixture start times” before 7.00 pm on weekdays.
b. However, an earlier start will be allowed if both teams agree at the Annual Fixture Meeting or in advance.
c. The “fixture start time” arranged at the Fixture Meeting is the time at which the venue becomes available for warm-up.
d. The "start proper time” of the match should be 15 minutes after this to allow for warm-up.
e. e. Teams should be changed and ready to play at the "start proper time”.
f. f. Any team not ready to play 15 minutes after the "start proper time” shall lose the first set.
g. g. Any team not ready to play 30 minutes after the "start proper time” shall lose the second set.
h. h. Any team not ready to play 45 minutes after the "start proper time” shall lose the match 3 – 0.
i. i. All sets in clauses 4e / 4f / 4g (above) shall be recorded 25–0.
5. SCORESHEETS:
a. All matches will be scored on “MVL STANDARD SCORESHEETS”. (These can be found on the MVL Website under “MVL INFO / DOWNLOADS / MATCH SCORESHEET STANDARD / pdf Format”)
b. After the match the scoresheet must be signed by the referee and both captains.
c. The fixture secretary of the WINNING team is responsible for ensuring that the scoresheet is correctly completed and for keeping it until the end of the season.
d. Both fixtures secretaries must relay the result electronically to the relevant Results Secretary:
EITHER by E.MAIL , including the score (e.g. 3 – 0; 25-12, 25-15, 25-23) and the names of the teams, date of the match & venue.
OR by the electronic “MATCH RESULTS RETURN FORM”. (These can be found on the MVL Website under “MVL INFO / DOWNLOADS / MATCH RESULTS RETURN FORM / Excel Format”)
e. Results should be sent in as soon as possible after each game
f. TEAMS FAILINGTO RETURN THE RESULT WITHIN 1 WEEK OF THE MATCH WILL BE FINED.
g. THE MATCH IS VOID IF THE RESULT IS NOT RETURNED.
h. Any complaints and disputes or red and yellow cards shown during the match, should be noted on the scoresheet by the referee with an accompanying explanation.
i. Such complaints and disputes or red and yellow cards shown during the match should be copied & sent electronically with the result to the relevant Results Secretary.
6. MATCH OFFICIALS:
a. First Referee: In all divisions, home teams must provide a competent First Referee, either VE Qualified, or submitted for approval at the Annual Fixture Meeting.
b. Scorer: In all divisions, home teams must also provide a competent Scorer.
c. If possible, a Second Referee & 2 linespersons should be provided.
d. If the First Referee is ALSO the coach of the home team, this must be made known to the away team before the match. He/she may call time-outs & substitutions, but may not coach otherwise during the match.
e. If the First Referee is NOT the coach of the home team, he/she must not be involved in coaching in any way.
7. LEAGUE POINTS: Teams will be awarded:
a. 3 league points for a win or successfully claimed match.
b. 2 league points for a win with only 5 players in the team. (See Rule 13 below.)
c. 1 league point for a lost match (if played),
d. 0 league points for a conceded or void match.
8. FINAL LEAGUE POSITIONS:
Final League Positions are decided on 16th May in the following order:
a. Team with the most League Points gained will be the Champion.
b. If 2 or more teams are equal on League Points, a Play-Off will be organised by the League.
N.B. This is to end the unfairness if 1 team has claimed or been awarded matches 3 – 0; or if a double-header has been played.
9. TEAMS WITHDRAWING FROM THE LEAGUE OR FAILING TO COMPLETE FIXTURES:
Any team which withdraws from the MVL during the season, or plays less than 75% of its fixtures (including void and conceded matches) will have its results expunged and be placed at the bottom of its division.
10. PROMOTION AND RELEGATION:
a. Promotion and relegation between all Divisions will normally operate on a 2 up, 2 down basis.
b. Teams finishing 1st or 2nd in each division have the right to be promoted, but the MVL accepts that in exceptional circumstances clubs should be allowed to remain in a lower division it they so choose.
c. The merits of both teams not wishing to be relegated, and also those finishing below 2nd place in a lower division but wishing to be promoted, will be considered in filling any vacancies which arise in higher divisions.
11. CANCELLATIONS AND RE-ARRANGEMENTS:
a. Dates of fixtures arranged at the AFM should be adhered to and only be re-arranged IN
EXCEPTIONABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
b. If both teams agree to change the date in advance, they may do so if the relevant Results Secretary is informed by both teams in advance.
c. If one team disagrees to the change of date, the matter should be referred to the League Chair for arbitration.
d. Fixtures may only be rearranged once by each of the teams involved. Any team wishing to rearrange a fixture for a second time (i.e. a fixture which that team has already rearranged) will concede the match.
e. Games cancelled less than 72 hours before the date agreed at the AFM will be automatically conceded by the cancelling team.
f. Both teams should inform the relevant Results Secretary of the cancellation.
g. The team causing the cancellation will be responsible for meeting any irretrievable costs of the fixture (e.g. sports hall hire, referee’s fees, unnecessary travel, etc.)
h. To claim reimbursement from the offending team, the opponents should claim in writing or by E.mail to the League Chair.
12. COURTS AND EQUIPMENT:
The Executive Committee will issue and update a list of courts / venues which will be either:
a. Suitable for all League & K.O. Cup matches.
b. Suitable only for League matches below the First Division.
13. TEAMS WITH ONLY 5 (five) PLAYERS:
IN UNAVOIDABLE CIRCUMSTANCES, teams may play matches with ONLY 5 players BUT:
a. 5 player teams will be awarded ONLY 2 league points for a win,
b. 5 player teams may count ONLY 2 players as front line players.
c Scoresheet / Result Sheet / E.mail of match including a 5 player team should signify this.
d If a team knows in advance that it will have ONLY 5 players, its opponents should be advised in advance.
e. If a team (through injury) is reduced to 5 players, it may continue to play but receive ONLY 2 league points for a win.
14. CLUB TEAMS IN THE SAME DIVISION:
If 2 or more teams from the same club are in the same Division, the matches between these teams MUST be played by the end of November.
15. FIXTURE SECRETARY AND SECOND CLUB CONTACT:
a. All teams must provide details of their FIXTURE SECRETARY and a SECOND CONTACT, ELECTRONICALLY to the relevant Results Secretary within 3 days of the AFM.
b. Details should include, name, address & postcode, Email address, home phone number, mobile phone number & work phone number (if relevant).
c. Teams wishing to change their Fixture Secretary or Second Contact during the season must ensure that the relevant Results Secretary and every other team in their division is informed of the change.
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B. REGISTRATION & ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS AND COMPOSITION OF TEAMS IN THE WINTER LEAGUES:
1. All teams must complete & HAND IN PART “A” of the “MVL Team Registration Form” at the AFM.
2. They must also complete & EMAIL PARTS “A” &”B” of this form to the relevant Results Secretary within 7 (seven) days of the AFM.
3. Clubs may subsequently register new players BY EMAIL to the relevant Results Secretary before these players play their first match.
4. If such new players have already been registered for another MVL club, the new club will be fined and may forfeit the match at the discretion of the relevant Results Secretary.
5. Clubs who enter 2 or more teams in the league must register separate A, B, C teams (etc).
6. Clubs who enter 2 or more teams in the league must “STAR” 4 players in each team except the lowest team. Such “STARRED PLAYERS” may play only for the team for which they are starred.
7. Clubs WILL be allowed to enter 2 teams in one division. In such cases, the “A” team will be regarded of higher status than the “B” team (etc.)
8. Clubs may appeal to the relevant Results Secretary. if they consider their opponents have unreasonably strengthened their team with players from a higher team.
9. Clubs may re-register “UNSTARRED” players for a different team within the same club only with the prior approval of the relevant Results Secretary.
10. Clubs may re-register “STARRED” players for a different team within the same club only IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, and with the prior approval of the relevant Results Secretary (who may refer the decision to the full Executive Committee).
11. No player may register for more than one team in the Men’s Divisions or one team in the Women’s Divisions, EXCEPT:
12. Women MAY register for a team in Men’s Divisions (including a different club from that which they are registered in the Women’s Divisions).
13. National League Registered Players MAY play as of right in Division 1 of the MVL.
14. If teams playing below Division 1 of the MVL wish to play National League Registered Players, they must have the prior approval of the relevant Results Secretary (who may refer the decision to the full Executive Committee).
15. All National League Registered Players must be IDENTIFIED in Part “B” of the initial “MVL Team Registration Form” at the AFM and emailed to the relevant MVL Results Secretary.
16. Any National League Registered Players, (or players who become National League Registered Players) who wish to register during the season, must have the prior approval of the relevant Results Secretary (who may refer the decision to the full Executive Committee).
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C. “TWINNED CLUBS”:
1. 2 (or more) clubs may apply for the status of “Twinned Clubs” at the AFM.
2. This rule is to enable clubs with a low number of Registered Players to “borrow” players from another club and use them, when short of players, as if they were members of the same club.
3. Such “Twinned Clubs” must “Star” players in the higher team who may play only for the team for which they are starred.