The Rhino League

Points can only be scored by the serving team. The team that reaches 15 points while leading by at least 2 points wins the game.

The first team to win 2 games wins the match.

League play is intended to be 6 on 6. Teams may play with as few as 4.

Fewer than 4 players will result in a forfeit of the match.

The primary distinction is between front row and back row positions. The number of front row positions is always 3. The number of back row positions will ordinarily be 3, although a team fielding 5 or 4 players will have only 2 or 1 back row positions.

Players in the back row may not block. Players in the back row may only attack if, in leaving the ground, both feet are behind the attack line, which is 9'10" from the net.

Players in the back row may hit the ball over the net from within the attack line if their contact is not an attack, namely if the ball is below the top of the net.

At the moment of the serve, players' locations on the court must match their position. For example, the front left player must have some part of their foot closer to the left sideline than the front center player, and some part of their foot closer to the net than the back left player.

Once the server has struck the ball, players may move as they wish, but a back row player is still restricted from blocking and from attacking within the attack line.

Upon regaining the serve, also called achieving a side out, the receiving team must rotate one position clockwise as viewed from above.

Exception: upon gaining the serve for the first time in a game, the team has the option of staying in their starting positions.

Players may also rotate on or off the court to allow the participation of more than 6 people. The rotation order and location should be set at the beginning of the game and maintained throughout that game.

Players may be designated for exclusion from rotating out of the game. After a side out, these players simply move to the next position. Again, such patterns must be maintained throughout the entire game.

Contact with the net by any part of a player's body other than hair will result in loss of the point.

Exception: if the ball hits the net and pushes the net into contact with the player, that is not a net violation.

You cannot reach over the net except to block an attacked ball. Even then, you must not interfere with the hitter. You can only block the ball after the hitter has made contact.

Once the ball breaks the plane of the net, you may block or hit it. Thus, when the ball is over the net, both teams' front row players may hit or block it, subject to the rules regarding consecutive contacts.

You can only pass under the net to the extent that some part of your limb is still in contact with your side of the court. Some part of your foot must still be directly under the net.

The rule against passing under the net is arguably the single most important one, and the rule with the least room for flexibility. Players striding under the net create serious injury risk.

Historically, net violations have also been one of the biggest sources of disputes on the court. Please respect the game and your opponents and call your own net violations. It will make the game safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

The server is the player in the back right position, or the equivalent position on a 5 or 4 player team, after rotation.

The server may stand or jump from anywhere behind the back line and between the imaginary extension of the side lines.

A serve that hits the net is in play.

The receiving team may not block or attack the serve. It is fine for the receiving team to set the served ball.

Volley for the first serve or court side choice. The ball must pass over the net 3 times without attack. After that, continue the point as usual.

The winning team may choose to serve first or choose their side of the court.

Sides and first serve alternate in subsequent games.

In the third game, switch sides every 5 scored points. This rule may be ignored if both teams agree.

You can only play for one team. Once you have played a single point for one team at any time in the season, playing for any other team will result in a forfeit of the latter match.

This is really the only rule regarding who can play on what team, and this openness is one of the more charming things about the Rhino League. With that freedom comes the responsibility to uphold the spirit of the league.