Surrey Elementary Schools Athletic Association

​SESAA Volleyball

Welcome to the SESAA Volleyball information site.  You will find some helpful information on this site to help you with your season.
Please check out the updated SESAA 2024-2025 Handbook for rules.
PLAYING AREA
  • Use the outside lines of the badminton courts.
  • Court boundary lines should be free from obstructions. At the discretion of the referee, the server may take one step over the serving line.
  • Teams are allowed to start practicing, 2 weeks prior to the season starting.

EQUIPMENT
  • The net height is to be 2.10 m for boys and girls.
  • The net is to be tight at both the top and bottom.
  • The ball shall be a size 5, Volley-lite, properly inflated.

GAME TIME
  • Time outs are to be limited to 2 per game.

TEAM COMPOSITION
  • A team may consist of 15 players maximum.
  • Only five players may play on the court at any one time.
  • The fifth player will rotate as a front-line middle player (setting position).  The front-line middle player has the flexibility to rove between the front middle and back middle of the court during game play.  
          -   During game play, in referencing Volleyball Canada, the person in the middle front (setter position) must be in front of the attack line until the ball is
              served by the opposing team.  As soon as the server makes contact with the ball, they may move into the back zone of the court.  At the start of the play,
              they could essentially have their feet on the attack line and then move further back once the server makes contact with the ball. ​
  • Only 1 team may be entered in the Celebration Play Day.
  • During the Celebration Play Day, schools shall be grouped by school size, in their zone.
  • Refer to ARTICLE E of the SESAA Constitution.
SUBSTITUTIONS
  • Unlimited substitutions may be made at the service rotation during league play.
  • If using positional substitutions:
           -  The original player, for whom there was a substitution, may return in the same game, but must return to his/her previous rotational position.
           -  Each team may make unlimited substitutions in each game, but only when the ball is dead.
  • A player may be substituted at any time to replace an injured player. The new player must take the same position on the floor as the player (he/she) replaces.
  • One person could be substituted in only to the serve position and then be substituted out for the same player that they substituted in for. It is possible then for a player to play almost every minute of the game and not have one serve at all.
SCORING
  • Use rally point score keeping method
  • Games to 21 points

THE SERVE
  • The ball may be served with any part of the hand (open or closed) from any location on the back line.
    • Players must wait for the referee's signal to serve. In case of delivery before the referee's signal, the serve shall be retaken.
  • A toss of the coin will be used to determine first serve. The team winning the serve does not rotate before beginning the play. The second serving team must rotate when they win the serve.
  • No blocking or spiking the serve.
    • Defensive team must receive a serve with a bump or volley, and may not return the serve with a spike.
  • To improve the game, five serve rule is in effect during league play and Celebration Play Days.
  • Back rows may spike the ball above the net if behind (2 m) attack line.
  • Net serve is a valid serve.

​ZONE PLAY
  • All schools participating in Zone Play are automatically registered for Celebration Play Days.
  • Zone play will accommodate 'B' teams and should allow them in the schedule. Schools are encouraged to have more than 1 team so that all students wishing to play may do so. The 'B' league will also accommodate a weaker team when a school has 2 teams and/or it will accommodate schools who wish to just enter a relaxed level of play and don't want the pressure of competition. The rules will be different and the game will be played in a basic skill development format.
  • Coaches are free to call and arrange other games during the season. How many games a team plays after the one is up to the coach. All games played should follow league guidelines where possible.

​Celebration of Volleyball Tournament

​Schools will be broken into Large, Medium and Small groupings by population in their zone, grade 5-7. Coaches meeting to start, review rules, and define rules for Celebration Playday.
  • Volunteer Host Schools (a system of mandatory hosting). Each zone according to size needs to take a turn hosting a Celebration Play Day.
  • Run from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
  • 3-4 schools at a venue (each school is allowed one team)
  • All athletes receive a bracelet, i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd or participation.
  • Skill challenges. OPTIONAL.
  • Guest Speaker. OPTIONAL.
  • Skill development and court movement encouraged for a full court game.
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TIMELINE

1:00-2:00 Round Robin Games
2:00-2:30 Skill Challengers (example: most free throws, soccer passing) OPTIONAL 2:30-2:45 Guest Motivational Speaker OPTIONAL
2:45-3:45 Round Robin Games continued
3:45-4:00 Awards and Prizes

​Co-Ed Option Volleyball Rules

  • Volleyball is a developmental sport, which emphasizes education and skill development
  • We believe as co-ed coaches in co-op-etition
  • We are striving to build relationships and friendships amongst the schools
  • We support one another as coaches
  • We hold to the ideals of SESAA as laid out in the handbook under “Coaches Code” and agree on following through with these ideals
  • All Canadian Volleyball and District rules apply.
  • Co-Ed Option Modifications:
          - minimum of 2 of each gender, to a maximum of 5 players total, on the court at all times
          - Girl for girl and boy for boy substitutions either rotationally or following substitutionary rules listed above
          - follow league guidelines where possible