Volleyball Regulations

2011 VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT REGULATIONS
SECTIONAL and DISTRICT

NOTE: The following regulations apply to all levels of tournament competition unless otherwise specified. These regulations have been adopted by the Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors on June 9, 2011.  The Commissioner is authorized to modify these regulations when it is deemed necessary by the Commissioner, subject to ratification by the Board of Directors.

1. ORGANIZATION OF TOURNAMENTS

A. The District Athletic Boards organize and conduct Sectional and District Tournaments (Constitution 7-7-1) in their respective districts, subject to the rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors.
B. The Regional and State Tournaments are under the control of the Commissioner’s office.

2. ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS

A. All participants must be eligible under the Bylaws and Sports Regulations of the OHSAA.
B. Only girls shall be eligible to participate in the OHSAA sponsored volleyball tournaments.
C. A student who uses anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs is ineligible for interscholastic competition until such time as medical evidence can be presented that the student’s system is free of anabolic steroids.

3. DIVISIONS

A. There will be four divisions, I, II, III, IV, in the Girls Sectional, District, Regional and State Volleyball Tournaments.

4. TOURNAMENT ENTRY AND PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS

A. Tournament Entry/Withdraw
1.  Member schools wanting to participate in the 2011 OHSAA Volleyball Tournaments must indicate their intent to participate on their 2011-12 OHSAA Sports Participation Card in myOHSAA. Tournament entry confirmation begins September 26, 2011 and ends October 3, 2011. Schools that change their tournament participation after October 3, 2011 will be subject to a $150 penalty.
B. Tournament Paperwork Requirements
1. Participating schools must provide the tournament entry form and OHSAA eligibility certificate to their sectional site manager per instructions.

5. OFFICIALS

A. Referees and Line Judges shall hold an OHSAA Class 1 Volleyball permit in all OHSAA Regional and State sponsored tournaments. THE DECISIONS AND RULINGS OF THE OFFICIALS ARE FINAL. Referees shall hold an OHSAA Class 1 Volleyball permit in all OHSAA Sectional and District tournaments.
B. Scorers, Timer-Scoreboard Operator and Line Judges should be trained, experienced adults (no high school students) in all OHSAA tournament series matches. OHSAA Class 1 or 3 permit Volleyball officials should be used whenever possible. Match officials for the Regional Tournaments will be selected from guidelines established by the Board of Directors and assigned by the Commissioner’s office.
 

6. REPRESENTATION TO REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS

7. PLAYER CERTIFICATION

A. The names of the 15 players who are to participate must be given to the manager before each match. Any 15 eligible players in uniform will be permitted on the playing court or bench for any set. Names and numbers of the 15 to play must be given to the scorer by the coach (NFHS Rule 7-1-1) 10 minutes before the end of timed pre-match warm-ups and the six starting players designated. These 15 may be changed throughout the tournament. It is the responsibility of the coaches and the tournament manager to insure that the number of players in uniform does not exceed 15 for each match. A player who exceeds the 15 player limitation for a match is an ineligible participant. If either team is over the limit, it must be corrected at once. Failure to comply with the regulation at any time after notification by the manager shall result in the forfeiture of the match.

8. SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE

A. No team or individual entry will be permitted to compete in a tournament unless accompanied by the coach or a person authorized by the Board of Education/governing board. Teams or individuals unaccompanied by such school representatives shall be disqualified. The school representative should be present throughout the tournament.

9. ADMISSIONS

A. PRICES – There will be no pre-sale tickets. Tickets at the gate will be $4.00 for students and $6.00 for adults.  These ticket prices are for both Sectional and District Tournament games.  Senior Citizens are to pay the adult fee, $6.00.
B. TEAM PASSES – Tournament Packets will include a PASS LIST which is to be used at all sessions. The official PASS LIST is to be certified by the administrative head of the school and will include typewritten names of all players, head coach, assistant coaches, manager(s) and the driver(s) transporting players.
C. Complimentary admission shall also be provided for the superintendent (2), principal (2), athletic administrator (2) and two others with proper identification.
D. SCOUTING PASSES – MUST be previously arranged with the Tournament Manager. NO SCOUTING PASSES WILL BE ISSUED AT THE GATE.
E. PARKING – NEDAB does not support parking fees assessed at District and Sectional tournament sites. If sites choose to provide fundraising opportunities to organizations a maximum charge of $2.00 should be charged and it should be clearly posted who the benefactor is for fees collected. Where a parking fee is required by municipal agreement (and exceeds $2.00) the NEDAB must be notified in writing of the arrangement prior to the start of the tournament.

10. REPORTING BRACKETS and TOURNAMENT CONTEST RESULTS – ELECTRONICALLY
A. All tournament managers are required to report tournament brackets, including date, time and location of contest(s), immediately following your tournament seed meeting to local media outlets as well as the NEDAB.

B. Contest results, with scores, are to be reported no later than 9:00am the morning following the contest to the NEDAB.  If your result is posted to the state website, MyOHSAA, then you do not need to inform the NEDAB.  If results are not on MyOHSAA you are to e-mail the NEDAB webmaster Genne Zimmerly at nrcn_gennez@tccsa.net

C. Managers should obtain media outlet information from teams at their seed meetings with regard to who should be contacted with brackets, results and other pertinent tournament information.

11. TEAM AWARDS

A. Only awards furnished by the OHSAA may be presented at the Sectional, District, Regional or State Volleyball Tournaments.
B. DISTRICT – Team trophies will be presented to the winning and runner-up schools in each district. Awards will be presented to the individual team members, head coach and manager.
C. REGIONAL – A trophy and game ball will be presented to the Regional winner. A trophy will be presented to the Regional Runner-up.
D. Individual awards may be ordered by contacting Croton Craft at 1-800-947-5521.

12. RULES OF PLAY

A. The 2011-2012 NFHS Volleyball Rules shall be used.

13. VOLLEYBALL

A. The official ball that shall be used for all volleyball tournament competition is the Molten IV58L-BKSV-OH Super Touch black, silver and white premium leather volleyball.

14. REQUIRED ELECTRONIC TOURNAMENT FORMS

NOTE: Failure to submit forms in the required format by the deadline established may result in a fine.
A. Sectional - All schools shall file the following forms electronically beginning with the first round of the tournament: Bench/Locker Room List, Team Pass List, Cheerleader Pass List (if applicable), Eligibility Certificate and Match Roster/Lineup Form. The tournament manager will transmit these forms electronically to the next level of the tournament. These forms can be found on the volleyball page of the OHSAA web site (www.ohsaa.org/sports/vb/girls/default.asp).
B. District - District Champions shall send the following: Program Information to the regional manager and Brenda Murray (bmurray@ohsaa.org): Team Photo; Team Photo Identification Form; Team Roster Form, School Information Form and Season Record Form. These forms can be found on the volleyball page of the OHSAA web site (www.ohsaa.org/sports/vb/girls/default.asp).

15. TOURNAMENT SEEDING AND DRAWING PROCEDURES
NOTE: The established date for all seeding and drawing meetings in Ohio is Sunday, October 9, 2011.
A. All teams assigned to the first round of the tournament shall be seeded. For purposes of seeding, the last matches to be counted will be those played on the date established by the District Athletic Board.
B. THE SEEDING METHOD FOR ALL OHSAA SPONSORED VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS is attached at the end of this document. 
C. Samples of brackets are on the OHSAA web site at:  http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/brackets.xls 
D. The tournament manager will distribute brackets to representatives of participating teams. All brackets shall designate date and time of match with the home team being listed on the top of the bracket.

16. MEDIA – SECTIONAL, DISTRICT AND REGIONAL

A. Reservations are to be made directly with the tournament manager.

17. VIDEOTAPE REGULATIONS AND TELEVISION

A. Regular Season Contests
1) It is permissible for a school or a school representative to videotape or film regular season contests in which the school team is participating, but may not be used for coaching purposes until after the contest is completed.
2) It is not permissible for a school or a school representative to videotape or film regular season or tournament contests of other school teams without the written consent of all schools participating in the contests.
B. OHSAA Tournament Contests
1) Videotaping or filming by participating schools. Videotaping or filming of tournament contests by one or more schools participating in the contest is permitted provided prior arrangements are made with the tournament manager and it is done at the expense of the school involved and a maximum of one individual per school is permitted.
C. Managers shall post signage regarding this regulation using materials provided by the OHSAA and shall insure that regular public address announcements are made.

18. VIDEOTAPING OR FILMING BY SPECTATORS
A. Shall be for personal use.
B. Shall not be used for the purpose of scouting or coaching.
C. Shall not interfere with the view of the athletic contest by other spectators.
D. The tournament site shall not permit the use of more than the seating space for which the spectator has paid when seating is needed for paid fans.
E. The tournament site accepts no liability for damage or theft of spectator’s equipment or injury as a result of privately owned equipment.
F. Equipment will not be permitted in any playing area – only in the spectator seating area.
G. The tournament site will not provide sources of power for video equipment.
H. Violation of this regulation may result in the removal of offender from the premises.
I. Managers shall post signage regarding this regulation using materials provided by the OHSAA and shall insure that regular public address announcements are made.

19. TELEVISION
A. Tape-delayed broadcast requests shall be made to the Tournament Manager. Live broadcast requests shall be directed to the Commissioner’s office.

20. RADIO BROADCASTING APPLICATION
A. Application for radio broadcast shall be made directly to the tournament manager by the radio station. If broadcasting space is limited, allocation of space shall be on a first come first serve basis.
B. If no broadcasting space is available and regular admission seats are available and must be displaced to provide space for broadcasting, the radio station shall pay the adult admission price for each seat displaced.
C. A maximum number of two seats may be provided for the working crew per contest.
D. After permission is granted to broadcast, the radio station is responsible for installation of lines and all expenses incurred.
E. No radio station shall be issued complimentary tickets in addition to space in the radio section nor should complimentary tickets be issued to personnel from stations not broadcasting the tournaments.
F. No sponsorships that include beer, wine, liquor, tobacco, patent medicines, political parties or candidates or any other advertising not considered in agreement with the philosophy of the high school athletic program are acceptable. This includes all direct broadcasting as well as tape replays of games.
G. The District Athletic Boards and the OHSAA reserve the right to discontinue the broadcasting by any station considered to have been in poor taste of incompatible with the educational dignity and propriety of the Association.

21. PHOTOGRAPHERS
A. Flash pictures of the players shall not be taken during the progress of the sets and/or matches, except where photographers use speed light cameras. This ruling is meant to protect the vision of the players.
B. Photographers desiring to take pictures shall make previous arrangements with the respective tournament manager. The number of photographers and their locations shall be determined by the tournament management.

22. SIGNS AND BANNERS

A. Signs, school banners, balloons, pennants, shakers, debris such as confetti, noisemakers such as horns, bells sirens, drums, etc., are NOT PERMITTED! SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE REMINDED TO EMPHASIZE THIS AT SCHOOL PEP RALLIES, ASSEMBLIES, BULLETINS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

23. WARM-UP PERIOD

A. The warm-up period between the end of the first match and the beginning of the next match shall not exceed 20 minutes. Adequate time for warming up shall be provided all competing schools. For Sectional and District Tournaments, a 20-minute warm-up on court by both teams is recommended. The 20-minute warm-up shall be divided into the following designated times in order:
1) 4 minutes – both teams ball handling on their side of the net
2) 7 minutes – the team serving first has the whole court
3) 7 minutes – the receiving team has the whole court
4) 2 minutes – both teams serve across the net (one team on each side)

24. PRACTICE (Sectional – District)

A. There will be NO PRACTICE SESSIONS permitted at any Sectional or District site other than pre-game warm-up.  

25. OHSAA TOURNAMENT MATCH LIMITATIONS

A. In all OHSAA sponsored volleyball tournaments, teams will not be permitted to participate in more than two matches per day.

26. INTERRUPTED MATCHES

A. When a volleyball match is interrupted and cannot be resumed due to events beyond the control of the responsible administrative authority, the match shall be resumed from the point of interruption. The score and lineup will be the same when it is resumed as it was at the moment of suspension.

27. UNSPORTING CONDUCT PENALTY
A. During participation in OHSAA tournaments any student or coach ejected or disqualified for unsporting conduct or flagrant foul shall be ineligible for contests the remainder of that day as well as for all contests in volleyball until the next two regular season/tournament contests have been played.
B. Individuals ejected or disqualified for unsporting conduct or flagrant foul shall be reported to the OHSAA Commissioner by the tournament manager. The Commissioner will investigate the situation and may impose additional penalties in accordance with Bylaw 12 if the situation warrants it.
C. Participation in an athletic contest is a privilege. Each individual is expected to conduct him or herself in an exemplary manner while participating.

28. PROPERTY DAMAGE

A. There is no insurance covering property damage. If property is damaged at a tournament site by competing school teams, student body or spectators, the school from which the students and/or spectators come shall be liable and pay the cost of repair or replacement. The tournament manager is authorized to deduct from the school’s share the cost of any damages caused by competing schools. Other damages to facilities not attributed to a competing school could be a legitimate tournament expense and may be deducted from tournament receipts. If damage is extensive, the District Athletic Board or Board of Directors will become involved. Student crowd control at state sponsored tournaments is the responsibility of the administrative heads of the competing schools.

29. SPONSORSHIP AND RIGHTS

A. The Ohio High School Athletic Association is the sponsoring association for the Sectional, District, Regional and State Volleyball Tournaments. The OHSAA reserves all rights in regard to the management of these tournaments and the sale of any items or any audio-visual reproductions. Any sale of food, clothing, souvenirs or any other items is strictly prohibited without permission of the respective District Athletic Boards for Sectional or District Tournaments and the OHSAA Commissioner for the Regional and State Tournaments.

30. PROHIBITED ADVERTISING

A. There shall be no advertising through printed media, billboards, radio or television that includes beer, wine, liquor, tobacco, political parties or candidates or any other advertising contrary to the philosophy of the high school athletic program.

31. RAFFLES PROHIBITED

A. There shall be no raffles or any type of games of chance permitted at the site of tournament contests during the period beginning one hour prior to the tournaments and ending one hour after the tournaments have ended.

32. PROHIBITED SALES

A. The sale of, the distribution of, or the consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs is not permitted at the site of any contest involving OHSAA member schools.

33. SPECTATOR ATTIRE

A. Shirts/appropriate attire shall be worn by all spectators at all OHSAA indoor tournaments.

34. FAILURE TO APPEAR

A. If a volleyball team fails to appear or is not ready to play within 30 minutes of the scheduled starting time of the tournament match, the space on the bracket may be declared vacant. A “no contest” shall be declared, and the opposing team shall advance into the next round of competition. See “No Contest” under Section 32 of the General Sports Regulations. All decisions relative to this regulation shall be made by a member of the respective District Athletic Board or the OHSAA Commissioner’s office.  The OHSAA, in collaboration with the administrative staff, District Athletic Boards and /or Board of Directors, and the tournament manager, may delay or reschedule a volleyball tournament match provided it is practical to delay or reschedule such a match.