Junior Volleyball Rules

Libero and Number of Games Per Opponent Rules

• Junior volleyball teams follow USA Collegiate play and substitutions rules. The rules, which junior players adhere to, are the same as those for a school varsity team, regardless of the age of players on a specific junior volleyball club team. Players 15 and younger play the best two out of three games per opponent. Teams with players age 16 to 18 play the best three of five games at junior volleyball tournaments. A "Libero" is permitted for junior volleyball teams of all age levels. A "Libero" can't serve the ball, but can be rotated into the back row for multiple players without counting against the maximum number substitutions allowed per game. Fifteen substitutions are permitted per game at junior volleyball sanctioned events.

Background Check Rules and Regulations

• All coaches, chaperons and volunteers associated with a junior volleyball club must obtain a clean background check before being permitted to form a club or work with a team. Any adult with a felony conviction and/or some types of misdemeanor convictions will not be approved to coach or aid a junior volleyball team.

Recruiting and Tryout Rules

• Specific rules for recruiting players must be followed or the junior volleyball club could lose their sanction to compete or be involved with the nationwide junior Olympic volleyball organization. Boys and girls teams can participate in the highly competitive volleyball league, but cannot recruit players either verbally or by letter during the player's regular school season. Tryout dates and publication of tryout information to school coaches and media outlets are tightly regulated. Junior volleyball clubs can't hold tryouts until at least November 15 or each year, or after the state high school volleyball tournaments have ended.

Age and Ability Rules and Regulations

• Players age 18 and still in high or middle school can play on either national or regional junior volleyball teams. The national level teams are permitted to travel further and play at the highest skill level offered through the USA Volleyball organization. Regional teams can request to participate in national level tournaments as well as participate in regional tournament play. Players can play on a team only at or above their age level or they will be banned from the organization. Some regional junior volleyball leagues allow player's age division to be determined by grade level and not birthday. Most leagues require a copy of the player's birth certificate be presented when registering to play. A participation fee is required for both adult coaches and players. Players can't be placed on a roster until the fee is paid and the registration form is faxed or mailed to the junior volleyball region headquarters.

Roster Rules and Guidelines

• No more than three players from any one school district can play on a junior Olympic team. Teams must be comprised of at least six players. The only exception to the three-from-one school rule is for teams comprised of players in sixth grade or younger. Sixth-grade players can play on a higher age level team without counting against the maximum number of players permitted from a single school. If a junior volleyball club offers more than one team per age level, three players from a single school can play on each participating club team. The three player per school rule applies to each team and not the club as a whole (i.e. nine players from a single school can play for the same club, but they have to be on separate teams). If a player violates the three-from-one school rule, their middle or high school eligibility will be in jeopardy. Coaches can be banned from coaching at the school level if they allow such a violation to occur.