Tournament FAQ

What is the tournament format?

• 1-day fun-first co-ed tournament - (minimum 2 females on the court at all times) and played on a co-ed height net - (2.43 meters) with a maximum team size of 7 registered before the tournament date

• Liberos are allowed, though the 2 minimum females on court must be observed at all times

• Tournament games are self-officiated; there are no referees. Each team is responsible for calling their own faults and outs

  • Please refer to chapter 3 and 4 of the indoor rule guide from Volleyball Canada - 2024-25_VC_Rulebook_EN_-_Final.pdf

  • If both teams agree - In compliance with NCAA’s new second contact rule, double contacts (“ugly sets”) on the second contacts are allowed as long as the ball remains on your side of the net. A ball being set/pushed over the net on a second or third contact must still be clean. Please discuss before the game begins.

• There are 24 teams per tournament, with 6 spots in each division (see below for division descriptions). Spots are filled on a first come first serve basis then a waitlist

• Each team is guaranteed 4 games (2 sets of 25 points) with the top 2 teams of each division playing a final game (1 hour to play best of 3)

• The is prizing for the top team in each division

• No maximum amount of serves per player and hard-hitting is allowed in all divisions

How are the divisions separated?

Team captains self-assess their team’s skill and sign up for the division most suitable.

• Division 1 - Most competitive. Equivalent to tier 1 or high tier 2 at the Volleydome. Highly skilled and play to win

• Division 2 - Competitive to High intermediate. Equivalent to tier 2 or high tier 3 at the Volleydome. Skilled play

• Division 3 - High intermediate to Intermediate - Equivalent to tier 3 or 4 at the Volleydome. Mostly skilled players but still want to have fun

• Division 4 - Intermediate - Equivalent to tier 4 or 5 at the Volleydome. Some skilled players, mostly for fun

Based on a team’s prior performance and roster, the organizers may request a change in division. If you have any questions about where your team should be placed please contact us!

What happens if I do not meet the minimum co-ed requirement?

• Teams must submit their roster before the tournament day, which must have 2 female identifying players

• On the day of, if teams are short a female player due to injury/illness, they must play with 5 players and abide to the ghost rule. When the missing female’s spot comes up in the serving rotation, it is an immediate side out and opponent receives the ball and point

What does “fun-first” mean?

• We prioritize inclusivity, support and friendly competition. Though there is prizing, there is no cash prize

• Though hard-hitting is allowed in all divisions, we ask players to be mindful of the skill level and experience of their opponents as they can be varying within the same division

• If you believe the opposite team missed calling a fault, please use kindness to ask if there was a possible missed call. If both teams cannot agree, re-serve the ball to allocate the next point

• All participants agree to be respectful to others and there is a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or abuse. Any issues can disqualify your team and you may be removed from the tournament with no refund

Is there anything else I should know?

• Refunds are a case-by-case basis but we will do our best to accommodate if the request is reasonable :) If something happens to a team we will do our best to help find you other players or replace the team

• Have fun!!