Special Olympics athletes compete in volleyball and a variety of other sports during the Summer Games. The rules for team volleyball are adapted from those of the Federation Internationale de Volleyball, the international governing body for the sport. Matches are won by teams that win the best three-of-five sets. Sets are played to 15 or 25 points. Teams need a two-point advantage to take a set. Many other rules govern Special Olympics volleyball games.
Team Divisions
Before competitions, coaches submit players' scores from four Volleyball Skills Assessment Tests for serving, passing and other moves. Coaches also identify a team's six best player and puts stars next to their names. Special Olympics officials determine a "team score" by adding the top eight players' VSAT scores and dividing that total by eight. Teams are grouped into divisions based on VSAT team scores, according to the Special Olympics Summer Sports Rules.
Substitutions
Competitions are adapted from FIVB rules for substitutions. Substitution rules allow for unlimited individual entries by a substitute player, though only 12-team substitutions are allowed per set. An unlimited number of players are allowed to substitute into a single position. A player who is in the starting lineup can re-enter the game, but only to the same position he started in. Likewise, a substitute who has left a court may re-enter but must return to the position he previously played. Coaches can assist athletes as they move in position for substitutions.
Players
Matches start with six players. In all competitions except Special Olympics World Games, a team can continue with five players in the event of an injury. Teams cannot continue play with fewer than five players.
Service
A server has 8 seconds to contact the ball after the referee's whistle, according to the Special Olympics Summer Sports Rules. The server is the right-back player. He continues to serve until the set ends or her team commits a violation. Then the service alternates to the other side. The team that receives service has the right front player rotate into the right back serving position.
General Play
In general play, the volleyball can be hit with any part of the body. A team cannot play the ball more than three times before sending it over the net. When a ball hits the ceiling, it is considered playable unless the ball crosses the net's plane. Balls that hit the side or back walls are out. A ball landing on a line is considered good. Any legal hit can be used to return service. The Special Olympics Summer Rules recommend using a forearm pass to return a hard-hit serve.
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