The USA Volleyball Beach Rules are the governing body and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) modifications are listed in this bulletin. USA Volleyball Beach Rules - USA Volleyball Beach Rules and Interpretations

Spring Leagues: 4/19/26 – 6/29/26 (No games Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend) (nine weeks)

Summer I Leagues: 6/8/26 – 7/30/26 (No Game July 4 week) (seven weeks)

Summer II Leagues: 7/6/26 – 9/10/26 (No games Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend) (nine weeks)

General Sports Guidelines

Please visit our Adult Sports Guidelines for additional league information on the following topics:

• Team Manager Duties
• Forfeits
• Player Conduct
• Weather Guidelines

Game times - Sand

Wirth Lake Beach

• Sundays: 9am to 9:30pm
• Monday – Friday: 6pm to 9:30pm 
• Please note: Parking is limited at the facility. It is not legal to park on Glenwood Ave., people that choose to park on Glenwood could be ticketed. We recommend participants carpool to the facility. 

Bohemian Flats Park, Bottineau Park & McRae Park

• Monday – Thursday: 5:30, 6:30, 7:30pm 
• Please Note: Bohemian Flats (Bo Flats) Sand Volleyball Courts' parking lot is a pay lot. We recommend participants carpool, bike or walk to the facility. 

Game times - Grass

McRae Park

• Thursdays: 6pm to 9pm 

Questionable Weather

• Please check our game and program status webpage - Game Status Page 
• The status of the evening matches will be updated by 4:30pm. The status of matches on Sundays will be updated one hour before the first match.
• If there are weather cancellations, teams that do not play at least eight matches (during the nine-week season) or six matches (during the seven-week season) will be credited a portion of their registration fee to their account for each missed match once the season is complete.

Divisions (in order of difficulty)

• Women
• Men
• Open
• Co-Ed  

Skill Levels

• Level A: Skilled players who understand, but may not have completely mastered the dynamics and strategies of both 5-1 or 6-2 offense. This division focuses on more position specific roles, defensive and offensive strategies and serve receive rotations. 
• Level Upper B: More skilled and competitive than our B division
• Level B: Players who have learned the basic skills of serving, passing and making three contacts with a team strategy of defense, offense and rotations that will make them successful. (Upper and Lower B divisions are offered on some nights) 
• Level Lower B: Player who have some experience playing the sport and/or new to the game
• Level C: Players who are relatively new to the game of officiated volleyball or in the process of learning the basic skills of accurate serving, passing, making three contacts, creating a consistent strategy and team environment

Roster Information

• All players must be listed on the roster before competing
• All rosters must be completed by the third scheduled match
• Six Person: Teams may register 12 players on roster / four players to start play 
• Four Person: Teams may register eight players on roster / two players to start play 
• Two Person: Teams may register six players on roster / two players to start play

Forfeits: 

• If for any reason, a team fails to have the required number of players on the court by five minutes after the scheduled match time, a penalty of two points per minute will be assessed until that team is ready to play. At 20 minutes after scheduled start time, including five minute grace period, the match is forfeited. 
• If during play a team becomes incomplete due to disqualification or expulsion of a player, and substitution cannot be made, the team loses the match by default
• Two forfeits and you may be removed from the league

Sand & Grass House Rules

MPRB Leagues follow USA Volleyball Beach Rules Rule highlights / exceptions / modifications listed below:

Match Format - Regular Season Play

• Four and six person teams receive a five-minute warm-up with 55 minutes of playing time 

Scoring 

• Rally scoring will be in effect at all levels of play, winning by two points
• Three games will constitute a match with all three games counting in the standings
• All three games up to 25, capped at 27
• The third game will be dictated by time. The team that is ahead at the end of the time will win. 
• Two-person teams receive five-minute warm-up with 45 minutes of playing time

Scoring

• Rally scoring will be in effect for best of three matches
• First two games to 21 points (if needed third game to15 points or dictated by the 45-minute match time)
• Each team is given one time out per game

Match Format - Tournament Play (four person and six person play)

• Best of three games constitute a match (third match if necessary)
• All teams receive a five-minute warm-up with 55 minutes of playing time for the best of three matches
• First two games up to 25, capped at 27
• The third game up to 15, capped at 17 (if necessary) UNLESS the match reaches the 55-minute limit
• If time is running out, the official will cap the third set at a new score (under 15 points) and allow the teams to play to the new capped score
• If time expires before the match is complete, the team that is ahead will be the winner
• Officials will give teams a five-minute warning before time expires
• Coin toss will determine the first and if necessary, the third game(s)

Points of Emphasis:

Player Safety

• Players may not enter another court, even after contacting the ball
• Players may not step on any concrete surface, even after contacting the ball
• Players with any type of cast / brace must gain approval from league director

Serving

• Only one toss or release of the ball is allowed. Dribbling or moving the ball in the hands is permitted. 
• The server may not step on or over the service line before the ball is contacted
• If a served ball hits the net and goes over, it is a legal serve
• It is legal to set the serve as a receiver
• A player may not attack the opponent's serve when the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net
• An inadvertent serve before the whistle is not a fault and the serve will be replayed

Out of Bounds

• The ball is out if it passes beyond the net outside the posts
• The ball is out of bounds and becomes dead when it touches a non-player or an obstruction outside of the court
• The ball is in if it hits the line
• If the line moves, the ball is considered in, unless the movement of the line was clearly caused by a player's action or by the ball hitting a bungee cord securing the lines

Ball Handling

• A double hit is allowed on any first team contact, provided it is not two separate attempts to play the ball
• The ball must not be caught and/or thrown. It can rebound in any direction
• A team's second team hit may touch more than one body part only if the ball remains on the same side of the net. A fault will be called if the double-contacted ball crosses the net or is legally touched by an opposing blocker during the second or third attempt.

Play at the Net 

• Players cannot touch the net
• Players may not cross the center line while the ball is in play
• Incidental contact with an opponent is ignored, unless such contact interferes with the opponent's opportunity to play the ball
• While opposing players are not required to avoid the ball or player, they cannot intentionally interfere with any legal attempt to play the ball or their court
• When blocking, a player may touch the ball beyond the net, provided they do not interfere with the opponent's play, before during the attack-hit

Co-Ed Play: Four-person Rules 

• Teams must have at least two women on the court at all times. There is no maximum number of women allowed on the court. Teams can have a maximum of two men on the court at one time. 
• Open hand tips are illegal
• Any contact that causes the ball to rebound is legal, including roll shots, knuckles or stiff fingers
• A contact of the ball using the fingers of one or two hands to direct the ball toward a teammate is a set
• A players may set the ball in any direction toward their team's court
• Setting over the net for any reason is not allowed and will be considered a fault
• There are no restrictions on player alignment, but teams must maintain the correct service order
• All substitutions must be the same gender, female for female or male for male
• Unlimited substitutions are allowed

Co-Ed Play: Six-person Rules 

• Teams consist of three women and three men
• A minimum of four players must be on the court to start play
• At least two women must be on the court at all times. A team cannot have more than three men on the court at one time. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture. 
• Team members on the court must be separated by gender
• When the ball is played three times by a team, a female must make one of the contacts. A block is not considered one of the three contacts.
• When only one male player is in the front row at service, one male back row players may be in front of the attack line for the purpose of blocking
• All substitutions must be same gender, female for female or male for male
• Unlimited substitutions are allowed
• Rotation or one for one substitution may be used for teams with more than six players. The method must be chosen at the beginning of the match and be used for the entire match.

Open Play: Six-person Rules

• Teams must have four players on the court to start play
• There are no specific gender rules regarding the following:
• Ball Contact
• Serving order and/or court position
• Contact of the ball during blocking shall not constitute playing the ball
• Contact of the ball during blocking does not count as one of the three team contacts

Self-Officiated Leagues

Four-Person and Six-Person Sand or Grass Rules

Conduct

• All players are on their honor and need to make calls on their side of the court
• Managers need to be responsible for their team and settle disputes. If it cannot be settled, replay the point

Rules

• Follow USAV and MPRB House Rules listed above

Two-Person Rules

Forfeits

• If a team does not have the minimum number to start on the court at the scheduled match time, the team will forfeit the first set of the match. If the team is still not ready to play after 10 minutes, the team will forfeit the match.

Scoring

• Rally scoring will be in effect for best of three matches.
• First two sets played to 21 points (capped at 23 points)
• Third set played to 15 points (capped at 17 points)
• Each serve must result in a point, side-out or replay
• Teams will keep score verbally. The server must announce the score before every serve.
• Teams are responsible for keeping an accurate score and correctly recording the final score in Team Sideline
• An MPRB staff member will keep the game clock for all matches
• Each team is permitted one 60-second time-out per game

Substitutions

• There are no substitution restrictions as long as one player does not occupy more than one position in the service order during a single set. Teams may use rotation or one-for-one substitution. 

Positioning 

• Players are free to position themselves anywhere on the court
• There are no restrictions on player alignment, but teams must maintain the correct service order
• There are no restrictions on which players may participation in a block or an attack

Ball Handling

• Open hand tips are illegal
• Any contact that causes the ball to rebound is legal, including roll shots, knuckles or stiff fingers
• A contact of the ball using the fingers of Oen or two hands to direct the ball toward a teammate is a set
• A player may set the ball in any direction toward their team's court
• Setting over the net for any reason is not allowed and will be considered a fault

Conduct

• All players are on their honor and need to make calls on their side of the court
• Managers need to be responsible for their team and settle disputes

MPRB League Directors reserve the right to make additions and/or changes for the betterment of the program.

MPRB offers volleyball tournaments outside of the regular season.

2026 Tournaments

• May 16, 2026: Adult Sand Volleyball: Happily Ever After: A Fairytale Sand Tournament

Tournament Details

• Four games guaranteed
• Pool Play: 3 matches with 2 games up to 21 capped at 23 (30-minute limit)
• Bracket Play: Best of 3 (45-minute limit)
• First 2 games up to 25, capped at 27 Third game up to 15, capped at 17 (if necessary) UNLESS the match reaches the 45- minute limit. 
• The league director will be aware of the time and may have to end the game due to the time limit. 
• Coin toss will determine 1st and if necessary, the 3rd game(s). 
• We are governed under the rules of the United States Volleyball Association (USVA) w/ MPRB modifications. 
• One timeout per match (1 min)
• Roster Limit: 12 players per team

Divisions: Open & Co-Ed (in order of difficulty) 

• Upper B. Skilled players who understand, but may not have completely mastered the dynamics and strategies of both 5-1 or 6-2 offense.
• B. Players who have learned the basic skills of serving, passing and making three contacts with a team strategy.
• Lower B / C. Players who are relatively new to officiated volleyball or learning the basic skills.

House Rules/USAV Rules

• Players cannot touch the net.
• Players may not cross over the center line when the ball is in play.
• Rotation or substitution must be chosen at the beginning of the match.
• All participants must be 18 years of age and older.
• Each team gets one timeout per game.
• Blocking, spiking, and attacking are not allowed on the serve.

MPRB Co-Ed Play: 4 & 6 person Rules

• Unlimited substitutions are allowed.
• 6-person: Co-Ed teams must have at least two women on the court.
• 6-person: Teams must have 4 players on the court to start play.
• 6-person: When the ball is played three times by a team, a female must make one of the contacts. Contact of the ball during blocking shall not constitute playing the ball.
• 6-person: Rotation or substitution may be used for teams with more than 6 players. The method must be chosen at the beginning of the match and used for the entire match.
• 6-person: Team members on the court must be separated by gender. (Exception: 5 players on the court)
• 4-person: Teams must have 3 players on the court to start play.
• 4-person: Setting over the net is considered a fault.
• 4-person - Co-Ed teams must have at least two women on the court.
• Unlimited substitutions are allowed.

MPRB Open Play: 6 Person Rules

• Teams must have 4 players on the court to start play.
• No specific gender rules regarding ball contact, serving order, or court position.
• Prizes / Awards1st & 2nd place teams per bracket.
• If themed, prizes for best costume and team name.

MPRB League Directors reserve the right to make changes for the betterment of the program.

Game Locations

Sand Leagues

Wirth Lake Beach (3200 Glenwood Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55405)

McRae Park (906 E 47th St., Minneapolis, MN 55407)

Bohemian Flats Park (2150 West River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55454)

Bottineau Park (2000 Second St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418)

Grass League

McRae Park (906 E 47th St., Minneapolis, MN 55407)

Sand Volleyball Courts

Sand Volleyball Court Calendar