League Information

• 18+ (All members of team must meet age requirements)
• 8-10 week season
• Fall Season: September-December
• Winter Season: January-March
• Spring Season: April-June
• 6x6 play
• Leagues will be officiated (MPRB Certified Officials)
• Skill Levels: A, Upper B, B, Lower B & C (see rules for division descriptions)
• Divisions: Co-Ed, Open (no gender restrictions) & Women

League Options & Schedules

• Fall League Options
  
• Winter Leagues Options 
• Spring League Options
• League Schedules

League Games and Times:

• Leagues are offered Sunday - Thursdays
• Match times for the evening leagues may begin between 6pm to 9:30pm on weeknights and 11am to 9:30pm on Sundays
  

Adult Indoor Volleyball League Information & Rules

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

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

General Information:

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Leagues follow USA Volleyball Rules with highlights and MPRB modifications listed below:

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 a five-minute grace period, the match is forfeited. 
• If during play a team becomes incomplete due to disqualification or expulsion of a player, and substitutions cannot be made, the team loses the match by default
• Two forfeits and you can be removed from the league
  

Match Format - Regular Season Play

• All 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 sets will constitute a match with all three sets counting in the standings
• Scoring for each set will be up to 25, capped at 27
• The third set will be dictated by time, with the team that is ahead at the end of the allotted time winning
• Each team is given one time-out per set

Match Format - Tournament Play

• Best of three games will constitute a match (third match if necessary)
• All teams receive a five-minute warm-up with 55 minutes of playing tie for the best of three matches
• Scoring
• 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 set
  

Points of Emphasis:

Player Safety

• Players may not enter another court, 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 or block 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 of the posts
• The ball is out of bounds and become dead when it touches a non-player or an obstruction outside of the court
• The ball is in if it hits the line

Ball Handling 

• Three hits are allowed per side and blocking is not considered one of these hits
• 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.
• Any player may contact the ball with any body part, above or below the waist
• 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 attempts to pay 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 or during the attack hit

Co-Ed Play:

• Co-Ed teams must have four players to start play (maximum six on the court)
• You will need at least two (2) women on the court at all times
• A team cannot have more than three males on the court at one time. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture.
• 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.
• USAV Rule 1.4 - When only one male player is in the front line at service, one male back row player may be forward of the attack line for the purpose of blocking.
• Unlimited substitutions are allowed
• Rotation or substitution may be used for teams with more than six players. The method must be chosen at the beginning of the match and used for the entire match.
• When there are three women and three men on the court and an odd number of players on the side, women can only sub for women and men can only sub for men.
• Team members on the court must be separated by gender
• Follow USAV rules

Women's Play:

• Teams must have four players on the court to start play
• Rotation or substitution may be used for teams with more than six players. The method must be chosen at the beginning of the match and used for the entire match.
• Unlimited substitutions are allowed
• Follow USAV rules

Open Play:

• Open leagues do not follow any specific gender rules
• Teams must have four players on the court to start play
• Rotation or substitution may be used for teams with more than six players. The method must be chosen at the beginning of the match and used for the entire match.
• Unlimited substitutions are allowed
• 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
• Follow USAV rules
• 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

Tournament Details

• Three 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 3 matches 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 during bracket play (1 min)
• No timeouts during timed pool play
• 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 Reminders

• 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.
• Blocking, spiking, and attacking are not allowed on the serve.

MPRB Co-Ed Play: 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)
• 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.

Divisions

• BB/A Division
• B Division
• C Division 

Team Rosters

• Each team is allowed a maximum of 12 players on their roster
• The expectation is to field the team from its submitted 12-person roster
• Should you not be able to field a team of six using your roster, the following options are available to get your team to six players:
• C League 
• You can pull one B league player to play with your team. This player is not allowed to block or jump attack. This player is not allowed to play during playoffs. 
• You can pull a player from another team's roster to sub as long as permission is granted by the opponent team's captain. Captains should inform the up referee of this request/agreement in advance of the start of play. 
• B League
• You can pull C league players up to play with your team 
• You can pull a player from another team's roster to sub as long as permission is granted by the opponent team's captain 
• Captains should inform the up referee of this request/agreement in advance of the start of play
• BB League 
• You can pull B (or C)-league players up to play with your team 
• You can pull a player from another team's roster to sub as long as permission is granted by the opponent team's captain
• Captains should inform the up referee of this request/agreement in advance of the start of play
• As a point of clarification, you cannot pull a random, un-rostered BB player to play on your team 
• Teams that are found to violate the aforementioned rules will risk forfeiting the set/match. 
• In the BB/A division, you may have multiple A-level players on your roster, however, A players must be spread evenly across BB teams, and only one A level player may play in a single match. (Note: A match consists of three sets in regular season play and two to three sets in tournament play). 
• All players participating in playoffs MUST have played at least one match during the regular season
• Rosters are considered final at the start of week three. Only exception to this rule will be if player(s) are permanently injured (for the season). In this instance, the player can be replaced on the roster. Healthy players on vacation are still part of the team. They cannot be counted as absent for regular season or tournament play. 
• Rosters must consist of players First Name, Last Name and a valid email address. If a player is listed on more than one roster, they will be communicated to via email to validate which team they are truly a member of. 

Player Rating

• NAGVA & Rainbow League ratings count towards a player’s individual rating 
• A player’s rating is the division they:
• Are rated in for NAGVA or
• They have played in for rainbow league in the last SIX seasons WHICHEVER IS HIGHER 
• A player’s rating is what they are rated at the end of the registration period for that season. If a player gets uprated (in NAGVA) during the Rainbow League season, their previous rating will remain in effect through the end of the season. 
• Unrated players “rating” will be determined by vote of the captains of lower-level league they are trying to play within. A-level players must spread equally across all BB teams (max of 1 per team). Email RainbowLeagueMN@gmail.com to begin this process. 

Player Rating Examples

• Scenario: You've played BB in Rainbow League within the past six seasons and are rated B in NAGVA
• Rating: You are BB for Rainbow League

• Scenario: You've never played Rainbow League and are rated BB in NAGVA
• Rating: You are BB for Rainbow League

• Scenario: You've never played Rainbow League and are rated B in NAGVA. You get uprated to BB before the end of the registration period for the upcoming season.
• Rating: You are BB for Rainbow League

• Scenario: You've never played Rainbow League and are rated B in NAGVA. You get uprated to BB after the end of the registration period for the upcoming season.
• Rating: You are B for Rainbow League

• Scenario: You are un-rated in NAGVA and have never played in Rainbow League
• Rating: You are considered unrated and may play in whichever division you choose. However, if you are deemed to be playing in a league too low for your skill level by a vote of the division's captains you are playing in, you will be required to move up.

• Players in a higher division can petition to be re-rated in the (lower) division they want to play in. This ‘re-rate’ will be determined by vote of the captains of lower-level league they are trying to play within. Email RainbowLeagueMN@gmail.com to begin this process.

Match Play

Regular Season

• Each match consists of 1 hour of court time
• 5-minute warmup begins at the start of match time 
• 55 minutes of play starts at five minutes past the hour 
• Each match is comprised of three sets, start at 0 play to 25 (cap 27). If time runs out before the last set ends, score is when last play ends. If there is a tie, play one more point. 
• Each team has one time out per set. No timeouts allowed the last two minutes of play. 
• It is the responsibility of the refereeing team to keep teams on time. For every minute that teams are not ready to begin play at the end of warm-up, the opposing team will be awarded one point. 

Regular Season & Playoffs 

• Teams must have at least four players on the court during a set. If each team has only three players, the set will be played, and sets are counted in the standings. 
• Substitutions are unlimited

Forfeit Rules

• First set, 20 minutes after start of match warm-up, second set 30 minutes from start of match warm-up and third set, 35 minutes from start of match warm-up. 

Tournament Format 

• All rules from the Regular Season are in effect unless otherwise stated here 
• During tournament play, at least four players on the team must have played in at least four matches during the regular season. Each of the remaining two players must meet both of the following criteria:
• 1) the player has played with the team at least once during the regular season and
• 2) the player appears on the team's roster
• During tournament play, no players can be added during a set

Substitutions

• Middles cannot play front row only; they must rotate into the back row or come off the court and be replaced by a libero/sub

Ball Handling

• BB/A, B Divisions: In alignment with NAGVA rules, Rainbow League will adopt the following ball handling rule beginning the Fall 2025 season: 
•  On the second team hit, the ball may contact various parts of the body consecutively, provided that the contact occurs during one action and the ball is next touched by a teammate. However, if the ball is played over the net in this type of scenario, it would be ruled a fault, and the team would lose the point. To simplify, if what would have been a double contact previously stays on the same side of the net, play continues. If it goes over the net or is blocked, it is a fault. 
•  C division: Double contacts will not be called in this division if the contact occurs during one action. If the ball stays on the same side of the court, it must be next touched by a teammate (and must have at least one contact left) to remain a non-fault. Lifts/carries are illegal contacts in ALL divisions and should be called by the up referee.

Serving

• A, BB, & B Rec division, the volleyball must be tossed or released
• USAV 12.4 EXECUTION OF THE SERVICE. 12.4.1 The ball shall be hit with one hand or any part of the arm after being tossed or released from the hand(s). 

Court Boundaries

• The league has always played the air vents and walls (or protrusions from walls) out of bounds
• If a ball hits the serving line backboard, it will be considered a replay if the team has at least one more legal touch left, and a player was there to make a reasonable play on the ball

Remember to have fun! 

• Rainbow Volleyball League welcomes everyone regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, job function, education level, work experience, appearance, abilities, religion, ethnicity, or marital status.