Spikeball Rules
Any intramural policies not mentioned here may be found in the Intramural Handbook. Unless specifically mentioned below, intramural spikeball play is governed by official Spikeball rules. By participating in Intramural Sports, the participant agrees to abide by all Intramural rules and policies.
You may suffer physical and/or mental injury from participating in Intramural Sports. There are certain risks of injury that are inherent to participation in sports and recreational activities. These types of injuries may be minor or serious and may result from the actions or inactions of themselves or others. By choosing to participate in Intramural Sports, you do so at your own risk. It is understood that most activities require a certain level of fitness and health, and that each person has a different capacity for participating in these activities. Participants of Intramural Sports are highly encouraged to have a physical examination and procure health insurance prior to play. UC Campus Recreation does not provide health insurance.
Intramural Supervisors undergo concussion recognition training. In the instance a participant is exhibiting any signs or symptoms of a concussion as a result of a head injury sustained during intramural play, he or she will be removed from the activity. This individual must provide a physician’s note clearing the individual to play by a specific date. This note may be e-mailed to intramural@uc.edu or faxed to 513-556-0601.
2.1
Following each game, teams will receive a sportsmanship rating between 0.0 and 4.0.
2.2
In order to qualify for playoffs, teams must obtain a 3.0 or higher sportsmanship average during the regular season based on the table below:
| Score | Player & Team Behavior |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | Always respectful to officials and opposing team. No complaining or arguing. Does not comment about officials’ calls. |
| 3.0 | Usually respectful to officials and opposing team. Minimal arguing or complaining about officials. Maximum one unsportsmanlike penalty issued. |
| 2.0 | Consistent dissent or disrespect to officials/opposing team. Consistent arguing and/or complaining about officials’ calls. Maximum of two unsportsmanlike penalties or one ejection. |
| 1.0 | Excessive complaining, dissent or disrespect to officials/opposing team. Contact or provocation of officials or opposing team members not inherent to the sport. Any player involved in a fight. Maximum of three unsportsmanlike penalties or two ejections. |
| 0.0 | Team and/or players are unsafe/out of control. Multiple players on team fighting. Destruction or abuse of UC property. |
* A team that receives a "0" rating will be suspended from competition until its captain meets with the Assistant Director or Coordinator of Intramural Sports. The team may be removed from competition without refund.
2.3
In addition to team ratings, any unsportsmanlike actions may be forwarded to Judicial Affairs and may include but is not limited to revocation of Intramural Sports and/or Campus Recreation privileges.
3.1
To be eligible for intramural sports, each player must be a current University of Cincinnati student [enrolled in at least one (1) credit hour], faculty, or staff member. Additionally, participants must have a valid and active Campus Recreation membership.
3.1.1
Uptown, full-time UC students receive a Campus Recreation membership through full payment of the Campus Life Fee. All other populations will need to purchase a membership in order to be eligible to play.
3.2
Participants may participate on one (1) mixed gender and one (1) non-mixed gender (i.e. men's, women's, open, fraternity, sorority) team per sport, per season. Substituting for another team in the same league is prohibited.
3.3
Every game, each participant must check in with the intramural official with a valid Bearcat card.
3.4
Intramural particpants must additionally meet all requirements of Section 3.4:
3.4.1
Teams are limited to one (1) competitive club sport participants (in the same or similar sport) on its roster.
3.4.2
Current varsity athletes and professional athletes are not allowed to play on an intramural team of the same or similar sport as their varsity sport.
3.4.3
Former varsity athletes must sit out 365 days from last appearing on a varsity roster to be eligible to play in the same or similar sport as their varsity sport. Teams are allowed one (1) former varsity athlete (in the same or similar sport) per roster.
4.1
There will be no jersey requirements for teams
4.2
Campus Recreation will provide spikeball sets and spikeballs.
5.1
Prior to registration close, a team must have at least two players confirmed on its IMLeagues roster. Teams that fail to do so may not be included in the league.
5.2
Once playoffs begin, players may not be added to the roster without direct approval of the Coordinator and/or Assistant Director of Intramurals.
5.3
Teams may have up to five (5) players on its roster.
5.4
No team shall participate with less than two (2) players at any time
5.4.1
Teams may not continue below the minimum required players to begin a game (2) [Exception: Section 5.4.2]
5.4.2
At the approval of the supervisor and opponent, teams may participate below the minimum number of players needed to start a game if deemed competitive by the staff and the opponent agrees to waive protest rights under Section 5.4
5.5
Mixed gender teams may not have more than one player of one gender throwing.
5.5.1
Mixed gender teams must adhere to section 5.5 regardless of injury or ejection - even if it results in a short handed scenario under Section 5.4.2
5.6
Teams are permitted one (1) checked-in coach on the bench.
6.1
Players may substitute inbetween points. There is no limit for substitutions.
6.1.1
In Miexed Gender games, substitutes must be of the same gender.
7.1
The game shall be to twenty-five (25), win by two
7.2
There shall be no timeouts
7.3
Teams that arrive late to games and/or are not ready with the minimum roster by start time will receive the following penalty:
7.3.1
1-4 minutes late = Other team begins up 5-0 and receives first serve
7.3.2
5-9 minutes late = Other team begins up 10-0 and receives first serve
7.3.3
10+ minutes late = Game is forfeited.
7.4
Teams that forfeit must pay a $20 non-refundable reinstatement fee prior to the end of the regular season to be eligible for playoff consideration [Refer to Section XII of the Intramural Handbook for more information]
7.5
In order to prevent forfeits, teams may also default once per season. Teams must give a minimum 48 hour notice of default to qualify by emailing intramural@uc.edu. [Refer to Section XII of the Intramural Handbook for more information]
8.1
Overtime will be a straight race to thirty (30) or win by two (2), whichever comes first
9.1
All players except the receiver must begin the point a minimum six feet from the net. The receiver may stand at any desired distance.
9.1.1
The receiving team must set their position first. The server must stand directly across from the designated receiver.
9.2
Once the server strikes the ball, players may go anywhere they choose.
9.3
If the receiving team wins the point, the next designated player serves according to the initial sequence. Otherwise, the server switches places with their partner and serves to the other receiving team member.
9.4
Serves may be struck with any amount of force. Short serves are allowed.
9.5
All of the following under Section 8.5 shall be considered faults:
9.5.1
The server fails to toss the ball upward at least four inches prior to serving.
9.5.2
The server fails to hit the ball after tossing upwards
9.5.3
A server carries or guides their serve
9.5.4
A serve takes an unpredictable bounce (Pocket)
9.6
The receiving team must call a fault prior to their second contact. Otherwise, play continues.
9.7
During a serve, if the ball takes an unpredictable bounce (pocket) or is too high, the receiver must call "let" before their second contact. The serving team will receive a second attempt to produce a clean serve. If they fail twice, the receiving team wins the point. If the receiver does not call "let," continue play.
10.1
The rally ends, and a point is awarded when any of the following occur:
10.1.1
The ball contacts the ground or otherwise isn't returned on to the net within three touches.
10.1.2
The ball is hit directly into the rim at any time [Exception: Section 8.7]
10.1.3
The ball bounces and falls back onto the net or rim.
10.1.4
The ball clearly rolls across the net.
10.2
Touches must alternate between teammates. Consecutive touches by one player result in the other team winning the point.
10.3
The ball must be contacted cleanly and not caught, lifted, or thrown.
10.4
Players may not hit the ball with two hands, even if placed together as in volleyball.
10.5
Players may use any individual part of their body to hit the ball.
10.6
After the serve, any unusual bounce (pocket) that does not contact the rim is legal and playable.
10.7
A shot which lands on the net, rolls into the rim and then off the net (roll-up) is played as a pocket, not a direct rim hit.
10.8
If teams cannot determine the legality of a hit, replay the point.
10.9
Defending players must make an effort to not impedge the opposing team's possesion or play on the ball.