Rules (the long story)

General rules of the game:

• All matches in all categories (A, B, and C) will be played according to the FIVB Volleyball Rules.
• Any exceptions and modifications to the FIVB Volleyball Rules applied for the 2014 EVS Tournament Rome are specified here below.
• The net height is 2.43 m in the Category A and 2.35 m in the Categories B and C.
• Players allowed to play for one team are the ones mentioned in the subscription form of the team.
• If a team becomes incomplete (due to injury etc.), the 2014 EVS organisers and the leaders of opponent teams will consult themselves to find other player(s) to add to the concerned team, preferably selecting them from players who have not played any match yet.
• Teams may play with 6, 5, and/or 4 players on the court. At any time during the match there must be at least 2 women on the court. There are not any other limit about the gender or number of players beside the two expressed above.
• Players substitutions can be performed freely, but respecting always the rule of having 2 women on the court.
• Each team has the right to designate up to two specialist defensive players: Liberos.
• The Libero player(s) must wear a dress which has a different dominant colour from any colour of the rest of the team. The uniform must clearly contrast with the rest of the team.
• Only one Libero may be on court at any time.
• The Libero is allowed to replace any player in a back row position. However, there must be 2 playing women on the court at any time.
• He/she (the Libero) is restricted to perform as a back row player and is not allowed to complete an attack hit from anywhere (including playing court and free zone) if at the moment of the contact the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net.
• He/she (the Libero) must not serve, block or attempt to block.
• Teams changes the court sides after the first set.
• There is a 2-minute-long interval in between sets.
• The referee and leaders of both the teams have to verify and sign the match record of every match once it has been finished.
• The time schedule of matches is just provisional to provide information on start times of the matches. It may changes during the tournament.
• Each match is expected to finish within 25 minutes. All teams are urgently asked to be at the court immediately after the previous match has finished in order to be able to start their match earlier, should the previous match has finished sooner than expected.
• The maximum interval in between two matches is 5 minutes (warm-up time).
• The tournament organisers reserve the right to adjust the tournament playing mode during the tournament in case of a time delay, or for other reasons.
• In all cases not foreseen by these rules, the tournament organisers will make the final and indisputable decision.

Specific rules of the game in basic groups:

• Each team plays against every other team in the group.
• All matches in basic groups of all categories (A, B, and C) are played for two sets (may finish with a 2:0 victory or a 1:1 tie).
• In all categories a set is won by the team, which first scores 15 points without any minimum lead (may end at 15:14).
• No time-out is allowed.
• If any team in the basic groups is not present on the court at the scheduled time, when the referee starts the match, after the 5 minutes warm up, the missing team shall forfeit the first set with score 0:15.
• If any team in the basic groups has not presented on the court for 10 minutes after the referee started the match, then 15 minutes after the scheduled time (5 minutes warm up plus 10 minutes of waiting), the missing team shall forfeit the match with score 0:2 (0:15, 0:15).

Teams ranking in the basic groups:

• For the victory 2:0 the winner gets 3 points, the loser gets 0 point.
• For the tie 1:1 the team which won more ball points in the aggregate of both the sets, gets 2 points, the other team gets 1 point.
• In the case the total numbers of points are equal, both teams gets 1.5 points.

Final ranking in basic groups is determined based on:

• Higher number of points won in all matches in the group.
• Higher quotient of sets (won:lost) in all matches.
• Higher quotient of ball points (won:lost) in all matches.
• Higher number of sets won in all matches.
• Higher number of ball points won in all matches.
• Result of the match (matches) of the tied teams.
• Result of drawing lots.

When all matches of all basic groups have been played definitive ranking will be determined in the play-off (play-up and play-down) according to the tournament scheme.

Specific rules of the game in the play-off (play-up and play-down):

• All matches are played for one set.
• A set ends when any of the team has attained 25 points (may end 25:24).
• Teams change court sides after one of the teams attained 12 points.
• One time-out per team in a set is allowed.

Specific rules of the game in the finals (except 1°-2° placement) of both categories:

• All matches are played for one set.
• A set ends when any of the team has attained 25 points (may end 25:24).
• Teams change court sides after one of the teams attained 12 points.
• One time-out per team in a set is allowed.

Specific rules of the game in the finals (only 1°-2° placement) of both categories:

• Final matches for 1°-2° placement in both categories will be played for two sets to 25 points with a minimum lead of 2 points.
• In the case of a 1:1 tie, the deciding third set is played to 15 points with a minimum lead of 2 points.
• Two time-outs per team in a set are allowed.