Grass 4’s League Guidelines

League Format


We run things a little bit different here…

  • Each team is composed of 4 players, at least one of whom must be a woman. You may absolutely have more people on your team, but only 4 can play at a time!

  • Our leagues currently have space for 16 teams, organized into four tiers of 4 teams each. Initial rankings will be based on teams’ self-declared skill level, and teams will be re-seeded based on their results each week.

  • Each week, you will play each of the 3 other teams in your pool. You will play as many sets as you can in 35 minutes, with a 5 minute break in between. 2 points are awarded for each full set won, while 1 point is awarded for winning a partial set (wherein both teams’ scores add up to 11 or more). Points should be tallied at the organizer’s tent by the winning team after each game.

  • Unlike many leagues, re-seeding occurs each week. The best-performing team in tiers 2, 3, and 4 will move up one tier, while the lowest team in tiers 1, 2, and 3 will move down one tier. You’re sure to find the best spot for your skill level within a week or two, and will always have fresh teams to play among the familiar faces at your skill level.

  • The final week of the season will be playoffs, and teams will be seeded based on their cumulative season results. For example, if you play 6 weeks in tier 2, but finish the season in tier 1, you will play in tier 2 playoffs.

  • We are always at the mercy of the weather, and prioritize player safety above all else. If the weather makes it too dangerous to play, we will try and provide as much warning for league cancellation as possible. Any nights lost to weather will be refunded at the end of the season.

  • Teams that no-show without notice will be awarded zero points for their matches for the night, and be moved down a tier in the rankings.

League Rules

Grass is what you get when indoor and beach have a way-cooler baby. Some nuances to keep in mind…

  • No open-hand tips are allowed. Pokeys and roll shots are good to go.

  • You cannot set the ball onto the opponent’s side, even unintentionally.

  • You can set the serve and any free balls, unlike in beach volleyball.

  • Players do not have to rotate positions, and can switch freely between and during rallies.

  • Once established, you must follow the same serving sequence for the duration of the set.

  • Anyone can attack from anywhere on the court; there is no front/back row!

  • Subsequently, anyone can block from their position on the court.

  • Each set is first to 21 points, win by two, with a hard cap at 23 points.

  • Teams play as many sets as time allows within the 35 minutes of play, noting that only sets that accumulate to 11 points are recorded for points.

We also ask all participants to sign a waiver, which you can read here:

Additional Notes

  • Each match starts with either rock-paper-scissors or spinning a Volleyball (whoever the needle hole points at picks first!). The winner chooses whether they want to serve/receive first, or which side they want to start on. Loser gets to pick the other.

  • Due to sun and wind potentially causing a disadvantage, teams must switch sides each set.

  • Regulation outdoor volleyballs will be provided for play and must be used for matches. You are welcome to warm-up with personal balls if you choose.

  • It is the winning team’s responsibility to mark down the scores at the organizer’s tent in between games, although it is still in the other team’s interest to check! Missing scores mean 0 points :(

  • If there are any disagreements, re-serve the point. If you are experiencing a consistent disagreement or problems with a specific team, please visit us at the organizer’s tent!

  • Finally, no matter how competitive you are, we play Volleyball to HAVE FUN.