AUBURN PSSA NEWCOMBE BALL RULES

(revised September 2008)

Age Groups
Juniors: Turning 8, 9 or 10 years during the current year
Seniors: Turning 11, 12 or 13 years during the current year
Teams
12 players per team (7 girls and 5 boys)
At least 5 girls are to be on the court at any time
Playing Time
Juniors Seniors
2 x 15 minute halves 2 x 20 minute halves
 Games are played STRICTLY to time.
 An interval of no more than 2 minutes is allowed between halves.
 Each team is to change ends at half time.
 Any incomplete set is to be resumed after the interval.
 Time is to be kept by both team coaches and is NOT to be stopped before the end of the
game.
Umpiring
 Should be SHARED between the teachers of the teams or a mutually agreed arrangement.
 Both teachers will score.
 Scorers must write the commencement time of each half on the score sheet.
Court Dimensions
 9 m x 15 m
 1 m dead ball area on either side of the net.
 The net is positioned in the middle of the dead ball area and should be 2 m above the
ground (measured from the top of the net at the centre of the court and must be pulled
taut).
 Service corner is within 1 m of the corner and should be marked.
Rotation
 See diagram below for direction of change.
 Players rotate after both teams have served once each.
 The teacher calls “Rotate” to signal the change to be made.
 At the completion of set then service remains unchanged and the new game proceeds with
the rotation as before.
 All players must be given an equal amount of time on the court. A player that is deemed a
strong player must not be returned to the court in front of the reserves.

Reserves X X X 15 m
9m X  X X X  X X

     

X X X X X X

     

X X  X X X  X
X X X Reserves
The Match
 Teams toss a coin for the choice of service or ends.
 The team losing the toss will be given the remaining option (service or end).
 A set concludes when one team reaches 21 points.
 To win a set a team must win by at least 2 points. If Team A reaches 21 points and Team B
are on 20 points, then the game proceeds until one team has a 2 point advantage.
 At the conclusion of the game, each team lines up along the net. The umpire tells the result
and the home team proceeds to the other side of the net and shakes hands with the
opposition players.
Service
 Players must wait for the whistle before serving. Failure to do this and a point is awarded to
the other team and the other team gains service.
 Servers must step outside the court to serve. The service area is within 1 m of the corner.
 After serving, the server then steps back inside the court area to take part in the game.
 The server can aim directly over the net or pass the ball to another player.
 If the ball is dropped then the service passes to the other team.
 If the serve tips the net and goes over into legal territory then the game proceeds.
 If the served ball bounces off the net and a member of the server’s team catches it, then it
may be thrown over the net and the game proceeds.
 Players must return the ball by rolling the ball under the net for service by the opposing
team otherwise a point will be scored against them, after a warning has been given once.
General Play
 Players must not run or step with the ball, hit or kick the ball.
 Players may hold the ball for 3 seconds only.
 The ball must be caught, and thrown, not batted or hit as in volleyball.
 One foot must be touching the ground when a pass is being made.
 Players may take one step to recover balance after catching a ball.
 A ball touching the net at any time continues in play.
 Any ball landing in the dead ball area is out.
 Players are not permitted to touch the net.
 An accidental deflection or ricochet off any part of a player is not counted as a pass.
 When a player catches his/her own rebound or ricochet, it is counted as a pass.
 When a player who attempts to catch a ball fumbles, and the ball is caught by a team mate
before it touches the ground, it shall count as a pass.
 Students are not allowed to score or umpire.
 A ball which lands on a player’s foot that stands on the line is out of bounds.
 A ball that lands on the line is in.
 If a player catches the ball and his/her foot is on the line or outside the court then a point is
awarded to the other team.
 If a ball is going out of the court and is caught by a reserve, a point will go to the other
team.
 Only 2 players may touch the ball. If player X catches the ball and then passes to player Y
who fumbles and X catches the ball again, then the other team is awarded the point.
Scoring
A team loses service when:
 A server is not behind the back line when the ball is served.
 A server does not wait for the umpire to blow the whistle.
 A server’s foot is on the line or in the court.
A team gains a point when:
 The ball touches the ground in the opposition’s court.
 The opposing team throws the ball out so that it touches the ground, an object or a person
 outside the court.
 An opponent takes a step with the ball in his/her possession.
 The opposing team throws a ball that touches the ground in the dead ball area.
 An opposing player touches the net or places a foot in the dead ball area.
 An opponent holds the ball for more than 3 seconds.
 More than 2 people from the one team touch the ball.
Half Time
 Teacher signals half time with a blow of the whistle.
 Teams change sides ensuring that the service person goes to the service area and
reserves change sides also.
 Children leave the court knowing where their positions are for when they return to the court
for the second half.
Deciding Result
 The game finishes ONLY when time is up.
 The winning team is the one who has scored the most points.
 Only completed sets are to be counted in the final score.
 If at the completion of full time there is a draw (1 set each), umpires will take the total of
complete and incomplete sets to determine a winner. Equal totals will result in a tied game.
Results
 Results and score sheets are to be faxed or emailed to the convener by both teams within
a week of the match.