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The following information was sent to clubs at the start of October 2011:
It was discussed and agreed at the Surrey Volleyball Association Committee’s pre-season meeting that a reminder and clarification of a number of several SVA rules should be issued for the start of the 2011-12 season. Please note that nothing stated below is a change to current SVA rules, just reminders and clarifications. There is however, the introduction of a new bonus points (BP) checklist this season as a required procedure in response to the growing need for teams to agree and document the awarding of bonus points. A fuller review of all the league rules will be undertaken during the course of the season, with a view to any changes being discussed and implemented at the 2012 AGM to come into force for the 2012-13 season. SVA member clubs and individuals are encouraged to submit suggestions for this review.
Please read the following carefully and circulate it within your clubs
All your players should be aware of these rules. There were a number of breaches of these rules last season, many of which appear to have been due to ignorance. The committee reminds players that SVA league rules have always been available on the website, and will continue to be listed on the website this season. Teams should be aware that it is their responsibility to be aware of the rules, and that the SVA intends to monitor them more closely and will hold teams accountable for evidence supporting their argument in the case of a dispute.
Bonus points
This was the area of most confusion last season, and resulted in a number of disputes. Consistent misallocation of BPs can significantly affect league standings, so it is important that all competitors understand their purpose, the requirements that must be met in order to receive them, and that the required information must be entered correctly on the checklist.
One BP per game is added into the League Republic standings for both the home and away teams if they have met all the qualifying requirements. The purpose of this is to maintain certain standards within the league by penalising teams that do not meet these requirements.
For example, in recent seasons some clubs have spent money on kit and external referees to meet the requirements, whilst others did not meet the requirements but still awarded themselves a BP. This conduct is grossly unfair and will not be permitted to happen again this season. Therefore the award of a BP to a team is contingent on that team meeting the following criteria:
To be eligible for a bonus point, the home team is required to do the following (new BP checklist requirement in red)
1. Provide a Volleyball England (VE)-qualified 1st referee
(VE qualification is not required in Men’s Div.3)
2. Provide a 2nd referee
(second referee is not required in Men's Div.3)
3. Provide a scorer
4. Record, complete and supply an FIVB scoresheet
(FIVB scoresheet is not required in Men’s Div.3)
5. Record, complete and securely retain a bonus points checklist; or for Men’s Div.3 games only, record, complete and securely retain an SVA Div.3 scoresheet/bonus point checklist
6. Provide a correct height net with aerials
7. Have all players in uniquely numbered shirts
8. Have matching colour shirts for players if a libero is being used and a distinct and easily recognised shirt for the libero
9. Enter the match result into League Republic within the required timeframe (see below)
10. The away team must meet the team shirts requirements (Rules 7 and 8).
In order to ensure a consistent adherence to SVA rules and make fair dispute judgements, the SVA requires completion of the bonus point check list
The Bonus Point Checklist
Adherence to SVA rules and the awarding of a BP is recorded by the introduction of the procedure outlined in Rule 5 above. A simple match-day checklist must be completed and signed by both captains at the conclusion of the match for Men's Divisions 1 and 2 and the Ladies Division. This should only take a minute or two, and will verify compliance to the above rules, act as a simple reminder for everyone of what the requirements are, and provide the SVA committee with evidence in the case of a dispute.
The BP checklist is an A4 sheet with two halves. It should be printed out and a copy of it taken to each match by the home team. Both sides of the form should be completed and signed, then the sheet cut in half with the left half kept by the home team and the right side taken by the away team.
Should there be any disputes over bonus points during the season the division co-ordinators will ask to see these checklists, so teams are advised to keep them securely filed. If no request to review the checklists has been received during the course of the season, the checklists must be provided to the SVA at the end of the season for archiving.
For Men’s Div.3, the BP checklist is merged into a simple scoresheet (already in use by some teams). This should be brought to the game by the home team and used for all matches.
It is not practical for this sheet to be filled out twice, so away teams may wish to ask for a photocopy or take a photograph of the scoresheet with a mobile phone as a record should a dispute arise.
Recording the match results
The home team is responsible for entering the match result into League Republic. This should be done ideally within 24 hrs, or at least within a week. Away teams may not enter the result into LR. If a result has still not been entered into LR within 4 weeks, the SVA Committee should be notified and the home team will lose its bonus point, if awarded, for that match.
If any club is unclear of how to use League Republic, or has lost or forgotten their login details, they should make contact with Ben Bristow for clarification.
Clubs with multiple teams
Where a club has more than one team in the SVA league, there are rules limiting players’ participation in more than one team. In most cases these relate to teams in different divisions, but where a club has two teams in the same division the same principle applies, so the club is to nominate which is the “higher” team and inform all the other teams in their division. The main purpose of this rule is to prevent clubs gaining an unfair advantage by fielding players from their stronger teams in their weaker teams, but it is also intended to give players of all abilities sufficient opportunity to take part in SVA competition.
The basic rule is that a player from a higher team is not allowed to play for a lower team for the duration of the season.
A player is designated as belonging to the higher team as soon as they appear on the higher team’s scoresheet unless a note is made on the scoresheet to say that they are a player from the lower team “playing up”. Whilst it is not contrary to the current rule, the SVA Committee notes the inherent unfairness of a club initially listing players intended to play in the higher team as lower team members who are “playing up” for the sole purpose of giving the lower team an advantage in the initial league standings.
When a player from a lower team has played in either 3 matches or 10 sets for the higher team, they officially become a higher team player and are no longer permitted to play for the lower team.
Should there be a question raised over the eligibility of a player, the division co-ordinator will request to see copies of all the scoresheets from the teams in question and will make the final decision.
Note: in Men’s Div.3 only, clubs are permitted to nominate up to 2 players at the start of the season from their higher team(s) who are permitted to play in the Men’s Div.3 team throughout the season. These players are to be identified to the division co-ordinator at the start of the season, and must be noted as such on the Men’s Div.3 scoresheet every time they play. You should choose your nominated players carefully; the rule does not make provision for the transfer of this entitlement from the two nominated players to other players.
Trophies
Trophies are presented to the winning clubs in each division at the annual AGM. Clubs holding trophies from the previous season must return them at the AGM. Failure to return trophies may result in a club being fined – up to the cost of replacement (£100).