MKM Sports Fest 2026 – Wallyball Tournament

Mens Wallyball Rules

General

• Team coordinators are responsible for making sure their team is assembled and ready to play for every match.
• The order of play will be provided on the day of the tournament.
• In case of any disagreement, organizers reserve the right to make the final decision.

Format

• The referee shall toss a coin between the team captains for choice of side or service.
• The winner of the toss will get to pick either the side or serve first. The loser of the toss will make the other decision.
• All games are to be won by a difference of two or more points.
• Games will be played in rally points, meaning points are scored in every rally by either the serving or receiving team.
• Same team combination will play throughout the tournament. Team changes will not be allowed.
• If a player drops out due to injury or any other reason, the team can continue playing with 3 players.
• A team playing with 3 players will defend serve against only one wall.
• If two teams disagree on any call, the designated referee will make the decision only if asked.
• If the referee is unable to make a decision, the referee will ask the teams to replay the point.
• Referee’s decision will be final.
• Teams are expected to participate with sporting spirit and a sense of community.
• Each team captain can call for 1 time-out of 30 seconds.

Rules

1. Server will be within 3 feet of the back wall during the service.
2. Wall service on either side wall is legal. The serve is good if the ball passes over the net without touching a member of the serving team or the net.
3. A served ball that hits a wall on either the serving team’s side or receiving side is good, provided the ball does not contact two or more consecutive walls or the back wall before being played or landing on the floor.
4. If the serve touches the net and is otherwise a good serve, the server will have two additional chances to retry the serve. If the third serve also touches the net, it will be considered a fault.
5. Open palm hit will be considered a carry if the action is to push the ball upwards.
6. A spike action with open palm is okay as long as the ball is hit downwards or parallel across the net.
7. Closed fist, pointed finger cobra dink, two-handed finger set, and spike using open palm/wrist are allowed.
8. Carry play will not be strictly imposed by the referee.
9. A player shall not make successive contacts with the ball except when playing a hard-driven spiked ball.
10. Play is valid when the ball touches the hand from fingertips to elbow. If the ball touches any other part of the body while hitting, it is a fault.
11. Touching the net is not allowed unless the ball is driven into the net causing the net to touch the player.
12. Entire foot crossing the center line is a fault.
13. If a team stops playing to make an appeal and the appeal is declined by the referee, the team that stopped play will lose that point.
14. Multiple wall hits on own side are okay while setting up the ball.
15. Ball must be touched by a player before it crosses the net.
16. A player commits a fault if they reach across the vertical plane of the net and contact the ball while the opposing team still has a legal opportunity to play the ball on its own side.
17. A player cannot reach over and steal, block, tip, or attack a first or second touch that is still fully on the opponent’s side.
18. A player can play the ball only after the opponent’s third contact, or if the ball breaks the vertical plane of the net.
19. If on the first or second try the ball goes between the wall and the net cords, the point will be replayed.
20. On the third try, the point will not be replayed and it will be considered a fault.

Examples of Faults

1. Ball hits the ceiling before or after directly crossing the net.
2. Ball hits the opponent’s back wall.
3. Successive contacts with the ball by the same player, except for blocking a spike. One successive contact after blocking the spiked ball is allowed.
4. Ball is played more than 3 consecutive touches by a team.
5. Ball crosses the net and has hit two or more walls.
6. Ball hitting the back wall at the joint of floor and wall is out. The ball should clearly only hit the floor, not wall and floor at the same time.
7. Player illegally handles the ball, such as holding, throwing, or pushing.
8. Entire foot or more crossing the center line.
9. Touching the net, unless the ball is driven into the net causing the net to touch the player.
10. Spiking or blocking the serve.