Format: 4v4 Co-Ed

I. TOURNAMENT FORMAT & STRUCTURE

1. Structure

• The tournament has two parts: pool play, then a single-elimination playoff bracket
• In pool play, each team plays every other team in its pool
• After pool play ends, teams are seeded into the playoff bracket

2. Rosters

• Maximum of six (6) players per roster
• Four (4) players on the court at a time

3. Pool Play

• Matches are two (2) sets, each to 21 points; each team starts with 4 points
• Win by 2, cap at 25 points
• Rally scoring is used
• The points scored in each set are recorded for use in seeding tiebreaks
• At the tournament director’s discretion, a time cap may be set on matches, and games will end when time expires

4. Playoff Seeding

• Seeding is based on win-loss record in pool play
• Tiebreakers:
  1. The team that scores more points will be seeded higher
  2. The team that had fewest points scored against them will be seeded higher

5. Playoffs

• Single elimination; a loss eliminates your team
• First-round matches are a single set to 21 points; each team starts with 4 points
• Subsequent round matches are best two (2) out of three (3) sets
  • Sets 1 and 2: First to 21 points (win by 2, cap at 25); each team starts with 4 points
  • Set 3: If necessary. First to 15 points (win by 2, cap at 17); each team starts with 4 points
• At the tournament director’s discretion, a time cap may be set on matches, and games will end when time expires

6. Court & Net

• Played on a regulation outdoor 4s grass court
• Net height: Men’s height

7. Side Switching

• Teams switch sides between sets
• In a third set to 15, teams also switch when the combined score adds up to a multiple of 7

8. Timeouts

• Each team receives one 30-second timeout per set

9. Refereeing

• Pool play: Teams in your pool will referee your matches
• Playoffs: Once eliminated, a team will referee one (1) playoff match before leaving
• Referees call faults, keep score, and settle disputes, subject to the Disputes rule below
• Referees should ensure games begin promptly. Teams have 5 minutes to warm up.
• The tournament director's decision is final

10. Score Reporting

• During pool play, the refereeing team reports the score immediately after each set
• During playoffs, the refereeing team reports the match results immediately after each match
• Use the green “Report” button on the tournament webpage: Blocktoberfest 2026 | FREEBALL

II. PREGAME PROCEDURES

1. Roll-Off

• Each team has one player roll a ball from one service line toward the other
• The team whose ball stops closest to the end line, without passing the end line, chooses either:
  • Serve/receive
  • OR side of the court

2. Set 2 Serving

• The team that did NOT serve first in Set 1 serves first in Set 2

3. Set 3 Serving (Playoffs)

• A new roll-off decides serve or side

III. LINEUPS, ROTATION & SUBSTITUTIONS

• Teams must decide on a service rotation before each set
• Every player who plays in a set must be part of that set's service rotation
• The rotation must stay the same throughout the set
• Serving order and lineups may change between sets

Substitutions

• Substitutions happen only during a dead ball

IV. COED GRASS RULES

1. Serving

• Stepping on the back line during a serve is a foot fault
• Blocking or attacking the serve is not allowed

2. Gender Rules (CoEd)

• At least one (1) female player must be on the court at all times
• There is no "girl touch" rule; no restriction on who contacts the ball before it goes back over the net

3. Ball Handling Rules

Receiving

• Open-hand receiving on the first contact is allowed

Double Contacts

• Double contacts are allowed on the first contact, if it is a single continuous action
  • Definition of an “Action”: Contact must be part of one continuous effort to play the ball
• Double contacts are not allowed on the second or third contact. At the BB level, a double is usually defined by the ball spinning 3+ rotations after the contact. Please call your own doubles as a courtesy to other teams.

Characteristics of the Contact

• The ball may not be caught, held, lifted, or thrown at any time

Open-Hand Tips

• Open hand tips are NOT allowed (no “finger action”)
• Allowed: Knuckles, closed fist, karate chop, etc.

Setting Over the Net

• Hips and shoulders must be square to the trajectory of the ball
• The ball must travel in a straight line, perpendicular to the player's body (forward or backward)
• The ball must have no spin

4. Net Play

• Blocks DO NOT count as a team touch. After a block, the team still has three contacts.
• Players may not touch the net during play

5. Interference & Dead Ball Rules

• The ball is dead immediately if the ball or a player enters another court with active play
• If a ball enters your court and affects, or could affect, the play, the point is replayed