The Northern Intercollegiate Volleyball Conference (NIVC) shall adopt all rules as stated in the current Official USAV Rule Book unless otherwise stated.

1. All varsity league matches will be three out of five to twenty-five (25) points. Any junior varsity matches preceding varsity play will be the best of three games to twenty-five (25) or a mutually agreed upon arrangement that enables the varsity match to start on time. The deciding game for all matches will be fifteen (15) points. There is no cap on any games.
2. The winner of the coin toss shall have choice of serve, side or receive.
3. The uniform rule will be enforced throughout the conference and will be given special attention as outlined in the official rulebook. The Administrative Coordinator, prior to any player participating in official play, must approve any uniform waivers.
4. The official warm-up will begin fifteen (15) minutes prior to the match with the playing court set up thirty (30) minutes before the first serve of the match.
1. The first five (5) minutes will belong to the serving team.
2. The second five (5) minutes will be long to the receiving team.
3. The last two (2) minutes will be for both teams to serve.
4. Middle hitting will be allowed during the shared warm-up providing NIVC protocol rules are followed. If the protocol is not being followed, the officials have the right to suspend middle hitting during the entire warm-up period.

1. The home team unable to keep their commitment for a scheduled match must (in order):
1. Reschedule the match.
2. Agree to play on a neutral court or the opponent's court if no neutral court is available.
3. The league Administrative Coordinator must be contacted if (a) and (b) above are arranged.
4. The home team will forfeit the match with no further penalty if the teams involved and the league Administrative Coordinator agree that every effort was made to play the match.
2. If the traveling team fails to show up or refuses to play a scheduled match, or if the home team fails in the responsibilities stated in II-A, the Administrative Coordinator may invoke the following penalties:
1. In the event of any delay or arrival, up to one hour, by the visiting team, the HOST team shall be notified by telephone of the expected arrival time and the match will begin thirty (30) minutes from that time. If no telephone call is made, the match will be started at the time originally scheduled.
2. Ineligibility for post-season play-offs or tournaments.
3. Probationary status the following year with the possibility of expulsion from the league for further infractions.
4. The Administrative Coordinator shall take action to bring a team before the league for disciplinary action when deeded necessary.
3. Teams not intending to compete in league sponsored post-season play must make their intentions know to the league Administrative Coordinator before the completion of the league schedule. Any team dropping out of the league championships after qualifying and not previously stating their intentions to do so will be ineligible for the play-offs following year.
4. In case of a forfeit, the offending team may be responsible for paying the expenses of officials and any additional fees as indicated by the Administrative Coordinator. These fees will be billed to the offending institution. In the case of a forfeit, a form indicating the cause of the forfeit must be submitted to the Administrative Coordinator within 10 days from the forfeit date.

1. Participation in any NIVC match, play-off or post-season tournament shall be limited to full-time fee paying student of the institutions they represent,
1. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units.
2. The Six-Year Rule began in the 1999 season -- no player can compete more than six (6) years in the NIVC or comparable club or NCAA volleyball league. The eligibility rules will continue to be adopted as changed by NIRSA and the NIRSA eligibility requirements.
3. The Administrative Coordinator must approve any exception to participation and eligibility requirements.
2. Enforcement of Part A above:
1. Require all teams to file with the Administrative Coordinator the appropriate documents to substantiate each player's student status. Team Representatives are responsible for ensuring registration of players prior to their participation in competition.
2. Require each year to file with the Administrative Coordinator a brief bibliography of each player with regard to his volleyball experience as it relates to the eligibility rules. Registration is handled through the Internet site and must be completed by 12:00 noon on Friday prior to each respective member’s first league match).
3. Any team using ineligible players shall forfeit all matches in which that player participated.
1. The remaining matches will count for the official standings, but the violating team will be ineligible for league play-offs or post-season tournaments.
2. The violating team will be on probationary status the following year and will be subject to expulsion from the league upon further violation.
3. Assessed a fine of $100 per match for each match the team violated.

1. All previous members of the league must re-file for admission each year by the time the League Scheduling meeting is held.
1. Registration materials are available to team representative of the previous year via Internet. Each team is responsible for:
1. Notifying the league office as to the individual(s) who will be representing their team and where communication should be sent.
2. Meeting league entrance fees and officiating responsibilities.
3. Scheduling home matches to fulfill the league schedule.
4. Supplying the name, address and telephone number of coach or team manager, and a team representative to be chosen among the players, but different from the team coach or manager.
5. Submitting rosters and verification of players eligibility to the league Administrative Coordinator the preceding Monday of their first league match.
2. The league scheduling shall be in the fall proceeding the competitive season unless notified. The league Administrative Coordinator will announce the site and time. The tentative date for the meeting is the 2^nd Sunday in October of each year.
1. Each team must be represented at this meeting unless the Administrative Coordinator grants an exception.
2. Each team must provide scheduling information to facilitate scheduling of all required home matches.
3. League entry fees must be paid on or before the date specified by the Administrative Coordinator.
3. League Fees
1. The entry fee for admission to the league will be $150.00 per team.
1. This fee covers administrative cost of the Administrative Coordinator per team, supplies, typing, mailings, Internet and telephone cost.
2. Any additional expenses that the league may wish to cover will be levied only with the approval of league members.
2. The entry fee for the conference tournament will be $250.00 per team.
1. This fee covers tournament awards, tournament facility rental and tournament officials.
2. Proceeds from the conference tournament will be split 70/30 in favor of the host team.
3. The Administrative Coordinator must approve budget for the conference tournament.
4. League Responsibility
1. Each team representative must see to it that admission forms and fees are sent in by the deadline. All fees are due 45 days from billing date. Teams not meeting deadlines will not be able to compete in any further league activities until such payments are made. Any teams defaulting twice in the same season must pay all fees prior to any participation in conference events.
2. Each team must be represented at league meetings.
3. The home team, or in the case of a neutral court, the winning team is responsible for submitting match results to the league Administrative Coordinator within 24 hours of the scheduled match date. Failure to do so will result in a $10.00 fine for each 24 hours the results are late.
4. Match obligations for the home team (grounds for forfeit) are as follows:
1. Two referees, one rated minimum rating (Provisional, Regional USAV or State NAGWS).
2. Two approved volleyballs (Tachikara SV-5W, Spaulding TL 4000)
3. One scorer and two line judges
4. Visible scoreboard
5. Scoresheets and line-up cards
5. A cumulative schedule will be complied by the league office and sent to each Team Representative via Internet for confirmation.
6. Changes in and additions to the schedule should be kept to a minimum. Notifications of changes are to be submitted in writing to the league office at Post Office Box 543233, Minneapolis, MN 55458-3233 or via Internet.
7. Each team should encourage individuals interested in being NIVC officials to get their certification from the NIVC or through the USAV.
8. There will be a league meeting in conjunction with the league championship match and each team is invited to have a representative at the meeting.

1. League structure will depend on the number and geographical location of the teams who file for admission by the league scheduling meeting.
2. The league will schedule a double round robin (in the respective divisions), home and home or at agreed upon sites if distance and time can't present such an arrangement.
3. The official opening date for league matches is 01 December of the competitive season.
4. The league championships are a function of the entire league and are to be run by the team's representatives and the Administrative Coordinator.
5. In the event of tie between two teams for a play-off berth, the tie shall be resolved in the following order:
1. Matches against each other
2. Games against each other
3. Points scored against each other
4. Points scored for and against in all league matches.

1. Has the right to decide on any items not specifically covered in the by-laws.
2. Shall send league standings and match result to team representatives on bi-weekly or monthly once the season begins.
3. Shall help organize and obtain officials for the league play-offs.
4. Shall provide league awards purchased from league fees.

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