2. Definitions and Interpretation

2.1 Unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

24-hour period: A 24-hour period from one midnight to the next, ie: includes a day and an adjourning night. The reference to round and week will follow the 24-hour period.

By-Laws: The Victorian Volleyball League By-Laws.

Club/ Association: A club/ association that participates in the VVL and is financially responsible for all teams that they enter in the VVL competition.

Club Registered Player: A player that is financially registered with a club and:

• intends to compete in the current VVL season of; and 
• participated in at least one match in a senior team in the 2023 season; or
• participated in at least one match of the 2024 season of the VVL.

Club Team/ Team: An eligible team that represents a Club and competes in the VVL.

Eligible Player/ Coach/ Team Staff/ Club: An eligible player/ coach/ team staff/ club that has successfully met the requirements outlined in these By-Laws.

Finals Series: The finals series of the VVL competition comprising of qualified teams as determined by the final rankings of all teams entered within their specified division of the VVL.

Financial Clearance: A declaration by a Club that a Player who is or was a member of that Club has no outstanding financial obligations to that Club.

FIVB: Fédération Internationale De Volleyball - The world governing body for volleyball.

FIVB  Rules: The current Official Volleyball Rules 2021 - 2024 Approved by the 37th FIVB Congress 2021.

Free agent: Any player that:

• intends to compete in the current season of the Victorian Volleyball League; and
• did not participate in the 2023 season for the VVL: or
• participated in a minimum of one match of the VVL 2023 and where that club is not entered into the VVL in 2024
• is returning to a club where the player competed in a minimum of four (4) consecutive Victorian Volleyball League seasons in which the player participated in a minimum of five (5) regular season matches in each season; or
• is returning to a club where the player competed in a minimum of three (3) consecutive Victorian Volleyball League seasons in which the player participated in a minimum of five (5) regular season matches in each season and in which the club was not entered in the Premier League competitions; or
• a player who has only ever participated in the Youth State League in previous seasons.

Competition: A competition where a group of teams entered into the VVL by clubs who will compete against each other in the regular season of the VVL to achieve qualification into the finals series of VVL.

Guaranteed earliest start time (GEST): The scheduled match start time as determined by the Victorian Volleyball League draw published by VV.

Inter Club Transfer: A player transfer from one club to another club.

Junior Player: A junior player is a player that does not turn nineteen (19) years old, or older, during the calendar year the Victorian Volleyball League or Youth State League seasons are operating.

Youth State League: The Victorian Volleyball League competition that is limited to junior players who are U17 or U15 (age of 31 August 2024).

Ladder: A table used to show a Team's ranking compared to the other teams entered in the same competition of the Victorian Volleyball League.

Match: An officially sanctioned Victorian Volleyball League match between teams, either in the regular season or finals series of competition.

Greater Melbourne based Club: A club who’s main training venue (the venue where your highest classified team trains the majority of a season) is located within the Greater Melbourne Area geographically as defined by the Victorian Government and Local Government Areas.

New Clubs: Member Clubs that have entered the Victorian Volleyball League in 2024 for the first time.

Official Start Time (OST): Either the guaranteed earliest start time a match or the new start time of a match due to a delay to the guaranteed earliest start time as determined by the 1st referee.

Participants: Any person directly engaged in the Victorian Volleyball League in any way. This includes but is not limited to club members, coaches, officials, players, team staff, and VV staff.

Points Percentage: Determined by dividing the total points won by a team, for a club in their competition, by the total points lost by the team, for a club in their competition.

Regional Victorian based Club:  Approved by VV. Clubs who’s main training venue (the venue where your highest classified team trains the majority of a season) is located outside the Greater Melbourne area and within the Regional Victorian area geographically as defined by the Victorian Government and Local Government Areas. 

Registered Member of VV: A player, coach, official and/or team staff who has completed the correct category of membership for VV and completed the required payment transaction. VV shall retain the   right to withdraw and/or reinstate a membership status in accordance with its policies.

Regular Season: The regular season of the Victorian Volleyball League competition (not being the finals series).   

Round: A round is determined by a series of games in a 24-hour period. 

Senior Team: Any team entered in the Premier or State League competitions.

Set Percentage: Determined by dividing the total sets won by a team, for a club in their competition, by the total sets lost by the team, for a club in their competition.

State League Inter-Club Transfer: The transfer of a Player from one Club to another Club within the Victorian Volleyball League season or between consecutive Victorian Volleyball League seasons. A Victorian Volleyball League Inter-Club Transfer also requires a Financial Clearance.

Special Events: A formal or social event or ceremony hosted by Volleyball Victoria.

Tournaments: A formal or social competition hosted by Volleyball Victoria where teams are entered into divisions to compete against each other.

Victorian Volleyball League: Victoria's premier volleyball competition governed under the FIVB Rules, Guidelines & Casebook and guided by these By-Laws. This competition was previously   known as State League and references to prior season will be encapsulated with the use of VVL.

VA: Volleyball Australia.

VV: Volleyball Victoria.

2.2. In the interpretation of these By-Laws unless the context requires otherwise:

• words importing the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa.
• words importing any gender shall be deemed to include all genders.
• headings are included for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these By-Laws.
• "including" and similar words are not words of limitation.
• any words, terms or phrases defined in the remainder of these By-Laws shall have the meaning as prescribed with the By-Law.
• words, terms, or phrases not otherwise defined in these By-Laws shall be given their ordinary meaning.