27. Match Control

27.1 Each Premier League team must have a minimum of six (6) players present and be ready to play at the scheduled start time of each match. State League teams must have a minimum of five (5) players present and ready to play at the scheduled start time of each match.

27.2 The scheduled time for a match on any court is the "Official Start Time". The referee must make the Official Start Time clear to both teams.

27.2.1 Teams with five (5) players must play with a "gap" to keep the rotation of the players consistent with the opposition.  A "gap" is defined as the imaginary sixth (6th) player that is not present on the court due to a team's insufficient numbers.  Each time the "gap" rotates to the service position, the serve, and by its extension, a point is forfeited by the team.
 

27.2.2 If the time between the previously concluded match (if any) and the subsequent match on any given court is less than twenty (20) minutes, a new Official Start Time for the next match must be scheduled. The new Official Start Time shall be twenty (20) minutes from the time when the preceding teams have completely cleared the court.
 

27.2.3 Each team shall be ready to take the court and ready to commence the match at the Official Start Time. A team is deemed to be ready if all players are in correct uniform and the players taking the court are eligible to participate in the match.
 

27.3 All teams in the Victorian Volleyball League (except for Youth State League) shall be entitled to a maximum of twelve (12) substitutions per set. Please refer to Appendix C for more information.

27.4 The following warm up protocols shall be adopted during the relevant phase of the Victorian Volleyball League season: