General Information ​

A/E Volleyball Association organizes adult co-ed volleyball leagues in North Seattle. From October to May we offer indoor 6v6 team leagues and an individuals open gym, and from late May to August we offer outdoor grass 6v6 team leagues hosted at various Seattle parks. We offer leagues of different skill levels all year round, and players of any skill level are welcome at the individuals open gym.

League Rules ​

You can see a copy of the league rules here and a copy of the outdoor league procedures here. We follow USA Volleyball indoor rules (yes, including when we play outdoor 6v6!) with some additional league rules for safety.

In our leagues, you can play with a maximum of four men on the court and a miniumum of one woman on the court. You may play with a libero, but must still follow the maximum four men / minimum one woman rule at all times, and you cannot play with a libero with less than 7 total players. If you have 6 players, you cannot designate one as the libero: they will need to play as the opposite or outside.

Skill Levels ​

Our indoor and outdoor leagues are split into four skill levels. The following section gives general guidance for selecting a skill level for your team and describes each skill level.

We recommend that new teams do not over-reach to a skill level that is too high. Playing in too difficult of a league often results in poor morale half way through the season and even teams dropping out. This is especially true of teams from companies or other groups where there are many people of varying skill levels on the team roster. We recommend large office/corporate teams enter level 4. They will usually have more fun there and have less frustration overall.

Many of the team leagues for certain skill levels often fill with returning teams each season, especially in indoor seasons when we are limited by gym space. If you are a returning team, make sure you register early once registration opens.

We encourage the top 2 teams in each group to move up to a higher group in the next season. New teams should generally aim to start in a lower group and move up in a future season. If your skill level is mismatched from the league you choose, you may be asked to move to a different skill level.

Level descriptions ​

Level 1 (A/BB): Recommended for competitive upper-level teams that play as a team year-round. All teams use a 5-1 or 6-2 or something similar. Each player tends to play a specific position such as setter, middle, outside or opposite. This level has highly skilled players who have excellent all-around abilities to pass, dig, set, hit, block and serve cleanly and effectively within the boundaries of of their particular role on the team. Play is expected to be in strict conformance to the USA Volleyball rules. Hits tend to be high velocity, blockers are very effective, and every team has good defensive play. Serves are more challenging and difficult to return. This level has many players who are former college or club players.

Level 2 (BB/B): Recommended for competitive and nearly upper level teams that play as a team year-round. Like level 1, many teams use a 5-1 or 6-2. Each player tends to play a specific position such as setter, middle, outside or opposite. Level 2 is similar to level 1, but the execution of passes, digs, hits, blocks, and serves are not as consistent. There are hard driven hits in level 2, but they are not the majority of attacks. Blocking is less oppressive in level 2, whereas in level 1 nearly every attack is contested by a block.

Level 3 (B/B- ): Recommended for intermediate level teams that have played as a team in leagues before but not recommended for teams that play consistently year round in multiple leagues - those teams should generally play Level 2. Teams in level 3 are often in the process of learning a 5-1 or 6-2. Players in level 3 are often learning one or more of the skills described above, or are often athletes that have played other sports and are transitioning to volleyball.

Level 4 (B-/C): Recommended for teams new to playing in leagues or only play in the summer. Recommended for large office/corporate teams and/or all new teams with no or minimal league experience. Teams that play only one season per year generally should sign up for this level. On this level fun tends to out weigh competition. Players in level four are often just starting to learn volleyball skills or are new to team sports, and a fair amount of latitude is exercised in regards to the rules on carries and double hits.

Indoor 6v6 Leagues - October to May ​

Location: Ingraham High School — 1819 N. 135th St. (near Meridian Ave N)

Seasons:

Game Format: Teams play one set to 25 against five different opponents each Sunday during a two hour session.

Registration: Registration will open online here about one month prior to the start of each season. Returning teams will have a ~one week window to reserve a spot in the next season, and then registration will open for all teams and spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-paid basis.

Open Gym 6v6 League ​

The Open Gym League runs for the same seasons as the indoor team leagues, and is held on Sundays, 4:30–6:30 PM at Ingraham High School. The open gym league is not held during the summer.

In the open gym league, players sign up individually. Each week, you will play five different games that are one set to 25 points, just like the team leagues. We use a computer application to shuffle the players onto different teams based on skill levels each game. Games won and lost by each individual are tracked, and standings are calculated as the average games won per week per individual to account for attendance differences. At the end of the season, prizes are given out to the individuals with the best average records and the best attendance. You must attend at least 4 out of 8 sessions to qualify for prizes.

See the forms page to register for the open gym league.

Outdoor 6v6 Leagues ​

Locations: Green Lake Park, Sandel Park, Ravenna Park, and Cowen Park

Duration: Late May through August

Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays evenings

Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Tournament: Held in August (usually the weekend before Labor Day)

• Levels 1–2: Saturday
• Levels 3–4: Sunday

Game Format: Teams play one set to 25 against five different opponents in a two hour session.

Registration: Registration will open online here in late April. Spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-paid basis.

For Individuals Looking to Join a Team ​

If you don't have a full team, there are several ways to find a spot:

1. The Player Board — Post on the player board for players seeking teams and teams seeking players.
2. The Open Gym League — Participate in the Open Gym League to meet other players. This is one of the best ways to meet players of various skill levels.
3. Sign up for an Individuals Team — When there are league openings, a team is formed from the individuals list.