Official Rules & Regulations

Choose a sport to view the official SoloArena rules.

Scoring System

Points are awarded based on where the shot is taken. Twos and ones create a fast-paced, strategic game.

🏀
2 Points: Shots made from beyond the three-point arc.
⛹️
1 Point: Shots made from inside the three-point arc.

Fouls & Physicality

The game relies on a call-your-own-foul system, but a referee has the final say to maintain fair play and pace.

✅ Player-called fouls are the standard.
⚠️ Referee makes the final call in disagreements.
🚫 No full-contact backing down or shoulder charges.
⛔ Excessive physicality results in a warning, then disqualification.

The Flow of Possession

Every possession follows a clear path, from the initial check to clearing the ball after a defensive stop. This sequence keeps the game moving.

1. Check Ball at Top

2. Player Attempts Shot

3a. Score? Keep Possession (Make-it-Take-it)

3b. Miss? Defense Must Clear Ball

Violations & Penalties

Breaking the rules has clear consequences. This list details common violations and their associated penalties.

Violation	Penalty
Carrying/Palming	Loss of possession.
Double Dribble	Loss of possession.
Travel	Loss of possession.
Shot Clock Violation	Loss of possession.
Out of Bounds	Loss of possession.
Excessive Physicality	Warning, then disqualification.
Technical Foul	Loss of possession, opponent gets 1 point.

Fair Play & Spirit

Beyond the rules, we uphold a spirit of respect, sportsmanship, and intense, yet clean, competition.

🤝 Respectful conduct is mandatory.
🗣️ Trash talk is part of the game, but keep it clean.
🚫 No abusive language or unsportsmanlike behavior.
🏆 Celebrate wins, learn from losses, and always show good sportsmanship.

🏆

Scoring

Match Format: Best of three sets. The first player to win two sets wins the match.
Advantage: The traditional scoring system is used. At deuce (40-40), a player must win two consecutive points to win the game.
7-Point Tie-Break: Played if a set reaches 6-6. First to 7 points by a margin of two wins the tie-break and set.
10-Point Match Tie-Break: Played if the final (third) set reaches 6-6. First to 10 points by a margin of two wins the match.

⏱️

Match Flow

Warm-up: A 3-minute warm-up is allowed before the match begins.
Service: A coin toss determines the first server. The server gets two chances for a legal serve. A double fault loses the point.
Continuous Play: A strict time limit (e.g., 25 seconds) is enforced between points.
Medical Timeouts: One medical timeout per match, lasting a maximum of 3 minutes.

🤼

Player Conduct

Code Violations: Unsportsmanlike conduct (abuse, delays) will result in penalties: warning, point penalty, game penalty, and potential disqualification.
Fair Play: Players are expected to maintain a fair and respectful demeanor throughout the match.

👥

Draft Process

Team Building: Players participate in a team draft before the match.
Formation: Players first choose a formation from a limited selection.
Player Picks: Players take turns selecting players for each position from a pool of five random players until a full squad is built.
Chemistry: Players must strategize to maximize team chemistry during the draft.

⚽

Match Rules

Format: Single elimination, one-off game. No "home-and-away" legs.
Time: The match consists of two 6-minute halves.
Tie: In case of a tie, the match proceeds to extra time (two 3-minute halves) and then a penalty shootout if necessary.
Substitutions: A maximum of five substitutions are allowed, with an additional one in extra time.

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Player Conduct

Disconnections: The player who disconnects has a 5-minute grace period to rejoin. Failure to rejoin results in a forfeit. Server-side disconnections will result in a restart.
Fair Play: Intentional time-wasting and other unsportsmanlike tactics are prohibited and may result in a forfeit.
Custom Tactics: Players are allowed to set custom tactics before the match and at half-time.

🔢

Scoring

Game Format: Games are played to 11 points. The winner must have a two-point lead.
Serving Only: Only the serving player can score a point.
Scoring Call: The score is called as three numbers: the server's score, the receiver's score, and the server number (1 or 2, for doubles). In a 1v1 match, only the first two numbers are used.

➡️

Service & Return

Underhand Serve: The serve must be an underhand stroke with the paddle head below the wrist at contact.
Diagonal Serve: The serve must be hit from behind the baseline and land in the diagonal service court.
Double Bounce Rule: The receiving player must let the served ball bounce once before returning it. The server must also let the return bounce once before hitting it.

🚫

The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)

No Volleying: Players cannot hit a volley (hitting the ball out of the air) while standing inside the kitchen or on the kitchen line.
Foot Fault: If a player's momentum carries them into the kitchen after hitting a volley, it is a fault.
Exceptions: You can enter the kitchen at any time, but you cannot volley from inside it. You can hit a ball that has bounced in the kitchen while standing there.

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