Regulations

These regulations are the 2025-26 season version. This page will be updated when the 2026-27 regulations are published.

1.These regulations are established pursuant to Chapter 1, Article 2, Paragraph 4, Item 3 of the TPVL Articles of Organization.

2.These are the competition regulations for the annual league of the Taiwan Professional Volleyball League (the "League"). They are drafted by the League, approved by the Competition Committee and reviewed by Taiwan Professional Volleyball Co., Ltd. All teams must comply with them.

3.Match dates and venues are arranged by the League in a fair and impartial manner and announced one month before the season starts.

4.League format:

• (1) Regular season: 4 men's teams play a 16-round schedule of 96 matches; each team plays 48 matches, 24 of them at home, over a period of 6–7 months.
• (2) Playoffs: the regular season's 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd placed teams play best-of-three series, for a total of 4–6 matches.
• (3) Finals: the two playoff winners meet in a best-of-five championship series of 3–5 matches.

5.Two matches are scheduled per match day at two different venues, unless special circumstances require otherwise.

6.Players must be at least 22 years old (as of the day before the season opener) and not under contract with another league. They may compete only after their club completes registration with the League. Players registered in the university league may not participate.

7.Registered players who are injured or delayed by immigration or work-permit issues must be reported to the League for record. Once recovered (with a public hospital certificate) or once they have entered the country and obtained a work permit, they may be added to the match roster.

8.Except in cases of force majeure or injury supported by a public hospital diagnosis, clubs may not request roster changes after the registration deadline.

9.Each team must have at least two kits, one dark and one light, and submit designs to the League one month before the season so kit colors can be assigned. Teams must wear the colors assigned by the League.

10.The interval after set 1 is 3 minutes, after set 2 is 15 minutes, and after sets 3 and 4 is 5 minutes each. Intervals may be adjusted at the request of the home team and broadcaster.

11.Jersey numbers 1–99 may be used.

12.Each team must register at least 10 and at most 20 players per season, including up to 4 foreign players. 10–14 players (including 0–2 liberos) dress for each match. Rosters may be adjusted at mid-season; teams exceeding 20 players must trim their roster.

13.At most 4 foreign players may play in each match, excluding foreign students and players of Chinese descent.

14.Clubs must submit the week's match roster to the League by 10:00 a.m. on match day (Saturday).

15.Players whose registration changes (full roster) are not requested at least 48 hours before the match-day deadline may not be registered for that match.

16.If a match is stopped due to force majeure, the on-site control committee member declares the stoppage, and the result is determined as follows:

• (1) If only one set has been completed: the match is replayed on another date.
• (2) If two sets have been completed and the same team won both, that team is declared the 3:0 winner; completed sets and scores stand, and set 3 is recorded at the score when play stopped with the winner credited the required points. If each team won one set, the completed sets are void and the match is replayed.
• (3) If three sets have been completed and one team won two, that team is declared the 3:1 winner; completed sets and scores stand, and set 4 is recorded at the score when play stopped with the winner credited the required points.
• (4) If four sets have been completed at 2–2 and the deciding set has not started, it is recorded as 0:0. If the deciding set is stopped in progress, points scored stand and the winner is decided by the point ratio over the first four sets; if still tied, the team with fewer points conceded over the first four sets wins; if still tied, the winner is decided by lot. The winner is credited with a 3:2 victory.
• (5) When a replay is declared, completed sets and scores are void and the match is played again from the start.

17.After the control committee member declares a stoppage, the League arranges the venue and date of the make-up match.

18.During matches, only registered team members (5 staff and 10–14 players) may be on the bench, except the team manager or general manager.

19.For disputes covered by the rules or their equivalent interpretation, the referee's decision is final and may not be contested.

20.Protests and appeals: when the ball is dead, the captain may ask the referee:

• (1) to explain the application or interpretation of the rule invoked.
• (2) If the explanation is not accepted, the game captain must immediately object to the referee and reserve the right to record the objection on the score sheet after the match as the basis for a protest. Protests raised after the match are not accepted.

21.Protests must be submitted in writing, signed by the team manager and coach, with a deposit of NT$10,000, to the on-site jury within one hour after the match. If the jury rules the protest unfounded, the deposit is forfeited to the League fund without appeal. If upheld, the deposit is returned and those responsible are referred to the League for disciplinary action.

22.Team members of both sides must not verbally abuse or act violently toward the officiating crew or staff. Violations are handled by the referee under the rules and reported in writing to the on-site committee member after the match; the jury then meets to decide on sanctions.

23.Standings and points:

• (1) Points: for a 3:0 or 3:1 result the winner gets 3 points and the loser 0; for 3:2 the winner gets 2 points and the loser 1.
• (2) Season and championship series rankings: teams are ranked by wins over the full schedule. If two or more teams are tied on wins, they are ranked by total points, then by set ratio (sets won ÷ sets lost), then by point ratio (points for ÷ points against).

24.Rules of play: matches are best-of-five sets under the latest FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025–2028. Where these regulations contain special provisions that differ from the rules, the League's regulations apply, and all member clubs are bound by them.

25.Sexual harassment complaints during the competition: Administration, 常孟琪 (Ms. Chang), (02)2596-2177, email vickychi@TPVL2025.onmicrosoft.com.

26.In line with the Chinese Taipei Anti-Doping Agency's anti-doping program, the following applies to participating players.

• (1) Any player in League competitions may be selected for doping control.
• (2) Players who must use a prohibited substance or method for therapeutic reasons must apply to the Chinese Taipei Anti-Doping Agency for a Therapeutic Use Exemption.
• (3) The TUE application deadline for this competition is September 25, 2025.
  • Application:https://www.antidoping.org.tw/tue/
  • Prohibited List:https://www.antidoping.org.tw/prohibited-list/
  • Sample collection:https://www.antidoping.org.tw/testing-procedure/
  • Other anti-doping rules:https://www.antidoping.org.tw/regulations/

27.Sports betting and match-fixing penalties

• (1) Any team member who does any of the following receives a lifetime ban:
  1. Betting on matches or participating in match gambling, as found by prosecutors or investigators.
  2. Accepting improper gifts to under-perform or fix a match.
• (2) Anyone banned for life by another sports body, volleyball association or professional club may not participate in the TPVL as a team member or referee.

28.These regulations take effect after being drafted by the League, approved by the Competition Committee and reviewed by Taiwan Professional Volleyball Co., Ltd. Amendments follow the same procedure.