GUIDE FOR BEGINNER VOLLEYBALL REFEREES Chapter 3: Basic Volleyball Rules
Lines = 2 (5cm) wide Free space = at least 6 (2m) around court Attack line = 10 (3m) from center line Service area = width of court, defined by hash marks THE COURT: RULE 2-1
Benches & Substitution Zone Officials Table Bench Bench 3
Libero Replacements Bench Officials Table Bench 4
Ceiling/overhead obstruction is playable provided the team has a hit remaining Ball hits ceiling then crosses net = OUT Ball crosses net then hits ceiling = OUT OVERHEAD OBSTRUCTIONS: RULE 2-2
Raised horizontal = overhead obstruction; playable Vertical position = dead ball; possible replay VERTICAL BACKBOARD: RULE 2-3-1H
Net, including antennas Referee stand/platform Proper padding on equipment THE NET: RULE 3-1
Game balls Scoreboard or flip score Game clock or timing device Scoring materials OTHER GAME EQUIPMENT
Rally scoring is used in all matches a point is scored each serve Sets are played to 25 points, win by two; no point cap Deciding sets are played to 15 points, win by two; no point cap A match consists of best three of five sets; first team to win three sets wins the match Best two of three sets may be played in regular-season tournaments and is used for all sub-varsity matches with deciding set to 25 points POINT, SET AND MATCH
Coach(es) Players and substitutes Team personnel: Team manager(s) Athletic trainers Statisticians Roster and lineups TEAM COMPOSITION: RULE 6-1
Head coach may: stand during play at least 6 feet from sideline in libero replacement zone request substitutions, time-outs, lineup checks may ask for rule clarification Assistant coaches and other personnel sit on bench, except to: participate in timeouts greet players at bench spontaneously react to outstanding plays COACHES: RULE 12-2-6
Six players on the court at a time; may play with fewer than six due to injury/illness One player is designated as the team captain; if captain is not on the court, another player is designated as game captain Substitutes must be seated on the team bench or may stand behind bench to warm up before entering court Substitutes may stand briefly to react to an outstanding play or to greet a player leaving the court PLAYERS & SUBSTITUTES: RULE 6-2 & 6-3
Back-row defensive specialist Different jersey than rest of team; shorts must be the same color May replace a back-row player; does not count as a substitution Replacements occur between end line and attack line when ball is out of play May serve in one position in service order for any player or substitute in that position May not block/attempt to block While in front zone, may not set ball to a teammate for completed attack while ball is higher than top of net Completed rally must occur between replacements except when on-court libero s next action is to serve THE LIBERO: RULE 6-4-2
Three front-row, three back-row players Right-back is serving position Right Back (pos 1), Right Front (pos 2), Center Front (pos 3), Left Front (pos 4), Left Back (pos 5), Center Back (pos 6) Players may move after service contact but must be in service order at moment of serve Front row players must be closer to center line than corresponding back-row player (RF-RB, CF-CB, LF-LB) Left-side players must be closer to left sideline than adjacent center players (LF- CF, LB-CB) Right-side players must be closer to right sideline than adjacent center players (RF-CF, RB-CB) PLAYER POSITIONS: RULES 6-4-1 & 6-4-3
Rosters Due at least 10 minutes before end of timed prematch warm-ups Liberos may be listed with two numbers Accuracy verified by referees and/or scorer Lineups Pre-match: Due at least two minutes before end of timed pre-match warm-ups During match: Due at least one minute before the expiration of the interval between sets ROSTERS & LINEUPS: RULES 7-1-1, 7-1-2 & 7-1-4
Time-outs Two per team per set 60 seconds each Substitutions 18 per team per set Requested by the head coach OR when a substitute enters the substitution zone Set intervals 3 minutes between sets Extended interval permitted between Sets 2 & 3, maximum of 5 minutes TIME-OUTS, SUBSTITUTIONS & SET INTERVALS: RULES 10 & 11
Unsporting conduct includes actions considered unbecoming to an ethical, fair and honorable individual; includes taunting, tobacco use (See Rules 12-2-8 & 12-2-9) Sanction levels: Yellow card (warning) first minor offense Red card (penalty) first serious or second minor offense; loss of rally/point awarded to opponent Disqualification first flagrant, second serious or third minor offense; loss of rally/point awarded to opponent; offender may not participate in remainder of match Conduct sanctions are recorded on the scoresheet CONDUCT SANCTIONS: RULE 12
Delays to the resumption of play, such as: Repeated improper substitution procedures Illegal substitution or libero replacement Player wearing illegal uniform or equipment Unnecessary delay warning/yud first occurrence in a set Unnecessary delay penalty/rud subsequent occurrence in a set; loss of rally/point for the opponent Unnecessary delay/administrative sanctions are recorded on the scoresheet UNNECESSARY DELAY SANCTIONS: RULE 9-9-1
Serving Screening Team hits & contacting the ball Blocking Play at the net PLAYING ACTIONS
Takes place in the service zone, anywhere behind the end line, by the player in right-back position Occurs after the first referee whistles and beckons 5 seconds to contact the ball Re-serve permitted; one per player per term of service; 5 seconds Served ball touches net and crosses LEGAL Serving before the authorization for serve no penalty, re-authorize Server may not touch end line or outside service zone hash marks at moment of contact with the ball for service Jump serve take off behind end line, may land inside court THE SERVE: RULE 8
Action that prevents opponent from seeing the contact of the serve or flight path of the served ball Potential screen exists when: a group of two or more players stand close together and the ball is served over them players from serving team wave arms, jump, move sideways or stand close to server, AND the ball is served over these player(s) SCREENING: RULE 6-5
Maximum of three team hits to return ball to the opponent; block does not count as a team hit Ball may touch any part of the body Ball cannot be caught/thrown; no prolonged contact; may not come to rest Multiple contacts only permitted during blocking or first team contact Simultaneous contact by teammates LEGAL, and either player may make next team hit Successive contacts CONTACTING THE BALL: RULE 9-4
Deflect the ball coming from the opponent Player(s) must be near the net, reaching higher than top of the net Does not count as one of team s three allowable hits Blocker may make team s first contact after blocking the ball Completed block a blocker touches the ball Back-row players may NOT participate in a completed a block Libero may NOT attempt to block or participate in a completed block BLOCKING: RULE 9-5-1
Ball must cross net entirely between antennas Fault for player to touch any part of the net, cables or antennas during play Center line legal to touch floor beyond center line with foot/feet/hand(s) provided part of foot/feet or hand/hands remains on/above center line Fault to touch opponent s court with any other body part Legal for player to cross center line extension outside court Back-row player may not complete attack-hit in front of attack line when ball is completely higher than top of net PLAY AT THE NET: RULES 9-5 & 9-6
Study, study, study Be a Student of the Game Review rules book and case book throughout the season Have rules discussions with fellow referees Challenge yourself with quizzes, exams and online resources SUMMARY