RULES CHANGES *By way of the Rules Change Proposal System, ALL submitted proposals have been reviewed and advanced by the respective state association. No. Page Rule Ref Proposed Changes with Rationale Submitted By Pass Fail No Action 1 8 1-2-4 New ART. 4...Teams shall switch sides when a team reaches point 8 in the deciding set. Amy Tyler, SD* Rationale: This is practiced at the Junior Olympic/AAU level, and at the collegiate level. It needs to be consistent across the board. All teams have a preference to side, such as away from student section. Changing sides at point 8 would give both teams the opportunity to play on the side they deem more comfortable. 2 10 2-1-2 ART. 2...It is recommended All boundary lines shall be of one clearly visible color contrasting to the color of the floor and other lines on the floor. Davine Davis, MO Rationale: The spirit and intent of the rule is to clearly identify the boundary lines on the court as one clearly visible, contrasting color on the floor. Yet there are schools that have multiple colors for boundary lines and/or want to shadow this line when the mascot extends to the boundary lines. By eliminating the word recommended, the expectation is clear for our schools. 3 10 2-1-5 ART. 5...An attack line, 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide, shall be drawn across each playing area from sideline to sideline, the midpoint of which shall be 10 feet (3 meters) from the midpoint of the center line and parallel to it. The attack line shall be solid and one clearly visible color. The attack line cannot be shadow-bordered. Davine Davis, MO Rationale: Schools with large mascots are trying to shadow-border the attack line. Including this specific language clarifies the expectations regarding the attack line and legal player action can be consistently determined by the official. 4 16 4-1-5 ART. 5 Hair devices made of soft material and no more than 3 inches wide may be worn in the hair or on the head. Head covering worn for religious reasons which is of a soft material and secured on the head may be worn. Bobby pins, flat clips and flat barrettes, unadorned and no longer than 2 inches, are also allowed. Stacey Lambert, IL Rationale: The issue here is that coaches and schools routinely fail to seek permission for players to wear hair devices, hijabs for example, prior to competition and therefore officials don t allow the player to participate with their hijab on until they can produce the permission letter. This causes repeat issues and there is concern this confusion is unnecessary.
Case Book 4.1.2 SITUATION C 5 17 4-2-1h h. Only the school name, mascot name and/or reference and /or player s name may be placed on the uniform. Designs are permitted on the standard jersey. Rationale: Clarifies this intent of the rule that only the school name, mascot name and/or reference and/or the player s name may appear on the uniform with specific restrictions applying to the solid-color jersey. Denise Ainsworth, AL 6 18 4-2-2c c. Piping/trim not exceeding 1 inch in total at its widest point may be placed on the sleeve(s) and/or no more than two such accents on the body of the uniform top along the seams and may be a different color(s) than the uniform top. Rationale: Difficulty in identifying seams yet preserves a basic solid-colored uniform top. 7 18 4-2-4b ART. 4...The number shall be: b. Not more than two digits (00, 0-99) 1-5, 10-15, 20-25, 30-35, 40-45, 50-55; Rationale: Officials are required to provide the number of an offender to the coach and bench. Having to use two hands twice to make numbers such as "68" is confusing and cumbersome. 8 20 5-2-1b ART. 1...After a referee whistles to signal the end of the rally, that referee indicates the decision with the official hand signals. b. If a fault is whistled by the second referee, he or she will step to the side of the net of the team at fault, then indicate the nature of the fault using the hand nearest the side of the team at fault and the player at fault, if necessary. The first referee, if in agreement, will then indicate the result of the play (point or replay), followed by the fault signal and the player at fault, if necessary; the second referee will mirror the first referee s signal of point and fault or replay. Karen McNaught, IL Jack Hardy, ME Rationale: The primary problem with the existing mechanic for R2 fault whistles is that R1 does not repeat R2 s preliminary fault signal after awarding the point. This can leave players, coaches and spectators wondering what the fault was. The foremost effect of the proposed change is to eliminate the risk of confusion by having R1 repeat the accepted R2 fault signal, after R1 awards a point following R2 s whistle and preliminary fault signal. The current mechanic risks confusion whenever R2 initiates a whistle and signals the fault from his or her less conspicuous position on the floor.
Current mechanics have R1 mirroring R2 s substitution and timeout signals after an R2 whistle, presumably because R1 s signals are more clearly visible to the entire facility. It seems the same rationale should apply to enhance clearer communication of fault signals, which are even more critical to playing and understanding the game. Despite this change calling for R2 to give fault signals twice, it would have the advantage of making for greater consistency in R2 mechanics. In the same manner as R2 currently mirrors both R1 s award and fault signal after R1 s fault whistle, R2 would mirror both R1 s award and fault signal after R1 s acceptance of R2 s whistle and preliminary fault signal. It would reinforce that R2 s original signal after an R2 whistle is a preliminary fault indication that doesn t count until it is accepted by R1 s award of a point. A third (minor) aspect of the proposed change would require R2 to step to the fault side of the net after an R2 fault whistle and give the preliminary fault signal using the outside hand. This is the standard mechanic taught under and other rulesets and it works well to facilitate clear communication from R2 to R1 after an R2 fault whistle. Officials Manual: G. How and When to Use the Official Volleyball Signals, pg. 82 9 24 5-5-3b(12) ART. 3...During the set: b. The second referee's specific responsibilities shall be to: Ty Jones, ID 12. Whistle to end a time-out only if the final 60 second audio signal has not sounded and both teams are ready to play prior to the 60 seconds expiring. Rationale: The officials have a lot of confusion regarding this simple rule. We all know that there are 60 seconds for a time out but what if a team is ready to play when only 30 seconds are on the clock? We know the second referee is to blow the whistle so that the teams are ready to play. Another situation would be when only 15 seconds are on the clock the horn sounds for a warning, the when 10 seconds are left the team is ready to play, it is important to alert all players that the time out has ended. The second referee double whistles, gives to the R1 how many time outs are used and gives the game back to the R1. The timer now turns off the clock because the R2 has officially ended the time. Officials Manual pg. 76
10 30 6-5-2 ART. 2... Potential screens exist, but are not limited to: NEW c & d Davine Davis, MO c. There shall be a minimum of a 2-foot space between front court players and no back court players shall occupy that space behind the front court players or stand directly in front of the server. d. Hands and arms of the front court players should be parallel to the net and not extend above head level. Rationale: This sets a standard that is concise and easier for officials to do a better job in eliminating this situation. Many players have arms out parallel to the floor or standing next to each other forming a wall. It is understood that officials need to also observe serve location and trajectory but this would help insure fair play. 11 30 7-1-2 ART. 2...No later than two minutes prior to the end of the timed prematch warmup, a coach from each team shall give to the scorer an accurate, written lineup listing the uniform numbers for the six starting players in the proper serving order. A new, written lineup is required for subsequent sets. Only one libero may be designated per set and must be designated on the lineup prior to each set. Ty Jones, Boise, ID Rationale: It is the responsibility for each coach to submit a written lineup for each set. This eliminates coaches submitting a written lineup for the first set, then when it is time to submit the second, third, fourth or fifth lineup, coaches say "same as before" etc. which may not be coach s true intention thus causing delay and possible unnecessary penalty. 12 31 8-1-1 ART. 1...A serve is contact with the ball...the ball shall be contacted within five eight seconds after the first referee's signal to serve the net antennas. Marsha Goodwin, TN Rationale: With new techniques used in serving, five seconds is often not enough time to serve. Eight seconds would also be consistent with current trends in the sport. 13 37 9-5-7 ART. 7 A player may touch the floor across the center line with one or both feet/hands provided a part of the foot/feet or hand(s) remains on or above the center line. Contacting the floor across the center line with any other part of the body is illegal
ART. 7 A player may touch the floor across the center line within the court with any part(s) of the body provided some part of the body remains either in contact with or directly above the center line, and there is no interference with opponents. Completely crossing the center line with feet, hands, or other part(s) of the body must not pose any type of safety hazard to the player or his/her opponents. Such a hazard will result in play being stopped immediately and shall be ruled as a center line violation. Rationale: With skills and athletic ability rising in the game of volleyball, more players are able to make outstanding saves on balls played into or near the net. Sometimes, this results in a player s hand or foot completely crossing the center line, but not interfering at all with an opponent. Any form of interference or reckless play would be penalized as always. This change would recognize outstanding athletic plays and not penalize such efforts. 14 38 9-6-7 ART. 7 A net foul occurs while the ball is in play and: a. A players contacts any part of the net including net cables or net antennas. It is not a foul when a player s loose hair touches the net, or the force of a ball hit by an opponent pushes the net or net cables into the player. b. A player gains an advantage by contacting the floor/wall cables, standards or first referee s platform; c. There is dangerous contact by a player with the floor/wall cables, standards or first referee s platform; d. There is interference by a player who makes: 1. Contact with an opponent which interferes with the opponent s legitimate effort to play the ball; 2. Intentional contact with a ball which the opponent has caused to pass partially under the net or into the body of the net and the opponent is attempting to play it again. ART. 7 Contact with the net by a player is not a fault, unless it is made during an action of playing the ball or faking a play on the ball; the player gains an advantage; there is dangerous contact with floor/wall cables, standards, or first referee s platform; or there is interference. Playing the ball may include actions in which the player(s) does not actually touch the ball. ART.8 A net fault occurs while the ball is in play and: a. A player contacts the net and/or antenna during an action of playing the ball or faking a play on the ball; b. A player gains an advantage by contacting the floor/wall cables, standards, or first referee s platform; c. There is dangerous contact by a player with the floor/wall cables, standards, or first referee s platform; d. There is interference by a player who makes:
1. Contact with an opponent which interferes with the opponent s legitimate effort to play the ball; 2. Intentional contact with a ball which the opponent has caused to pass partially under the net or into the body of the net and the opponent is attempting to play it again; 3. Contact with the net which interferes with play. PENALTY: For a net fault or over-the-net fault, loss of rally/point is awarded to the opponent. Rationale: The net foul rule discourages players from contacting the net while making a play on the ball. It is to keep the net clear while net play develops. The current net foul rule penalizes a player that might turn and brush the net wall after making a play on the ball. This net contact creates no advantage for the player contacting the net and presents no disadvantage for the opponent. It also has no impact on the play or flow of the game as a whole. Any action which is egregious or presents some sort of disadvantage for the opponent will still be penalized. Any action involving net contact while making a play on the ball will also be penalized as always. This change will encourage play, similar to multiple contacts being legal on the first contact. These inadvertent touches of the net that do not affect the play at all should be ignored and play should be allowed to continue. 15 39 9-8-1 NEW j ART. 1...A replay is the act of putting the ball in play without awarding a loss of rally/point and without a rotation for the serve. A replay may be declared when: New j. No substitutions or replacements will be allowed during a replay. Marsha Goodwin, TN Rationale: There is nothing in the rule book to indicate that substitutions or replacements would be allowed during a replay. However, in the Case Manual on page 30, situation Rule 8.1.6, Situation C suggests that "legal substitutions, replacements, or time-outs may take place during the dead ball prior to the replay." By definition of substitution, Rule 10.1.3, and Replacements Rule 10/4/a/c only allows substitution or replacements, one per dead ball/point scored. During a replay, if the team has substituted or replaced just prior to the service beckon, and we allow those during a replay, we are in violation of those rules governing subs and replacements. The replay should be addressed the same as a re-serve, as one attempt to serve. This would also make this rule consistent with the procedures in NCAA, NAIA, and USA Volleyball. 16 40 9-9-1k ART. 1...Unnecessary delay results in any action by a team An unnecessary delay includes, but is not limited to: k. A team requesting a time-out in a set after it has taken its allotted time-outs; Re-letter remaining items
11-2-3, Penalty 2. PENALTIES: 2. For A team requesting a time-out in a set after it has taken its allotted time-outs, unnecessary delay (administrative yellow card for the first offense or administrative red card for subsequent offense in that set) shall be issued a red card, resulting in a point/loss of rally and the head coach must remain seated. Rationale: The requesting of a third time-out in a set at a critical time with the possibility that the only penalty is an unnecessary delay encourages gamesmanship and does not fall under good sporting conduct by manipulating an interruption in play. 17 43 10-4-1c NOTE New ART. 1.Procedures for libero replacement: c. One libero replacement may be exercised per dead ball/rally unless the libero is replacing the player in the right back position and will serve the next rally; NOTE: On a dead ball, a libero or replacement stepping off the court with both feet commits the libero/replacement to exiting the set and the player shall sit out for at least the next rally. Rationale: Eliminates a need for the referee s judgement as to whether or not the libero/replacement intentionally or unintentionally stepped of the court to head to the team bench. 18 48 12-2-6 ART. 6...The head coach may stand only in the libero replacement zone to coach his/her players. During play, the head coach shall be no closer to the court than 6 feet from the sideline. If a red card (yellow and/or red other than an administrative yellow or red card assessed for unnecessary delay) is issued for unsporting conduct to the head coach, assistant coach(es) or team bench, the head coach shall remain seated for the remainder of the match except:.... Rationale: A yellow card for unsporting conduct is just a warning and should not carry a penalty, requiring the head coach to sit, with the warning. 19 48 12-2-6 ART. 6...The head coach may stand only in the libero replacement zone to coach his/her players. During play, the head coach shall be no closer to the court than 6 feet from the sideline. If a card (yellow and/or red other than an administrative yellow or red card assessed for unnecessary delay) is issued for unsporting conduct to the head coach, assistant coach(es) or team bench, the head coach shall remain seated closest to the scorekeeper for the remainder of the match except: Ty Jones, ID
20 63 Officials Signals #20 Rationale: It would be beneficial for all involved to know where the head coach is seated once he/she is restricted to the bench for conduct. Instructions or requests to the official can be easily heard and would keep the coaches from moving along the bench in case the officials had requests for them. Omit the illegal substitution signal (signal #20) Rationale: The penalty is "unnecessary delay--administrative yellow or red card;" there is no need to have two penalty signals. Rule: 10 Penalties 21 63 Signal: Signal 22: Return to previous signal of hands on hips. Unnecessary Delay The old signal was one movement. And self-explanatory (Hand on hips). Karen McNaught, IL Jackie Armstrong, MT* Rationale: Unnecessary delay is unnecessarily unreasonably long and cumbersome. All signals for volleyball have a one arm action, Unnecessary Delay has multiple arm movements. Current signal not understood by fans, coaches, players. EDITORIAL CHANGES No. Page Rule Ref Proposed Changes with Rationale Submitted By Pass Fail No Action 22 19 4-2 PENALTIES 2 PENALTIES: 2....if the team has a time-out remaining, it may be taken and the player may remain in the set providing Rationale: Clarifies that a remaining team time-out may be taken for a player to correct an illegal uniform. 23 42 10-3-3 ART. 3...A re-entering player shall not return to the set during the same dead ball in which the player was replaced. substituted... Marsha Goodwin, TN Rationale: Substitutions are substituted; libero replacements are replaced. This rule does not pertain to libero replacements, but rather to substitutions.
24 45 11-2 PENALTIES: PENALTIES 2....in that set) shall be charged assessed. 2 Rationale: Corrects to proper sport terminology. 25 54, 56 & 57 SAMPLE SET YUD/RUD - record as DW (Delay Warning) and DP (Delay Penalty). Rationale: This is not really a rule change, but is contained in the rules book. Karen McNaught, IL 26 57 SAMPLE SET Rule: Recording Comments Section Home Serve: (loss of rally point 22)...a penalty point awarded Home an unnecessary delay (YUD) is assed Visitors. (Px 25)... Rationale: Correction of application of unnecessary delay.