1-8 New: This rule clarifies when music and sound effects may be used and
prohibits the use of artificial noisemakers at all times.
Rationale: Provides direction to host management, coaches and
officials as to when music and sound effects are appropriate during a match to
prevent interference with play. Prohibiting artificial noisemakers minimizes
interference with play and unsporting action by spectators.
4-1-6 New Penalty: The wearing of jewelry is prohibited in warm-ups and
competition. A player observed wearing jewelry in warm-ups is directed by the
official to remove the jewelry with no further penalty unless refusing to
remove the item.
Rationale: Players are prohibited from wearing jewelry during
warm-ups and competition for purposes of risk minimization. This penalty
further clarifies that should a player be observed wearing jewelry during
warm-ups he/she is directed to remove the jewelry with no further penalty
unless the player does not comply thus resulting in unsporting conduct.
4-2-1d New: Bare midriff tops are prohibited and the uniform top shall be
tucked in or hang below the waistband of the uniform bottom.
Rationale: The wearing of uniforms intended to expose the midriff of
a player is inappropriate for interscholastic volleyball. When standing upright
and wearing the uniform as intended by the manufacturer the midriff shall be
covered.
4-2-4c: The rule will now permit more than one color to be used in the trim
surrounding the uniform number. Either the color of trim or the body of the
number shall be in sharp contrast to the uniform top to make the number clearly
visible.
Rationale: This change is an effort to make some specific numbers
which are clearly visible as a result of the sharp contrasting trim surrounding
the number or the body of the number itself legal. The change will not expand
the options to include numbers that are not clearly visible.
5-1-2: Broadens the existing restrictions for officials on the use of
electronic devices related to making decisions on the game.
Rationale: With the advancement in technology, the restrictions
relating to officials making game decisions based on TV monitoring and replay
need to become more broad to address other electronic devices in existence and
those on the horizon. The game officials are to make decisions without
assistance from electronic and replay devices.
5-2-1 Note 2 New: Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year
the state association adoption note to modify officials' uniforms shall be
deleted from the body of the rules.
5-2-1 Note 3 New: The individual state association may make a temporary
adjustment in the official's uniform and permit the wearing of black shorts to
address heat related issues.
Rationale: Today's volleyball officials' uniforms consist primarily
of the uniform requirements in Rule 5-2-1 of a white collared polo shirt, black
slacks, black shoes and socks. The state adoption was previously included as
the uniform was in transition from the stripe shirt which is no longer
prominent. To provide for consistency in appearance for all officials the state
association adoption is removed from the rules effective in the 2009-2010 season. States continue to have the option due to extreme
hot, humid weather in the early part of the season to permit black shorts to be
worn.
6-3 Penalty 2 New: Penalty for an illegal libero
replacement found in the game is a loss of rally/point and considered illegal
alignment.
Rationale: This change in the penalty clears up that whenever an
illegal replacement is found in the game the result is illegal alignment. The
game is about players being in proper position at the moment of serve. Thus, an
illegal replacement in the game is an alignment infraction and not an
unnecessary delay.
6-3-2e New: Rule 6-3-2e allows the libero to serve
in one position in the serving order.
Rationale: Creates an additional avenue for the libero
to participate fully while in the back row. The team may now receive full
benefit of the libero being a defensive specialist by
no longer requiring the player to sit out while another player serves who is to
be replaced by the libero for back row play. Many
times the libero is one of the better servers on the
team and the better serving will enhance over play in the game.
5-6-3c New, 9-6-5d, 10-4-1a and c: Accompanying
rules related to replacement, responsibilities of the assistant scorer and libero player action are changed to reflect the eligibility
for the libero to serve.
Rationale: As a result of the libero being
eligible to serve, various rules are changed to coincide with this rule change.
7-1-2: The requirement for the method of submitting the lineup is changed to
a listing of the uniform number of the starting players in proper
serving order and no longer uses a player floor position method.
Rationale: Scorers sometimes have a difficult time accurately
transferring the order of the lineups to the scoresheet
when the starters are listed in floor position. By listing numbers in serving
order the lineup coincides with the scoresheet and
will minimize problems transferring the lineup to the scoresheet.
8-1-5: A libero replacement shall not take place
during a re-serve.
Rationale: A re-serve is part of a single attempt to serve and a
team(s) has already had the opportunity for a replacement. This change is
consistent with requests for substitutions, time-out and line-up check all of
which may not occur during a re-serve.
9-5-4: A back-row player is treated the same no matter what circumstances.
It is now illegal anytime a back-row player on or in front of the attack line
contacts the ball completely above the height of the net and completes an
attack or the ball is legally touched by an opponent.
Rationale: This clarifies that anytime the back-row player on or in
front of the attack line contacts the ball completely above the height of the
net and completes an attack or the ball breaks the plane and is legally blocked
it is illegal, back row attack.
10-2-1: Deleted listing the conditions for when the head coach may stand
from under the procedure for substitution as all conditions for the coach standing
are listed in Rules 12-2-5 and 6.
Rationale: The statement is not needed in this portion of the rules
and should be deleted from substitution procedures. The conditions for when the
head coach may stand are addressed in Rules 12-2-5 and 6.
10-4-1f, 10-4-2c: The libero replacement shall be
completed prior to the whistle and signal for serve.
Rationale: This deadline is consistent with requests for time-outs,
substitutions and line-up check. The deadline will assist in game
administration by having all court players in place prior to the whistle and
signal for serve.
10-4-3: A libero replacement can take place once a
time-out is completed and all players have returned to the court.
Rationale: Provides clarity that a libero
replacement cannot occur during the time-out but may take place after the
time-out is completed and the players have returned to the court and prior to
the whistle/signal for serve.
10-4-Penalty 1: Clarifies the penalties for an illegal libero
replacement entering the game as an unnecessary delay and being found in the
game after the whistle/signal for serve as illegal alignment (loss of
rally/point).
Rationale: Separates the two penalties which apply to an illegal libero replacement based upon the timing of the
whistle/signal for serve.
12-2-6: Specifies the head coach shall be seated once the referee extends
his/her arm in preparation to whistle/signal for serve.
Rationale: Gives direction to the coach and official as to when the
coach should be seated after providing instruction to the players. The change
allows the official to then direct all of his/her attention to the game as the
signal for serve is initiated.
Official's Mechanics Signal #17-Point: The mechanics and point signal are
changed to indicate point and team to have next serve
to extending the arm in the direction of the team that will serve, palm
perpendicular to the floor. (Whistle, signal violation, point)
Rationale: With rally scoring there is no longer a need to signal
point. Each end of rally results in a point for the team being awarded the next
serve. The revised signal will indicate the team to serve next which is also
the team to receive the point.
Major Editorial Changes
3-1-Pen 1, 4-1-6, 4-2-1a, 4-2-Pen 1,
5-6-3c, 6-3-Pen 2c, 7-1-1b, 7-1-Pen 1, 7-1-Pen 2,
7-1-2a, 8-2-6a1-3, 9-1-1, 9-5-1c
Note, 9-5-1c, 9-5-6b, 9-6-4c, 10-1-2a, 10-1-4, 10-2-1a, 12-2-1, 12 Card
Procedure, 12-2-6, Unsportsmanlike to "unsporting,"
Libero
Player Transition deleted