USA Volleyball Indoor Rule Changes and Clarifications

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USA Volleyball Indoor Rule Changes and
Clarifications

• 2009

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Undergarments

• 1. Deleted USAV 4.3 "If undergarments, including
  but not limited to t- shirts, boxer shorts,
  tights, leotards, body suits, bicycle shorts,
  sports bras, etc., are worn in such a manner that
  they are exposed, they will be considered a part
  of the uniform. In that case, they must be
  similar and the same color for any team members
  who wear such a uniform. Socks and sport shoes
  are not part of the uniform."2. Replaced with
  USAV 4.3 "If undergarments, including but not
  limited to t-shirts, boxer shorts, tights,
  leotards, body suits, bicycle shorts, sports
  bras, etc., are worn in such a manner that they
  are exposed, they will be considered a part of
  the uniform. In that case, they must be similar
  and the same color for any team members (except
  the Libero) who wear such a uniform. Socks and
  sport shoes are not part of the uniform.
• Narrative Explanation of Change in
  RegulationThis clarifies the fact that the
  Libero uniform, which may include any exposed
  undergarments, need not be similar to, and may be
  a different, contrasting color from, the regular
  team uniform.

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Delete Casts

• USAV 4.5.1 (page 18) Delete Casts.1. Delete
  USAV 4.5.1 "It is forbidden to wear hats or
  jewelry. An exception will be made for religious
  or medical medal- lions and, for adult
  competition, a flat band ring worn on the finger.
  If worn, medallions shall be removed from chains
  and taped or sewn under the uniform. If a ring,
  other than a flat band, cannot be removed, it
  shall be taped in such a manner as not to create
  a safety hazard. Casts, braces, prosthetic limbs
  or headgear that may cause an injury or give an
  artificial advantage to the player must not be
  worn. If a cast, brace, prosthetic limb or
  headgear is used, padding or covering may be
  necessary."2. Replaced with USAV 4.5.1 "It is
  forbidden to wear hats or jewelry. An exception
  will be made for religious or medical medallions
  and, for adult competition, a flat band ring worn
  on the finger. If worn, medallions shall be
  removed from chains and taped or sewn under the
  uniform. If a ring, other than a flat band,
  cannot be removed, it shall be taped in such a
  manner as not to create a safety hazard. Braces,
  prosthetic limbs or headgear that may cause an
  injury or give an artificial advantage to the
  player must not be worn. If a brace, prosthetic
  limb or headgear is used, padding or covering may
  be necessary.
• Narrative Explanation of Change in
  RegulationThis change removes the possibility
  that a player may play while wearing a cast.

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Coach standing restrictions

• Add USAV 5.2.3.4 (page 21)New USAV 5.2.3.4
  "During play, the coach may give these
  instructions while standing or walking within the
  free zone in front of his/her team's bench from
  the extension of the attack line up to the
  warm-up area, no closer to the court than 1.75 m
  (5' 10") from the sideline and its extension,
  without disturbing or delaying the match. The
  extension of the attack line is drawn to a
  distance of 1.75 m (5'10") from the sideline.
• Narrative Explanation of Change in
  RegulationThere is not presently a distance
  requirement from the court for coaches while they
  walk or stand in their free zone during play.
  This would bring the USAV DCR into sync with what
  the FIVB is now applying in its competition.

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Assistant Coach

• USAV 5.3.1 (page 22)1. Deleted USAV 5.3.1
  "While remaining on the bench, the assistant
  coach(es) may give instructions to the players on
  the court.2. Replaced with USAV 5.3.1 "One
  assistant coach at a time may leave the bench to
  give instructions to the players on the court.
  During play, this assistant coach may give these
  instructions while standing or walking within the
  free zone in front of his/her team's bench from
  the extension of the attack line up to the
  warm-up area, no closer to the court than 1.75 m
  (5' 10") from the sideline and its extension,
  without disturbing or delaying the match. The
  extension of the attack line is drawn to a
  distance of 1.75 m (5'10") from the sideline.
• Narrative Explanation of Change in
  RegulationThere is not presently a distance
  requirement from the court for coaches while they
  walk or stand in their free zone during play.
  This would bring the USAV DCR into sync with what
  the FIVB is now applying in its competition.

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Improper Request to a Delay

• USAV 15.6f (page 48), USAV 15.11.3 (page 52) and
  USAV 16.1 (page 53)1. Deleted USAV 15.6.f "The
  sanction for a wrong position entry request is an
  improper request."2. Deleted USAV 15.11.3 "An
  improper request includes a player substitution
  that would result in a wrong position entry.
  Improper requests remain in force for the
  match."3. Deleted USAV 16.1 "A delay in
  substitution results in refusing the request for
  that substitution. No additional request for
  substitution from that team may be made until the
  next interval when the ball is out of play."4.
  Replaced with USAV 16.1 "A request for an
  illegal substitution or excess time-out shall
  result in an improper request. However, if such a
  request is acknowledged (i.e., whistled), a team
  delay sanction shall result. Any substitution
  request that is improper or causes a delay is
  denied. No additional request for substitution
  from that team may be made until the next
  interval when the ball is out of play.
• Narrative Explanation of Change in
  RegulationThis more clearly explains that
  requests for an illegal substitution or excess
  time out result in a team delay if acknowledged
  (i.e. whistled) and are improper requests if not
  acknowledged.

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Libero Jersey

• USAV 19.2a (page 56a)1. Deleted USAV 19.2a "It
  is recommended now and required Nov. 1, 2009,
  that the Libero uniform must be a contrasting
  color and not include any color from the regular
  team jersey (excluding the color of the numbers).
  Color combinations such as purple/black, dark
  green/black, or navy/maroon are not distinctive
  enough to comply with the rules.2. Replaced
  with USAV 19.2a "The Libero player's jersey must
  contrast in color with that of the predominant
  colors of the jerseys of the other team members.
  Color combinations such as purple/black, dark
  green/black, navy/maroon, and white/light yellow
  are not distinctive enough to comply with the
  rules.
• Narrative Explanation of Change in RegulationThe
  current rule is too restrictive in not allowing a
  trim color on the jersey the same color as the
  regular team jersey. The proposed rule allows for
  some creativity in the jersey design while
  retaining the intent of the rule, which is to
  make the Libero uniform distinctive enough to be
  immediately recognized on the court.

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Libero Tracker

• Add USAV Rule 26.2.2.1 (page 71)New USAV
  26.2.2.1 "In addition to recording the details
  of the Libero replacements, the assistant scorer
  records all substitutions."
• Narrative Explanation of Change in RegulationThe
  USAV Libero tracking sheet is different from the
  FIVB Libero control sheet. Per the USAV Domestic
  Competition Regulations, the Libero may replace a
  substitute. It is required that the assistant
  scorer must track all substitutions.
• Add USAV 26.2.2.4 (page 71)New Rule 26.2.2.4
  "It is recommended that someone other than the
  assistant scorer operate the visual scoreboard."
• Narrative Explanation of Change in RegulationThe
  primary responsibility of the assistant scorer is
  to track the Libero replacements, as well as all
  substitutions. If there is a separate person to
  operate the visual scoreboard, there is more
  chance that both tasks will be done correctly.

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Rule Senarios

• When the second referee checks the starting
  lineups on the court for the second set, he
  notices that player No. 3 is listed as the Team S
  libero and is also one of the six players entered
  in the Team S starting lineup. Can the Team S
  coach choose to have player No. 3 as either the
  libero or a non-libero starter?
• Ruling No. Once a player is designated as the
  libero on the lineup submitted to the
  scorekeeper, the libero cannot be changed for
  that game. The Team S libero for the current set
  will be player No. 3. A substitution must be made
  for player No. 3 in the starting position where
  she is listed, just as if a phantom number had
  been entered in the starting lineup. However,
  this entire problem could have been prevented if
  the second referee had identified that the same
  number appeared twice on the lineup sheet before
  submitting it to the scorekeeper.

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• Player R4 jumps to attempt to block an opponent's
  attack. After returning to the floor, R4 brushes
  the bottom of the net.
• Ruling Play should continue with no net fault
  called. Rule 15.2.1 says Contact with the net by
  a player is not a fault unless it is made during
  the action of playing the ball. Referees should
  use these guidelines for determining when a
  player is playing the ball For a player who is
  jumping (blocking, attacking, jump setting),
  playing the ball begins when they leave the
  floor, and ends when they return to the floor.
  For a player who is not jumping, playing the
  ball ends when the ball leaves the vicinity and
  the player is transitioning to the next action.
  If the referees determine that the player who
  makes net contact is not playing the ball, then
  the contact is only a fault if it interferes with
  play.
• Player R3 attacks a ball and lands with the heel
  of her foot on the center line and the rest of
  her foot in the opponents court. Player S4
  attempts to block the attack, and lands with her
  foot on top of R3's (partially on/over the center
  line). Neither player is impeded from making the
  next play.
• Ruling No fault has been committed. Rule
  15.2.4.1 states Encroachment into the opponent's
  court with the foot, feet or hand(s) is
  permitted, provided some part of the encroaching
  extremity remains in contact with or directly
  above the center line, and there is no
  interference with opponents.

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• While playing the ball, an attacker for Team R
  contacts (a) the net outside the antenna (b) the
  cable that connects the net to the pole or (c)
  the net pole or referee stand.
• Ruling Situation (a) is a net fault. The net
  includes the entire length of the net from end to
  end. Situations (b) and (c) are not net faults.
  Rule 15.2.1.2 says A player may touch a post,
  rope, or any other object outside the total
  length of the net.
• Team A starts the set with player No. 12 in
  center back (position 6). After a few rallies,
  Team A substitutes No. 6 for No. 12. A few
  rallies later, the Team A libero comes from the
  bench and replaces No. 6. Play continues, and
  when the Team A libero (still on the court for
  No. 6) rotates to the front row, player No. 12
  replaces her (the illegal replacement is not
  noticed at the time). The score at the time Team
  A last rotated was 10 to 6 in favor of Team A.
  Team A serves and wins the next rally (score is
  11 - 6). Team A substitutes No. 2 for No. 20, and
  the second referee authorizes the substitution.
  The assistant scorekeeper then notifies the
  second referee of the illegal libero replacement,
  and states that No. 6 should have replaced the
  libero instead of No. 12.
• Ruling Rule 10.3.2.3 states "If the team at
  fault is serving or has just lost the rally, and
  the fault is discovered before the opponent's
  serve, all points scored after the fault during
  that term of service must be cancelled. The rule
  also states that substitutions by either team are
  cancelled. Therefore, point 11 for Team A is
  cancelled. In addition, the Team A substitution
  (No. 2 for No. 20) is cancelled, and No. 20 must
  return to the court. Team A player No. 6 must
  replace No. 12 to correct the lineup. Team B
  rotates and will serve next. The correct score is
  10 to 7, in favor of Team A. At this point,
  either team may make a substitution request.

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Ball Handling

• NOTE  For ball handling judgments, the referees
  judgment must be in accordance with the spirit of
  the rules to encourage longer rallies and
  spectacular actions hence, only the most obvious
  violations will be whistled. Therefore, when a
  player is not in a very good position to play the
  ball, the first referee will be less severe in
  his/her judgment of ball handling faults.  The
  referees should enhance the excitement of
  volleyball by allowing the spectacular elements
  of the game, and highlighting the skill and
  athleticism of the players. Referees must judge
  the contact of the ball, not the technique or
  body position of the player.