2009-2011 Domestic Competition Regulations as Presented by USA Volleyball Rules of the Game as authorized by the International Volleyball Federation at the XXXIst FIVB Congress, Dubai, 2008 and amended. Edited by Kinda S. Lenberg Published by USA Volleyball USA Volleyball has officially approved the modifications presented in this document in order to promote the sport and encourage continuity of play at the various organizational, local and recreational levels across the country. For the official international rules of the game, which are used worldwide and developed and approved by the FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball), please visit www.fivb.org or our web site at www.usavolleyball.org. Printed by Johnson Printing Boulder, Colo. USA Volleyball 715 South Circle Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80910-2368 (719) 228-6800 www.usavolleyball.org Copyright © 2009 by USA Volleyball ISBN: 0-9704491-1-9 Printed on 10% post-consumer waste recycled paper i Volleyball Associations/Federations worldwide endeavor to provide equal opportunities and maximum enjoyment for participants and spectators, maintaining the values of fair play and peaceful involvement. USA Volleyball embraces this view, joining with all of its global partners to enable pleasurable participation from the broadest base of recreational play, to the highest levels of international competition. Volleyball can enrich the lives of all who play and watch it. It should be fun. WE COMMIT THE RULES TO THIS END. Suggested Retail Price: $6.95 ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Rules Testing Commission and USA Volleyball would like to express their appreciation to the many individuals and organizations for their assistance in the editing of and providing information for this publication. Official Hand Signals courtesy of the Federation Internationale de Volleyball, © 2008 FIVB. Diagrams 1-10 reproduced by authorization of the Federation Internationale de Volleyball, © 2008, FIVB. Special thanks go to Brian Hemelgarn, Emi Vishoot, Rick Laskey, Steve Crane, Kathy Ferraraccio, and Michael McPoyle. INDOOR VOLLEYBALL RULES COVER DESIGN BY tka advertising iii iv USA VOLLEYBALL SALUTES 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists - Men’s Volleyball Team 2008 Olympic Silver Medalists - Women’s Volleyball Team 2008 Paralympic Silver Medalists - Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team v TABLE OF CONTENTS Rules Testing Commission .................................................. xiii Significant Rule Changes ..................................................... xvi Game Characteristics ..............................................................1 Philosophy of Rules and Refereeing .......................................2 DOMESTIC COMPETITION REGULATIONS ORDER OF THE RULES SECTION I THE GAME Chapter One: Facilities and Equipment Rule 1. Playing Area ..............................................6 Rule 2. Net and Posts .........................................10 Rule 3. Balls ........................................................13 Chapter Two: Participants Rule 4. Teams .....................................................15 Rule 5. Team Leaders .........................................19 Chapter Three: Playing Format Rule 6. To Score a Point, Win a Set and the Match ..24 Rule 7. Structure of Play .....................................26 Chapter Four: Playing Actions Rule 8. States of Play ..........................................32 Rule 9. Playing the Ball .......................................34 Rule 10. Ball at the Net .........................................36 Rule 11. Player at the Net .....................................37 Rule 12. Service ....................................................39 Rule 13. Characteristics of the Attack Hit ..............43 Rule 14. Block .......................................................44 vi Chapter Five: Interruptions and Delays Rule 15. Regular Game Interruptions ....................47 Rule 16. Set Delays ...............................................54 Rule 17. Exceptional Set Interruptions ............................................55 Rule 18. Intervals and Change of Courts .................................................56 Chapter Six: The Libero Player Rule 19. The Libero Player ....................................57 Chapter Seven: Participants’ Conduct Rule 20. Requirements of Conduct .......................61 Rule 21. Misconduct and Its Sanctions .................61 SECTION II THE REFEREES, THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND OFFICIAL Signals Chapter Eight: Referees Rule 22. Refereeing Corps and Procedures .........65 Rule 23. First Referee ...........................................67 Rule 24. Second Referee ......................................69 Rule 25. Scorer .....................................................71 Rule 26. Assistant Scorer ......................................73 Rule 27. Line Judges .............................................74 Rule 28. Official Hand Signals Diagrams ..............76 vii SECTION III DIAGRAMS Court Diagrams.....................................................................77 Official Hand Signals .............................................................91 U-Volley Rules .....................................................................102 Co-Ed Rules........................................................................103 Guide to Disabled Volleyball ................................................107 REFEREE TECHNIQUES, MECHANICS & PROCEDURES Referee Technique Changes and Points of Emphasis ........113 Instructions FOR USE OF OFFICIAL INDOOR Volleyball SCORESHEETS Instructions ..........................................................................126 Explanation of Scorekeeping Example ................................153 Non-Deciding Set Scorekeeping Procedures ......................153 Deciding Set Scorekeeping Procedures......................... .....167 BASIC PROCEDURES AND PRE-MATCH PROTOCOLS Basic Procedures For Conducting a USA Volleyball Match/ Competition For Referees ...................................................176 Pre-Match Protocols ............................................................182 Guidelines for Conducting Indoor Tournaments Leagues ...184 Guidelines for Dealing With Blood .......................................201 Abbreviations.......................................................................202 Metric Conversions.............................................................. 203 viii INDEX to THE RULES Official Indoor Rules ............................................................205 Co-Ed Rules........................................................................ 227 Indoor Scorekeeping Instructions ........................................227 MODIFICATIONS For all designated international competitions, the FIVB rules will be fully in effect. USA Volleyball recognizes that there are circumstances where grassroots development, sport develop- ment, safety or insurance requirements would indicate a need for a temporary rule modification (e.g., the number of substitutions might be expanded to include more participants at a school or recreational level.) Acknowledging that a rule may not be changed, in instances where the USAV member organizations feel that the promotion of the sport would be enhanced by temporary adjustments, they are encouraged to promote the advancement of the sport. In an attempt to have continuity in the domestic play of the game, this document has inserted suggested guidelines in designated “USAV” boxed areas for some of the more common temporary adjustments used to promote the growth of the game. EXAMPLE: USAV 1.1: The free zone may be a minimum of 2 m (6’6”). It is not required that the free zone be symmetrical. Suggestions for additional temporary adjustments for inclusion in this document may be transmitted through members of the Rules Testing Commission, regional officials chairpersons or commissioners during the season. Explanation and rationale of proposed modifications must be in the chair’s hands beforeJan. 1, 2010, if they are to be considered at the annual meeting of the Rules Testing Commission. ix RULES INTERPRETATION Questions regarding interpretation of the present rules and current practices may be addressed to: USA Volleyball Rules Interpreter Steve Thorpe, 3939 Stirrup Lane, Doylestown, PA 18901 Phone: Res (267) 880-1684, E-mail: [email protected]. Contact by e-mail is preferred ([email protected]); however, you may enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your inquiry for prompt return. All inquiries will receive replies. Some queries may involve consultations, but answers will be forwarded as soon as possible. x For information relevant to the interpretation and application of the rules-specific match situations, please consult the USA Volleyball Web site at www.usavolleyball.org INFORMATION FOR HEARING-IMPAIRED VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS For additional information on the USA Deaf Volleyball Association or USA Deaf Sports Federation, contact: John Knetzger 2625 E. Shorewood Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53211-2457 Email: [email protected] or USA Deaf Sports Federation PO Box 910338, Lexington, KY 40591-0338 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.usdeafsports.org TT (605) 367-5761, (605) 367-5760, FAX: (605) 977-6625 Dial 711 for voice calls and give relay operator the TT number above. To obtain a copy of Volleyball in American Sign Language, which illustrates more than 40 of the most important volleyball terms, contact USA Volleyball at 88-USVOLLEY or [email protected]. INFORMATION FOR DISABLED VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS For additional