NFHS Volleyball Part 1-Transparencies & Rule Changes Part 2-Editorial Changes Part 3-Points of Emphasis Part 4-Transitioning to Rally Scoring

NFHS Volleyball Transparencies & Rule Changes

(New) Rule Effective with the season, rally scoring will be used for all regular season varsity dual matches.

(New) Rule When using the rally scoring format, only two time-outs per game shall be allowed. There will be no option for a third time- out.

(New) Rule 1-4-1, 1-4-3, The home team shall select their team bench. This gives the home team the opportunity to sit on the home bench during home games. The visiting captain shall call the coin toss. The winner of the coin toss shall choose to either serve or receive. Prior to the deciding game of a match, the home captain shall call the coin toss. The winner of the coin toss shall choose to serve or receive or the playing area.

1-4-1, 1-4-3, Rationale: Pre-determining the home bench provides an orderly start to the game. Every team should have the opportunity to select their home bench.

Rule 3-1-3a Standards must be padded to a minimum height of 5 ½ feet with at least 1" thick resilient shock absorbing material to encase the uprights and all tension devices. Padding shall extend to the floor.

(New) Rule Players shall not wear jewelry (including during pre-match warm-ups) with the exception of religious or medical medals. If such medals are worn, they shall be taped to the body under the uniform.

4-1-6 Rationale: Rule compliance for jewelry is to be for pre-match warm-up as well as competition.

(New) NOTE 4 Uniforms shall be worn as intended by manufacturers. Rationale: Consistent with uniform restrictions in other rule codes.

Rule 4-2-3f Uniform numbers shall be placed so the top of the number on the front of the uniform is no more than 5 inches down from the shoulder seam OR…

(New) RULE 4-2-3f …placed so the number is centered no more than two inches below the neckline opening on the upper body or no more than two inches below the bottom edge of the neckline ribbing on the uniform top.

4-2-3f Rationale: Manufacturers have indicated indicate they cannot place a number two inches from the neckline opening because of the ribbing around the neckline opening.

Rule Undergarments must be worn in such a manner that when intentionally exposed, shall be of a single color similar to the predominant color of the uniform top.

(New) Rule Players shall not remove any part of the team uniform while in the competitive area. Rationale: The appropriate atmosphere for school activities must be maintained.

Rule 9-3-3l A live ball becomes dead when an official’s whistle sounds. Rationale: Clarifies that if, in the judgment of the official, the ball is dead when an inadvertent whistle sounds on that court.

Rule 9-3-3m A live ball becomes dead when in the official’s judgment, a timer’s audio signal interrupts play. Rationale: Clarifies that if, in the judgment of the official, the signal interrupted play, the point may be replayed.

(New) Rule Multiple contacts are more than one contact by a player during one attempt to play the ball. Multiple contacts are permitted only on any first team hit, whether or not the ball is touched by the block.

Rule Multiple contacts on 2nd and 3rd team contacts remain illegal. (The judgment on these contacts has not changed.) Prolonged contact remains illegal.

9-4-8 Rationale: Delete the “provided there is no finger action” from the existing rule. Defining “finger action” opens a multitude of interpretations and inconsistent applications.

Rule 9-5-1b & 9-5-5b An attack is considered complete when: 1) The ball completely crosses the net. 2) The ball is legally blocked by the opponent.

Rule Play continues when a back-row player (on or in front of the attack line), contacts the ball, which is completely above the height of the net, on the team’s first or second contact, directing the flight of the ball toward a teammate, and the opponent legally contacts the ball that breaks the vertical plane of the net.

Rule cont. If the ball is hit back into a back-row player, it is ruled as the team’s first hit/contact. It is a back-row player foul if the flight of the ball is toward the opponent’s court and not toward a teammate and is legally touched by an opponent above the net, or completely crosses the net.

Rule cont. If the flight of the ball is toward the opponents court and not toward a teammate, and is legally touched by an opponent above the net, the action is a back-row player foul. (illegal attack signal)

9-5-4 Rationale: Removes the need for an official to judge the intent of the back- row player by only judging the direction of the ball.

(New) Rule 9-6-1, 8-2-6a Effective 2004 with rally scoring… A ball contacting and crossing the net shall remain in play provided ball is entirely within the net antennas.

9-6-1, 8-2-6a Rationale: This rule change supports the allowing the continuation of play on a let serve.

Rule 9-8-1a An inadvertent horn that sounds and does not interrupt playing action should be disregarded and play should continue. If the horn affects the playing action, interrupting play, the official should signal a replay.

(New) Rule b If the umpire recognizes a repeated pattern of substitution, or is a more experienced official, the umpire may verify the substitution with the scorekeeper after releasing the players on/off the court.

10-2-6b Rationale: The official must release a player onto the court rather than have players enter and leave without confirming the readiness of the scorer.

(New) Rule A time-out will last 60 seconds or less, if both teams are ready for play. It no longer matters which team called the time-out. Teams must return to the court upon notification by either official.

Rule During time-outs, teams may confer with their coaches on the court or at their team bench only. If a team leaves these areas during a time-out, unnecessary delay shall be assessed.

(New) Rule f, e The unsportsmanlike conduct rule is being clarified and expounded upon to include coaches/players disrespectfully addressing anyone involved in the contest.

12-2-7f, e Rationale: Although rare, coaches, for example, have been known to disrespectfully address their own players—an offense that can be penalized.

New Signal There is now an official signal for the umpire to use when authorizing a substitution exchange: Extend the arm about hip height on the substitution side and make a forward sweeping motion (palm facing forward).

Touch Signal After a team's 1st, 2nd or 3rd contact, if the ball is out and remains on that team’s side of the net, the official should signal "touch." If the ball is out and crosses the plane of the net, then the official should signal "out."

Editorial Changes

Editorial changes listed 4-1-6,4-2-6, 6-1-1, 7-1, 9-4-4a, 9-3-3l, 9-5-1b, 9-5-5b, 9-9-1i, b, e

Points of Emphasis

Points of Emphasis 1. Uniforms 2. Removal of any part of the uniform 3. Padding 4. Directing players to the end line 5. Position Limitations 6. Line Judges 7. New Signal 8. Inadvertent horn

Transitioning to Rally Scoring

Rally scoring looks very similar to a side-out game, with the main difference being a point scored every time the ball is blown dead.

What constitutes a match when rally scoring? Dual matches (two varsity teams) will play the best 3 out of 5 games with no cap. “Game-point” for the first 4 games will be 25 points. (You must win by 2 points.) The 5th and deciding game is played to 15. (Again, you must win by 2 points.)

Sub-varsity & tournament play Matches other than dual varsity matches, (sub-varsity, tournament, triangular, quads and state tournament series) will be administered according to the directions of the state association.

How long is a match using rally scoring? The approximate length of time for a game (not including warm-up) is less than 20 minutes. 3-game matches take approximately 60 minutes, while 5- game matches take approximately 90 minutes.

What is the “let serve” The “let serve” is a ball that when served, hits the net without touching the net antenna and continues across the net into the opponent’s court. The let serve is a playable live ball. The let serve is a strategy used to keep the game moving with fewer interruptions in play.

Time-Outs Each team is allowed a maximum of two time-outs per game. A time-out is a maximum of 60 seconds, although play may resume sooner if both teams are ready prior to 60 seconds. Extra time-outs are not granted during rally scoring, nor are time-outs accumulative during a match.

Officials Signals Signals for rally scoring under NFHS rules will remain the same as those used for side-out scoring. In rally scoring, the term side-out has been replaced with the term “loss of rally.” Any loss of rally results in a point for the opponent.

Sequence of signals NFHS mechanics will continue to follow a three step procedure. The sequence is to stop the ball, show the infraction, and show the result. The “side-out” signal will be replaced by the “point” signal on the side of the team that scored. Officials will have little trouble making the adjustment, although the “point” signal should be held a fraction longer by both officials.

Support material for changes The NFHS will produce both “side-out” scorebooks and “rally” scorebooks. Each will be printed according to orders by state associations. Roster and lineup sheets are also available. NFHS PowerPoint, Pre-Season Guides, Rules Book and Case Book/Officials Manual also provide instructional support.