1. Volleyball Rules & Mechanics Session

2. Intramural Volleyball Rules
Any rule not covered in intramural rules follows NFHS guidelines
Team Requirements & Equipment
6 players: 4 minimum to start
Co-Rec: combinations may include
3 men/3 women, 3 men/2 women, 3 men/2 women, 2 men/2 women
No restrictions on amount of hits per gender
Non-marking rubber-soled athletic shoes
No jewelry (including rubber bands) or casts
Please be MORE STRICT ABOUT THIS!
Knee braces must have protective padding

4. The Game Coin Toss determines which team serves & sides
Team not serving 1st, will serve 1st in second game
Whichever side teams were warming up will start on that side to start game
Teams also switch sides between games
Play all 3 games
1st Two games to 25
Win by 2 w/ 30 pt cap
Last game to 15
Win by 2 w/ 20 pt cap
Rally Scoring:
Let Serve = Ball may hit the net and go over ON THE SERVE
Score on every play regardless of team serving
Point and team winning point gets to serve
One time-out per game

5. Playing the Ball Maximum of 3 contacts
Exception: a block is not considered one of the contacts
Contact is where a player intentionally or accidentally touches ball
Cannot have contact below waist: dead ball – illegal hit
Cannot use feet or legs to hit ball
Illegal Hit: ball comes visibly to rest or prolonged contact w/ player
Holding, catching, throwing, rolling, lifting, & pushing
Penalty = point and side out for opposition

6. Playing the Ball cont’d
Double Hit: player illegally contacts ball twice in succession or ball rebounds from one body part to another on a single attempt to play ball
Penalty: Point and side out for opposition
Simultaneous contact by opponents
The team side that the ball falls, the players have 3 hits to get ball over (simultaneous contact treat as a block)
Held ball will direct a replay by the officials
Net Play: ball contacting and crossing net shall remain in play provided contact is in playing area
Side out for balls that do not go over the net

7. Playing the Ball cont’d
Net Foul (Penalty is point and side out for opposing team)
Player contact any part of nets (including cables)
Not a foul if hair touches net, or force of ball hit by opponent’s hit pushes net into a player
Interference by player who makes contact w/ opponent who is making legitimate effort to play ball
Center Line Foul: Play that has crossed their foot or body part completely over center-line
For a Foul…the whole foot or whole body part must be over the line
Can touch line with foot
If player falls, any part of body that goes over the line is a fault
Penalty is point and side out for opposition

8. Playing the Ball cont’d
Blocking the Ball
A ball which is entirely on the opponent’s side of the net is permitted to be blocked when the opposing team has had an opportunity to complete its attack
Includes when the team has used 3 contacts
Team had opportunity to spike ball or in official’s judgment directs the ball w/ intent to return to opponent’s court
Ball is falling near the net on attacking team side, and the officials feels no member of attacking team could make play on ball
Watch for net fouls and contact below net (umpire)
Look for follow through of spiker (referee) for net fouls

9. Back Line Attack Back Line player may attack ball if:
Leaves the floor from behind the 10 ft. line and its imaginary extension
Any part of foot touches 10 ft. line: Foul and pt. for opposition
Back line player may not attempt to block the ball in front of the 10 ft. line nor may they play the ball above the net (includes attacking or dinks).

11. Service
Server must wait for official’s beckon/whistle (use preventative officiating & tell players to wait for whistle)
Re-serve if they do not wait for beckon/whistle
Side-out on 2nd consecutive serve w/ not beckon/whistle
Any part of foot touches back row line on serve: Fault and pt. for opposition
Serves may hit the net and go over (ball is in play)
Balls that hit net and does not fall in non-serving teams’ court: illegal and point for non-serving team
Server may not touch end line
Server’s body may be in the air over lines, having left the floor from serving area
Cannot hit ball with both hands
Cannot step back into court until ball is hit

12. Service cont’d Serves landing on the line or inside court
Ball is in, whole ball has to land outside lines to be out
Server has five seconds to make a legal serve
May toss and catch bad toss, as long as no swinging motion has been made to attempt serve
Only 1 re-serve for bad toss

13. Player positioning
No player on court may be closer to sideline, end line or center line than adjacent player on court
Front line player may not overlap with back-row players
Players in front line cannot overlap each other side by side, nor can the back row
After the ball has left the server’s hand for the serve, players may go anywhere on the court
Cannot have more than 3 front-row players on the court during a rotation

14. Live Ball/Dead Ball
Ball becomes live when legally contacted for service
Ball becomes dead when:
Ball touches antennas or any part of the net outside playing court
Ball strikes the floor
Ball contacts permanent object (excluding net) above or outside playing court
Exception: Ball striking ceiling or overhead obstruction above playable area shall remain in play provided the ball contacts on the side of the net that occupied the ball
Ball contacting track railing and stuck in the ceiling will be a point for the opposition
Player commits a fault
Served ball contacts but does not clear net
Official’s whistle for any reason
Point shall be replayed if a stray volleyball/basketball enters playing

15. Substitutions Unlimited number of substitutions
Substitutes must replace the server
Team can only substitute at a dead ball

16. Communication Ask questions
Frequent eye contact between officials during the match
Do not be afraid to call an official’s time out to collaborate with your partner
Don’t do the easy thing and call replay
Can ask players if unsure of line calls
Always communicate the decisions with captains

17. Be consistent In ball handling violations
Carry for one team is carry for another
Can instruct captain’s at meeting about open palm/carry, not serving 2 handed
In determining unsportsmanlike conduct
Treatment of both teams

18. Be confident Know your roles and responsibilities Sell the call
Move past your own/other’s criticisms
Keep the match moving

19. Official’s Responsibilities

20. Duties of the referee Conduct the pre-match conference
Blow the whistle for serve and dead ball
Recognize requests for substitution or time-out
Make ball handling decisions
Signal the result of each play or action/infraction
Scan the court before beckoning for serve
Make server foot fault calls
Responsible for the alignment of the serving team
Keep track of the number of hits by a team during play
Signal the end of the game or the end of a time-out

21. Use of the whistle When to use whistle
to beckon teams into playing position
for serve
to signal any dead ball
for time out and/or substitution when unrecognized by umpire
re-serve or re-play
end of game switching of sides of court
end of match

22. Positioning Assume position on stand across from score table
During serve, no hand on net or cable.
Can put hand on top of net after serve to indicate if there is a net fault during play

23. Coverage during play Concentrate on flight of ball at all times
Anticipate flight/interference with obstacles
Anticipate next player to contact
Illegal alignment on serving team
Pre-serve scan of benches, teams, and umpire

24. Terms Let Serve: Ball Handling Prolonged Contact Double Hit
A legally served ball that contacts and crosses the net entirely between the antennas shall remain in play.
Ball Handling
Prolonged contact
Double hit
Below the waist
Prolonged Contact
Rolls
Comes to rest
Carried
Double Hit
Multiple contacts are permitted only on any first team hit, whether or not the ball is touched by the block
Multiple contact on second or third hit is illegal

25. Referee can overrule
Umpires Can Give Clues to the Head Officials of Calls that they may see (signal, but don’t blow whistle)
Just because you make this discreet signal does not mean the referee will make that call. He/she may have seen something differently. These situations should be discussed after the game. Some officials, as umpire, prefer to blow the whistle and make the illegal back row player call. This should be discussed with your partner. Either way, the call should be made.

27. Signals
Out: Hold forearms in front of chest, hands open, palms toward face
Point: Indicate a #1 w/ index finger w/ the hand on side which won the point
Begin Service: Extend one arm towards server, then blow whistle to serve & move arm overhead in a beckon motion
In: extend one arm w/ an open hand palm down toward floor between attack line & net

28. Signals
Illegal hit/carry: Slowly lift hand & forearm, palm up, on the side which violated
Replay/play over: Fisted hands, w/ thumbs up, lift arms upward
Illegal Back Row Attack: Raise hand beside head & rotate forearm forward and downward
Illegal Alignment/Out of Rotation: Circular motion with entire hand

29. Prolonged Contact

31. Signals
Double hit: Hand & arm nearest violating team raised, showing 2 fingers
Four hits: Same as double hit but indicate 4 fingers
Touch: Hand on offending teams’ side held beside head, palm toward head, brush upward across fingertips one time with other hand palm forward
Net foul/serve: Hand of outstretched arm touches the side of the net where foul occurred

34. Signals
Line violation: Indicate the line where the violation occurred by pointing down towards line
Illegally Reaching over net
Substitution: Bring both hands in front of face (traveling signal with open palms

35. Signals
Change Sides: Raise forearms and swing right arm in front of body and left arm in back of body
End of game: cross arms against chest
Time-out: Raise arm up of team that indicates T/O and bring other arm up to form a “T” Verbally indicate time-out to both parties
Official’s Time-out: Point at shoulders and indicate time-out

36. Signals Initiated by Umpire: Net violation Foot faults Substitutions
Time outs
Illegal alignment on receiving team
Authorization to enter (for substitution)
End of the game signal

37. How to use Signals To stop play Sound whistle w/ authority
Signal the violation & hold the hand & arm signal long enough to be seen
Signal point, side out, or replay
Verbalize the decision when necessary
Use the arm or hand on the side of the team involved

39. Umpire Responsibilities
When to use the whistle
Do not repeat referee whistle
Mirror signals made by the referee
Make net fault calls
Responsible for the net from the bottom of the top net cord to the ground
Make center line foot fault calls
Responsible for alignment of the receiving team
Make back row attack and block calls for the receiving team
Make ball handling calls when the referee is screened from the play
Position yourself on the blocking team side of the net and transition to the other side before the 2nd team contact
Alter your position as required to get a better look at the net
Assist the referee in calling the match – Work as a team!
Maintain eye contact with the R1 when echoing signals
Do not hide behind the support when echoing signals

40. Umpire Duties Informal Signals
Given as discreet signal to referee – DO NOT BLOW THE WHISTLE
HOLD your in/out call. Give it only if the referee asks for your help
Ball handling calls out of the sight of the referee
Down ball vs. pancake save
Back-row player foul – this can be a delayed call
Touches by the receiving team on a ball going out of bounds
Four hits (discuss this with your partner before match)

41. Positioning Stand outside the sideline back from the standard When
On or just before the referee whistles for serve
Position
1-2 meters back from standard
1-2 meters on side of receiving team
Square to court
Focus
Receiving team
Watching for
Position faults
Move to side opposite ball during play
Move slightly to see alignment at time of serve
Step back at each dead ball to facilitate visual contact with benches/coaches
Anticipate trajectory of the ball an move to see in and out as ball crosses the net

42. Coverage during play At moment of serve When Position Focus
near net on receiving side
listen for contact of serve
watch for illegal alignment at moment of serve
When
On contact of serve
Position
1-2 meters back from standard
Slightly on side of receiving team
Focus
Blockers and the attack zone
Watching for
Net violations
Illegal attacks or blocks
Center line violations

43. Coverage during play
Concentrate on center line and net area by first watching the floor, up to the net, touches on blocks, down the net and back to the floor
Resist the temptation to follow the ball away from the net
When
After the set
Position
1-2 meters back from standard
Slightly on side of blocking team
Focus
Along the net
Watching for
Net violations
Touches by blockers

45. During Attack
Maintain a wide field of vision, observant to the play that is developing on both sides of the net.
As play approaches net, your focus should be narrowing into the attack zones
Look through the net to observe any possible back row attack violations-whistle a back row fault if you are sure that it has occurred. (This can also be signaled to referee discreetly.)
As attack develops, narrow your focus down the net

46. DURING ATTACK (cont.)
Focus along the net – primarily the top of the net
Observe both teams.
Look for net violations on the attackers touching the net on their follow-through.
Look for net violations on blockers, primarily if they reach over net to execute their block
Look for touches by blockers
When
As the attackers and blockers land
Position
1-2 meters back from standard
Slightly on side of blocking team
Focus
Along net and centerline
Watching for
Net violations
Centerline violations

47. After the Attack Focus along the net & centerline as the players land
STAY FOCUSED ON THE NET as the ball is hit into the opponent’s court.
Look for net violations
Look for centerline violations
Start your transition to the opposite side of the net as the serving team makes their transition for their attack.
Move quickly and begin the routine again.

48. AFTER THE WHISTLE
Focus along the net and through the attack zone to the referee
Be aware of any trash talking going on after the rally
If a ball going out of bounds was touched by a blocker, signal immediately
Mimic the referee’s signals

49. Back Row Play
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 teams’ 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, play is legal.
BUT, if the ball completely crosses the net untouched, it is a back-row player foul.

50. Back Row Play Same situation but…
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;
It becomes a back-row player foul.
The flight of the ball is the determining factor. The flight has to be toward a teammate.

51. Net Play
A player shall not contact a ball that is completely on the opponent’s side of the net unless the contact is a legal block.
When is a player considered “over the net”?
Cannot take a play away from opponents
A team must be given its 3 allowable hits

52. Checking alignment Receiving team
helpful hint - find a pair of diagonally opposite players, I.e. left front & right back, continually check on their position on the floor
At the time of the serve
All right-side players must have part of one foot closer to the right sideline than both feet of the center player in their corresponding row
All left-side players must have part of one foot closer to the left sideline than both feet of the center player in their corresponding row
All front row players must have part of one foot closer to the center line than both feet of their corresponding back row player
Check primary setters if possible
Moment of serve is critical time for alignment
Track entering subs into proper positions

53. POINTS TO REMEMBER
Always signal on the proper side of the net for any net violations and centerline violations.
On any ball going out of bounds, make NO call, and only give it if the referee asks for your help.
Proper position is the key to seeing and making the right call, so move quickly.

54. A player may block a ball that is completely on the opponent’s side of the net when:
Attacking team has had its 3 hits.
In the official’s judgment, the attacking team has directed the ball toward the opponent’s court, as in a spike or drive from the backcourt.
Ball is falling near the net, and no member of the attacking team can make a play on the ball.
REMEMBER: It is never legal to attack a ball that is completely on the opponents’ side of the net

55. Proper Alignment RB RF, CB RF CF, RB CF CB, LF, RF LF LB, CF LB LF, CB
PLAYER
MUST BE ALIGNED WITH RB
RF, CB RF
CF, RB CF
CB, LF, RF LF
LB, CF LB
LF, CB CB
CF, LB, RB
LF CF RF
LB CB RB

56. Players’ Positions at Time of Service

57. Illegal

58. Illegal

59. Legal

60. Legal

61. Illegal

62. Use of Penalty Cards Use preventative officiating first
Cards are cumulative in a match and carry over from previous games
Officials do not have to issue a yellow card before issuing a red card or a red card before a disqualification
R1 administers cards, R2 may request cards
Remember that a yellow card is only a warning
Use cards for unsportsmanlike conduct
Use yellow cards for:
Warning for minor offenses
Use of illegal equipment
Player attempting to grandstand/showboat

63. Use of Penalty Cards cont
Use Red Cards for:
Serious misconduct
Swearing
Taunting an opponent
Repeat offenses that have already received a yellow card
Disqualification should occur when:
A player or coach commits a second serious offense or third minor offense
Fighting
Injuring another player intentionally
Degree of offense and level of card (yellow vs. red vs. yellow/red) is at the discretion of the R1 and is not subject to protest