The Rules of the Game can be found on the FIVB website.

The National Volleyball League handbook can be found here. For the National Volleyball League handbook amendments, for September 2008 click here, and November 2008 click here.

Following the FIVB Congress in Madrid in the summer of 2008, Volleyball England has chosen to modify the rules of the game of volleyball for National League and Cup competitions in England from 1st January 2009.

These can be found by following the link below.  

Please note that rule modifications around the libero and exchange of liberoes will NOT be implemented in the 2008-2009 season for Volleyball England National League and Cup Competitions.

For further information on interpretations of the rule modifications please follow this link by clicking here.

For information on interpretations of the rules, please see below.

Rules of the Game Commission Release New Text 2009-2012

The Congress decisions regarding all proposed new rules are on the FIVB Web-site.

However, it is worth explaining what the changes are – before the rumour-mill gets in the way of their true meaning. Congress’s decisions are all there, but since the rules are for the entire world and not simply for FIVB tournaments for Seniors, there are also the necessary interpretations and details needed for every national federation to operate its own Championship events.

The Team

Take for example the number of players per team. There are still up to 12 players per team – but for FIVB, and World Events for Seniors there is the possibility, within the Specific Sports Regulations, of up to 14 players being nominated for the final team roster.

Needless to say, this could have implications for the initial team list, the O-2 form, which has to be submitted to FIVB in advance of the event, and also for squad numbering. Player numbers, therefore, remain at between 1-18 for normal national competition, - unless there is a special competitition regulation, for example Men’s European League -  but have been raised to between 1-20 for FIVB events.

The Libero Players - PLEASE NOTE NONE OF THE RULE MODIFICATIONS REGARDING THE LIBERO WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN VOLLEYBALL ENGLAND COMPETITIONS IN SEASON 2008-2009

The purpose of the increase in size of the team roster was to give teams in FIVB events cover for key players in case of injury – but this change also gives an opportunity to raise the profile of the Libero: in national events a team may now have up to two Liberos from within the team list – i.e. none, one or two Liberos. For FIVB events, where a team chooses to register more than 12 players, it is mandatory to register TWO Liberos.

If more than one Libero is registered, the coach may for any reason exchange the original Libero with the reserve Libero – but only once in the match, and only once the replacement player has gone back on to the court. So the exchange is between bench player and bench player, hence it does not count as a replacement or a substitution.

Substitution

The procedure for substitution is also changing – to try to avoid conflicts between the coach and second referee – and to unify the interpretation of what constituted delay. Now the coach no longer NEEDS to request substitution for FIVB events, but simply sends the player into the substitution zone.  A huge testing programme was convincing and compelling evidence that the scorer should use the buzzer to acknowledge and announce the substitution. Substitution is recognised only when a player steps across the extension of the attack line into the substitution zone. This applies to national competitions too, where there is no buzzer. In this case the second referee will whistle, as before, but not until the player is in the zone. If the coach requests a substitution (remember he does not need to but is not forbidden from doing so) neither the scorer (with buzzer) nor the second referee (with whistle) will do anything until the player steps across into the zone. The second referee still authorises and controls the substitution, but now from a position between the post and the scorer’s table – there is now no need for the second referee to go to the attack line.

Where scorer uses buzzer

Where scorer has no buzzer

During a regular game interruption, the Coach may request substitution, but this will not prompt any action – only the player’s entry to the substitution zone prompts action. Player preferably with numbered substitution board enters the substitution zone - scorer recognises this and presses the buzzer, acknowledging and announcing the substitution “request”. Second referee looks at the scorer and authorises the substitution from his/ her position between post and scorer’s table. Scorer completes the administration of the substitution by raising both hands, according to current practice.

During a regular game interruption, the Coach may request substitution, but this will not prompt any action – only the player’s entry to the substitution zone prompts action*.   Player (with or without numbered board) enters the substitution zone. Second referee recognises this and blows the whistle (as now). Second referee looks at the scorer (scorer may have to raise a hand according to current practice and make eye contact with the second referee) and authorises the substitution from a position between post and scorer’s table. Scorer completes the administration of the substitution by raising both hands, according to current practice. ·         In the event of injury, referees will be expected to react to the request, of course.

Net faults and Interfering with Play

The removal of the phrase “in the action of playing the ball” from the net fault rule has allowed a major evolution in the game designed to keep the ball flying. After hundreds of test matches, it was clear that the concept was workable. Blockers hitting the net on the way up to block, or spikers falling into the net after the hit would no longer be committing a fault. Neither would setters contacting the mesh of the net as they played. But hitting the top band of the net or taking support from the net would be classed as interfering with play – hence these actions would still be whistled as faults.

Contact with the opponent’s court with any part of the body above the feet would also be permitted, in conjunction with the net rule. This extends the current centre line rule. But if the contact interferes with an opponent physically, or with the opponent’s  ability to play the ball, then it would be considered a fault.

Both these major changes to the rules were intended to share with the rest of the world the benefits seen during the tests – namely their ability to keep the ball flying. And it is a proven ability. Already in national federations where both rules are employed there has been a marked increase in net crossings and an increased interest in the game.

Referee Cooperation

The change in emphasis on the net and centre line now allows the second referee to revert to the earlier practice of whistling and signalling illegal back line hits and blocks.

Summary (see next page)

National Federation Competitions

FIVB, and World Events for Seniors

Up to 12 players.  Shirt numbers 1-18   Up to 2 Liberos- NOT VE COMPETITIONS IN SEASON 2008-2009 If more than one Libero is registered, the coach can exchange for the reserve Libero, but only once in the match, and only after the regular replacement player has returned to court. Substitution – request is activated the moment the player steps into the substitution zone. Second referee controls and authorises from a position between post and scorer’s table. Where there is no buzzer, the second referee can whistle. Hitting the top band of the net is a fault – hitting the mesh is not unless it interferes with play Contact with the opponent’s court with any part of the body  above the foot(feet) is not a fault, unless it interferes with play. Second referees whistle and signal illegal back line hits and blocks

Up to 14 players.  Shirt numbers 1-20   2 Liberos (but only if a team chooses to register more than 12 players). Same as national competitions     Same as national competitions.   Same as national competitions.   The scorer will announce the substitution by pressing the buzzer.   Same as national competitions   Same as national competitions   Same as national competitions