Guide for beginner volleyball referees

1. Guide forbeginner volleyballreferees Chapter 3: Basic Volleyball Rules

2. Lines = 2” (5cm) wide • Free space = at least 6’ (2m) around court • Attack line = 10’ (3m) from center line • Service area = width of court, defined by hash marks The court: rule 2-1

3. Benches & Substitution Zone Officials’ Table Bench Bench

4. Libero Replacements Officials’ Table Bench Bench

5. Ceiling/overhead obstruction is playable provided the team has a hit remaining • Ball hits ceiling then crosses net = OUT • Ball crosses net then hits ceiling = OUT Overhead obstructions: Rule 2-2

6. Raised horizontal = overhead obstruction; playable • Vertical position = dead ball; possible replay Vertical backboard: rule 2-3-1h

7. Net, including antennas • Referee stand/platform • Proper padding on equipment The net: rule 3-1

8. Game balls • Scoreboard or flip score • Game clock or timing device • Scoring materials Other Game equipment

9. “Rally scoring” is used in all matches – a point is scored each serve • Sets are played to 25 points, win by two; no point cap • Deciding sets are played to 15 points, win by two; no point cap • A match consists of best three of five sets; first team to win three sets wins the match • Best two of three sets may be played in regular-season tournaments and is used for all sub-varsity matches with deciding set to 25 points Point, set and match

10. Coach(es) • Players and substitutes • Team personnel: • Team manager(s) • Athletic trainers • Statisticians • Roster and lineups Team composition: rule 6-1

11. Head coach may: • stand during play at least 6 feet from sideline in libero replacement zone • request substitutions, time-outs, lineup checks • may ask for rule clarification • Assistant coaches and other personnel sit on bench, except to: • participate in timeouts • greet players at bench • spontaneously react to outstanding plays Coaches: rule 12-2-6

12. Six players on the court at a time; may play with fewer than six due to injury/illness • One player is designated as the team captain; if captain is not on the court, another player is designated as game captain • Substitutes must be seated on the team bench or may stand behind bench to warm up before entering court • Substitutes may stand briefly to react to an outstanding play or to greet a player leaving the court Players & substitutes: rule 6-2 & 6-3

13. Back-row defensive specialist • Different jersey than rest of team; shorts must be the same color • May replace a back-row player; does not count as a substitution • Replacements occur between end line and attack line when ball is out of play • May serve in one position in service order for any player or substitute in that position • May not block/attempt to block • While in front zone, may not “set” ball to a teammate for completed attack while ball is higher than top of net • Completed rally must occur between replacements except when on-court libero’s next action is to serve The libero: rule 6-4-2

14. Three front-row, three back-row players • Right-back is serving position • Right Back (pos 1), Right Front (pos 2), Center Front (pos 3), Left Front (pos 4), Left Back (pos 5), Center Back (pos 6) • Players may move after service contact but must be in service order at moment of serve • Front row players must be closer to center line than corresponding back-row player (RF-RB, CF-CB, LF-LB) • Left-side players must be closer to left sideline than adjacent center players (LF-CF, LB-CB) • Right-side players must be closer to right sideline than adjacent center players (RF-CF, RB-CB) Player Positions: rules 6-4-1 & 6-4-3

15. Rosters • Due at least 10 minutes before end of timed pre-match warm-ups • Liberos may be listed with two numbers • Accuracy verified by referees and/or scorer • Lineups • Pre-match: Due at least two minutes before end of timed pre-match warm-ups • During match: Due at least one minute before the expiration of the interval between sets Rosters & lineups:rules 7-1-1, 7-1-2 & 7-1-4

16. Time-outs • Two per team per set • 60 seconds each • Substitutions • 18 per team per set • Requested by the head coach OR when a substitute enters the substitution zone • Set intervals • 3 minutes between sets • Extended interval permitted between Sets 2 & 3, maximum of 5 minutes Time-outs, Substitutions & set intervals:RULES 10 & 11

17. Unsporting conduct includes actions considered unbecoming to an ethical, fair and honorable individual; includes taunting, tobacco use (See Rules 12-2-8 & 12-2-9) • Sanction levels: • Yellow card (warning) – first minor offense • Red card (penalty) – first serious or second minor offense; loss of rally/point awarded to opponent • Disqualification – first flagrant, second serious or third minor offense; loss of rally/point awarded to opponent; offender may not participate in remainder of match • Conduct sanctions are recorded on the scoresheet Conduct sanctions:Rule 12

18. Delays to the resumption of play, such as: • Repeated improper substitution procedures • Illegal substitution or libero replacement • Player wearing illegal uniform or equipment • Unnecessary delay warning/YUD – first occurrence in a set • Unnecessary delay penalty/RUD – subsequent occurrence in a set; loss of rally/point for the opponent • Unnecessary delay/administrative sanctions are recorded on the scoresheet Unnecessary delay sanctions:Rule 9-9-1

19. Serving • Screening • Team hits & contacting the ball • Blocking • Play at the net Playing actions

20. Takes place in the service zone, anywhere behind the end line, by the player in right-back position • Occurs after the first referee whistles and beckons • 5 seconds to contact the ball • Re-serve permitted; one per player per term of service; 5 seconds • Served ball touches net and crosses – LEGAL • Serving before the authorization for serve – no penalty, re-authorize • Server may not touch end line or outside service zone hash marks at moment of contact with the ball for service • Jump serve – take off behind end line, may land inside court The serve: Rule 8

21. Action that prevents opponent from seeing the contact of the serve or flight path of the served ball • Potential screen exists when: • a group of two or more players stand close together and the ball is served over them • players from serving team wave arms, jump, move sideways or stand close to server, AND the ball is served over these player(s) Screening: rule 6-5

22. Maximum of three team hits to return ball to the opponent; block does not count as a team hit • Ball may touch any part of the body • Ball cannot be caught/thrown; no prolonged contact; may not come to rest • Multiple contacts – only permitted during blocking or first team contact • Simultaneous contact by teammates – LEGAL, and either player may make next team hit • Successive contacts Contacting the ball: rule 9-4

23. Deflect the ball coming from the opponent • Player(s) must be near the net, reaching higher than top of the net • Does not count as one of team’s three allowable hits • Blocker may make team’s first contact after blocking the ball • Completed block – a blocker touches the ball • Back-row players may NOT participate in a completed a block • Libero may NOT attempt to block or participate in a completed block Blocking: rule 9-5-1

24. Ball must cross net entirely between antennas • Fault for player to touch any part of the net, cables or antennas during play • Center line – legal to touch floor beyond center line with foot/feet/hand(s) provided part of foot/feet or hand/hands remains on/above center line • Fault to touch opponent’s court with any other body part • Legal for player to cross center line extension outside court • Back-row player may not complete attack-hit in front of attack line when ball is completely higher than top of net Play at the net: Rules 9-5 & 9-6

25. Study, study, study • Be a Student of the Game • Review rules book and case book throughout the season • Have rules discussions with fellow referees • Challenge yourself with quizzes, exams and online resources summary