2006-07 NFHS Volleyball Rules Interpretations

2006-07 NFHS VOLLEYBALL RULES INTERPRETATIONS

Corrections to Rule Book: Page 25, Rule 5-6-3c, Change "improper replacement" to "illegal replacement"; page 29, Rule 7-1 PEN 2, Change "…start of the first game." to "start of the next game."; page 30, Rules 8-2-6a (1, 2 & 3), change "Ball Land In Bounds" to "Net Foul or Net Serve"; page 34, Rule 9-5-1c, add the following after definition of a "Block", NOTE: If a player near the net is reaching above the height of the net and opponents legally cause the ball to contact him/her, the player is considered to be a blocker. A back-row player attempting to play a ball in the space directly above the net is considered an illegal blocker if the ball is attacked or blocked by an opponent into the back-row player while the player is reaching above the height of the net (including simultaneous contact).

Corrections to Case Book: Page 5, Situation 12, change to "Team S No. 52 has just received a yellow and red card…"; page 6, Situation 1.6.2, COMMENT: add s to "captains from each team."; page 26, 9.5.4A, RULING: "(a)…one remaining contact (b) illegal, ball higher than net…"; page 27, 9.5.4D, RULING: (c) back-row attack…"; page 29, 9.7.2, delete this situation; page 38, 12.2.8B, RULING: "All are correct procedure."

SITUATION 1: A player other than a libero wearing a uniform of a different color from his/her teammates: (a) goes on the court to start game No. 1; (b) later in game No. 1 attempts to enter as a single substitute; (c) attempts to enter game No. 2 in the same uniform. RULING: All are illegal uniforms. COMMENT: (a) unnecessary delay, uniform must be made legal during the time-out for the player to remain in the game. If replacing the player involves changing the lineup, a point/loss of rally is awarded to start the game; (b) and (c) a point/loss of rally awarded to the opponent for a subsequent uniform violation by the same team during the match. (4-2-1)

SITUATION 2: The back-row setter is in front of the attack line and jumps to attempt to bring a ball completely above the net back in play on her team's side of the net. The ball breaks the plane of the net and is blocked by an opponent into the setter who is reaching above the height of the net. The referee whistles and signals "illegal block." RULING: Correct, illegal block. COMMENT: If a back-row player is attempting to play the ball in the space directly above the net and the ball is blocked/attacked by opponent into the back-row player while the back-row player is reaching above the top of the net, including simultaneous contact, an illegal block has occurred. (9-5-1c)

SITUATION 3: The libero, while standing on the attack line, uses overhand finger action to set the ball to a teammate. The teammate allows the ball to drop below the top of the net and then passes the ball over the net. RULING: Legal play. COMMENT: The libero may set the ball while standing on or in front of the attack line extended, but the next contact may not be an attack from above the top of the net. (9-5-6b)

SITUATION 4: The libero, while standing on the attack line, uses overhand finger action to set the ball to a teammate. The teammate attacks the ball, which is completely above the top of the net, into the opponent's court. RULING: Illegal attack (signal No. 8) and then indicate that the libero is at fault. COMMENT: The libero is a defensive specialist and may not set the ball with overhand finger action from on or in front of the attack line extended for an attack above the height of the net. (9-5-6b)

SITUATION 5: The libero, while standing in front of the attack line, uses overhand finger action to set the ball to a teammate. The teammate sets the ball to an attacker who spikes the ball into the opponent's court while it is completely above the top of the net. RULING: Legal. COMMENT: The contact immediately following the libero's set was not an attack into the opponent's court, so play would continue. (9-5-6b)

SITUATION 6: The libero, while standing on the attack line, uses overhand finger action to set the ball to the front row setter. The setter dumps the ball into the opponent's court while the ball is completely above the top of the net. RULING: Illegal attack (signal No. 8). COMMENT: The official should indicate that the libero is at fault rather than the setter. (9-5-6b)

SITUATION 7: The libero attacks the ball, which is completely above the top of the net, while positioned completely behind the attack line. RULING: Illegal attack. COMMENT: The libero may not attack a ball which is completely above the top of the net from anywhere on the court. The official waits to blow the whistle until the ball completely crosses the net or is legally blocked by an opponent. (9-5-6a)

SITUATION 8: The libero jumps from behind the attack line and attacks the ball, which has dropped slightly below the top of the net. RULING: Legal, play continues. COMMENT: The libero may send the ball over the net from anywhere on the court as long as the ball is at least partially below the top of the net upon contact. (9-5-6a)

SITUATION 9: The libero, while standing in front of the attack line, uses overhand finger action to set the ball, while it is partially below the top of the net. The ball drifts into the plane of the net and the next contact is the block by the opponent. RULING: Legal, play continues. COMMENT: The libero may hit the ball over the net from anywhere on the court as long as the ball is not completely above the top of the net when contacted by the libero. (9-5-6a)

SITUATION 10: Team R calls a time-out. At the completion of the time-out as Team R takes the court, the libero replaces No. 3 in the back row. At the contact of serve, the referee blows the whistle and signals unnecessary delay with the libero. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: The libero replacement may not take place during a time-out. The replacement can happen after the time-out, but the court player must enter the court first and then the replacement may occur. Once both teams take the court ready to resume play, the replacement may take place. The libero must now enter the game legally or be replaced by a legal player. (10-4-3E; 10-4 PEN 1)

SITUATION 11: The libero replaces player No. 2. Later No. 5 replaces the libero instead of No. 2 replacing the libero. RULING: Illegal replacement, unnecessary delay. COMMENT: The assistant scorer shall notify the scorer to sound a signal at the time the ball is contacted for the serve when there is an illegal replacement. (10-4-5 PEN; 5-6-3c)

SITUATION 12: The coach requests a substitution and moves toward the intersection of the sideline and attack line. As the substitute is legally entering the court, the coach (a) is instructing the setter and then returns to the bench; (b) stops the substitute from assuming her position on the court to provide additional instructions and then returns to the team bench. RULING: (a) Legal and (b) improper and may result in unnecessary delay. COMMENT: In (a) the ball is dead and the coach is providing instructions to a player not involved in the substitution, thus not delaying play. In (b) the coach is actually delaying the substitution. The official may consider this a delay in play if the substitute cannot quickly take her position on the court. If the coach's action delays readiness for play, unnecessary delay may be called. It is not the intent or application of this rule to allow the coach to delay substitutions or play. (12-2-6; 10-2-1)