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2011 NCAA Rule Changes

The NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules Committee has adopted a two-year cycle for rule book production and rule changes, so there will not be any major rule modifications for the 2011 season.  However, the committee did develop some rule clarifications, points of emphasis, and rule changes that will be implemented in future years.  Those items are listed below, and may be downloaded in a PDF document by clicking here. Of course, to fully understand the implementation of these, you'll want to attend an OTP Clinic as part of your season preparation.  The rule modifications applicable to NAIA and NJCAA are also available - click here for a PDF.   

PAVO Volleyball Officials' Guidebook

The PAVO Volleyball Official's Guidebook includes invaluable information for volleyball referees, line judges and scorekeepers, including a complete casebook, comparisons with USAV and NFHS rules, information on official's certifications, and chapters on the mechanics and techniques for all officials. All well-equipped officials will own this book as a complement to the rule book.

This valuable publication is published every other year in even-numbered years. In odd-numbered years, a "supplement" is published with updated text, corrections, rule and technique changes, and an current-season practice examination. The 2011 Supplement will be distributed to all current PAVO members around August 6, 2011.  However, the Supplement is only useful when used in conjunction with the 2010 PAVO Official's Guidebook. The Guidebook can be purchased on the PAVO E-store. 

2011 NCAA Scoresheets, Lineup Sheets & Libero Tracking Sheets

The NCAA develops scoresheets, line-up sheets and libero tracking sheets that accommodate all recent rules and techniques.  There will be no changes to these forms for 2011 - the 2010 forms are the most current.  Click here to download these PDF documents in a bundled file, free of charge.

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2011 NCAA Rule Clarifications, Points of Emphasis, and Corrections

Rule Clarifications:

1. In 2010, Rule 1.1.1.2 was modified to permit media personnel onto the court during timeouts and between sets.  To clarify, that permission was intended for video camera operators and their support crew who are associated with recognized media outlets, and who have been approved/credentialed by the host institution prior to the match.
2. Rule 4.2.4 describes the ruling when nonplayers (for example, media personnel or spectators) interfere with a legitimate effort by a player to play the ball.  To clarify, cheerleaders are considered spectators, and legitimate interference caused by a cheerleader (or cheerleader “gear”) may result in a replay.  When clearing an area to allow play, cheerleaders should make every effort to take their “gear” (megaphones, pompons, etc.) with them to avoid injury. 
3. The restrictions on use of electronic aids as described in Rule 6.1.5 have not been changed.   Prohibited items include the use of a computer or other device that is used to transmit any information (including statistics) to the bench from any area in the facility other than the bench.
4. Rule 7.2.2 describes jewelry as illegal equipment. To further clarify, dermal implants (jewelry surgically implanted in the skin) is considered jewelry, and is to be considered illegal equipment.  Sub-dermal implants (embedded items that do not protrude/break the skin) are permitted.  

1. Rules 10.3.1 and 10.3.2 describe the requirements for players to be in legal positions at the time of service contact. Second referees must work very diligently to track the position of the receiving team and ensure that the rules regarding position faults are applied. While preventative officiating or “warnings” are encouraged when players are close to an illegal position, blatant position faults (overlaps) should be whistled when they occur. Of course, just like any other rules infraction, the second referee should not whistle a position fault (overlap) unless s/he is absolutely sure the fault has occurred.
2. Rule 10.1.1.1 was changed in 2010 to indicate that lineups for the first set are due at the three-minute mark on the clock timing the pre-match warm-ups, and allowed changes to be made by the coaches without penalty or substitution until the one-minute mark. Rule 18.4.3.2 further clarifies that other match personnel (statistics crews, announcer, etc.) should not be permitted to see the lineups until they are final, which means at the one-minute mark. At that time, the lineups can be provided to those individuals.
3. The rule book Event Management section states that there should be chairs available for line judges at or near the score table (meaning, behind or at the table), to be used prior to the match as needed, and between sets. Event Management personnel should provide this seating area.  If the facility set-up does not provide space for chairs in this area, the line judges should stand behind the score table, not courtside. If there is not room for the line judges to sit or stand behind the score table, the final option is that, after getting water, the line judges return to a position near the first referee’s stand, at the attack line/sideline intersection, moving near to the R1 stand if teams are warming up on the court.  
4. It is a fairly frequent occurrence that a substitute enters the substitution zone and the coach really does not want that substitution to occur.  Some coaches do not know what their options are at that time – there is a general belief that the substitution simply must be completed. Once a substitute enters the zone and the second referee whistles to acknowledge the request, the coach’s options are to either quickly complete the substitution or be charged a delay sanction.  If a delay sanction is assessed, neither that substitution nor a subsequent substitution on that dead ball will be allowed.
5. It is part of the typical protocol in a collegiate volleyball match to have a brief meeting between coaches and referees during the warm-up period.  The purpose of this meeting is to exchange necessary information only, and referees are being instructed to keep this interchange professional and brief.  Both coaches and referees should limit the discussion to information pertinent to the upcoming contest.
6. As a reminder, NCAA women’s volleyball rules did NOT change to the current USAV ruling on net faults.  The NCAA rule still calls faults when net contact is made while playing the ball EVEN IF the contact is in the middle or bottom of the net. 
7. It is re-emphasized that, whenever possible, spectators should be restricted from the playing area through the use of stanchions or by establishing spectator walkways that are not part of the playing area.
   

Future Rule Changes Adopted

The following rules-change proposals have been approved by the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules Committee for future implementation. The proposals must be reviewed and approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel in April, 2011 before being incorporated into the rules in the noted future years. The rule and page references are from the 2010 Women’s Volleyball Rules Book. 

1.   Libero Uniform. (Rule 12.1.3, page 65) – Beginning in the 2013 season, it will be required that either the libero or her teammates must wear a solid colored jersey. Regarding the solid-color jersey:

a.   Sleeves must be the same color as the body of the jersey.

b.   Piping/trim no wider than 1”can be a different color than the body of the jersey.

c.   Lettering and collars can be a different color than the body of the jersey.

d.   Numbers must be a contrasting color and meet all other specifications in Rule 7.1.2. 

The solid color uniform must clearly contrast from the predominant primary color(s) of the teammate(s) jerseys. Predominant colors are those that appear on approximately half of the body of the uniform.  Rationale: When both the libero and her teammates are in multi-colored uniforms of the same color combinations, it can be very difficult to discern the libero’s legality when playing the ball. Requiring either the libero or the other team members to be in a solid color uniform will assist the referees in determining legal playing actions

2.   Hand Signals. (Rule 18.1.5, page 86) – Beginning in the 2012 season, when a fault is whistled by the first referee, both referees will first signal which team earned the point and will serve next, and then signal the nature of the fault. When a fault is whistled by the second referee, the second referee will first signal the nature of the fault.  The first referee, if in agreement, will then indicate which team earned the point and will serve next; the second referee mimics that signal.  Rationale:  Indicating which team will serve next facilitates the actions of the scorekeepers, ball crew, media, etc. during the time that the ball is out of play.  The tempo of the match will improve, and fewer errors by the scorekeepers and ball crew will be made. 

 Corrections to the 2010 NCAA Rules Book

Ball in Play. (Rule 16.1.1, page 81) – The rally begins with the first referee’s whistle to authorize the service.  The ball is in play when the ball is legally contacted for service after service authorization by the first referee.   (Correction to reflect the 2010 rule change.)

Responsibilities Regarding Interruptions. (Rule 18.3.6.1.1, page 90) – The second referee notifies the first referee and the appropriate coach(es) when the ninth through 12^th team substitutions are made.  (Correction to conform to current techniques in use.)

Scorekeeping Instructions. (Page 119) – Note that libero replacements, and requests for timeouts, or substitutions or lineup checks are only usually permitted only after a completed rally. (See Rule 8.1.3 and 11.3.5.) (Correction to reflect the 2010 rule change.)

Officials’ Mechanics. (Signal #14, page 200) – Timeout. ….indicate which team called the timeout, or point to self (hands on shoulders) for officials’ or extend arms with open hands to both courts for media timeout. (Correction to reflect the 2010 rule change.)