VOLLEYBALL OFFICIALS EDUCATION PROGRAM

1. VOLLEYBALL OFFICIALS EDUCATION PROGRAM

2. 2011 Volleyball Rule Interpretations

3. This presentation is a review of last season’s Indiana high school rules interpretations. Most of these situations occurred within Indiana and some came from other states. Learning from the experiences of other officials is one of the best ways to improve your officiating.

4. Situation #1: Rule 5-1-3: Authorized Officials In set 5, the two teams are playing very aggressively and the first referee warns both benches of their conduct. Before the set is completed, a fight breaks out and the fans aggressively threaten the referees about a call. Players from each team get involved. The first referee stops play, declares a forfeit and the officials are escorted immediately by host administrators to the locker room. The scoresheet is verified and signed, and the referees fill out required reports on the incident to the state association including the player conduct while in the locker room. Ruling: Correct procedure

5. Situation #2: Rule 2-2-2: Retractable Net System The host school has a ceiling-suspended net system. The ball contacts (a) the cables located on only one side of the net which retract the system, (b) a pole located only on one side of the net at approximately a 45 degree angle to the ceiling used to retract the system, (c) the poles located at the end of each net which are vertical extensions of the standards. In all situations, the officials rule these playable overhead obstructions and allow play to continue. Ruling: (a) Correct Procedure, (b) and (c) Incorrect Procedure. Comment: Cables which are used to retract a ceiling-suspended net system and located only on one side of the net are playable overhead obstructions. If the ball contacts a pole, located only on one side of the net and used to retract the system and it affects play, it shall be ruled as a possible replay at the discretion of the referees. Poles which vertically extend from the standards are treated like the standards and the ball is out-of-bounds when it contacts them.

6. Situation #3: Rule 3-1-1: The Net and Markings Prior to the match while inspecting the equipment, the first referee notices that the white net sleeve has the name of a local restaurant and school mascot printed along the top. Ruling: Legal Comment: The sleeve, so long as it does not affect the height of the net or interfere with play, may have the school name, insignia, school mascot and / or advertising placed along the top by way of a decal or professional printing.

7. Situation #4: Rule 3-1-1: The Net and Markings As part of her pre-match responsibilities prior to a high school match in a collegiate facility, the first referee sees that the net length is slightly longer that the net length in a high school facility. Ruling: Legal Comment: As long as the net is within 31 feet, six inches (9.5 meters) to 33 feet (10 meters) in length when stretched, it is legal. Changes in the rule now provide a range for overall width and length of the net to accommodate both the measurements for high school and collegiate facilities.

8. Situation #5: Rule 2-1-8: The Court and Markings School A is refinishing the gym floor. When placing the lines on the floor for volleyball the maintenance crew wants to paint lines on the floor identifying the libero replacement zone. Ruling: No lines are needed on the court for the replacement zone. Comment: The libero replacement zone has a physical location on the floor, the area near the sideline between the attack line and the end line, but is not identified by any lines.

9. Situation #6: Rule 5-3-4e Accommodation to the Rules School B has a player wearing prosthesis on the left lower leg. Prior to the pre-match conference, the head coach presents the first referee with a letter of authorization from the state association stating the prosthesis is approved to be worn during competition. Ruling: Correct procedure. Comment: A school requesting an accommodation to the rules for medical or religious reasons for a player shall have the request approved by the state association staff in writing and present the letter of authorization to the first referee prior to or during the pre-match conference.

10. Situation #7: Rule 4-1-8: Player Equipment A student is in need of wearing an insulin pump. The coach provides a request to the state association to confirm that this medical appliance may be worn during competition and requests a letter of authorization. Ruling: Correct procedure Comment: The letter of authorization from the IHSAA should be presented to the match officials by the coach prior to the start of the contest

11. Situation #8: IHSAA Procedure on Line Judge Selection The visiting team informs the host school that they do not have anyone that can serve as a line judge for the contest. The host school provides two line judges for the match. Ruling: Proper procedure Comment: Although it has been common practice for each school to provide a line judge for a match, the host school bears the responsibility to designate all officials for the match including referees, scorers, libero trackers, and line judges. It is the host school’s prerogative as to whether to use both of their line judges or ask for a line judge from the opponent.

12. Situation #9: Rule 10-3-5: Player Safety A player on Team A is apparently injured during play and the R1 stops play with an injury time out. The player is removed from the match exhibiting signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion. Later in the match, the head coach notifies the officials that the player has been cleared to play by an appropriate health care professional. The R1 allows the player entry without questioning the player’s ability to play safely. At the conclusion of the match, the R1 files an apparent concussion report with the injured player’s athletic director. Ruling: Correct procedure Comment: The official need only stop play for the injury time-out and does not make any determination on the athlete’s ability to play. The school bears the responsibility to have the player evaluated. The player shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional. The IHSAA has defined “an appropriate health-care professional” as a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) that holds an unlimited license to practice medicine in the state of Indiana, or; a certified athletic trainer (ATC/L) licensed in the state of Indiana. THE ENTIRE IHSAA PROTOCOL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS (NFHS) SPORTS PLAYING RULES FOR CONCUSSIONS IS POSTED AT www.ihsaa.org.

13. Situation #10: Rule 10-3-5: IHSAA Concussion Protocol During the first match of a tournament, a player on Team A is apparently injured during the third set and the R1 stops play with an injury time out. The player is removed from the match exhibiting signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion. The school’s designated health care professional does NOT clear the athlete for return in the match. After the match, the R1 notifies the Team A’s head coach and the tournament’s supervisor that the apparently injured player is ineligible for play for the duration of the day. The R1 files a “Potential Concussion” report with the apparently injured player’s athletic director within 24 hours. Ruling: Correct procedure Comment: If an athlete is removed from a match with an apparent concussion and is not cleared to return by the designated health care professional by the end of the match, the athlete may not be cleared to play on the same date on which the athlete was removed from play.

14. The IHSAA has defined “an appropriate health-care professional” as a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) that holds an unlimited license to practice medicine in the State of Indiana, or; a certified athletic trainer (ATC/L) licensed in the state of Indiana. THE ENTIRE IHSAA PROTOCOL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS (NFHS) SPORTS PLAYING RULES FOR CONCUSSIONS IS POSTED AT www.ihsaa.org.

15. Situation #11: Rule 10-4-5-a-Penalty 1 Libero Replacement After the whistle/signal for serve but before contact for serve, the libero for the receiving team replaces a back row player. The R1 does not call the illegal replacement immediately, but waits until the server for Team S contacts the ball before blowing the whistle for illegal replacement. Ruling: Correct Procedure Comment: The penalty for illegal libero replacement after the whistle/signal for serve is illegal alignment. Illegal alignment must be called after the contact of the serve.

16. Situation #12: Rule 9-5-6-b Libero Setting The Ball Team A’s libero sets the ball using overhead finger action on the team’s second hit while on or in front of the attack line. The next (third) hit is a dump (not a spike) that is completely above the height of the net and goes into the opponent’s court. The R1 lets play continue. Ruling: Incorrect procedure Comment: Because the ball was completely above the height of the net when the attack was completed, the correct call should be an illegal attack charged to the libero. The location of the ball when the third hit is completed determines the legality of the play, not the type of hit. If the ball is not completely above the height of the net, play continues without penalty.

17. Situation #13: Rule 5-2-2 Officials Equipment The second referee (R2) arrives at the match site planning to use a hand-held electronic whistle (normally a training whistle used by coaches) and an electronic tablet to use in place of a paper lineup card. The R1 tells the R2 that these devices are illegal and does not allow the R2 to use them during the match. Ruling: Correct ruling by the R1 Comment: The use of electronic devices on the court is prohibited

18. Situation #14: Rule 9-5-4, 5, note Back Row Attack A back-row player on Team A completes an attack on a ball that is completely above the height of the net while on or in front of the attack line. The ball (a) completely crosses the net into Team B’s court, or (b) is legally blocked by Team B. The R1 whistles an illegal back row attack when in (a) the ball completely crosses the net, and in (b) when the ball is legally touched by a Team B blocker. Ruling: Correct procedure

19. Situation #15: Rule 9-5-4, 5, note and Rule 9-7-2 Back Row Attack / Double Foul A back-row player on Team A completes an attack on a ball that is completely above the height of the net while on or in front of the attack line. The ball is blocked by an illegal blocker on Team B while the ball is in the plane of the net. The R1 whistles an illegal back row attack when the ball is touched by the Team B blocker. Ruling: Incorrect procedure Comment: The R1 should declare a double foul. The illegal back-row attack by the Team A player and the illegal block by the Team B player occur at the same instant. The R1 should have whistled the play dead, signaled each violation, and then called for a replay.

20. Situation #16: Rule 9-5-4, 5, note and Rule 9-6-4-b Back Row Attack / Over-The-Net-Foul The back-row player who is making Team A’s second contact is in front of the attack line and the ball is completely above the height of the net at the moment of contact. The back-row player mishits the ball, and it is clearly not going to cross the net. Although there is a Team A player in the vicinity who could make Team A’s third team contact, the Team B front row player reaches completely over the net to block the ball before the ball enters the plane of the net. The R1 whistles a double foul. Ruling: Incorrect procedure Comment: The Team B player committed an over-the-net foul and this is the only foul that has occurred. Since Team A’s second hit did not break the plane of the net, the Team A back row player did not execute an attack. The R1 should award Team A with a point.

21. Situation #17: Rule 4-1-5 Equipment and Accessories—Feathers in the Hair The NFHS has issued a rules interpretation regarding the legality of a specific hair adornment. Feathers in the hair have become increasingly popular. If the feather is woven into the hair using a soft or pliable material, it would be considered a legal hair adornment. A feather that is attached to the hair using a hard surfaced clip would be considered legal as long as the clip met the specifications of Rule 4-1-5, (the clip itself is flat, unadorned and no longer than 2 inches). If the clip does not meet the specifications of Rule 4-1-5, it would be determined as illegal. Comment: If the feathers come out of the hair and land on the playing floor, an unnecessary delay penalty should be assessed to the offending team.

22. Situation #18: Rule 4-1-6 Equipment and Accessories—Jewelry A player on Team A arrives at the match wearing earlobe gauges (devices used to stretch holes in the earlobe). The referees see the gauges and inform the coach of Team A that the player is wearing illegal equipment and it must be removed before she can participate in the team warm up or the match. Ruling: Proper procedure Comment: The gauges are considered jewelry and must be removed prior to participation.

23. Situation #19: Rule 9-5-1-c Player Actions—Block A player on Team B delivers a hard driven spike that passes through the hands/arms of a front row player on Team A who is in close proximity to the net with hands above the height of the net. The ball bounces off the head of the Team A player. The R1 allows three hits for Team A. Ruling: Correct Procedure Comment: The contact by the Team A player is considered a block because the player contacted the ball with her hands above net height. The head can be used to block the ball, and is a legal block, not the first hit.

24. Situation #20: Rule 10-4-2-a and Rule 8-1-6 LiberoReplacement Team S is serving. The R1 whistles and signals for serve. After the whistle/signal for serve but before the contact for serve, the libero for Team S replaces player #10 in the CB position. Realizing that the libero entered after the whistle/signal for serve, the server tosses the ball and lets it drop. The R1 grants a re-serve and #10 immediately replaces the libero in the CB position. The R1 then whistles/signals for the re-serve with #10 in the CB position and no penalty for Team S. Ruling: Incorrect procedure Comment: In the situation, the replacement took place after the whistle/signal for serve was given and you have illegal alignment. In high school volleyball, once the whistle/signal for serve is given, if there is a problem with the replacement you have illegal alignment. (10-4-4a). The penalty would be assessed upon contact with the ball by the server.

25. Situation #21: Rule 6-4-Penalties 2-a-b-c Team A leads Team B 14-12 in the 5th set of the match. Player #4 of Team B serves and Team B scores their 13th point. After the point but prior to the next serve, the scorer notifies the R2 that #4 was an improper server. The R2 confers with the R1 and the R1 signals improper server/illegal alignment, awards Team A with a loss of rally point, and proceeds with the end of match protocol with the final score of the set 15-13. Ruling: Improper procedure Comment: Team B’s 13th point should have been cancelled since it was earned by an improper server and the violation was discovered prior to a serve by the opponent. The final score of the set should have been 15-12. All other procedures by the officials were correct.

26. Situation #22: Rule 5-1-4 Officials: Responsibilities and Positions During the third set of a match, the R1 suffers symptoms of heat stroke and (a) is unable to continue officiating the match and the match proceeds with the R2 taking the R1 position and finishing the match as the only referee, or (b) after a short break, the R1 requests to switch officiating positions with the R2 and continue the match as the R2. Ruling: Both (a) and (b) are proper procedures Comment: Rule 5-1-4 allows for the exchange of duties by the R1 and R2 when an official is unable to continue. The match could be continued with only one official. The IHSAA actually permits a match to begin with one official, provided there is evidence that two officials were contracted for the match.

27. Situation #23: Rule 4-1 Player Equipment and Accessories While observing the team warm-up, the R1 observes several players with (a) rubber bands wrapped around their shoe laces, or (b) players with ribbons tied into their shoe laces. The R1 allows the warm-up to continue without any penalty Ruling: Proper procedure in both (a) and (b) Comment: Rubber bands used to secure shoelaces and ribbons in shoelaces are considered legal because they are made of soft material, are not a safety hazard, and do not give an advantage to the player. If the rubber band or ribbon were to come off of the shoe during play, the team could be charged with an unnecessary delay. Any charms, beads, etc. that might be attached to the shoe or shoelace would be considered jewelry and illegal equipment and would result in a penalty if worn on the court.

28. Situation #24: Rule 9-6-7-a Net Foul On Team A’s third hit, the ball is moving toward the net. Just prior to the ball contacting the net, a Team B player extends her arms forward and contacts the net. Immediately after the Team B player contacts the net, the ball hits the net and then the Team B player’s hands and rebounds to the floor on Team A’s side of the net. The R1 ignores the net contact by Team B since Team A had completed their attack, and awards Team B a point. Ruling: Incorrect procedure Comment: The correct call is a net foul on the Team B player. With their 3rd hit, Team A had completed their attack (Rule 9-5-1-b), but the ball is still live and is not whistled dead until it hits the floor or lands out of bounds (Rule 2-3-1). Therefore, the net contact by the Team B player occurred during a live ball prior to the ball being whistled dead on the floor. Also, in high school volleyball any contact with the net, other than with the hair or by the force of a ball hit by an opponent pushes the net or net cables into the player, is a net foul and cannot be ignored or considered incidental as it can in some other rule codes.

29. Situation #25: Rule 9-6-7-b and c Net Foul A player on Team A plays the ball and her momentum carries her body into the R1’s platform. The R1 rules the contact incidental and allows play to continue without penalty. Ruling: Correct procedure Comment: If the player’s contact with the R1 platform is ruled to be dangerous contact by a player, or if the player gains an advantage by grabbing or pushing the stand, a net foul should be called.

30. Situation #26: Rule 5-3-a-2 and 4 First Referee Responsibilities Team A serves and Team B is penalized for illegal alignment by the R2 and Team A is awarded a point. Team A serves again and after a rally, wins another point. On the third serve, Team B is again assessed an illegal alignment penalty by the R2. The Team B coach challenges the illegal alignment call and it is discovered that the R2 was in error in both illegal alignment calls. The R1 instructs the scorer to correct the scorebook, remove the two points awarded for illegal alignments from the scoreboard, and allows Team A to continue serving. Ruling: Correct ruling Comment: Since Team A was awarded the two points by an official’s error and Team A was still serving, the two points scored should be taken off the scoreboard. If the serve has alternated to Team B and Team B had contacted the ball for a serve, all points would remain and no points could be removed. This situation is not directly addressed in the rulebook, but it falls under Rules 5-3-a-2 and 4.

31. Situation #27: Rule 11-2-3 Team Time Outs With the score tied at 14-14 in the third and final set of a junior varsity match, the R1 allows each team an additional time out. Ruling: Incorrect procedure Comment: Each team is limited to two time-outs per set. No additional time outs are granted. The rule that allowed an additional time out for a set that went into overtime was changed several years ago

32. Situation #28: Rule 5-12 Officials Use of Electronic Equipment During the pre-match conference, the R2 records the captain’s numbers on an app on his smart phone. The R2 later enters the starting lineups into the app and uses his smart phone as his lineup card. Ruling: Incorrect procedure Comment: The use of replay, television monitoring or any electronic equipment by the referees to make decisions related to the set is prohibited.

33. Situation #29: Rule 9-5-1-Note Back Row Blocker The back row setter on Team A is within an arm’s length of the net. Team B returns the ball, a high looping return, just over the net, into Team A’s court. The back row setter jump sets the ball to her teammate, making contact with the ball while it is above the height of the net. Since the first contact by the Team A player is a set, the R1 allows play to continue. Ruling: Incorrect procedure Comment: The back row setter on Team A is an illegal blocker. 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.

34. Situation #30: Rule 9-3-3-a and Rule 9-5-8 Out of Bounds The first hit by Team A goes completely outside the antenna and into the playable area on Team B’s side of the net. A second Team A player returns the ball to Team A’s side of the court, still in the playable area outside the court. Team A’s third hit is a return to Team B between the antennas. The R1 allows play to continue. Ruling: Incorrect procedure Comment: Once the ball passes outside the net antenna and completely beyond the plane of the centerline extension, the ball is dead and out of bounds. A player may play the ball on their side of the court and that player may cross the extension of the centerline outside the court at any time provided he/she does not interfere with play by the opposing team.

35. Situation #31: Rule 9-6-7-b, c Net Play After playing the ball, Team A’s player lightly makes contact with the referee’s stand. The R1 does not call a net foul and lets play continue. Ruling: Correct procedure Comment: A net foul occurs if a player gains an advantage with the contact or there is dangerous contact by the player.

36. Situation #32: Rule 1-7-4 Suspension/Forfeit Team A begins a match with only 6 players on the roster. On the last rally of the first set, a player on Team A is injured and is unable to continue. The R1 declares that Team A must forfeit the match since they cannot start the second set with 6 players. Ruling: Incorrect procedure Comment: A team must have at least six players to start the match. If a player becomes ill or injured once the match has started, play can continue with fewer than six players, and when starting a set with fewer than six players, the head coach must indicate the vacant position on the submitted lineup. When a team is playing with fewer than six players due to illness, injury or disqualification, the first referee signals loss of rally/point for opponents when, upon rotation to serve, the vacant position is the right back position. The libero cannot replace this vacant position in the back row.

37. Situation #33: Rule 1-7-4 Suspension/Forfeit Team A arrives at the venue with only five players. A sixth player is being brought to the match by her parents. After the pre-match conference and the timed warm-ups, Team A still has only 5 players. Team A’s coach calls each of her 2 time outs, but the sixth player still has not arrived. The R1 declares a forfeit of the first set by Team A with Team B being credited with a 25-0 victory. The R2 instructs the timer to begin timing the 3 minutes between sets. At the end of the three minutes, Team A’s coach calls her first time out of the 2nd set. The missing player arrives during the time out and the match continues with Team B leading the match by 1set. Ruling: Correct ruling Comment: Time outs may be granted prior to a set (Rule 11-2-2). Every effort should be made to have the set played before declaring a forfeit.

38. Situation #34: Rule 9-5-6-b Libero Action Team B’s libero, while in front of the attack line, passes the first ball over the net to the front row setter using overhead finger action. The setter jumps sets the ball, which is above the net height, to her middle hitter who completes the attack into the opponent’s court. The R1 allows play to continue. Ruling: Correct Procedure Comment: The libero’s pass to a teammate did not lead directly to an attack. Therefore, the libero cannot be charged with an illegal attack. If the front row setter had attacked the ball while the ball was above the net height, an illegal attack would have been charged to the libero since the ball came directly from the libero.