Like any established sport, volleyball rules are under constant review by the various organizing bodies of the game to ensure that all play is fair and in accordance with modern equipment and playing techniques. From the international volleyball association FIVB to the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFHS, rule committees meet annually to accept or reject new rule proposals. These changes might be as simple as a few words or as broad as an entire rule.
FIVB
Rule changes by the FIVB for the 2009 to 2012 seasons were decided at the 31st FIVB World Congress. The rule changes for 2009 increased the number of potential players per team in FIVB and world events for senior teams to 14 from 12. They also allowed teams to have two libero players instead of the previous none or one. In terms of substitution players, the FIVB implemented a major change in that coaches can now send players into the substitution zone without needing approval from the referee. The final major rule change in 2009 for the FIVB was limiting the definition of net faults so certain contacts with the net would not stop play.
USA Volleyball
As a member country of the FIVB, USA Volleyball adopted all of the rule changes made by the FIVB in 2009. Additionally, the national governing body made changes to the wording of any ancillary rules affected by the rule changes. Numerous other minor changes in rules or wording were made to accommodate the decisions of the rules committee. For example, casts were disallowed in the sport even if they were padded and rules on crossing the centerline under the net were relaxed slightly so play would be stopped less.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The NCAA made five major rule changes to its rulebook for the 2009 season. The warm-up area for players was moved to 1.75 meters from the service area so that it would be clearly demarcated by the extension of the attack line and referees could strictly enforce it. Unlike the international game, coaches in the NCAA still were required to make substitution requests to the referees, but the rule changed to allowed them to make requests from anywhere in the bench area. Additionally, the coaches of both teams could agree to extended timeout length in broadcast matches, and the ability to track scoring discrepancies by the scorers and referees was expanded.
National Federation of State High School Associations
The NFHS had fewer major rule changes than the larger volleyball bodies in 2009. The body added the rule that the ball must be solid white or made up of no more than three colors with at least a third of the ball being white panels. The rules committee also determined that the head coach must stand at least 6 feet back from the sideline of the court and the assistant coach always must sit during a set. Unadorned bobby pins shorter than 2 inches became the only types of hair devices allowed for high school players, and only one substitution was legal at a time for each team in its respective substitution zone.
References
- FIVB: World Volleyball News--Rule Changes 2009-2012
- North American Gay Volleyball Association: 2009-2011Domestic Competition Regulations
- NCAA: 2009 Volleyball Major Rules Changes and Clarifications
- Professional Association of Volleyball Officials: Summary Comparison of NCAA, USA Volleyball and NFHS Volleyball Rule Differences 2009
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