Volleyball Rules &
Mechanics Session
Intramural Volleyball Rules
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Any rule not covered in intramural rules follows NFHS
guidelines
Team Requirements & Equipment
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6 players: 4 minimum to start
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Co-Rec: combinations may include
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Non-marking rubber-soled athletic shoes
No jewelry (including rubber bands) or casts
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3 men/3 women, 3 men/2 women, 3 men/2 women, 2 men/2 women
No restrictions on amount of hits per gender
Please be MORE STRICT ABOUT THIS!
Knee braces must have protective padding
The Game
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Coin Toss determines which team serves & sides
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Team not serving 1st, will serve 1st in second game
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Whichever side teams were warming up will start on that side to start
game
Teams also switch sides between games
Play all 3 games
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1st Two games to 25
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Last game to 15
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Win by 2 w/ 30 pt cap
Win by 2 w/ 20 pt cap
Rally Scoring:
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Let Serve = Ball may hit the net and go over ON THE SERVE
Score on every play regardless of team serving
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Point and team winning point gets to serve
One time-out per game
Playing the Ball
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Maximum of 3 contacts
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Exception: a block is not considered one of the contacts
Contact is where a player intentionally or accidentally
touches ball
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Cannot have contact below waist: dead ball – illegal hit
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Cannot use feet or legs to hit ball
Illegal Hit: ball comes visibly to rest or prolonged
contact w/ player
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Holding, catching, throwing, rolling, lifting, & pushing
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Penalty = point and side out for opposition
Playing the Ball cont’d
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Double Hit: player illegally contacts ball twice in succession
or ball rebounds from one body part to another on a single
attempt to play ball
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Penalty: Point and side out for opposition
Simultaneous contact by opponents
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The team side that the ball falls, the players have 3 hits to get ball
over (simultaneous contact treat as a block)
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Held ball will direct a replay by the officials
Net Play: ball contacting and crossing net shall remain in play
provided contact is in playing area
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Side out for balls that do not go over the net
Playing the Ball cont’d
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Net Foul (Penalty is point and side out for opposing team)
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Player contact any part of nets (including cables)
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Not a foul if hair touches net, or force of ball hit by opponent’s hit
pushes net into a player
Interference by player who makes contact w/ opponent who is
making legitimate effort to play ball
Center Line Foul: Play that has crossed their foot or body
part completely over center-line
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For a Foul…the whole foot or whole body part must be over the line
Can touch line with foot
If player falls, any part of body that goes over the line is a fault
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Penalty is point and side out for opposition
Playing the Ball cont’d
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Blocking the Ball
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A ball which is entirely on the opponent’s side of the net is permitted
to be blocked when the opposing team has had an opportunity to
complete its attack
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Includes when the team has used 3 contacts
Team had opportunity to spike ball or in official’s judgment directs the
ball w/ intent to return to opponent’s court
Ball is falling near the net on attacking team side, and the officials feels
no member of attacking team could make play on ball
Watch for net fouls and contact below net (umpire)
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Look for follow through of spiker (referee) for net fouls
Back Line Attack
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Back Line player may attack ball if:
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Leaves the floor from behind the 10 ft. line and its
imaginary extension
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Any part of foot touches 10 ft. line: Foul and pt. for opposition
Back line player may not attempt to block the ball in
front of the 10 ft. line nor may they play the ball above
the net (includes attacking or dinks).
Service
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Server must wait for official’s beckon/whistle (use
preventative officiating & tell players to wait for whistle)
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Re-serve if they do not wait for beckon/whistle
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Side-out on 2nd consecutive serve w/ not beckon/whistle
Any part of foot touches back row line on serve: Fault and pt. for
opposition
Serves may hit the net and go over (ball is in play)
Balls that hit net and does not fall in non-serving teams’ court: illegal
and point for non-serving team
Server may not touch end line
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Server’s body may be in the air over lines, having left the floor from
serving area
Cannot hit ball with both hands
Cannot step back into court until ball is hit
Service cont’d
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Serves landing on the line or inside court
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Ball is in, whole ball has to land outside lines to be out
Server has five seconds to make a legal serve
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May toss and catch bad toss, as long as no swinging
motion has been made to attempt serve
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Only 1 re-serve for bad toss
Player positioning
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No player on court may be closer to sideline, end line or
center line than adjacent player on court
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Front line player may not overlap with back-row players
Players in front line cannot overlap each other side by side, nor can
the back row
After the ball has left the server’s hand for the serve, players
may go anywhere on the court
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Cannot have more than 3 front-row players on the court during a
rotation
Live Ball/Dead Ball
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Ball becomes live when legally contacted for service
Ball becomes dead when:
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Ball touches antennas or any part of the net outside playing court
Ball strikes the floor
Ball contacts permanent object (excluding net) above or outside playing
court
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Exception: Ball striking ceiling or overhead obstruction above playable area shall
remain in play provided the ball contacts on the side of the net that occupied the
ball
Ball contacting track railing and stuck in the ceiling will be a point for the
opposition
Player commits a fault
Served ball contacts but does not clear net
Official’s whistle for any reason
Point shall be replayed if a stray volleyball/basketball enters playing
Substitutions
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Unlimited number of substitutions
Substitutes must replace the server
Team can only substitute at a dead ball
Communication
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Ask questions
Frequent eye contact between officials
during the match
Do not be afraid to call an official’s time
out to collaborate with your partner
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Don’t do the easy thing and call replay
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Can ask players if unsure of line calls
Always communicate the decisions with
captains
Be consistent
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In ball handling violations
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Carry for one team is carry for another
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Can instruct captain’s at meeting about open palm/carry,
not serving 2 handed
In determining unsportsmanlike conduct
Treatment of both teams
Be confident
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Know your roles and responsibilities
Sell the call
Move past your own/other’s criticisms
Keep the match moving
Official’s Responsibilities
Duties of the referee
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Conduct the pre-match conference
Blow the whistle for serve and dead ball
Recognize requests for substitution or time-out
Make ball handling decisions
Signal the result of each play or action/infraction
Scan the court before beckoning for serve
Make server foot fault calls
Responsible for the alignment of the serving team
Keep track of the number of hits by a team during play
Signal the end of the game or the end of a time-out
Use of the whistle
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When to use whistle
to beckon teams into playing position
 for serve
 to signal any dead ball
 for time out and/or substitution when
unrecognized by umpire
 re-serve or re-play
 end of game switching of sides of court
 end of match
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Positioning
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Assume position on stand across from score
table
During serve, no hand on net or cable.
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Can put hand on top of net after serve to indicate if
there is a net fault during play
Coverage during play
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Concentrate on flight of ball at all times
Anticipate flight/interference with obstacles
Anticipate next player to contact
Illegal alignment on serving team
Pre-serve scan of benches, teams, and umpire
Terms
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Let Serve:
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Ball Handling
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Prolonged contact
Double hit
Below the waist
Prolonged Contact
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A legally served ball that contacts and crosses the net entirely between the
antennas shall remain in play.
Rolls
Comes to rest
Carried
Double Hit
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Multiple contacts are permitted only on any first team hit, whether
or not the ball is touched by the block
Multiple contact on second or third hit is illegal
Referee can overrule
Umpires Can Give Clues to the Head Officials
of Calls that they may see (signal, but don’t blow
whistle)
Just because you make this discreet signal does not
mean the referee will make that call. He/she may have
seen something differently. These situations should be
discussed after the game. Some officials, as umpire,
prefer to blow the whistle and make the illegal back row
player call. This should be discussed with your partner.
Either way, the call should be made.
Signals
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Begin Service: Extend one arm towards
server, then blow whistle to serve & move
arm overhead in a beckon motion
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In: extend one arm w/ an open hand palm
down toward floor between attack line & net
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Out: Hold forearms in front of chest,
hands open, palms toward face
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Point: Indicate a #1 w/ index finger w/
the hand on side which won the point
Signals
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Illegal hit/carry: Slowly lift hand &
forearm, palm up, on the side which
violated
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Illegal Back Row Attack: Raise hand beside
head & rotate forearm forward and
downward
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Replay/play over: Fisted hands, w/ thumbs
up, lift arms upward
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Illegal Alignment/Out of Rotation:
Circular motion with entire hand
Prolonged Contact
Signals
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Double hit: Hand & arm nearest
violating team raised, showing 2 fingers
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Touch: Hand on offending teams’ side held
beside head, palm toward head, brush
upward across fingertips one time with
other hand palm forward
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Four hits: Same as double hit but
indicate 4 fingers
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Net foul/serve: Hand of outstretched arm
touches the side of the net where foul
occurred
Signals
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Line violation: Indicate the line where
the violation occurred by pointing down
towards line
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Illegally Reaching over net
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Substitution: Bring both hands in front
of face (traveling signal with open
palms
Signals
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Time-out: Raise arm up of team that
indicates T/O and bring other arm up to
form a “T” Verbally indicate time-out to
both parties
 Official’s Time-out: Point at shoulders
and indicate time-out
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Change Sides: Raise forearms and swing
right arm in front of body and left arm in
back of body
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End of game: cross arms against chest
Signals
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Initiated by Umpire:
Net violation
 Foot faults
 Substitutions
 Time outs
 Illegal alignment on receiving team
 Authorization to enter (for substitution)
 End of the game signal
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How to use Signals
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To stop play
Sound whistle w/ authority
 Signal the violation & hold the hand & arm
signal long enough to be seen
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Signal point, side out, or replay
 Verbalize the decision when necessary
 Use the arm or hand on the side of the team
involved
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Umpire Responsibilities
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When to use the whistle
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Do not repeat referee whistle
Mirror signals made by the referee
Make net fault calls
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Responsible for the net from the bottom of the top net cord to
the ground
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Make center line foot fault calls
Responsible for alignment of the receiving team
Make back row attack and block calls for the receiving team
Make ball handling calls when the referee is screened from the play
Position yourself on the blocking team side of the net and transition
to the other side before the 2nd team contact
Alter your position as required to get a better look at the net
Assist the referee in calling the match – Work as a team!
Maintain eye contact with the R1 when echoing signals
Do not hide behind the support when echoing signals
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Umpire Duties
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Informal Signals
Given as discreet signal to referee – DO NOT
BLOW THE WHISTLE
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HOLD your in/out call. Give it only if the referee asks for your
help
Ball handling calls out of the sight of the referee
Down ball vs. pancake save
Back-row player foul – this can be a delayed call
Touches by the receiving team on a ball going out of bounds
Four hits (discuss this with your partner before match)
Positioning
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Stand outside the sideline back from the standard
When
On or just before the referee whistles for serve
Position
1-2 meters back from standard
1-2 meters on side of receiving team
Square to court
Focus
Receiving team
Watching for
Position faults
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Move to side opposite ball during play
Move slightly to see alignment at time of serve
Step back at each dead ball to facilitate visual contact with benches/coaches
Anticipate trajectory of the ball an move to see in and out as ball crosses the
net
Coverage during play
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At moment of serve
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near net on receiving side
listen for contact of serve
watch for illegal alignment at moment of serve
When
On contact of serve
Position
1-2 meters back from standard
Slightly on side of receiving team
Focus
Blockers and the attack zone
Watching for
Net violations
Illegal attacks or blocks
Center line violations
Coverage during play
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Concentrate on center line and net area by first watching the
floor, up to the net, touches on blocks, down the net and back to
the floor
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Resist the temptation to follow the ball away from the net
When
After the set
Position
1-2 meters back from standard
Slightly on side of blocking team
Focus
Along the net
Watching for
Net violations
Touches by blockers
During Attack
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Maintain a wide field of vision, observant to the play that is
developing on both sides of the net.
As play approaches net, your focus should be narrowing into the
attack zones
Look through the net to observe any possible back row attack
violations-whistle a back row fault if you are sure that it has
occurred. (This can also be signaled to referee discreetly.)
As attack develops, narrow your focus down the net
DURING ATTACK (cont.)
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Focus along the net – primarily the top of the net
Observe both teams.
Look for net violations on the attackers touching the net on their follow-through.
Look for net violations on blockers, primarily if they reach over net to execute their
block
Look for touches by blockers
When
As the attackers and blockers land
Position
1-2 meters back from standard
Slightly on side of blocking team
Focus
Along net and centerline
Watching for
Net violations
Centerline violations
After the Attack
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Focus along the net & centerline as the players land
STAY FOCUSED ON THE NET as the ball is hit into
the opponent’s court.
Look for net violations
Look for centerline violations
Start your transition to the opposite side of the net as
the serving team makes their transition for their attack.
Move quickly and begin the routine again.
AFTER THE WHISTLE
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Focus along the net and through the attack zone to the
referee
Be aware of any trash talking going on after the rally
If a ball going out of bounds was touched by a blocker,
signal immediately
Mimic the referee’s signals
Back Row Play
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Play continues when a back-row player (on or in front
of the attack line),
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Contacts the ball, which is completely above the height of the
net,
On the teams’ first or second contact,
Directing the flight of the ball toward a teammate,
And the opponent legally contacts the ball that breaks the
vertical plane of the net, play is legal.
BUT, if the ball completely crosses the net untouched, it is a
back-row player foul.
Back Row Play
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Same situation but…
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The flight of the ball is toward the opponent’s court and not
toward a teammate.
And is legally touched by an opponent above the net, or
completely crosses the net;
It becomes a back-row player foul.
The flight of the ball is the determining factor. The flight has
to be toward a teammate.
Net Play
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A player shall not contact a ball that is
completely on the opponent’s side of the net
unless the contact is a legal block.
When is a player considered “over the net”?
Cannot take a play away from opponents
 A team must be given its 3 allowable hits
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Checking alignment
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Receiving team
helpful hint - find a pair of diagonally opposite players,
I.e. left front & right back, continually check on their
position on the floor
At the time of the serve
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All right-side players must have part of one foot closer to the
right sideline than both feet of the center player in their
corresponding row
All left-side players must have part of one foot closer to the left
sideline than both feet of the center player in their corresponding
row
All front row players must have part of one foot closer to the
center line than both feet of their corresponding back row player
Check primary setters if possible
Moment of serve is critical time for alignment
Track entering subs into proper positions
POINTS TO REMEMBER
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Always signal on the proper side of the net for any net
violations and centerline violations.
On any ball going out of bounds, make NO call, and
only give it if the referee asks for your help.
Proper position is the key to seeing and making the
right call, so move quickly.
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A player may block a ball that is completely on the
opponent’s side of the net when:
Attacking team has had its 3 hits.
 In the official’s judgment, the attacking team has
directed the ball toward the opponent’s court, as in a
spike or drive from the backcourt.
 Ball is falling near the net, and no member of the
attacking team can make a play on the ball.
REMEMBER: It is never legal to attack a ball that is
completely on the opponents’ side of the net
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Proper Alignment
PLAYER
MUST BE
ALIGNED
WITH
RB
RF, CB
RF
CF, RB
CF
CB, LF, RF
LF
LB, CF
LB
LF, CB
CB
CF, LB, RB
LF
CF
RF
LB
CB
RB
Players’ Positions at Time of
Service
Illegal
Illegal
Legal
Legal
Illegal
Use of Penalty Cards
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Use preventative officiating first
Cards are cumulative in a match and carry over from previous
games
Officials do not have to issue a yellow card before issuing a red
card or a red card before a disqualification
R1 administers cards, R2 may request cards
Remember that a yellow card is only a warning
Use cards for unsportsmanlike conduct
Use yellow cards for:
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Warning for minor offenses
Use of illegal equipment
Player attempting to grandstand/showboat
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Use of Penalty Cards cont
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Use Red Cards for:
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Disqualification should occur when:
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Serious misconduct
Swearing
Taunting an opponent
Repeat offenses that have already received a yellow card
A player or coach commits a second serious offense or third minor
offense
Fighting
Injuring another player intentionally
Degree of offense and level of card (yellow vs. red vs.
yellow/red) is at the discretion of the R1 and is not subject to
protest
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