NFHS Volleyball Rule Changes
2013-2014
Tina Spann
Northeast Volleyball Officials’ Association
Rule Changes

Rule 4-1-4: Deletes reference that a towel
tucked in a player’s uniform waistband is an
automatic violation.
–

Rationale: The wearing of a towel is not always
a concern and may at times be needed.
Rule 5-1-1: Clarifies that the host school is
responsible for providing all officials,
including line judges.
Rule Changes

Rule 5-4-4b: Following the first referee’s
signal for end-of-set, teams are directed to
the appropriate team benches and no longer
report to the end lines.
–
Rationale: It unnecessarily creates management
issues to attempt to have teams report to the end
lines. There is no need for the first referee to
verify the score, as this is done when the second
referee confirms set/match point to the first
referee.
Rule Changes

Rule 5-4-4d: Clarifies the protocol and whistle
sequence for the referees prior to the deciding set.
–
R1 whistles, signals end-of-set and directs the team
to their benches.
–
R2 double whistles and raises coin in air to signal
captains to come near the table for coin toss.
–
After completing the coin toss, R2 communicates
results to R1 (serving team and appropriate sides).
–
R1 whistles and gives the signal indicating whether
teams will remain on the same side or change
courts.
Rule Changes

Rule 5-4-4e: The second referee shall initial
the scoresheet after each set and for final
verification of match results.
–
Rationale: It is more efficient for the second
referee, when verifying the set score, to verify the
match results at the same time. It is not
necessary to have the second referee wait for the
first referee to travel the court and verify match
results.
Rule Changes

Rule 9-2-1: The use of electronic
communication devices is permitted during
the match; however, they may not be used for
any review of a referee’s decision.
–
Rationale: Technology is very accessible, and
officials should not be responsible for
monitoring who is using electronic devices in
various locations in the venue.
Rule Changes

Rule 11-4-2: A special time-out of 3 minutes may be
called by the referee when a team has an injured
player, no time-outs remaining, and no
legal/exceptional substitutes available.
–
Rationale: Provides an additional opportunity
for a team with only six players to continue
playing with a full complement of players after
all avenues of substitutions are exhausted.
–
If the player cannot continue after the special
time-out, the team must play shorthanded for the
remainder of the set.
–
Only one special time-out is permitted per
match.
Rule Changes
THE BIG ONE!

Rule 5-2: The order in which the referees
display the hand signals is changed to
indicate the result of the rally, followed by
the fault. Specific mechanics shall apply for
second referee-initialed calls.
–
Rationale: This allows the scorer to record the
score immediately and then prepare for other
responsibilities such as recording time-outs,
substitutions, etc.
Rule Changes

Calls by the R1 – When the R1 initiates the call,
they will indicate the result of the play and then
indicate the fault and the player at fault, if
necessary.

Calls by the R2 – When the R2 initiates the call,
they will indicate the fault and the player at
fault, if necessary. The R1 will then indicate the
result of the play, followed by the fault and the
player at fault, if necessary. The R2 will mirror
the result of the play but will not indicate the
fault a second time.
Editorial Changes

Rule 5-5-3a: When the second referee
provides assistance to the first referee on
plays that may be out of the view of the first
referee, such assistance is provided with a
visual, informal signal and not a whistle.

Rule 5-7-3b: At the beginning of each timeout, the libero tracker shall inform the second
referee of a team’s libero status.
Editorial Changes

Rule 5-8-3b: Both the second referee and the
official scorer will now time the 30-second
injury time-out without use of the visible
scoreboard

Rule 5-9-4-2: In 2014, flags shall be used by
line judges, unless determined by the state
association to use hand signals.

Rule 11-4-1: Either referee may stop play in
the event of an injured/ill player.
Points of Emphasis

Expectation of Properly Trained Assistant
Officials: The host school needs to assure that all
assistant officials (scorer, libero tracker, timer, and
line judges) are properly trained in advance. This
will help keep the match flowing smoothly and
avoid unnecessary delays.

Legal and Properly-Worn Uniforms/Equipment:
Coaches need to educate their players on legal
items and ensure that players are properly and
legally equipped before verifying this at the
coaches’ meeting.
Points of Emphasis

Mastering Officials’ Mechanics: Knowledge of
the rules and mechanics of the officials signals
is key for communication as well as exhibiting
confidence. Referees should take time each
season to review the signals and practice their
timing when using the signal sequence.
–
There are several changes in the mechanics and
the sequence of hand signals that officials must
master in order to be a positive factor in the
match as this new season opens.
NFHS Rule Changes
2013-2014
Tina Spann
Northeast Volleyball Officials’ Association