KNOW YOUR ZONES

New Definition Highlights NFHS Rule Changes

By Brad Tittrington

The NFHS Volleyball Rules Committee met in January in Indianapolis and recommended five rule changes for the 2023-24 season, which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. The most significant rule change creates a new definition for the coaching zone, which defines and clarifies where a coach may stand.

Other rule changes include allowing one assistant coach to stand and communicate with players during dead-ball situations, allowing players to wear certain jewelry, allowing substitution requests by head coaches to be verbalized or signaled, and eliminating the use of uniform numbers with a leading zero (01, 02, 03, etc.) starting with the 2028 season.

“The NFHS continues to state that volleyball is in a great place from both a participation and rules perspective,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS director of sports and liaison for volleyball. “The NFHS

Volleyball Rules Committee continues to prioritize risk minimization, adjudication and level of play/ skill development when discussing potential rules changes. In addition, from a relationship standpoint, the NFHS and the other volleyball rules writing and officiating bodies continue to have strong working relationships that help to ensure the health of the sport at all levels.”

Below are the rule changes in perceived order of importance. Referee would like to thank Atkinson for reviewing this article.

The Court and Markings

2-1-9 (NEW), 12-2-5

The most significant change deals with the addition of a definition for the coaching zone. In the past, the head coach was only allowed to stand in the libero replacement zone. The new definition expands the area and now it extends beyond the extension of the endline. During play, the head coach is still required to be no closer than six feet from the sideline in order to allow line judges to see and move freely and to avoid interfering with play (as shown in MechaniGram A). When the ball is dead, a head coach and one assistant coach may move freely in the coaching zone (as shown in MechaniGram B).

Play 1: During play, team A’s coach stands in the (a) substitution zone, (b) libero replacement zone, or (c) roughly five feet beyond the endline extended. Ruling 1: Illegal in (a). The head coach may not come into the substitution zone. In (b) and (c), the coach’s actions are legal, provided the coach is no closer to the court than six feet. A yellow conduct card (warning) shall be assessed for the first minor offense and a red conduct card (penalty) shall be issued for the first serious offense or second minor offense and a loss of rally/point awarded to the opponent.

Conduct: Players, Coaches and/or Team Attendants 5-5-3b-11 (NEW), 12-2-6

Along with the addition of the new coaching zone, one assistant coach is now permitted to stand in the coaching zone — during dead-ball situations only — to provide instruction to players. It does not have to be the same assistant coach during each dead ball and may change throughout the match, however only one assistant coach may stand at a time. This change allows for additional coaching of student-athletes as more and more teams utilize specialized coaches for different purposes and allows for position- or situation-specific coaching. Assistant coaches are not granted any additional rights, other than providing instruction, and must be seated when the ball becomes live.

“The NFHS Volleyball Rules Committee approached these rules changes from an interscholastic, education-based perspective by providing more opportunities for coaches to coach and players to be coached during competition while not impeding the pace or administration of the match,” Atkinson said. “The committee hopes these changes have a positive impact on the game and that coaches use these ‘coach-friendly’ rules to teach and create positive learning opportunities for their studentathletes.”

Play 2: Team A’s head coach and one assistant coach stand in the coaching zone during a dead ball to relay information to the players on the court. After the first referee blows the whistle to authorize service, the assistant coach (a) returns to the bench and sits down, or (b) continues to

Sideline

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April 28-29

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Quicktip

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Do not interact with fans before, during or after a match. If there is an issue with a fan, ask for game management to deal with the situation and do not deal with it directly yourself. Remember, the fan is likely yelling at the uniform and not you personally. Also, if you happen to know someone in the stands, refrain from talking with them. This could give the appearance of favoritism. Save the salutations and conversations for another time.

They Said It

“Female referees started appearing on the volleyball scene in the 1990s, but I believe the position is not yet fully established as being double gender. I believe if a person works with courage and in a healthy manner in accordance with the sporting spirit, he or she can be a referee. Gender doesn’t matter. What matters is the ability to judge and officiate.”

— International volleyball official and former Korea national women’s team player Kang Joe-Hee, who became Korea’s first female international volleyball referee in 2002, on what can be done to encourage more females to become referees

Test Yourself

In each of the following, you are given a situation and possible answer(s). You are to decide which answer(s) are correct for NFHS, NCAA or USAV rules, which might vary Solutions: p. 85 a. A1 steps completely across the centerline and touches the team B court. b. A1 touches the net. c. A1 touches the antenna. d. B2 touches the net. e. None of the above will result in a fault by A1 since the play immediately becomes dead when the ball contacts the floor. a. No fault has occurred. The team receiving the ball after the joust will have three hits remaining. b. Because team A has used its three team hits, team B must be allowed to touch the ball before team A can legally play it again. The result is a “four hits” call against team A. c. Team B has committed a blocking fault. After team A’s third hit, the ball must cross completely beyond the net before team B can contact it. a. Any visible undergarment worn beneath the uniform jersey must be a single, solid color that is similar to the predominant color of the jersey. b. The visible undergarment must be a similar style and the same color for any team members who wear such an undergarment. The undergarment does not need to be the same or a similar color to that of the predominant color of the jersey. c. If more than one team member wears the same type of visible undergarment, the undergarments must be identical. d. Visible undergarments of the same type may be different colors or styles if worn by more than one team member. stand in the coaching zone, but does not say anything else to the players. Ruling 2: Legal in (a) as the head coach and one assistant coach may stand during a dead ball in the coaching zone to relay information to players. Illegal in (b) as only the head coach may stand in the coaching zone once the ball is live and the assistant coach must return to the bench to sit down. A yellow conduct card (warning) shall be issued for the first offense.

1. A1 spikes the ball to the floor on team B’s court. After the ball hits the floor, which of the following will result in a fault?

2. Following the third team hit by team A, a team A player and a team B blocker simultaneously contact the ball above the top of the net in the plane of the net (joust).

3. Not including the libero, the team A players are wearing blue uniform jerseys. Some of the players are wearing T shirts that are visible beneath the blue jersey. Which of the following statements is true about those visible undergarments?

Play 3: Team A’s head coach and an assistant coach both stand in the coaching zone during a dead ball to relay information to the players on the court. After the first referee blows the whistle and authorizes service, the assistant coach returns to the bench and sits down. After the next rally, a different assistant coach stands in the coaching zone along with the head coach to relay information to the players on the court. Ruling 3: Legal. Only one assistant coach may stand along with the head coach during a dead ball, but it does not have to be the same assistant coach each time. Provided only one assistant coach is standing alongside the head coach, it does not matter which one stands, as long as that assistant returns to the bench and sits down once the ball is made live again.

Equipment and Accessories 4-1-7, 4-1 Pen. 1

Another major change adopted for the 2023-24 season deals with jewelry. Players will now be permitted to wear small, secured stud or post jewelry above the chin (as shown in PlayPics B and C). The rule change maintains consistency with current trends of other NFHS and volleyball rules codes. Hoop-style jewelry, earrings that dangle and any other jewelry worn below the chin (such as necklaces and watches) are still illegal and must be removed (as shown in PlayPics D and E).

Play 4: During warmups, the referees notice a team A player wearing (a) multiple diamond stud earrings in each ear, (b) a stud earring in one ear and a hoop earring in the other ear, (c) a stud nose piercing, (d) a necklace, or (e) a watch. Ruling 4: Legal in (a) and (c). Illegal in (b), (d) and (e). Piercings above the chin that are stud-like are legal. However, hoop-style jewelry and any jewelry worn below the chin are illegal. Referees should tell the team A coach to direct the player to remove the illegal jewelry and any player refusing to do show shall be charged with unsporting conduct.

Procedure for Substitution 10-2-1

Head coaches are allowed to request a substitution through signaling as well as through a verbal appeal (as shown in PlayPics F and G). In the past, the coach had to signal for a substitution and the rules did not specifically allow a verbal request. Due to a clerical error, last year’s rulebook inadvertently showed this rule change, even though it had not been voted on by the committee. The committee officially voted on the rule change this year and it is now officially a part of the rules.

Legal Uniform 4-2-4b

While not taking effect until the 2028-29 season, uniform numbers may no longer start with a leading 0 (01, 02, 03, etc.), as shown in PlayPic K.This clarifies legal numbers and eliminates confusion when signaling while aligning with other rule codes.

Legal Uniform 4-2-4c

While not an official rule change for this upcoming season, a previously approved rule change takes effect this season. The body of the uniform number must clearly contrast with the uniform top regardless of the border/ trim (as shown in PlayPics I and J). Simply having a border around a number does not make the number legal (as shown in PlayPic H). The reason for the rule change was because it was hard to read the numbers on uniforms when the body of the uniform number was the same color as the uniform. This change makes it easier for both referees and coaches to see the number clearly.

Play 5: Team A is wearing white uniforms with (a) white numbers outlined with a black border, (b) red numbers with a black border, or (c) black numbers with no border. Ruling 5: Illegal in (a) and legal in (b) and (c). The number on the jersey must be clearly contrasting and since white on white is not clearly contrasting, even with a black border, those jerseys would be illegal. Assuming all players are wearing that style of jersey and the team cannot begin the match with six players wearing legal uniforms, a loss or rally/point shall be awarded to the opponent at the beginning of the match and the state association shall be notified to determine further action or penalty, as deemed necessary. Brad Tittrington is an associate editor for Referee. He referees college and high school volleyball, umpires D-I softball and officiates women’s college and high school basketball and high school football. *