An efficient way to learn and understand Volleyball is starting from rules. An in-depth overview of the volleyball rules is as follows:
Indoor 4’s:
- In the volleyball game, 2 women and 2 men are present on the court all the time. However, 1 female and 3 males are also allowed.
Indoor 6’s:
- In Indoor 6’s 3 men and women each are allowed on the court. While in other cases, 4 males and 2 females are allowed.
- A game will be considered legal if only 1 woman and 4 males are present in a match. 4 males are the maximum limit of the team. If the opponent team allows, only, in that case, 1female is allowed in the above-mentioned scenarios.
Basics of Indoor Volleyball
A set of 3 games is present in each match. For regular-season standings, each of these games will be considered as a part of overall standings. The game is divided into two parts where one-tome out for each game is allowed. The first 2 games are played to 21(cap 25). The 3rd game is to 15(cap) 18.
No male or female hitting rules are present.
According to the Volleyball rules, a defensive block cannot be counted as allowable contacts. For blocking a ball, a player has to reach over the net:
- If in the 3rd attempt, the offense has come in contact with the ball.
- If the plane of the net breaks by any part of the ball.
The service can be returned by the players in case of:
- A closed fist
- Bump pass
- A set
- Clasping their hands together.
A player is allowed to serve with a two-handed set. However, a set in this way is not recommended as it can be extremely difficult.
Unless a ball or a person drives into the net, no part of the body is allowed to be in contact with the net. In case, the player contact has indirectly affected the course of the play it would not be considered as the violation of rules.
The spiker should cleanly hit the ball with an open hand. Carrying or guiding is considered illegal.
Ball contact is considered legal in spiking only when a portion of the ball is in contact with the plane of the net on the hitter’s side.
A player can touch but not cross the center line with his foot.
Oversets are considered illegal.
The ball contact is allowed if the ball rebounds immediately after coming in contact with any body part.
Changes in Volleyball Rules (2020-2021)
According to NFHS, the volleyball rules change are mainly made in the area of uniform bottom compliance, bench behavior sportsmanship, official communication, and management of non-team personal.
The new rules of volleyball are as follows:
- A molded protective face mask made of hard material is allowed during the play. This rule is changed to create consistency with the rest of the NFHS codes.
- For allowing correction in case of a clerical error, a team is allowed to correct a submitted line up if the libero number does not match with what other teams are wearing.
- A clear contrast should be present between libero and the rest of the teammates and conform to the uniform rules.
- One predominant color can be used for the libero uniform top if contrasting.
- The double zero (00) uniform option is eliminated and the number should not be more than 2 digits according to the new rules.
- At the pre-match, it is the responsibility of the second referee to collect team roasters.
- Changes can be made by the coaches to the roster until 10 minutes are left on the pregame block.
- Rosters and liners are submitted to the second referee, not a scorer.
- It eliminates the loss of point penalty in case of failure in submission to the team roaster in the prematch conference. However, the penalty is replaced with a delay.
- Another rule establishes the fact that an official closes hands along with a rotation of forearms in regards to single substitution.
- Creates an official warning to the head coach in the case of unsporting conduct by issuing a yellow card. A read unsporting conduct card is required in the case when the head coach has to remain seated for the remaining match.
- In case, the volleyball strikes the diagonal poles or cables are used to retract the ceiling at suspended net systems. The referee has to halt the game in that scenario and assess whether the ball was playable.
- The referee will signal replay or signal out-of-bounds.
- The responsibilities of the line judge include moving in line with the extension of the end ball when the ball is served near the line judge’s base position.
- The line judge analyzes foot fault on the end line and moves back to base position for sideline view.
- According to the illegal serve rule, when a ball tossed for serve contacts any part of a backboard it is considered as an illegal serve. If the ball is hanging on the serving area in a vertical position it is still considered as an illegal serve.
2020 – 21 Volleyball Major Editorial Changes
- Language references are removed about size restrictions of mascots or school names place on uniform sleeves.
- An exceptional substitution can be made in case of an injured or unfit player.
NFHS Officials Signals Chart
According to the new rules, the signal 7 “Legal-Back-Row attack” is removed from the chart. In the NFHS Official Manual renumbering, the signal as an informal official’s signal is established.
Wrapping Up
Volleyball is an exceptional sport requiring tons of energy and enthusiasm. But like any other game, it requires rules and regulations. After understanding these rules, you are ready to play the volleyball game efficiently.
