Teams are reminded that extended huddles are not allowed prior to the
match or during the match. When the players are whistled onto the court
to begin the match they are to go DIRECTLY to their starting position. No
team huddles will be allowed. The R2 will check the line-up, authorize the
libero entrance into the set (if using one), roll the ball to the server and the match will begin.
This procedure will be followed between sets as well. If there is a delay the official’s should call
an administrative delay. The second offense in the same match will be an administrative red,
which results in a loss of rally/point.
It is very important that officials understand ball handling in volleyball.
A legal contact:
 Can be made with any part of the body
 Must be hit cleanly
 Must not be caught or thrown, cannot visibly come to rest or involve
prolonged contact
Multiple contacts are permissible:
 When the first ball over the net rebounds from one part of the players body to one or
more other parts in one attempt to block
 By a player making a team’s first contact, as long as the successive contacts results from
one attempt to play the ball
Multiple contacts are not permissible by a player:
 On a team’s second contact or
 On a team’s third contact or
 When a player makes two attempts on the ball
 Officials, please review the information in the NFHS Officials Manual, pages 96-103.
Officials, it is important that you are consistent with your officiating all-season long. Don’t wait
until post-season to sharpen your skills and be on your “A Game”. Your attire, posture,
communication, game management, and expectations are important all season long.
Officials need to be certain they are using the proper NFHS mechanic. Don’t get lazy, don’t be
sloppy. Officials need to use the correct signal, which is delivered in a sharp, crisp style by NFHS
rules.
Remember that when making a call, they should be done in the following order:
 Whistle;
 Signal the result of the play,
 Followed by the signal for the violation.
DO NOT RUSH THIS. Make them 3 separate things –hold the signal long enough for people to
see it. Remember: the signals are the main source of communication with coaches, players and
spectators. They must be done as indicated above.
1. Which of the following may be worn by players on the court?
a. Bobby pins or barrettes
b. Tongue jewelry
c. Earrings covered with tape
d. String bracelets
2. Team R was assessed a delay warning in the first set. During the third set, the head
coach requests to withdraw a substitution after it was recognized.
a. Delay warning
b. Delay penalty
c. Time-out
d. No penalty
3. A ball in the plane of the net is contacted simultaneously by left front on team A and
right front on team B. The ball then falls out of bounds on team A’s side. Which team
wins the rally?
a. Team A
b. Team B
c. Replay
4. At the end of a rally, A10 replaces the libero on the court. The libero tracker
immediately notifies the second referee that A7 should have returned to the court to
replace the libero instead of A10. What is the correct action for the R2 in that situation?
a. Immediately notify the team of the illegal replacement. If A7 quickly enters the
court to replace A10, no additional penalty is necessary.
b. Immediately notify the team of the illegal replacement. Require A7 to enter the
court and A10 to return to the bench, and then assess an unnecessary delay to
the team.
5. In which of the following cases is it illegal to reach beyond the net to block a ball?
a. The ball is falling near the net and no member of the attacking team can make a
legal play on the ball.
b. The block contact occurs simultaneously on the second contact of the attacking
team.
c. The opponents have completed their three team hits.
I recently sent you an email about a new online course - Officiating Volleyball: Ball Handling”
which is now available on www.nfhslearn.com. If you have not yet signed up to view this
course, you need to do so. One of the best demonstrations of legal and illegal contacts of all
facets of the players, from sets, to power hits and attacks, to digs,to how to train your eye as
an official to better prepare for the contact that I have seen.
“Officiating Volleyball: Ball Handling” gives an overview of tips and techniques that officials
need to make correct ball handling calls. Video examples of various contacts by each position
are provided to assist officials in visually identifying ball handling faults and legal player action.
This course teaches and shows the difference between legal and illegal contacts, helping
officials be more consistent in their ball handling calls. Units covered include Introduction to
Ball Handling; Rules Governing Ball Handling; Techniques to Train the Eye; Variables and
External Stimuli; and Overview of Each Skill. Short comprehension quizzes and “you make the
call’ scenarios are scattered throughout the course. The course will cost $10 for NFHS Officials
Association members. It is the best $10 you can spend to improve your officiating.
I continue to get questions about the legality of uniforms. A volleyball team should have two
uniform tops if using a libero player. If the team is using a libero player ONE of the uniform
tops has to be compliant with the solid-colored jersey rule that we have been talking about for
the past 5 years. If the team is NOT using a libero, the solid colored jersey rule DOES NOT
apply.
Page 18 in the rule book states this for the solid colored uniform: Piping/trim not exceeding 1
inch in total at its widest point may be placed along the seams and may be a different color(s)
than the uniform top. Also, lettering and collars may be different color(s) than the uniform top.
This would apply to sleeves as well. There may be multiple colors on the sleeves as long as
those colors are along a seam and no wider than 1 inch (sublimated or otherwise).
Here are a couple of examples of uniforms. Let’s assume that this jersey will be used as the
SOLID COLORED JERSEY. Are they legal or not?
Legal-trim is on
seam and no
wider than an
inch.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A.
A.
A.
B.
B.
Legal- trim on
sleeve is not
wider than an
inch
Rule 4-5
Rule 9-9-1 Pen. 1
Rule 9-4-6d
Rule 10-4 Pen. 1
Rule 9-6-4
Illegal-trim is wider than
an inch on the sleeves
and not on a seam.
Legal-this is an example
of sublimation between
two seams and multiple
colors on seam and legal.
Illegal- for so many
reasons  