TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Purpose
The foremost intention of this document is to provide a clear statement of DPL Volleyball rules that will assist players and coaches in obtaining the greatest amount of enjoyment from playing volleyball with the least amount of dispute over controversial situations that inevitably arise. A secondary objective is to ensure that games and tournaments conform to generally accepted practices of volleyball associations at large so that DPL can maintain a reputation for excellence in the sport.
2. Overview
This manual has three major sections:
1. Summary of Common Rules
2. DPL Adaptations of NFHS Rules
3. Appendix contains regular and post season schedules
Section 3 attempts to identify the most common rules that volleyball players need to know when playing in the Dallas Parochial League. Most players do not need to purchase and study the books of technically precise rules of the official governing bodies of volleyball to fully participate in the sport. By familiarizing themselves with this section, players and parents will be able to understand what is expected both on and off of the court. Coaches and officials will be responsible for identifying and explaining to players situations where more technical rules apply.
DPL uses regulations published by two governing bodies (UIL and NFHS) as the basis for our league’s volleyball rules. Section 4 identifies specific NFHS rules that DPL Volleyball has adapted for our league. All DPL rules supersede UIL and NFHS rules in areas where they do not match.
UIL – The University Interscholastic League (UIL) publishes a Volleyball Manual every two years “to acquaint coaches and administrators with policies, rules, procedures and forms necessary for proper enforcement of regulations for volleyball”. In other words, how to set up and operate volleyball games and tournaments that will comply NFHS volleyball rules and school administrative mandates. A copy of the UIL Volleyball manual is available on-line from The University of Texas at
www.utexas.edu/admin/uil/ath/manuals/volley/manual.html.
The UIL rules are a very comprehensive set of regulations that cover Texas public school volleyball programs. They establish a level playing field with distinct boundaries that apply to schools of all sizes. Every person involved in administering DPL volleyball should be aware UIL rules so that our program meets or exceeds the standard for excellence and fair play that UIL participating schools maintain. However, because UIL rules target public schools, not all of their guidelines are applicable to schools in the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. For example, eligibility, season start/end dates, holidays, usage of gym facilities and whether coaches must be full-time paid employees of the school district are areas reserved for the Diocese school administration.
NFHS – The National Federal of State High School Associations (NFHS) publishes annual updates to its Volleyball Rules Book. This rule book is “intended to promote and preserve the sound traditions of the sport and the safety of participants.” It covers such things as rules of the game, penalties for rule infractions, roles of officials, how officials are to make decisions, and how participants are to communicate with each other.
Coaches, especially varsity coaches, should have a current copy of the NFHS Volleyball Rule and be familiar with its contents. Coaches should teach these rules (as they are used by DPL) to players just as they teach fundamental volleyball skills.
NFHS Volleyball Rules Book can be ordered by phone, fax or mail at:
National Federation of State High School Associations
5804 Churchman By-Pass
Indianapolis, IN 46203-6109
1-800-776-3462 phone
1-317-781-4608 fax
The
cost is for $6.50 plus shipping and handling.
More information is available at their website:
http://www.nfhs.org/rules-volleyball.htm.
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3. Summary of Most Common Rules and Regulations
3.1. Eligibility
Enrolled as a full-time student at a Diocesan school.
If volleyball is not offered at a student’s home school, the student may play for another school. To play for another school, a student must obtain clearance from the Diocesan Athletic Director, and principals of both schools concerned.
| 5th |
a) Grade 5 only |
| 6th D1 & 6th D2 |
b) Grades 5th & 6th only |
| 7th D1 & 7th D2 |
c) Grades 5th, 6th & 7th only |
| Varsity D1, VD2 & VD3 |
d) Grades 5th – 8th |
| Coed/Boys |
e) Grades 5th – 8th |
3.2. Responsibilities of Coaches and Officials
3.2.1. Home team coach
a) Provide a Wilson (5th & 6th grade divisions) or Tachikara (for all other divisions) game ball that is officially licensed by NFHS.
b) Submit a line-up card to the official scorekeeper at least 15
minutes prior to start time of a match.
c) Provide a competent line judge who is at least 16 years old to the
referee at least 5 minutes before start time.
d) Immediately prior to the start of every match, lead your team in
prayer at the net with the visiting team.
3.2.2. Visiting team coach
a) Submit a line-up card to the official scorekeeper at least 15 minutes
prior to start time of a match.
b) Provide a competent line judge who is at least 16 years old to the
referee at least 5 minutes before start time.
c) Lead your team in prayer at the net with the home team.
3.2.3. Referee
a) Head official who has general supervision of other officials.
b) Calls coaches and captains for a pre-match conference.
c) Directs players to their respective end-lines to begin and end a game.
d) Blows the whistle for each serve and dead ball.
e) Gives signals for each point/side-out.
f) Grants time-outs, substitutions and requests for serving order.
g) Determines when a rule infraction has occurred and what, if
any penalty applies.
h) Makes decisions on game matters that are not specifically covered
by the rules.
3.2.4. Line Judges
a) Introduce yourself to the referee at least 15 minutes prior to the
match start time.
b) Stand near the intersection of the side-line and end-line at the
corner designated by the referee.
c) Assist the referee by determining whether:
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the server touches or crosses the serving line before making contact with the ball
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the ball crosses the net entirely between the antennas
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the ball is inbounds or out of bounds when it lands near your corner
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a player touches the ball before it goes out of bounds
3.2.5. Scorer/Timer
a) Introduce yourself to the referee at least 15 minutes prior to the
match start time.
b) Record points, side-outs, substitutions, time-outs, penalties and
other events, as directed by the referee.
c) Verify the proper serving order is maintained and notify the referee
when a server is out of order.
d) Notify the referee when an illegal time-out or substitution is
requested.
e) Keep the timer informed of the official score and time-outs.
f) Administer the game clock and scoreboard.
3.2.6. Team Captain
a) The captain is the only player who may communicate with the
referee.
b) During a dead ball, the captain may request:
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A time-out
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Verification of time-outs used
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Verification of serving order
(for her own team or the opponent's team)
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A repeat of a call if the signal is missed or unclear
3.3. Uniforms
a) a) All players on a team must have the same color jerseys with numbers that are at least four inches tall printed on the front and back. The libero position is to have a sharply contracting color jersey from her teammates. Libero allowed only on 8D1 teams.
b) Kneepads are mandatory.
c) Players are prohibited from wearing the following during matches:
3.4. Rosters and Line-up Cards
a) A team roster must list the names of all eligible team players, their numbers and grades. It must also be signed by the school’s Athletic Director. The roster submitted at the beginning of each match may be either an original or an unaltered photocopy of the original. The penalty for not submitting a roster within 15 minutes of the beginning of a match is a point/side-out being awarded to the opposing team.
b) A line-up may not be changed once it has been entered in the scorebook.
c) The minimum number of players on a team required to start a match is five; however, after a match has started there is no minimum number to continue play.
d) Different line-up cards may be submitted for each game in a match.
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5th
& 6th Grade Leagues |
b) Line-up card lists both players on the court and on the bench in the order they will
serve.
c) After a game has begun, a line-up card may
not change unless a player is permanently withdrawn from the game.
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e) Co-ed Division: There must be a 3/3 gender split on the court at all times. If only 2 athletes of one gender are present, i.e. 4 boys and 2 girls, then the team will play short a player.
3.5. Player Positions
a) There are six positions on the court:
b) Right side players must be closer to the right sideline of the court than the other players.
c) Left side players must be closer to the left sideline of the court than the other players.
d) Front row player must be closer to the net than the corresponding back row player behind her.
LIBERO
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The Libero is a back-row
player who is a passing and defensive specialist.
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The Libero player may
only be used in DPL Varsity D1 matches.
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Teams must provide their
own scorekeeper for tracking the Libero position when used.
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In order to be used, the
libero must be designated on the lineup sheet. If a libero is not
designated on the lineup sheet, the team may not use a libero in
that game.
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The use of the Libero is
strictly optional for coaches on a game to game basis, however; once
a player is used as a Libero in the game, he/she must be the team’s
Libero for the remainder of the game.
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The libero is restricted
to perform as a back-row player. He/she cannot serve, block, attack
from anywhere if, at the moment of contact, the ball is entirely
above the net.
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The libero must wear a
specific uniform with a legal number. The uniform must be different
from that of the rest of the team.
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The libero may replace
any player in a back-row position. The replacement is not counted as
a substitution. The libero can only be replaced by the player whom
he/she replaced.
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The designated Libero
player may not be substituted for by another Libero.
3.6. Start of Match
a) A match may not start earlier than the scheduled start time
without the consent of both teams' coaches and the referee.
b) The referee may call an unnecessary delay of game penalty, when
the scheduled start time has arrived and one or both teams are
not prepared to play due to reasonably avoidable circumstances.
c) After the prayer, the referee shall blow the whistle and direct
starting players to their respective end lines; then again direct
them onto the court to begin play.
3.7. Scoring the Match
a) Rally Scoring will be used for all levels of play, meaning that there will be a point
won on each serve. You do not have to be serving to score.
b) The first team to 25 points, with at least a two point lead, wins.
c) When the referee blows the whistle signaling end of the match,
players and coaches are to:
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go to their respective end lines
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proceed in single file along the side court and net
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demonstrate good sportsmanship toward their opposing team
d) All matches will consist of the best 2 of 3 games.
e) Should a third game be necessary, it will be played to 15 points.
3.8. Time outs
a) Each team is allowed two 45 second time outs per game.
b) Only a coach or team captain may notify the referee of a time out request.
3.9. Serving
a) A serve is in play as soon as the server strikes the ball with her
hand.
b) b) A re-serve is called when the server drops the ball, tosses the ball in the air and catches it, or tosses it in the air and allows it to drop to the floor
c) A re-serve is part of a single attempt to serve.
d) A server may not step on or over the service line until the ball is in
play.
e) A serve that contacts the net, yet still crosses over to the opponents side, will be considered
a live ball.
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5th,
6th Grade and Varsity D3 Leagues |
d)
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The serving line is 5 feet inside the court from the official service line. This serving line must be clearly marked on the floor from sideline to sideline.
The 5th and 6th grade divisions serve from 5 ft in. Any 5th
and 6th graders on D3 teams (or B/C teams) can also move up to serve. |
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f)
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f) A server may score a maximum of 5 consecutive points. When the fifth point is scored, there is an automatic side-out. |
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Varsity D1, D2 |
b)
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Service
is from behind the official service line.
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Boys Co-Ed |
c)
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c) There is no limit to the number of consecutive points that may be scored. |
3.10. Rotation and Substitutions
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5th,
6th Grade and Varsity D3 Leagues |
a)
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All players on the line-up card continuously rotate in the order listed. The
Varsity D3 league does continuous rotation just like 5th and 6th grade divisions. |
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b)
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After every side-out, the serving team rotates out the previous server (position 1) and rotates in the next person from the bench into the middle back (position
6).
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c)
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No substitutions are allowed.
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d)
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A player who leaves a game due to illness or injury may not return to play during that game. The team may move the next girl in the rotation on to the court so as to have 6 players on the court, but must preserve the order of rotation…i.e. The inserted player does not necessarily take the injured players’ place, but rather; rotates into the middle back starting position with other players moving forward one position accordingly. |
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e)
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Once the ball is served, players may swap positions. All players must return to their serving order for every serve. |
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Varsity |
f)
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Substitution requests must be: |
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g)
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Procedure: player and substitute go to the area between the attack line and the net, face one another, and wait until the referee instructs them to exchange
places.
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h)
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Multiple players may be substituted at one time.
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i)
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The substitute must assume the same position and serving order of the player
replaced.
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j)
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j) Each team is permitted a maximum of eighteen (18) total substitutions per game. A substitution is defined as any entry of a player that has come from the bench into the game. When substituting multiple players at once, each player counts as a separate substitution toward the team total. |
3.11. Contacting the Ball
a) A legal hit is a touch of the ball by any part of a player’s body.
b) For a contact to be legal, it must be very brief and crisp. Any prolonged contact is illegal.
c) A team shall not have more than three hits, or two consecutive hits
by the same person, before the ball crosses the net with the following caveats:
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Simultaneous contact on the same team– When two players on the same team simultaneously contact the ball, the contact is counted as just one hit and any player, including the two who just touched it, may play the ball.
Simultaneous contact by players on opposing teams – When two players on opposing teams contact the ball above the net at the same time and the ball falls onto one side, the player on that side may make the next hit. Whether the player involved in the simultaneous hit or another player makes the next hit, it is counted as the first hit for the team.
Multiple contacts for one attempt – When a player receives a hard-driven ball from an attacker (either a block or saving a spike) and the ball rebounds from one part of a player’s body to ricochet off of another legal part of the player’s body, the ball is still in play and the attempt is counted as a single hit. This does not apply if the ball is not hard-driven and the player simply mishandles the ball.
Blocks – Blocks are not counted as hits. When a player blocks the ball, either she or any other player on her team may hit the ball next and that hit will be the first one for the team. |
d) A front row player may contact the ball anywhere on or off the court.
e) A back row player behind the attack line may contact the ball on or off of the court, above or below the top of the net.
f) A back row player who is on, or in front of, the attack line, may not attempt to block or attack the ball above the top of the net.
g) Blocking a served ball is prohibited.
3.12.
Inbounds, Out of Bounds and Crossing Lines
3.12.1. Inbounds
A ball is inbounds and live when:
a) any portion of the ball touches a side-line, end-line or inside the court.
b) the ball touches the ceiling or other obstruction directly above the hitting player's court and returns to be same side of the court.
c) the ball hits the net and goes over into the opponent's court,
3.12.2. Out of Bounds
A ball is dead when it:
a) fails to go over the net by the third hit.
b) touches any part of the antenna or pole.
c) touches the ceiling or other obstruction above the player's court and goes to the opponent's side of the court.
d) touches an obstruction (e.g. a basketball backboard) on the side or end of the court.
e) touches any non-player.
3.12.3. Crossing Line
g) All players, except for the server, must be fully within the boundaries of the court when the ball is served.
h) Once the ball is served, players may go outside of the court to play a ball.
i) A player may not enter the opponent team's court.
j) A player may touch or cross the center line with a hand
or foot provided the entire hand or foot does not cross
it completely. No other body part (e.g. the head
or elbow) may cross the center line.
3.13. Decisions of Officials
a) Decisions by officials are final and not open to question by teams or spectators.
b) b) A coach may request a time-out to review with the referee a call by an official to ensure that the call is understood and communicated properly. Coaches shall not attempt to dissuade an official from a call. After reviewing a call with a coach, if a referee changes his call, the time-out shall be counted as an official time-out rather than a team time-out.
3.14. Conduct
a) Players and coaches shall remain seated on the bench during game
play.
b) Head coaches will be allowed to stand during matches but must remain between the 10 ft line and the end of the court.
c) Players and coaches may cheer for all players.
d) Players and coaches may not show disrespect for any player, coach, official or spectator.
This includes:
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Use of disconcerting acts or words when an opponent is playing the ball.
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Showing disgust for an official's decision.
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Use of any language, sign or contact that unnecessarily incites turmoil.
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Spectators are encouraged to be examples of good sportsmanship for our children.
e) Referees and coaches share responsibility for resolving situations where a spectator disrupts play.
f) Warnings, penalties and disqualifications are administered using yellow and red cards by the referee for misconduct of players and coaches.
- Warning - a yellow card is administered for a first minor offense. No penalty is assessed.
- Penalty - a red card is administered for a second minor offense by the same person or a single serious
offense. A point/side-out is awarded to the opponent.
- Disqualification - yellow and red cards are administered simultaneously for a third minor offense or a single flagrant offense. The offender is prohibited from further participation in the match. A point/side-out is awarded to the opponent
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4. DPL Adaptations of
NFHS Rules
DPL teams and officials shall follow NFHS rules, as adapted by the changes listed in this chapter, when playing regular season and playoff games.
Wherever the NFHS Rule Book refers to:
a) "The state association", it should be read as "Diocesan Athletic Director" or the Dallas Dioceses, as applicable.
b) Activities involving team rosters, line-ups, scoresheets, and officials reporting for duty that are to occur either 10 or 20 minute intervals prior to game start time, the activities are to take happen at least 15 minutes prior to start time.
c) Yellow and red cards, they apply only to Varsity team games.
4.1. Rule 1. The Game
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Addition |
Section 4 Prematch Conference and Coin Toss |
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Immediately before starting a new match both teams assemble at the net and coaches lead their teams in a prayer together.
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Replace ART 2. b. with the following |
Section 6 Suspension/Forfeiture of Game |
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A team has fewer than five players to start the match. |
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Change ART.1 to reflect |
Section 7 Match |
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Junior Varsity
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The third game of a match may be played provided that both teams' coaches agree and the game will not cause subsequent game start times to be delayed.
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Varsity
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The third game is played only if necessary to determine the match winner.
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4.2. Rule 2. The Court
No adaptations.
4.3. Rule 3. Game Equipment
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Replace Penalty 1 with the following: Penalties for Illegal Game Equipment |
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When the host school does not pad all of the standards, floor/walls, cables and referee’s platform according to Rule 3-1-3, the match may be played only if the referee determines that the lack of padding does not create an unreasonable safety hazard. Further, the referee shall notify the Diocesan League Director that padding for the school’s does not meet NFHS regulations. |
4.4. Rule 4. Player Equipment and Uniform
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Replace ART. 6 with the following: |
Section 1 Equipment |
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No jewelry (including stud earrings and watches) may be worn during matches.
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Change Penalties 1 and 2 to reflect the following: |
Penalty for Illegal Equipment |
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When a player wearing illegal equipment attempts to enter the game, or is discovered during a game, the referee shall call an official time out and instruct coaches for both teams to have players remove all illegal equipment. This instruction constitutes a warning for both teams.
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Change Penalty 3 to reflect the following: |
Penalty for Illegal Equipment |
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For subsequent violations by either team during the match, a point or side-out shall be awarded the opposing team.
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Replace ART. 1 with the following: |
Section 2 Legal Uniform |
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All players on a team must have the same color uniforms.
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4.5. Rule 5. Officials: Responsibilities and Positions
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Addition to ART. 1
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Section 1 Authorized Officials
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If an umpire is not available, the referee shall assume his duties and the games shall proceed. |
4.6. Rule 6. The Team: Composition and Positions
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Replace ART. 1 with the following: |
Section 1 Team Players |
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A team shall consist either five or six players to begin a match. If a team has fewer than five player, a forfeit shall be declared.
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Replace ART. 2 with the following: |
Section 1 Authorized Officials |
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If a team has fewer than five players due to illness, injury or disqualification after the start of a match, the team shall be allowed to continue play.
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4.7. Rule 7. Roster and Lineup
Only line-up cards are mandatory for submission prior to games. However, the team roster must be produced if requested
4.8. Rule 8. The Serve
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Addition to ART. 8 |
Section 2 General |
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Junior Varsity
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a)
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The serving line is 5 feet inside the court from the official service line. This JV serving line must be clearly marked on the floor from sideline to
sideline.
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b)
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A server may score a maximum of 5 consecutive points. When the fifth point is scored, there is an automatic side-out.
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4.9. Rule 9. During Play No adaptations.
4.10. Rule 10. Substitutes and Substitution No adaptations.
4.11. Rule 11. Time-outs and Intermission
Replace to reflect the following: Sections 1 through 5. Time-outs are 60 seconds
4.12. Rule 12. Conduct No adaptations.
4.13. Card System for Handling Unsportsmanlike Conduct Violations No adaptations.
Originated: August 2000
Revised: June 2011 |
