1996-1997 Significant Rules Changes
Rule 1. Playing Area
1.3.4.1 - For nationally sanctioned USA Volleyball competition,
the extensions of the attack lines outside the court shall be marked with
five 6" lines spaced 8" apart to a total length of 70". (These markings are optional for all other events.)
This gives the referees a line of reference with which to judge the
take-off point for back-row attackers approaching outside
the court.
1.4.2 - Service Zone: The service zone is extended to include the
full width of the 9 meter area behind the end lines. This
allows the server the opportunity to serve anywhere from
behind the end line. This also results in more situations
where a screen might need to be called as the server is not restricted and
can move. The playing area of the ball on adjacent
courts will not be interpreted strictly by the sideline extended concept.
Rule 3. Ball
3.1 - The inside pressure of the ball is reduced from 4.5 to
6.0 lp/sq in to 4.3 to 4.6 lb/sq in. The reduced pressure is
another attempt at allowing the defense to keep the ball in
play by reducing the rebound of the ball on reception.
Rule 5. Player's Equipment
5.3.1 - Jewelry prohibited; other equipment subject to judgement.
This section was reworded to remove the ambiguity of the
wearing of jewelry. The wearing of a cast or protective brace
on the lower extremity is permissible provided there are no
expose metal or other hard or abrasive parts. Prosthetic
limbs may be worn and it is suggested that a medical
statement be obtained stating that the limb is no more
dangerous to the player or other participants that a
corresponding natural limb.
Rule 8. Preparation for the Match
8.1.2 - In a deciding game, the first referee may designate the
second referee to make the coin toss. This permits a better
flow of the game if the first referee does not want to leave
the stand and wants the players to have the toss at the benches.
Rule 11. Substitution of Players
11.3 - Time allows to determine if an injured player can continue in
game extended from 15 to 30 seconds. This
additional times allows for a better assessment of the player's injuries.
Rule 12. Playing Actions
12.4.2 - Limiting heights for a ball striking objects above the
playing area removed. This rule was changed to better
conform to actual playing situations. Many gymnasiums ceilings
are less than 23 feet above the playing area, and it became
difficult to determine height. By eliminating the restriction,
the only judgments now are the ball touching and crossing
into the opponent's playing space and the shorter obstacles.
Rule 14. Playing the Ball
14.4.1 - The ball may touch any part of the body. Limitation of
knee and above removed making play of the ball from the
knee and below legal. This allows any action with the foot,
ankle and lower leg that would be allowed with the hands or
arms. This rule is not be construed that the action must
be passive.
14.4.3.2 - This Rule now allows multiple contacts on the first
contact if these are made duing one attempt to play the
ball. This change removes "finger action" from the rule. The
first contact is illegal only if the ball is "caught and thrown."
Rule 16. Player at the Net
16.2.1 - "Inside the antennas" added to clarify rule regarding
blocker reaching beyond the plane of the net. This was a
wording change to better describe that a blocker may contact
the ball beyond the net provided that the blocker does not
interfere with the opponent's play before or during the attack-hit.
16.2.3 - This Rule now allows a player to contact the ball over
opponent's count in order to return it the player's own
playing space. This allows a player to "bring a ball back" so
that a better play may be made on the ball. This does not
change the rule that the initiation on an attack-hit must be
accomplished completely on the player's side of the net.
The signal if a fault is detected, is "illegal attack over the
net."
16.3.2.1 - Players are now permitted to penetrate the opponent's
court beyond the center line with the hand as well as the
foot provided some part of the penetrating hand or foot remains either
in contact with or directly above the center line.
16.4.1 - Rule changed to allow insignificant contact with the net
by a player not involved in the action of playing the ball.
This Rule allows a player to brush the net after completing
his/her attempt to play the ball. This is judged by the
contact of the feet with the playing court and then an
accidental or inconsequential touching of the net or
antenna. Touching the cables, posts and referee stand are
not faults. A player making a fake attempt at an attack or
block attempt on a faked attack is considered to be in the
action of playing the ball.
Rule 18. Attack-Hit
18.1 Commentary - Definition of attack-hit excludes first or
second team contact that is directed toward a teammate and
is legally blocked as long as the ball does not completely
pass the plane of the net untouched. This allows for the
following example to not be a fault: A back-row setter
contacts the ball above the height of the net and in the front
zone to set an approaching player, but the "set" ball goes
too close to the net and is legally blocked. If this same "set"
ball goes completely past the plane of the net, this is an
illegal back-row attack.
Rule 19. Block
19.3 - Any third team hit by the opponents may be blocked at
any time after the contact. This clarifies the Rule regarding
blocking over the opponent's court. Any third contact by a
team is by definition an attack and accordingly may be legally blocked over the attacker's court.
19.4.2 - Contact with the ball during a block may be with any part
of the body. This follows Rule 14.4.1 that allows contact
with any part of the body.
19.5 Commentary - A blocking fault and an attack-hit fault
committed simultaneously will result in a double fault.
Rule 20. Regular Game Interruptions
20.7 - Any improper request that affects or delays a game will be
sanctioned as a team delay. Example: If a coach requests a
third time out, it would be an improper request, but if the
coach actually commences the time out, the sanction would
be a team delay warning.
Rule 24. Misconduct
24.2.4 - "Spectator area" added to the list of venues that must be
vacated by a disqualified player.
Rule 27. Second Referee
27.2.7 - The second referee is responsible for reporting third
entry of a player to the first referee and the coach/captain
of the player's team. This is to remove any confusion about
improper requests and delays on substitutions.
Rule 29. Line Judges
29.2.1.4 - Duties include reporting foot faults of the server (Rule
17.5.1). Clarification of an implied duty that was not written
into the Rules prior to this year.