2014 Volleyball Rules Changes Announced by NFHS

The NFHS Volleyball Rules Committee approved four rules changes during its January 6-8 meeting in Indianapolis. The recommended rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

With a mind toward school spirit, the committee approved the addition of a school name or mascot reference to be placed on the sleeve(s) of solid-colored jerseys, providing it appears in either 4-by-4 inch or 3-by-5 inch space. The solid-colored jersey, as specified in Rule 4-2-2 Note, is required in 2016 but is currently permitted.

“Schools are wanting to put a mascot or [the high school’s abbreviation] on the sleeves of the solid-colored jerseys,” said Becky Oakes, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Volleyball Rules Committee. “The committee thought ‘how do we allow them to promote school spirit and team unity, but yet preserve the integrity of the solid color and not make a change that becomes more restrictive?’ Now, [it is allowable] to have a 4x4 or 3x5 [logo] on the sleeve.”

Another rule change approved by the committee was clarifying the responsibility of the second referee to whistle and signal out of bounds for an antenna fault on his or her side of the net.

“This change provides clarification that if the ball is going out of bounds over the antenna on the side of the second referee, he or she is in a better position to look up and make that call better than the first referee,” Oakes said. “Now, by rule, the second referee can and should make that call.”

The other changes include a whistle by the second referee to end a time-out if the audio signal has not sounded and both teams are ready to play prior to the end of the 60-second time-out, and allowing the line judge – if requested by the first referee – to be positioned to the side and in line with the extension of the end line for servers on the left side of the court. This positioning allows the line judge a clear view of any line violations for which he or she is responsible before moving back into position following the contact of the ball for serve.

A complete listing of all rules changes is available on the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Athletic Activities” in the sidebar menu on the home page, and select “Volleyball.”

According to the 2012-13 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, volleyball is the third-most popular girls program with 470,561 boys and girls participants nationwide.

About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS): The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 16 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,000 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.7 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org.