After Team A's first or second team contact, the ball travels toward the middle of the net. A player from Team B places his hands near the net (on his side of the net) in the path of the ball. The ball contacts the net, which causes the net to contact the stationary hand(s) of the Team B player. This action deflects the ball and affects the natural rebound of the ball from the net.

Ruling: Since the player on Team B moved to place their hands in the path of the ball, the net touch in this action meets the USAV/FIVB interpretation of "interferes with play" in Rule 11.3.1, and should be called a net fault by the Team B player.

Is a player permitted to have one uniform number as a “regular” player and then have a different number when she is the designated Libero provided neither number is a duplicate of a teammate’s number?

Ruling: Each player must have a single unique number recorded on the team’s roster. If a player will be participating as a “regular” player and as the Libero during the same match, the player’s uniform number must be the same on each jersey.

Based upon USAV 8.4.2f, if the ball hits an official (referee or line judge), should the rally be replayed, or is the ball ruled “out?”

Ruling: When the ball simply hits an official, it is ruled as “out.” If a player makes contact, or there is anticipation of contact, with an official in the playing area, and the contact or anticipation of contact prevents the player from making a play on the ball, the rally may be replayed at the first referee’s discretion.

The head coach is standing near the warm-up area at the end of the team bench in the vicinity of the end line extension. From this location, the coach requests a substitution. Should the referees accept this request from the coach?

Ruling: If the referees see this request, it should be accepted. The coach should be reminded that there is less chance that the referees will miss the request if the coach is closer to the substitution zone.

A player is wearing a hard plaster cast on her hand/wrist/forearm. The cast is padded with shock-absorbing foam. Is it legal for the player to participate while wearing this cast?

Ruling: While USAV 4.5.1 may seem to offer this option, by interpretation, a hard plaster or fiberglass cast may not be worn on the hand/wrist/forearm, no matter how it is padded.

Team A has used all twelve of its team substitutions. During a dead ball, the second referee recognizes that a substitute is running toward the substitution zone to enter the set. Should the second referee allow the substitute to enter the substitution zone, or should the second referee attempt to prevent the player from entering the sub zone to avoid an improper request or delay situation?

Ruling: Good referees understand their role in the flow of the match. Their job is to prevent teams from enacting procedural errors whenever possible instead of trying to “catch” a team making a mistake. Good referees facilitate play, providing the players a safe, fair environment. In this spirit, preventing the player from entering the substitution zone, without interrupting the flow of the match, is a correct action by the referee. Again, the flow of the match should not be affected, and even if the player misses the referee’s preventive effort, the result might only be an Improper Request.