The playable surface consists of the court & at least 2 meters surrounding it, which must be flat & smooth. Additional playing area can have a lower surface by up to ½” as long as both surfaces are safe. A player must be touching the playable surface to legally play a ball over a non-playable area.

Entire playing surface must be flat, horizontal, and uniform (e.g. playing surface ends at the edge of a portable court). The ball may be retrieved from beyond the free zone when the secondary surface is lower by ½” or less and the entire area surrounding the court is free of obstructions.

May have any or all of the following characteristics:

A solid (uninterrupted) line.

A solid interrupted line: 4-inch line, 2-inch break, 4-inch line, 2-inch break, etc.

Must be a solid line.

Required.

Required for nationally sanctioned competitions; optional for all other competitions.

Equipment and personnel cannot be in front of benches or in between attack lines extended on bench side. In other areas, must be within 1 meter of the barrier limiting the playable area.

Not specifically addressed, but 2 meters of free space surrounding the court are required.

12.5 meters (41 ft.) is recommended. For new facilities put into use after 2006, 7.62 meters (25 ft.) is required.

For nationally sanctioned competition, 7.01 meters (23 ft.) is required, and is recommended for all other competitions.

Required to have 2 meters of depth beyond the end line, with no allowance for extending this area onto the court.

If 2 meters of depth is not possible beyond the end line, a line will be placed within the court boundaries to indicate the minimum 2 meters required by rule.

Warm-up area begins at the end line or the end of the team bench, whichever is nearer to the scorekeeper’s table. May extend to within 1.75 meters of the sideline or service zone, as long as substitutes’ position does not interfere with the officials’ duties.

Warm-up area starts at the end of the team bench or bench area, and may be no nearer the court than the front of the team bench. Substitutes must not interfere with officials’ duties.

Not used.

Recommended - 1 x 1 meter area 1.5 meters behind each team's bench with 2 chairs.

No minimum or maximum temperature designated.

Minimum temperature of 10 degrees Centigrade (50 degrees F).

Specifications per Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.

300 lux (27.9 foot candles) required.

Must be covered.

Must be clearly identified.

May be 2” to 3 ¹/₈“

May be 2” to 2 ¾”

Allowed on top of the net only, if secured in a way that net height and play are not affected and not greater than 3 ³/₈” wide.

Not specifically addressed by rule, but sleeves are typically permitted if net height and net integrity are not affected.

Advertising is allowed on top tape, bottom tape, and/or tape outside the antennas.

Not specifically addressed by rule.

Recommended distance from sideline is 1 meter (39”). For facilities constructed after 2008, 1 meter is required.

Distance from sideline is .5 to 1 meter (20”-39”).

Surface must be a uniform, light color or a combination of colors with at least one-third of surface white or light

Surface must be uniform, light color or combination of colors.

Not utilized. Designated coaches must be listed on first set line-up sheets.

All team members including managers, trainers, etc. are listed on roster.

One player must be designated as captain on the lineup sheet for each set, and is captain anytime that player is on the court.

One team member (not the Libero) must be designated as team captain on the roster, and is captain anytime he/she is on the court. If the team captain is not on the starting line-up, another player must be designated as the game captain any time the team captain is not on the court.

No limit to the number of players on a team, or the number of coaches/staff.

Limited to 15 players and 5 coaches/staff.

Coaches Non-playing team members will be required to stay at least 1.75 meters from the court, and completely outside the substitution zone.

The coach will be required to stay at least 1.75 meters from the court, and completely outside the substitution zone. One assistant coach may stand to instruct players on the court, with same location restrictions.

No restriction regarding coach’s location while on the bench.

Only one coach at any time may address the referees to clarify non-judgment ruling or confirm TO/sub information. Coaches may not enter the substitution zone to discuss a judgment decision.

Coach(es) must not remain in substitution zone during play.

If seated, the coach is required to sit on bench nearest the scorekeeper.

The coach may stand or walk within free zone in front of team bench without disrupting match.

One assistant coach may stand to instruct players on the court.

All coaches must be designated on the line-up sheet for set one. Any coach may call for interruptions and instruct players.

The coaches must be designated on the roster. Only the coach may request interruptions. Assistant coaches may not intervene in the match.

Warning – Yellow card held in one hand.

Penalty – Red card held in one hand.

Expulsion – Red & yellow cards held in one hand.

Disqualification – Red & yellow cards held in separate hands.

Warning – No card shown, verbal or hand communication only (not recorded on scoresheet).

Penalty – Yellow card.

Expulsion – Red card.

Disqualification – Red & yellow cards held in one hand.

Result in penalty point for the opponent, who then serves next.

Expelled players remain seated on bench for remainder of set. Expelled coaches leave the playing, bench, warm-up & spectator areas.

Disqualified team members must leave team, playing and spectator areas for the remainder of the current match & entire next match.

No penalty point assessed.

If a penalty area is available, expelled team members must remain seated there for remainder of set. If no penalty area is available, expelled players/substitutes remain seated on the bench for rest of set. Other expelled team members must leave playing, bench and warm-up areas.

Disqualified team members must leave playing, bench, warm-up & spectator areas for the remainder of the current match.

Team Delay Warning – yellow card held against opposite wrist.

Team Delay Penalty – red card held against opposite wrist.

Delay Warning – no card shown, one hand held against opposite wrist.

Delay Penalty – yellow card held against opposite wrist.

For the set.

For the match.

When a player on court receives sanction, the captain goes to the referee stand to acknowledge the sanction.

When a team member on bench is sanctioned, or a team delay sanction is assessed, the second referee immediately & clearly informs a coach.

When an improper request is assessed, the second referee informs a coach at the end of the rally.

A player on court who receives a sanction will come to the referee stand to acknowledge the sanction.

When a team member on bench is sanctioned, the game captain goes to the referee stand and the first referee explains the sanction. The captain communicates the information to that team member, who will acknowledge the sanction with a raised hand.

When a delay sanction is assessed, the captain goes to the referee stand and the first referee explains the sanction. The captain or second referee informs the coach if needed.

When an improper request is assessed, the second referee informs the head coach (or the first referee informs the captain) at the first opportunity without delaying the match.

Uniforms must have identical sleeve length (except libero).

Short sleeve and long sleeve jerseys are considered identical.

Numbers must be centered on the back. In the front, the number must be either centered or placed on one shoulder with the top of the number no more than 5” down from the shoulder seam.

Numbers must be centered on the front and back of the jersey.

The libero’s jersey must be different from any color that appears on more than 25% of the body of her teammates’ jerseys. Color combinations such as purple/black, dark green/black, navy/maroon, & white/ light yellow are not distinctive enough.

The libero’s shorts must be identical to teammates’.

Libero may wear a bib or vest to differentiate from teammates as long as the player’s number is visible.

The libero’s exposed undergarments may differ from teammates’.

The Libero’s jersey must contrast in color with that of the predominant colors of the other members of the team. Color combinations such as purple/black, dark green/black, navy/maroon, & white/light yellow are not distinctive enough.

The Libero’s shorts may differ from teammates’.

Only a re-designated Libero may wear a bib or vest, and that player’s number must be visible.

The Libero’s exposed undergarments may differ from teammates’.

Not allowed (exception – medical or religious identification may be removed from chain and taped or sewn under the uniform).

Not allowed (exceptions – medical or religious identification may be removed from chain and taped or sewn under the uniform; and for adult competition, a flat band ring may be worn on a finger).

First, ask player to remove jewelry (with no interruption to warm-up); if an interruption occurs, a delay sanction is issued.

Not addressed, but referees are responsible for safety of participants during warm-up period and should ask players to remove jewelry during warm-up period, with no sanction (per USAV Rules Interpreter).

Splints/braces/casts allowed on arms or hands if padded and no advantage is gained.

Splints/braces allowed on hands/arms if padded and no advantage is gained. Casts are not allowed regardless of padding.

If a player’s necessary equipment falls to the floor and creates a safety hazard, play is stopped and a replay results.

If a player’s equipment falls to the floor and creates a safety hazard, play is stopped and a delay sanction assessed.

A rally is considered to be either a service contact or a point resulting from a sanction.

A rally is the sequence of playing actions from the moment of the service hit by the server until the ball is out of play. A completed rally is the sequence of playing actions which results in a point.

If a team is not ready to play at the start of a set, a delay sanction is issued. Each additional 30 seconds of delay (for a maximum of five minutes), results in a delay penalty. After five minutes, the set is defaulted.

A team that, without justifiable reason, does not appear on the court on time defaults the match.

When the first referee signals change of sides to the teams (before a deciding set, when captains are released after coin toss).

When the first referee signals the final point of the set.

Warm-up protocols are defined by rule.

When both teams are on court, all warm-up activities must be on the team’s own playing area

When one team has exclusive use of the court, the opposing team must remain off of the playable surface.

Warm-up protocols are defined by rule for specific tournaments and divisions.

For junior competition, when one team has exclusive use of the court, the other team must either be at its team bench or out of the playing area. Warming up with balls at the team bench or in the spectator walkways is not permitted.

Neither shared hitting nor shared serving are allowed during the warm-up period.

Neither shared hitting nor shared serving are prohibited by rule in adult competition. In junior competition, neither shared hitting nor shared serving are allowed in the warm-up period.

Clock is started after the deciding coin toss is complete.

Clock is started when the first referee awards the final point of the set (as in all other sets).

Any team representative may attend pre-match meeting and coin toss.

Home team designates their playing area for first set one hour before the match.

Pre-match coin toss is for serve/receive only, and is called by the visiting team representative.

Deciding set coin toss is called by the home team playing captain, and is for serve/receive or playing area.

Team captains must attend the pre-match coin toss.

Both pre-match coin toss and deciding set coin toss are for serve/receive or choice of playing area. Team captains do not call the toss; each team is designated one side of the coin by the first referee.

Current game captain for each team attends deciding game coin toss.

Allowed off-court.

Not allowed.

Lineups for both teams are due at the end of all timed warm-up periods on the court. If used, libero number must be marked on lineup sheet for each set.

Line-ups for both teams are due two minutes before the end of the timed warm-up period. If used, Libero number must be marked on line-up sheet for each set.

Default is 60 seconds. By coaches’ agreement, the length of all timeouts in a non-broadcast match may be extended to the length of a media timeout (75-90 seconds). Warning whistle 15 seconds before end of timeout.

30 seconds. No warning whistle before the end of time-out.

YES.

NO.

Can be verbally requested by coach or captain, or a substitute entering the substitution zone constitutes a request.

Can only be requested by a substitute entering the substitution zone. Coach or captain may request in the case of an exceptional substitution.

Designated coach(es) or captain may make request.

Coach(es) must be in the bench or warm-up area to make request.

The coach or captain may make request for timeout or lineup check.

The coach must be in the bench area or warm-up area to make request.

No. All team members may go anywhere in the facility except in the opponent’s team area during the timeout.

No, although referees may direct teams to benches for administrative purposes. Coaches and non-playing team members may not enter the court.

Any designated coach, or playing captain.

The coach or playing captain, but only in the case of an exceptional substitution.

Player replaced by exceptional substitute may not return to that set

Player replaced by exceptional substitute may not return to the match.

A substitution request may be followed immediately by a timeout request. Any number of substitution requests may be made during a timeout. An additional request may be made at the end of the timeout.

Only one request for substitution can be made during each set interruption (dead ball), even if a time-out is granted.

Allowed.

Not allowed.

Libero may serve in one rotation in a set.

Libero may not serve.

A rally must take place between two libero replacements except in the case of injury/illness or when there is a forced rotation caused by penalty. Exception: when the next action the libero will take is to serve.

A rally must always take place between two Libero replacements, except in the case of injury/illness, or when there is a forced rotation caused by a penalty.

Can be corrected without fault by the team prior to the next service contact.

If officials get involved with correction, a team delay is charged.

If play begins (service contact) with incorrect replacement, a position fault occurs.

Can be corrected without fault by the team prior to the next service contact.

Officials do not correct errors, even if recognized prior to next service contact.

If play begins (service contact) with incorrect replacement, a position fault occurs.

When the libero is injured and another player is redesignated as libero, the injured libero cannot play in the remainder of that set.

When the Libero is injured and another player is redesignated as Libero, the injured Libero cannot play in the remainder of the match.

If a delay due to unusual circumstances results in a match being resumed (at any place/time), it will always be resumed at the point of delay.

Less than 4 hours, same court – resume at point of interruption.

Less than 4 hours, different court – replay set in progress at interruption.

More than 4 hours, replay match.

One toss for service after the service is authorized.

One toss for service after the service is authorized. Exceptions - 14 and Under divisions & regional development divisions – two tosses with 5 seconds allowed after each beckon. On the first toss, the ball must drop to the floor untouched.

A ball penetrating the vertical plane of the net above the net may be returned to a team’s playing area by a player on that team provided the ball has not completely crossed the vertical plane when the contact is made.

The player’s contact with the ball must be made within his/her own playing space. The point of contact with the ball, not necessarily the position of the ball, is the determining factor.

Assuming 2 meters of clearance outside net standard & referee stand: If, after first contact, the ball travels over or outside the antenna to the opponent’s free zone, a player may retrieve that ball by traveling outside the net pole. The return path of the ball must be over or outside the same antenna.

Assuming 2 meters of clearance outside the net standard, referee stand, or other court equipment: If the ball travels over or outside the antenna to the opponent’s free zone, a player may retrieve that ball as long as no center line fault occurs. The return path of the ball must be over or outside the same antenna.

Players may touch the opponent’s court with feet or hands, providing some part of extremity is on or above the center line. Players may also touch the opponent’s court with an entire foot or hand or any other body part(s), provided the encroachment does not present a safety hazard, does not interfere with the opponents, and some body part is on/above the center line.

Players may touch the opponent’s court with hand(s) or feet, provided some part of the hand(s)/ foot/feet remains either in contact with or directly above the center line, and the penetration does not interfere with the opponent’s play. Players may touch the opponent’s court with any body part above the feet provided the penetration does not interfere with the opponent’s play.

Contact with the net is not a fault unless it is made while playing the ball or it interferes with play.

The above rule applies to the entire length of the net. Players may, however, touch a post, rope or other object outside the length of the net.

Contact with the net is not a fault unless it interferes with play. Note: touching the net below the top band, even during the action of playing the ball, is not a fault, unless it interferes with play

Players may touch the post, ropes, or any other object outside the antennae, including the net itself, provided that it does not interfere with play.

All matches are best 3 out of 5 sets (exception - some high school and NJCAA play).

Matches may be the best 2 out of 3 sets, or 3 out of 5 sets.

Allowed (no timeout charged). Coach signs protest documentation.

No – captain must lodge protest and sign documentation. The coach may act as the captain for 14 and Under divisions.

First referee controls player conduct during the pre-match warm-ups. Second referee times the warm-ups.

Either referee should call net faults; first referee hesitates briefly to avoid double whistles on net faults.

Second referee calls (whistles) antenna faults on either antenna

Referees do not check scoresheet for accuracy after the match is completed.

First referee controls player conduct during the pre-match warm-ups. First referee also times the warm-ups.

First referee has primary responsibility for net faults on the upper part of the net, but can whistle any net fault. Second referee can whistle any net fault.

Second referee calls (whistles) antenna faults on his/her side of the court.

Referees review the scoresheet for accuracy at the end of the match, and the first referee signs the scoresheet.

No.

At the end of the match, each team’s coach will sign the scoresheet to verify the results. For adult competitions, the captain may sign the scoresheet in the absence of a coach.

If the fault is whistled by the first referee, the first referee indicates the nature of the fault, the player at fault if necessary, and then which team wins the rally by extending the arm in the direction of the team that will serve (palm perpendicular to floor). All signals are repeated by the second referee (except net serve and service beckon).

If the fault is whistled by the second referee, the second referee will signal the nature of the fault and the player at fault if necessary, which the first referee repeats. The first referee then indicates which team wins the rally by extending the arm in the direction of the team that will serve, and the second referee repeats that signal.

If the fault is whistled by the first referee, the first referee indicates which team wins the rally by extending the arm in the direction of the team that will serve (palm perpendicular to floor), then the nature of the fault and the player at fault if necessary. All signals are repeated by the second referee (except net serve and service beckon).

If the fault is whistled by the second referee, the second referee will indicate the nature of the fault and the player at fault if necessary. The first referee then indicates which team wins the rally by extending the arm in the direction of the team that will serve and the second referee repeats that signal. The first referee does not signal the fault or player at fault.

If the fault is whistled by the first referee, the first referee indicates the nature of the fault, the player at fault if necessary, and then which team scores and serves next by extending the arm in the direction of the team that will serve (palm perpendicular to floor). All signals are immediately repeated by the second referee (except net serve and service beckon).

If the fault is whistled by the second referee, the second referee will signal the nature of the fault and the player at fault if necessary, which the first referee repeats. The first referees then indicates which team scores and serves next, and the second referee repeats that signal.

If the fault is whistled by the first referee, the first referee indicates which team wins the rally by extending the arm in the direction of the team that will serve (palm perpendicular to floor), then the nature of the fault and the player at fault if necessary. All signals are repeated by the second referee (except net serve and service beckon).

If the fault is whistled by the second referee, the second referee will indicate the nature of the fault and the player at fault if necessary. The first referee then indicates which team scores and serves next and the second referee repeats that signal. The first referee does not signal the fault or player at fault.

When the second referee’s whistle ends a rally, s/he should step to the offending team’s side of the net, and signal the fault. If the first referee’s whistle ends the rally, step to either side of the net pole to immediately repeat the first referee’s fault signal.

When the second referee’s whistle ends a rally, s/he should step to the offending team’s side of the net and signal the fault. When the first referee’s whistle ends the rally, it is recommended (but not required) that the second referee steps to the offending team’s side of the net to repeat the signals of the first referee.

Place the arm on the offending team’s side to the side of the body at head height, elbow bent at a right angle, and then make a forward and downward motion with one arm from the shoulder with the forearm and hand. Indicate the player at fault if necessary by pointing with an open hand.

Completely extend the arm straight up, hand open, on the offending team’s side, and make a downward motion over the net, palm down. Indicate the player at fault if necessary by pointing with an open hand.

Raise both hands to the side at head height, elbows bent at right angles, palms facing away from body.

Completely extend both arms straight up from the shoulders (elbows are not bent), palms facing away from the body.

Traditionally indicated by extending one hand/arm toward first referee and making eye contact.

Traditionally indicated by holding both hands in front of body at head height, palms toward first referee, making eye contact with the first referee.

Signal “four hits”.

Signal “double contact”.

Referee calling the net fault indicates the number of the player(s) at fault to other referee; the other referee repeats the number.

Indicate the player at fault by pointing with an open hand.

Teams not required to leave court; timeout may be held anywhere in the facility except the opponent’s team area.

Second referee whistles 15 seconds prior to the end of the timeout if teams have not re-taken court.

Teams may re-take court at any time; timeout may end early if both teams are ready to play.

Teams are not required to leave the court and go to the bench area.

Second referee whistles at end of 30 seconds.

Teams may re-take court prior to expiration of time-out, unless necessary for court to remain clear; however, time-out will not end early.

Rosters not utilized, although referees still visually review team uniforms and player numbers for legality.

Rosters verified pre-match by scorekeeper, assisted by second referee. Both referees visually review uniforms for legality.

Without card, hold palm of one hand against the opposite wrist. Second referee communicates to a coach at the end of the rally.

“Wave off” request with one hand/arm. Second referee communicates to coach (or first referee to captain) at earliest opportunity, without delaying the match.

At intersection of attack line & sideline, near first referee.

At midpoint of respective end line.

At the first referee’s direction, the line judge may take a position along either the sideline or the end line extension until service contact. Line judge will quickly return to base position at corner.

Line judge will take a position behind the server along the extension of the sideline until contact of the serve. Line judge will then quickly return to base position at corner.

Second referee whistles to acknowledge first request, and may administer both teams’ substitutions without repeating the whistle (unless necessary).

Second referee should whistle to acknowledge first request and repeat the whistle to administer the second team’s request also.

Dismiss teams to their benches.

Referee signals for teams to change courts after each set.

First referee controls player conduct during the pre-match warm-ups. Second referee times the warm-ups.

Either referee should call net faults; first referee hesitates briefly to avoid double whistles on net faults.

Second referee calls (whistles) antenna faults on either antenna

Referees do not check scoresheet for accuracy after the match is completed.

First referee controls player conduct during the pre-match warm-ups. First referee also times the warm-ups.

First referee has primary responsibility for net faults on the upper part of the net, but can whistle any net fault. Second referee can whistle any net fault.

Second referee calls (whistles) antenna faults on his/her side of the court.

Referees review the scoresheet for accuracy at the end of the match, and the first referee signs the scoresheet.