2023 Rule of The Week

FOR MOST RECENT UPDATES                                          (REVISED 03/25/23 19:05)
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Ignoring the red garment underneath, the number placement on the front of this jersey would be considered legal on this player in USAV play.

A) Correct
B) Incorrect

Answer: B) Incorrect
Ruling: Uniform numbers must be clearly visible and centered (both horizontally and vertically) on the player’s chest and upper back. We rarely have issues with the number on the back of the jersey. The number on the front of the jersey is sometimes too low. A club logo above the number sometimes pushes the number lower than it should be. If the number is marginally low, there may not be a concern; however, if the number is so low that it becomes partially hidden near the waist, then the uniform is illegal.
Reference: 4.3.3.1, Rules Interpretations Newsletter #1

Below is a black "2" used on a white jersey. This is a legal number.

A) Correct
B) Incorrect

Answer: B) Incorrect
Ruling: The players’ jerseys must be numbered in a permanent manner from 1 to 99 using Arabic numerals. The USA Volleyball interpretation of an Arabic number is the number should be in the form we normally write our numbers. Fonts that have spaces in places where we would not put a space are not considered Arabic. For example, we do not write with double lines. These numbers are difficult to read, and sometimes a number can be mistaken for another number. This is considered a graphic representation of a number and is not a legal number.
Reference: Rules Interpretations Newsletter #1

During play, a player's taped earring falls out near the center line and poses a safety hazard.

A) No fault (players are allowed to wear jewelry)
B) Replay, delay sanction (jewelry is considered the same as any other personal equipment)
C) Replay (jewelry is considered part of the player's equipment)
D) Replay, yellow card (taping jewelry is unsportsmanlike)

Answer: B) Replay, delay sanction (jewelry is considered the same as any other personal equipment)
Ruling: Jewelry is considered the same as any other personal equipment. If jewelry falls off during a rally and we have to stop playing due to safety, a delay sanction is issued, and the rally is replayed.
Reference: 2022-2023 Rules Interpretations Newsletter #1

At the end of a rally, the first referee notices that a player on Team S is wearing hoop earrings with tape over them.

A) No fault (players are allowed to wear jewelry)
B) Delay sanction (players may not wear hoop jewelry)
C) Delay sanction (players may not tape over potentially hazardous jewelry)
D) No fault (as long as the hoop earrings can be removed without delaying the match)

Answer: A) No fault (players are allowed to wear jewelry)
Ruling: If you feel something is a concern for safety, you can ask the coach to have them remove the jewelry. If they cannot remove the jewelry, find a solution that makes it safe, such as tape or padding. Once the jewelry becomes safe, the player is allowed to play.
Reference: 2022-2023 Rules Interpretations Newsletter #1

In which of the following situations is it appropriate to use headsets while officiating? (Select all that apply)

A) With a junior player
B) With another certified official
C) With a work team coach (adult)
D) With someone being trained to be a certified official
E) None of these; headsets are not allowed in USAV

Answer:
B) With another certified official, and
D) With someone being trained to be a certified official
Ruling: Headsets should only be used with other certified officials or in a situation where someone is being trained as a certified official.
Reference: 2022-2023 Rules Interpretations Newsletter #1

The Libero, who is near the net, jumps and reaches higher than the net to attempt to block an attack-hit by S4 but does not touch the ball.

A) No fault; play continues (the Libero did not touch the ball)
B) Point Team S (the Libero may not attempt to block, even if she doesn't touch the ball)
C) At the end of the rally and after awarding the point, yellow card (the Libero exhibited unsporting behavior by attempting to block)
D) Point Team S (the Libero may not attempt to use their hands overhead in the front zone)

Answer: B) Point Team S (the Libero may not attempt to block, even if she doesn't touch the ball)
Ruling: Blocking fault. A Libero may not block or attempt to block. Reaching higher than the top of the net while near the net constitutes an attempt to block.
Reference: 14.1.2, 14.6.6, 19.3.1.3, USAV Casebook 14.08

The Libero, who is standing next to R3, jumps to block and has hands extended above head height but not higher than the top of the net. S2 attacks the ball into the block of R3, who is reaching higher than the top of the net.

A) No fault; play continues (the Libero is not considered a blocker)
B) Point Team S (Liberos may not attempt to block, even if they don't touch the ball)
C) Point Team S (Even though the Libero didn't touch the ball, she is part of a collective block with R3)
D) Point Team S (Liberos may not attempt to block, even if they don't reach higher than the top of the net)

Answer: A) No fault; play continues
Ruling: The Libero is not *technically* attempting to block nor part of a collective block because the Libero is not reaching higher than the top of the net.
Reference: 14.1.1, 14.6.2, 19.3.1.3, USAV Casebook 14.07

S2 and S4 are close together and jump to block an attack from R2. S2 is reaching higher than the top of the net but S4 is not. R2’s attack is contacted only by S4. S4 then turns and passes the ball to S1, who sets the ball to S3. S3 attacks the ball to the floor of Team R’s court.

A) Point Team S (ball down)
B) Point Team R (double-contact)
C) Point Team R (illegal block)
D) Double fault; replay

Answer: B) Point Team R (double-contact)
Ruling: Only a player who is reaching higher than the top of the net at the time the block is completed is considered to be a blocker. Since S4 is not a blocker, S4 and S2 do
not form a collective block. S4 has made Team S’s first and second contacts.
Reference: 14.1.1, 14.1.4, USAV Casebook 14.03

While in the front zone, R5 jumps and attacks the ball, which is entirely higher than the top of the net and completely above Team R’s court. Simultaneous with the contact of the ball by R5, S2 reaches beyond the plane of the net and blocks the ball.

A) Double fault
B) Illegal (back row) attack
C) Illegal block
D) Reaching beyond the plane of the net
E) No fault; play continues

Answer: A) Double fault.
Ruling: The attack by R5 became an attack-hit fault when S2 touched it, but the simultaneous contact of the ball by S2 while reaching beyond the net was a blocking fault. If the contact by S2 had been after the attack-hit by R5, then only the attack-hit by R5 would have been penalized.
Reference: 13.2.2.1, USAV 13.3.7, 14.3, 6.1.2.2, USAV Casebook 13.14

At the end of a rally, the Team A Libero, who is currently on the court, is legally replaced and is now sitting on the bench, along with two other players who have already entered at different positions. During the next rally, a back-row player suffers an injury, causing the R1 to stop play and issue a replay. The Team A coach requests that the Libero go in for the injured player, which the referees allow.

A) Correct decision; the Libero may enter the court for an injured back-row player
B) Incorrect decision; the Libero has not sat out for one completed rally (because the rally is being replayed)
C) Incorrect decision; the Libero is not considered a regular player and cannot replace an injured player
D) Incorrect decision; since there are regular players on the bench, they must be used to replace the injured player before using the Libero

Answer: A) Correct decision; the Libero may enter the court for an injured back-row player.
Reference: 17.1.1

Team A has designated one Libero for the first set of the match. That Libero is expelled from the first set. Which option is available to the team when the Libero is expelled?

A) The team must play with no Libero for the remainder of the current set.
B) The team must play with no Libero for the remainder of the match.
C) The team may redesignate a new Libero, and the expelled Libero may play in subsequent sets.
D) If the team chooses not to redesignate a new Libero, the expelled Libero may play in subsequent sets.

Answer: D) If the team chooses not to redesignate a new Libero, the expelled Libero may play in subsequent sets.
Ruling: If a Libero is expelled from the set or disqualified from the match while on the court, the Acting Libero must be replaced by the second Libero or the player whom the Libero replaced. If the Libero is on the bench at the time of the sanction, no further action is necessary. If expelled, the Libero may play in the next set. If disqualified, the Libero may not participate for the remainder of the match. If a team’s only Libero is expelled or disqualified, the team may choose to re-designate another Libero. If re-designation occurs, it is for the remainder of the match, and the original Libero may not re-enter the match.
Reference: 19.5, 19.4.1, 19.4.2.1, USAV Casebook 19.29

While checking the players on the court before the start of the set, the 2nd referee discovers that Team A did not designate a Libero. What is the correct action by the 2nd referee and scorer?

A) The 2nd referee informs the coach the team must play without a Libero for the match.
B) The 2nd referee informs the coach the team must play without a Libero for the set.
C) Team A may immediately designate a Libero, and the scorer records this number on the score sheet.
D) Team A may immediately designate a Libero, and the scorer records this number on the score sheet and assesses a delay sanction.

Answer: C) Team A may immediately designate a Libero, and the scorer records this number on the scoresheet.
Ruling: The team may immediately designate a Libero, and this number is recorded on the line-up sheet, score sheet, and libero tracking sheet. Once the set begins, the team cannot add a Libero if no Libero was listed on the line-up sheet.
Reference: USAV 7.3.4, USAV Casebook 7.32

Team S #7 serves two points and then loses the rally. After Team R serves for a point, it is discovered that #7 entered the wrong position in the service order for Team S. After correcting the improper substitution, what actions should be taken to correct this situation?

A) Award Team R an additional point. Team R continues to serve.
B) Remove the two points scored by #7. Team R continues to serve.
C) No points are removed or awarded, and Team R continues to serve.
D) No points are removed or awarded. Assess a delay sanction to Team S, and Team R continues to serve.
E) Award Team R an additional point and remove the two points scored by #7. Team R continues to serve.

Answer: C) No points are removed or awarded, and Team R continues to serve. (No delay sanction is assessed)
Ruling: Because Team R has already served, no points are cancelled for Team S. Since Team R just scored a point, they do not receive an additional point. The score remains the same, and Team R will continue to serve. If necessary, Team S is placed in the correct order.
Reference: 7.7, USAV Casebook 7.29