[varefump]

I won't even attempt to persuade Jan's and Felix's views on this, for that would be an impossible task.

For liberal-minded thinkers, this is a rule change that I endorse and will go to the grave trying to get enacted.

Being a high school (and former college) volleyball official for 26 years, I have seen the struggles officials go through trying to learn rotations and positionings. It took me a good 5 years to master the concept and there are times when I still miss an IA or two. Now that I am a HS assignor, I see the number of young officials who quit after a year or two because they can't master this rule. If we can make the game easier to officiate, why not? We've taken away the need to judge 'intent', so why not go a little farther and not have to judge toe positions?

Eliminating the alignment rule would do three things that would aid the volleyball official in his/her duties:
1. Not have to worry about IA,
2. Not have to worry about BR attacks,
3. Not have to worry about BR blocks.

By doing away with these fouls, the officials can concentrate on what the game is really about - passing, setting, attacking. And yes, it still takes a good pass no matter where the setter starts from.

Without these violations (all of which get coaches extremely upset when they are called), the game will take on a different behavior for sure. No longer will the All-State middle hitter have to sit out half the game. And to defend that middle hitter, a team could use a four-man block (wouldn't that be something to watch). Setters would also be free to do more on every play (dump, spike, block). I personally believe that the game would become even more exciting to watch than it is now.

More strategy would be required from the coaches (maybe that's why they're against this) in order to defend against and attack the more advanced teams who utilize all their players to their utmost potential.

The argument that kids wouldn't be able to remember who to serve after doesn't hold any water. If middle school girls can bat nine softball players in order without screwing up, then six high schoolers or collegians should be able to handle serving in the proper order.

As long as the purists are in control, this change will never take place. Good thing that the old farts left the other sports or we wouldn't have the DH in baseball, the 3-point shot in basketball, the tie-breaker in tennis, or the FLEX in softball.

There, that's my penny.