[Antonio.King]

It's a topic that's planning on being discussed in the next season (fall of '12). In fact, here's the NCAA report of changes and future topics (this came out in April of '11):

2011 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL RULES COMMITTEE REPORT
APRIL 2011

This document serves as a report to the women’s volleyball community from the NCAA
Women’s Volleyball Rules Committee. The committee met January 18-20 in Indianapolis and is
using this opportunity to inform the membership of its main topics of discussion and to
communicate rules changes, points of emphasis, clarifications and future considerations. While
there were no rules changes proposed for the 2011 season, two new rules changes were
approved that will be implemented during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The Playing Rules
Oversight Panel (PROP) approved all items in this report on April 14, 2011.

RULES CHANGES
1. Hand Signals. (Rule 18.1.5) – Beginning in the 2012 season, when a fault is whistled by the
first referee, both referees will first signal which team earned the point and will serve next,
and then signal the nature of the fault. When a fault is whistled by the second referee, the
second referee will first signal the nature of the fault. The first referee, if in agreement, will
then indicate which team earned the point and will serve next; the second referee mimics
that signal.
Rationale: Indicating which team will serve next facilitates the actions of the scorekeepers
and statisticians during the time that the ball is out of play. The tempo of the match will
improve, and fewer scoring errors should occur.

2. Libero Uniform. (Rule 12.1.3) – Beginning in the 2013 season, it will be required that either
the libero or her teammates wear a solid-colored jersey. Regarding the solid-colored jersey:
a. Sleeves must be the same color as the body of the jersey.
b. Piping/trim no wider than 1” can be a different color than the body of the jersey.c. Lettering and collars can be a different color than the body of the jersey.
d. Numbers must be a contrasting color and meet all other specifications in Rule 7.1.2.
The solid-colored uniform must clearly contrast from the predominant primary color(s) of
the teammate(s) jerseys. Predominant colors are those that appear on approximately half of
the body of the uniform.
Rationale: When both the libero and her teammates are in multi-colored uniforms of the
same color combinations, it can be very difficult to discern the libero’s legality when playing
the ball. Requiring either the libero or the other team members to be in a solid-colored
uniform will assist the referees in determining legal playing actions.
Please note that there will be no rules changes in the 2011 season.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS
1. Rules 10.3.1 and 10.3.2 describe the requirements for players to be in legal positions at the
time of service contact. Second referees must work diligently to track the position of the
receiving team and ensure that the rules regarding position faults are applied. While
preventative officiating or “warnings” are encouraged when players are close to an illegal
position, blatant position faults (overlaps) should be whistled when they occur. However, just
like any other rules infraction, the second referee should not whistle a position fault (overlap)
unless absolutely certain the fault has occurred.

2. Rule 10.1.1.1 was changed in 2010 to indicate that lineups for the first set are due at the
three-minute mark on the clock timing the pre-match warm-ups, and allowed changes to be
made by the coaches without penalty or substitution until the one-minute mark. Rule 18.4.3.2
further clarifies that other match personnel (statisticians, announcer, etc.) should not be
permitted to see the lineups until they are final, which means at the one-minute mark. At that
time, the lineups can be provided to those individuals.

3. It is re-emphasized that, whenever possible, spectators should be restricted from the playing
area through the use of stanchions or by establishing spectator walkways that are not part of
the playing area.

CLARIFICATIONS
1. In 2010, Rule 1.1.1.2 was modified to permit media personnel onto the court during timeouts
and between sets. To clarify, that permission was intended for video camera operators and their support crew who are associated with recognized media outlets, and who have been
approved/credentialed by the host institution prior to the match.

2. Rule 4.2.4 describes the ruling when nonplayers (i.e., media personnel or spectators)
interfere with a legitimate effort by a player to play the ball. To clarify, cheerleaders are
considered spectators, and legitimate interference caused by a cheerleader (or cheerleader
“gear”) may result in a replay. When clearing an area to allow play, cheerleaders should make
every effort to take their gear (megaphones, pompons, etc.) with them to avoid injury.

3. The restrictions on use of electronic aids as described in Rule 6.1.5 have not been changed.
Prohibited items include the use of a computer or other device that is used to transmit any
information (including statistics) from any area in the facility other than the bench to the
bench.

4. Rule 7.2.2 describes jewelry as illegal equipment. To further clarify, dermal implants (jewelry
surgically implanted in the skin) is considered jewelry, and is to be considered illegal
equipment. Sub-dermal implants (embedded items that do not protrude/break the skin) are
permitted.

FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
The committee will continue to examine health and safety issues in the sport, along with
financial implications regarding the different net systems that are being used around the
country. Institutions are using various in-ground systems, counter-weight systems and even
some suspended-net systems that swing down from the ceiling.

Survey topics for next fall will include:

• permitting two players to be designated as liberos for each set, with a free interchange of
those liberos during the set (only one libero would be allowed on the court at any time);
• changing the net fault rule so that only those net contacts that interfere with play (including
contacting the top tape while playing the ball) are considered to be faults;
• changing the illegal block rule to instruct the officials to determine the setter’s intent.