Forfeit rule when using Libero

[refnrev]

Four of us worked a local HS scrimamge last night. Frosh v Frosh, JV v JV, V v V, then a V v JV grudge match. One thing that all four of us had failed to realize until pre-game conference was that a Libero rule states that if a player is disqualified and the number of players drops below 6 the game is a forfeit. Can anyone tell me the reason and why this rule makes sense? I didn't attend a clinic this year, but the two who did said the issue was never discussed.

[FMadera]

That shouldn't be correct. If you drop below 6 once the game has started, you can have 5 with a ghost rotation (side out when that player rotates to serve). In USAV or NCAA, falling below 6 players would result in a forfeit.

If you libero is disqualified, I believe, you can replace the original player on for the libero, but may not redesinate. If a regular player is disqualified, you can substitute if you have a legal sub remaining, but if not, then you must play with the ghost rotation. Forfeiting should be a last result option.

[MCBear]

Felix,

What you say is correct. The problem refnrev and his partners discussed results from the following -

In the section titled "Transitioning to Libero Player" on page 57 of the currect rules book it says:

F. Disqualification Substitution - The libero may not be used as a substitute for an expelled or diqualified teammate. If no legal substitue is available for an expelled or disqualified teammate, that team will be declared incomplete and will default the game or match, as appropriate.

There are a couple of minor difficulties with the section as printed on page 57:
1 - NFHS rules do not allow for both expulsion and disqualification of players. According to Rule 12, "Procedure for Unsportsmanlike Conduct Violations", on page 43, we have "3. Warning..., 4. Penalty..., 5. Disqualification..."

2 - If the team becomes incomplete, we do not default the game or match - defaulting is never mentioned in NFHS rules.

The short version is that when NFHS was putting in the libero rules, they copied directly from USAV and NCAA without proofing it to correct it to match NFHS rules.

With that being said, we would refer to Rule 6-1-2: "If a team has fewer than six eligible players due to illness, injury or disqualification after the start of the match, it shall continue to play."

You are correct - if the libero is disqualified, the player who they replaced must reenter the game and there is no libero for the remainder of that game. A new libero may be designated for any subsequent game remaining in the match.

[refnrev]

MCBear,
So what you are saying is the rules book is incorrect and that you would continue to play? I assume that each time the DQ'd player came up to serve in the rotation you would have a loss of point/rally? Is that what you mean by "ghost rotation." If this is right, then each state association needs to put a "blurb" on their officials department website explaining this. I'm a decent official, but two of the guys I was working with are seasoned veterans and one is working on becoming a clinician. It just didn't ring true with any of us.

[Homer]

Originally posted by refnrev
MCBear,
So what you are saying is the rules book is incorrect and that you would continue to play? I assume that each time the DQ'd player came up to serve in the rotation you would have a loss of point/rally? Is that what you mean by "ghost rotation." If this is right, then each state association needs to put a "blurb" on their officials department website explaining this. I'm a decent official, but two of the guys I was working with are seasoned veterans and one is working on becoming a clinician. It just didn't ring true with any of us.

Subsection F is incorrect in the Rule Book as printed but there has been a subsequent correction/change issued by the NFHS. I believe all the corrections to the Rule Book are currently available on the NFHS website although our commissioner e-mailed them directly to all our officials.