NFHS Rules Changes 2010-1011

[Tim C]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Becky Oakes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (January 26, 2010) - One of several new rules changes
by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
Volleyball Rules Committee permits a coach to request a substitution
after submitting his or her lineup for a set but prior to play
commencing. The changes, which were subsequently approved by the NFHS
Board of Directors, will take effect with the 2010-11 season.

Rather than beginning the set with a penalty of a loss of rally and a
point for the opponents, the changes to Rules 10-1-4 and 7-1-2 will
allow the head coach to make a substitution after the lineup is
submitted, which may alleviate confusion by players and officials to
start the set.

"The new rule change will allow the coach to have submitted his or her
lineup at the beginning of the set and will allow substitution requests
to be made before play commences," said Becky Oakes, NFHS assistant
director and liaison to the Volleyball Rules Committee. "However, no
change to the lineup may be made except through substitution or the
existing protocol for an injured or ill player."

In a similar effort to eliminate confusion, Rule 5-3-4e was amended to
change the end-of-set procedure in the last set of the match to reduce
court congestion. Currently, after the first referee confirms the score
and signals end of set, the players are directed to their respective
benches.

The new rule change simply requires the first referee to signal to
release the players from their respective end line after the score is
confirmed. The rule change allows individual state associations to
establish a handshake procedure if desired and will reduce congestion on
the court at the end of the match.

Another distinction made by the committee was the re-defining of
players, team members and non-team members.

The changes to Rules 2-5, 6-1 and 6-2 define team members as all school
representatives located on the team bench area, including but not
limited to coaches, teammates, managers, trainers and the players. All
players on the same team in uniform are teammates, and players are now
defined as those teammates who are on the court. Non-team members
include, but are not limited to, officials, media personnel and
spectators.

These changes were made to more clearly define all individuals present
at the game, as certain actions and penalties are related to players,
team members and non-team members.

After last year's addition of bobby pins as a means of hair control, the
committee has updated Rule 4-1-5 to include unadorned flat clips that
are no longer than two inches in length.

"It's just another method of hair control," Oakes said. "These items may
actually be more secure than bobby pins and do not pose a risk of
injury."

Changes made to Rules 4-1-1, 2, 3 and 4 outline the guidelines for
guards, casts and braces allowed during play. Additionally, the use of
prostheses must be authorized by the individual state associations. They
must be determined to not be any more dangerous to players than the
corresponding human body part or parts and do not put the opponent at a
disadvantage.

"The NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee provided the committee with
information that was more current," Oakes said. "The revised rules
update the language and provide consistency among sports, where
appropriate, regarding casts, braces, supports and prostheses."

Following are other changes made by the NFHS Volleyball Rules Committee:

* In a change to Rule 1-3-1, scoring a point was redefined. When
a team commits a fault, the result is a loss of rally and the opponent
shall receive a point.

* New Rule 2-1-8 defines the libero replacement zone as the area
near the sideline between the attack line and the end line.

* Modifications to a player's uniform, equipment or accessories
due to medical or religious reasons now requires a letter of
authorization from the state association. The letter must be made
available to the referees at or prior to the prematch conference.

* Rule 12-2-8d, which states one may not disrespectfully address
a referee, was modified to include any match officials such as line
judges, scorer, timer, libero tracker or any other similar official.

* Regarding officials signals, Note 6 improves game efficiency
by requiring that only the first referee is required to signal net foul
or net serve.

"This year, the rule changes the committee made were aimed at
administrative details that enhanced the flow of the contest," Oakes
said. "The revised definitions provide more clarity that assist in
application of the rules."

A complete listing of all rules changes approved by the committee is
available on the NFHS Web site at NFHS | National Federation of State High School Associations. Click on "Athletics &
Fine Arts Activities" on the home page, and select "Volleyball."

Volleyball is the third-most popular sport for girls at the high school
level, according to the 2008-09 NFHS Athletics Participation Survey,
with 404,243 participants nationwide. The sport ranks fourth in school
sponsorship with 15,069 schools sponsoring the sport. In addition,
49,346 boys participate in volleyball at 2,192 schools.