1994 (-1995) Rules for NAGWS

I've noticed that many problems occur in this group (rec.sports.volleyball) because answers to rules/officating questions are given based on rules that apply to specific groups but not others (outdoor vs indoor/NAGWS vs USA Volleyball/local REC rules/Federation rules/FIVB rules/etc). The following are interpretations that we will use in the Missouri Valley Conference (all) and women's VB (NAGWS) (almost all) for 1994. Some are different from USA Volleyball (especially the change in the overhead obstructions rule). Some of these were begun in 1993, but were not followed as much as we had hoped.

1. Standardization of Protocol and Professionalism of Officials:
   1. The authority of the official will begin immediately when the official comes on the floor as opposed to after the coin flip, which was the old interpretation.
   2. Teams have the right to hit into their own court for at least three minutes during the promotional time between games two and three (or following the promotional, which ever is longer). If the other team chooses not to hit, then they must warm-up behind that attack zone on their side of the court.
      [NOTE: IN MVC LEAGUE MATCHES THE HOME TEAM HAS THE RIGHT TO USE THE FULL 5 MINUTES FOR A PROMOTIONAL. IN THAT CASE, THERE WILL BE NO WARM-UP ON THE COURT. IF THE PROMOTIONAL ENDS PRIOR TO THE END OF THE 5 MINUTE PERIOD, THE TEAMS MAY USE THE COURT TO WARM-UP FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. IN NON-LEAGUE MATCHES, THE MVC COACH SHOULD INDICATE THIS HOME COURT RULE IN THE CONTRACT WITH THE NON-LEAGUE TEAM.]
   3. The official will greet and introduce herself/himself to both coaches (best procedure is to greet the visiting coach first). This greeting should never be very long. Officials should address coaches as "Coach Morgan" or "Coach Ralston" rather than "Julie" or "Betty." Any questions about the conduct of the match should be addressed to the court manager, not the head coach.
      [THE COURT MANAGER MUST BE AVAILABLE A MINIMUM OF ONE HOUR BEFORE MATCH TIME. SINCE THE OFFICIALS ARE REQUESTED TO BE MORE quot;FORMAL" WITH THE COACHES, THE COACHES ALSO NEED TO TREAT THE OFFICIALS WITH THE SAME FORMALITY.]
   4. The officials must stay within the substitution zone during the entire pre-match period. They should leave the zone only when necessary to accomplish their duties (to insuct nespersons, etc.). Officials cannot fraternize with the crowd, players or other officials. No extended conversations are justified. This includes other officials who might be spectators at the event.
      [HOME MANAGEMENT MUST COOPERATE BY NOT ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE SUBSTITUTION AREA BY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL.]
   5. During a promotional break between games two and three, the officials should sit at the scorer's table.
      [HOME MANAGEMENT MUST PROVIDE CHAIRS FOR THE OFFICIALS AND THE LINESPERSONS AT THE TABLE. IN A TOURNAMENT SITUATION, HOME NAGEMENT SHOULD PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE OFFICIALS CAN SIT DURING MATCHES THAT THEY ARE NOT WORKING. THIS AREA SHOULD BE SEPARATED FROM THE CROWD. IF FOOD IS PROVIDED DURING A TOURNAMENT SITUATION, THE OFFICIALS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A SEPARATE AREA ALSO.]
   6. Immediately following the match, officials should exit to their dressing room. Since there is no requirement to sign the scoresheet this can be accomplished when the teams are whistled to the exchange of handshakes.
      [OFFICIALS CANNOT HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH COACHES ABOUT SITUATIONS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE MATCH. EXPLANATIONS OF UNUSUAL SITUATIONS SHOULD BE DONE TO THE VOLLEYBALL SUPERVISOR, WHO CAN RELAY THE EXPLANATION TO THE COACH AS NECCESSARY.]
   7. Between game protocol has now changed. Teams only lineup at the beginning of the first game. For all other games, they simply enter the court to their positions. At the end of any nondeciding game (except game 4), the teams proceed to their bench area as soon as they have passed their respective net standards. It is no longer necessary to lineup on the opposite court.
      [IF THERE IS A PROMOTIONAL BETWEEN GAMES 2 AND 3 AND TEAMS ARE GOING TO LEAVE THE COURT AREA, THE TEAMS MAY BE DISMISSED DIRECTLY TO THEIR BENCHES AS WOULD OCCUR AFTER GAME 4.]
2. Rule Changes and current interpretations:
   1. Signed rosters must be submitted to the second official at least 10 minutes prior to the match. Lineups must be submitted at least two minutes prior to the first game, and 30 seconds prior to any succeeding game.
      [IF A LINEUP IS SUBMITTED TO THE SCOREKEEPER, IT BECOMES OFFICIAL WHEN IT IS ENTERED ON THE SCORE SHEET. A COACH MIGHT SUBMIT A LINEUP WITH THE ROSTER 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE MATCH. SCOREKEEPERS SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO WAIT UNTIL TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE MATCH TO ENTER THE LINEUP ON THE SCORESHEET. IF THE LINEUP IS NOT ENTERED ON THE SCORE SHEET, THE COACH SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO MAKE CHANGES WITHOUT PENALTY.]
   2. Coaches now have up to 30 seconds to decide if an injured player can continue.
      [IF NO DECISION IS MADE BY THE END OF A 30 SECOND PERIOD, THEN A SUBSTITUTION MUST BE MADE. IF THE OFFICIAL RULES THAT A SUBSTITUTION MUST BE MADE, THE COACH CAN TAKE A TIME OUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF USING ANOTHER SUBSTITUTION TO ALLOW THE PLAYER TO COME BACK INTO THE GAME. THESE SUBSTITUTIONS WILL NOT BE NECESSARY IF THE COACH WILL CALL FOR A TIME OUT PRIOR TO THE END OF THE 30 SECOND PERIOD.]
   3. If an injury occurs that causes bleeding, it is treated identically to all other injury situations. (special time outs and abnormal substitutions can occur; the 30 second rule applies). The player must leave the court and cannot return until the bleeding is stopped. Blood on a uniform must be evaluated by medical personnel. Officials will NOT do this evaluation. If medical personnel are not available, then the uniform MUST be changed. Blood on a uniform is NOT treated as an injury - no special substitution or time out rules apply.
      [TEAMS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE "ACCIDENT" UNIFORM AVAILABLE FOR A QUICK CHANGE IN CASE THIS IS NECESSARY. CHANGING NUMBERS ON THE ROSTER IS PERMITTED IF A NEW UNIFORM IS NECESSARY. DUPLICATE NUMBERS IN THE SAME GAME ARE NOT PERMITTED. THEREFORE, A PLAYER CAN SWITCH UNIFORMS WITH ANY PLAYER WHO HAS NOT ENTERED THE GAME.]
   4. The rule on overhead obstructions has been modified to eliminate the out of bounds rule on objects above 23 feet.
      [THIS MEANS THAT SPECIAL GROUNDRULES AT {BRADLEY AND UNI} ARE NO LONGER USED. ALL OVERHEAD OBSTRUCTIONS ABOVE 23 FEET ARE IN PLAY IF THEY ARE ABOVE THE PLAYING AREA (EXCLUDING SERVES AND BALLS THAT COME DOWN IN THE OPPONENTS AREA).]
   5. There is no longer a limit on the number of times that a server can serve accidently prior to the beckon of the official. However, if the official believes that the action is intentional, then a sanction will occur.
   6. Time outs will now always continue to 45 seconds. The team taking the time out can no longer terminate the time out by going back on the floor.
   7. Teams are no longer allowed to wear uniforms with numbers that are not clearly visible. The old rule allowed the teams to play, but awarded a point to the other team at the start of each game.
      [IN THE MVC, OFFICIALS WILL NOT MAKE DECISIONS ON THE VISIBILITY OF NUMBERS. IF A UNIFORM IS IN QUESTION, THE OFFICIAL WILL NOTIFY THE LEAGUE OFFICE. A DECISION WILL BE MADE PRIOR TO THE NEXT MATCH.]
   8. The "boxed R" system of beginning the scoring of a game has been eliminated. We will keep score as was done prior to last season.
   9. The rule on backline attack remains the same as the interpretation given last year. Back row attack is now judged by what happens rather than the intent of the setter. If the flight of the ball is toward a teammate, the ball remains alive and in play if legally contacted by an opponent before the ball passes entirely beyond the plane of the net. If the flight of the ball is toward the opponent's court (and not directed to a teammate) and the ball is legally contacted by a blocker, then the setter becomes an illegal back row attacker. If the ball passes entirely beyond the plane of the net without being touched, then the setter becomes an illegal back row attacker whether or not the flight of the ball was toward a teammate.
      [IF THE SETTER CONTACTS THE BALL PRIOR TO THE BALL ENTERING THE PLANE OF THE NET AND THE BALL IS LEGALLY BLOCKED (IE IT ENTERS THE PLANE OF THE NET), THEN BACK ROW ATTACK SHOULD BE CALLED UNLESS THERE IS A TEAMMATE WHO COULD HAVE HIT THE BALL. THE FLIGHT OF THE BALL MUST HAVE BEEN TOWARD THE OPPONENT'S COURT, EVEN THOUGH THE FLIGHT MAY BE TOO SHORT TO JUDGE WITH THE EYE.]
   10. The warmup area can begin at the endline, even if the bench area extends beyond the endline. Therefore, players can stand in front of their bench in the area beyond the endline. They cannot, however, approach the court.