New Volleyball Rules for 2009
Sunday 11th January 2009
Make sure you know the new rules!
From the 1st January 2009 new FIVB rules have been implemented in England. These rule changes will affect all national league and BUCs teams, but NOT teams that play in the West Midlands leagues.
Club referees may well find the four minute video regarding the rule modifications helpful. During the video clips, in the bottom left hand side of the video, it is stated whether the highlighted play was a fault or not under the 2005-2008 rules, while in the bottom right hand side of the screen, stating whether it is a fault for the 2009-2013 rules.
The two main rule changes that players will notice in the English competitions are as follows:
Centre Line Modification
Touching the opponents’ court with any part of the body above the feet is permitted, providing that it does not interfere with the opponents’ play.
This means that, for example, a hand or knee can cross over the centre line; now only the foot remains prohibited from making contact completely across the centre line. There must, however, be no “interference” with the opponents’ play, or a significantly increased health and safety risk.
Net Contacts
Contact with the net by a player is not a fault unless it interferes with play.
Examples of net contacts which are still considered as faults would include any contact with the top band of the net (or antenna) during any action of playing the ball. Contacts which either create an unfair advantage, or which hinder an opponent’s legitimate attempt to play the ball, would also continue to be penalised as net contacts. However, a setter who gently brushes the mesh of the net whilst playing the ball should no longer be penalised. Similarly, a blocker or hitter who brushes the net (on the way up or down) is no longer considered to be making a net fault, unless there is contact with the top band. Any “taking support” from the net leaning into the net, or holding the mesh, or any action which significantly distorts the position of the top band of the net is still a fault, as is any contact which prevents the opponent from being able to play the ball.
Referee Co-operation
The second referee may signal and whistle illegal back-court attack hits and blocks.
A more complete listing of the rule changes can be found on the Volleyball Engliahd web site.