INDIANAPOLIS, IN (January 30, 2003) - Following more than five years of discussion, the NFHS Volleyball Rules Committee approved the rally-scoring format for high school volleyball at its January 19-20 committee meeting in Indianapolis. Responsibility to decide when to implement the rally scoring rules rests with the individual state associations (states may elect to use rally scoring in 2003-04), but they must apply the rally-scoring format no later than the 2004-05 school year. In rally scoring, points are awarded on each play, regardless which team serves, as opposed to the traditional side out system.

"In order to make the decision, we surveyed all state associations, gained feedback from states that experimented with rally scoring during the past year and gathered results from a Nebraska survey that reported on current play/playoff formats," said Cynthia Doyle, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Volleyball Rules Committee.

Before voting, committee members also discussed many factors that could be affected by rally scoring. Some issues included: training of officials, length of game, team travel time, fiscal considerations and game pace.

"It is felt that one of the positives in the introduction of rally scoring is it will generate more spectator interest," said Sheryl Solberg, chair of the Volleyball Rules Committee and assistant to the executive secretary of the North Dakota High School Activities Association. "This can only be a positive for our young athletes to know they are involved in an even more exciting sport where people attend and appreciate the athleticism and competitiveness of the players.

"Our committee worked very hard in preparation for this meeting by making every effort to contact the state associations in their section for feedback on the rally scoring issue."

After one year of experimenting with rally scoring rules, states now have a set format by which to abide:

• All matches shall be best three-of-five games.
  
  

• Games shall be played to 25 points (no cap), and the fifth and deciding game shall be played to 15 points (no cap).
  
  

• The let serve shall be allowed, and play shall continue provided net contact is entirely within the net antennas.
  
  

• Each team shall be allowed two time-outs per game, with a total of 10 time-outs if five games are played.

"The players want a faster-paced game, and rally scoring does that," Doyle said. Doyle said that the committee will review the issues of games per match and scoring caps on games at the end of the 2003-04 season.

Along with rally scoring, the Volleyball Rules Committee also approved several other rules changes, including Rule 9-4-8b, which addresses multiple contacts by one player. The new rule states that multiple contacts are permitted only "on any first team hit, whether or not the ball is touched by the block," and it deletes the line that states, "provided there is no finger action." The wording of this rule was changed because it allowed for multiple interpretations and inconsistent application, according to Doyle.

Rule 9-5-4 also underwent revisions. It adds that if the flight of the ball is toward the opponent's court and not toward a teammate and is legally touched by an opponent above the net, the action is a back-row player foul. If the ball is hit back in to a back-row player, it is ruled as the team's first foul.

"These additions remove the need for officials to judge the intent of the back-row player by judging the direction of the ball hit," Doyle said.

Three changes were made to Rule 1-4 regarding the pre-match conference and coin toss. In order to encourage good sportsmanship, the home team should select its team bench upon entering the facility, and the visiting captain should call the coin toss. If necessary, prior to the deciding game of a match, the home captain should call the toss. Predetermining who calls the toss should keep the flow and order of all matches consistent, according to Doyle.

Rule9-3-3 divided one subheading into two in order to clarify when the ball is dead. Rule9-3-3l now states that a live ball becomes dead when an official's whistle sounds, and Rule9-3-3m dictates that a live ball becomes dead when a timer's audio signal interrupts play.

Revisions were also made to Rule11-2-4 regarding administration of consistent time-outs. A time-out can last for a maximum of 60 seconds, but play can recommence if both teams are ready for play prior to the end of the 60 seconds.

To create a more consistent order between officials and players, Rule 10-2-6b was rewritten to state that it is improper when a substitute enters or a player leaves the court before the umpire directs them to do so with a sweeping open-palm hand gesture.

The uniform rule, Rule 4, underwent several changes as well. Players cannot wear jewelry during pre-match warm-up or competition, and they must wear uniforms as the manufacturers intended. Additionally, the number on the front of the uniform should be centered no more than two inches below the neckline opening or no more than two inches below the bottom edge of the neckline ribbing on the uniform top.

A final change in Rule 12-2-7f states that unsportsmanlike conduct includes disrespectfully addressing, baiting or taunting anyone involved in the contest, not only the opponent.

"Although rare, coaches, for example, have been known to disrespectfully address their own players," Doyle said. "[This is now] an offense that can be penalized."

Volleyball remains an increasingly popular high school sport with both girls and boys. Within the 14,083 schools that have girls volleyball teams are 395,124 female participants, while 40,567 boys play on 1,804 teams, according to the 2001-02 High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS.

Information provided by National Federation of State High School Associations

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