2017-18 NFHS Volleyball Rules BookCorrections: (Underlining shows addi-tions; strikethrough shows deletions.)Page 52, 2017 Points of Emphasis:“The assistant coach may also stand atthe bench to great greet a replacedplayer…”

2017-18 NFHS Volleyball Case Bookand Officials Manual Corrections:Page 8, 2.3.1 SITUATION D: Team R’ssecond contact: (a) lands in the bleach-ers on Team SR’s side of the net;…;Page 28, 7.1.4 SITUATION A: Prior tothe second set,…(b) two minutes 30seconds remaining…; Page 77: …After the set score has been con-firmed, the second referee gives theend-of-set signal (No. 23 22) to thefirst referee….

2017-18 NFHS Volleyball PowerPointCorrections: Slide #24: The words “ifnecessary” have been deleted andreplaced with moved and replacedwith “for the net fault” the words“committing the net fault” inserted.

SITUATION 1: Team S’s libero, whois wearing a solid-colored gold jersey,becomes injured and cannot continueto play. The coach redesignates a legalplayer on the bench as libero for theremainder of the set for the injuredlibero. The redesignated libero iswearing a solid-colored green jerseywith a unique number (not worn byany teammate). The teammates arewearing white jerseys. The refereeallows the redesignated libero to play.RULING: The referee’s decision iscorrect. The redesignated libero mustwear a uniform jersey that is immedi-ately recognized from all angles asbeing in clear contrast to and distinct

from the other numbers of the team. Itdoes not have to be the same color asthe original (injured) libero. (4-2-2)

SITUATION 2: During a set, the sec-ond referee utilizes one or more tech-niques of preventive officiating, noneof which delay the resumption of playbut merely keep the play moving andavoid unneeded penalties. RULING:Preventive officiating should be used.However, guidance as to how much isconsidered appropriate and even inwhat areas of the rules preventiveofficiating is acceptable should beprovided through the respective stateassociation. (5-1-2, Officials Manual)

SITUATION 3: The first referee whis-tles to interrupt play due to an injuryand signals replay. The injured playeris a position player. The first referee fol-lows the regular injury protocol, whichcould allow for a time-out for assess-ment and treatment/recovery of theinjured player and/or a substitutiononly for the injured player could bemade. RULING: Correct procedure.COMMENT:An injury to a player cre-ates an exception to the replay rule. Therule is not intended to disadvantage ateam due to an injury. (9-8-2, 11-4)

SITUATION 4: The first referee whis-tles to interrupt play due to an injuryand signals replay. The injured playeris the libero. The first referee followsthe regular injury protocol for time-out to assess and treat/allow recoveryof the injured player. a) The libero maybe replaced by the player for whomthe libero had replaced. b) Once thelegal replacement has entered the set,the coach may now request and begranted a substitute for that player.

RULING: a) Correct procedure; b)incorrect procedure. COMMENT: Therule does not permit a substitutionduring a replay. However, if there is aninjury that interrupts play, an excep-tion is made by the first referee foronly the injured player. (9-8-2, 11-4)

SITUATION 5: The first referee whis-tles to interrupt play due to an injuryand signals replay. The first referee fol-lows the regular injury protocol, whichcould permit a time-out for assessmentand treatment/recovery of the injuredplayer and/or a substitution only forthe injured player, if a position player,and legal replacement for an injuredlibero. During this same interruptionof play and before the first referee hassignaled for serve, the head coach ofthe team with the injured playerrequests a substitution for anotherplayer who is not injured. The substitu-tion is denied. RULING: Correct pro-cedure. COMMENT: The only excep-tion to permit a legal substitution orlegal replacement on a replay is for theinjured player involved. (9-8-2, 11-4)

SITUATION 6: The first referee haswhistled to interrupt play and signals areplay due to an injured player. Thehead coach, while assessing the injuredplayer, wants to have a check of his/herservice order. RULING: Incorrect pro-cedure. COMMENT: No request for atime-out, service order, lineup, substi-tution, libero replacement, etc. may berecognized on a replay until after therally is completed. The only exceptionis due to the injury of a player and playis interrupted by the first referee underRule 11-4. (9-8-2, 11-4)

2017-18 NFHSVOLLEYBALL

RULES INTERPRETATIONSPublisher’s Note: The National Federation of State High School Associations is the only source of official high school interpretations. They do not setaside nor modify any rule. They are made and published by the NFHS in response to situations presented.

Robert B. Gardner, Publisher, NFHS Publications © 2017