Casebook Priority

Question 0

1.11
May the assistant coach or others also stand/ move in the free zone during the match?

Answer 0

Ruling
The rules allow only the coach to move freely in the free zone, between the extension of the attack line and the warm-up area.
Rules 5.2.3.2, 5.2.3.4, 5.3.1

Question 1

1.3

What is the proper response by the 1st referee if a game captain constantly questions 1st referee decisions

Answer 1

Ruling
Beyond the limits of Rule 5.1.2, he/she should warn the game captain with no penalty, as stated in Rule 21.1. If the behaviour continues, the game captain should be sanctioned for rude conduct with a red card (point and service to the opponents).
Rules 5.1.2, 20.1, 20.2, 21.2, 21.3.1, Diagram 9

Question 2

2.4
If a player’s foot is in contact with the opponent court at the service hit, is this a fault?

Answer 2

Ruling
Yes – fault, because in the moment of the service hit the players - except the server – should be in their own playing court.
Rules 1.3.3, 7.4

Question 3

2.6
A team was given incorrect information about which player was to serve. Play continued. This incorrect information was noticed at a later point in the set. What happens now?

Answer 3

Ruling
The teams must revert to as close to their original line-up as possible. The score reverts to the point where the wrong information was given. TTO and sanctions remain valid, but all time-outs and substitutions which occurred during the rallies with incorrect information are to be cancelled.
These events must be recorded on the score sheet.

Question 4

3.1
The 1st hit flew outside of the antenna. The setter pursued the ball into the opponent’s free zone and tried to play it back - but the ball went towards the court and net on the opponent’s side.
The 1st referee whistled and signalled “ball out”. At what moment does the ball become “out”?

Answer 4

Ruling
This ball had become “out” when it had left completely the space above the free zone and had entered the space above the court on the opponent’s side of the net.
The ball would also have been out if it had hit an opponent player in the free zone, so long as he/she was not attempting to prevent an opponent’s return of the ball to the other side of the net.
Rules 10.1.2, 10.1.2.2

Question 5

3.3
During a first hit the ball rebounded from one arm to the other and then on to the chest of a player during one action and without being caught or thrown. The 1st referee allowed the game to continue. Is this correct?

Answer 5

Ruling
The decision of the 1st referee was correct. “First hit” cases, in which successive contacts are allowed, are:
1. Reception of the service.
2. Reception of an attack hit. This can be either a soft or a hard attack.
3. Reception of a ball blocked by one’s own team.
4. Reception of a ball blocked by the opponent.
Rules 9.2.4, 9.2.3.2, 14.2

Question 6

3.4
After a block, can a player double contact the ball if in one action?

Answer 6

Ruling
A blocker has the right to successive contacts after a block, so long as he/ she makes only one action to play the ball. It is possible, however, to whistle a “catch” or “throw” on the first hit if two different phases (first catch, then throw) can be recognised within the action.
Rules 9.2.2, 9.2.3.2, 14.2

Question 7

3.6
A player jumped into the air trying to retrieve the ball near the spectator seats. After contacting the ball, he landed in the seats. Is this a legal action?

Answer 7

Ruling
Legal play. Outside his/her own side of the free zone, a player is allowed to play a ball and even take support to hit the ball. This would include his own team bench since this is outside the free zone.
Rules 9, 9.1.3

Question 8

3.7
During a rally, a player chased the ball into the spectator stands. Just as she was about to hit the ball, a spectator reached up to catch the ball. The coach requested a replay because of the spectator’s interference. The referee refused. Was this a correct decision of the 1st referee?

Answer 8

Ruling
Yes. The player is allowed to retrieve the ball from anywhere outside her own side of the playing area, including the team bench/ spectator seats, etc.
On the other hand, while the player has priority for the ball within the playing area, she has no such priority outside of the playing area.
Rules 9, 9.1.3

Question 9

3.9
A ball went off the blocker A’s head, over the antenna into the free zone of ‘B’. A player of ‘A’ pursued the ball to play it back to his side of the net. Is it possible to play it back like this?

Answer 9

Ruling
Yes. The ball passed over the antenna into the opponent’s free zone partially through the external space. Therefore it was legal for team ‘A’ to return the ball to its own court through the external space on the same side of the court. Line judges should not signal while the ball moves in this way until the moment it is out of play.
Rule 10.1.2

Question 10

3.10.1(renumbered)
Should the line judge signal when after the second hit of a team the ball crosses the net plane through the external space into the opponent’s free zone?

Answer 10

Ruling
No. This ball could legally be played back with the 3rd hit of the team (or some fault could occur with opponents). It therefore remains in play.
Rules 8.4.1, 8.4.2, 9.1, 10.1.2, 10.1.2.1, 10.1.2.2

Question 11

3.10.3 (New)
Team A’s setter hit the ball above the net, so
that at the moment of the hit his/her fingers were in the opponent’s space. After the set the ball flew parallel to the net toward an attacker. The blocker of team B touched the ball in team A’s space, so that the team A player could not execute the attack hit. How should the 1st referee decide?

Answer 11

Ruling
According to Rule 9, each team must play the ball within its own playing area and space (except in the case of Rule 10.1.2).
Therefore, since the setter has hit the ball in the opponent’s space, the setter committed a fault. The blocker also committed a fault by touching the ball in the opponent’s space before the attack hit.
However, only the first fault is penalized.
Rule 9

Question 12

3.11
A spiker landed with his heels on the centre line, but with most of his feet on the foot of the opponent’s blocker, preventing his ability to move. Is this interference?

Answer 12

Ruling
Yes. Rule 11.2.1 states, “It is permitted to penetrate into the opponent’s space under the net, provided that this does not interfere with the opponent’s play.” Interference means a player stops an opponent from moving or playing the ball or disturbing the opponent while attempting to play the ball.
Rules 11.2.1, 11.2.2.1, 11.2.4

Question 13

3.12
Is physical contact always interference?

Answer 13

Ruling
No, many contacts actually occur in a match - but the 2nd referee should whistle an attacker if he/ she interfered with or stopped the opponent’s ability to play.
Rule 11.2.1

Question 14

3.14
The setter reached above and beyond the plane of the net and set the ball, so that his attacker could make an attack hit. The 1st referee whistled the play as a fault. Is this play illegal?

Answer 14

Ruling
The decision of the 1st referee was correct. Above the top of the net, a player must contact the ball on his own side (except if blocking).
A similar play under the net is different. Here the play is illegal only if the ball has completely crossed the vertical plane of the net.
Rules 9, 11.2.1

Question 15

3.15
After a simultaneous contact above the plane of the net, the ball landed outside the court of team A. Who gets next service?

Answer 15

Ruling
If the contact is truly simultaneous by opponents, and the ball lands outside of the court, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side. Team A get service.
Rules 9.1.2.2, 9.1.2.3

Question 16

3.27
A served ball hit the net just under the white band at the top of the net. When should the 1st referee whistle?

Answer 16

Ruling
Whistle the instant it is clear the ball will not cross the net through the crossing space. The 1st referee must not wait until the ball hits the floor or a player of the serving team.
Rule 12.6.2.1

Question 17

3.28
The scorer indicated to the game captain incorrect information about who was to serve. Later this was noticed. What should happen now?

Answer 17

Ruling
Common sense must prevail in resolving this case. Therefore, the team should not be penalized for the incorrect server. The match scores return to the point of the administrative error.
Decision of Rules of the Game Commission

Question 18

3.29
Team ‘A’ served. The ball hit the net and dropped towards the floor on ‘A’s’ side of the net. A player of ‘B’ reached under the net and caught the ball before it hit the floor. Is this allowed?

Answer 18

Ruling
Yes – the 1st referee must whistle immediately the ball fails to cross the net. At this moment the ball is out of play.
Rule 12.6.2.1

Question 19

3.31
Instead of setting the ball to a teammate, a back row setter, within the front zone, decided to tip the ball across the net. The ball was completely above net height at the hit. Can this ball be blocked by reaching completely over the net?

Answer 19

Ruling
Yes - this was an attack hit by the back row player. As soon as the ball was touched by the blocker, the illegal attack hit was completed.
Rules 13.1.1, 13.1.3, 13.2.2, 13.3.3

Question 20

3.32
On a second hit, a player passed the ball near the net towards the opponent’s court. In the 1st referee’s opinion, no player of ‘A’ could possibly reach the ball. The blocker of ‘B’ reached across the plane of the net and blocked the ball. What is the correct decision of the 1st referee?

Answer 20

Ruling
Even though it was only the second team hit, if the ball is moving in the direction of the opponent’s court, it is an attack hit. Because, in the referee’s opinion, no player of ‘A’ could possibly have reached the ball, the block of ‘B’ was legal.
Rules 13.1.1, 14.3

Question 21

3.33
A back row player took off in the front zone and as a second hit spiked the ball which was completely higher than the top of the net. The ball rebounded off the net and did not cross to the opponent. Is this a fault?

Answer 21

Ruling
No. Since the ball neither crossed the plane of the net nor was contacted by the blocker, the attack hit was not completed. The rally continues.
Rules 9.1, 13.1.3, 13.2.2, 13.3.3

Question 22

4.1
Three substitute players entered the substitution zone. After the request was recognized and acknowledged by the scorer, the coach decided to make only two substitutions. What is the procedure for the 2nd referee?

Answer 22

Ruling
This is legal as long as this does not cause a delay. Therefore the 2nd referee simply carries out a double substitution.
Rules 15.10.2, 15.10.3a, 15.10.4, 16.1

Question 23

4.2
One substitute player entered the substitution zone while another one was just leaving the warm-up area to try to enter the substitution zone. How many substitutions should be allowed under the current rules?

Answer 23

Ruling
The moment of the request is the entrance of the substitute player(s) into the substitution zone. In this case the 2nd referee should grant only the one for the player who entered the substitution zone. The second request should be rejected as improper.
Rules 15.10.3a, 15.10.3b, 15.11.1.3

Question 24

4.3
A substitution was “requested” by a team, by sending the player into the substitution zone. Because the player was not ready to play (wrong paddle/ no paddle/ track suit, etc), his team was sanctioned with a delay warning and the substitution was rejected. As soon as the delay sanction was applied, the team again requested the substitution. Was it allowed to make this second request during the same interruption?

Answer 24

Ruling
The substitution was not legal and therefore not allowed. As the first request for substitution was rejected, the team was not authorized to request a second consecutive substitution in the same interruption. At least one rally must be completed before there can be another request for substitution by the same team.
Rule 15.3.2

Question 25

4.4
The substitute player entered the substitution zone with the wrong “numbered paddle” for substitution. He fumbled to get the correct one. The 1st referee awarded a delay sanction, but allowed the substitution. Is this the correct response by the 1st referee?

Answer 25

Ruling
Not correct. In FIVB, World an Official Competitions, the substitute player must enter the substitution zone with the correct “numbered paddle”. Thus, the request for substitution by the team must be rejected, and a delay sanction must be awarded.
Rules 15.10.3a, 16.1.1, 16.2

Question 26

4.5
If a substitute steps into the substitution zone just as the whistle sounds for service, should the 2nd Referee permit the substitution?

Answer 26

Ruling
Generally this situation is a typical case of improper request: reject and allow the game to continue.
However, if the game has been stopped due to this request (the player on court goes to the substitution zone or the teams wait for the referees’ decision, etc.) it should be considered as delay. The substitution should not be granted, and a sanction for delay will result.
Rules 15.10.3a, 16.2

Question 27

4.6
Player #8 entered the substitution zone with paddle #10. The coach insisted on the substitution with #9. After a short discussion, the 2nd referee rejected the substitution and the team was sanctioned with a delay warning. Was the decision correct?

Answer 27

Ruling
The decision was correct. The substitution of #8 and #10 would have been legal. However, the coach insisted on the substitution of #8 for #9. Because the wrong paddle was shown and this caused a delay, the referee correctly sanctioned the team for delay. Substitution should be rejected. Rules 16.1.1, 16.2

Question 28

4.7
A player became injured and had to be substituted exceptionally. During the same interruption, the team requested an additional substitution. The 2nd referee accepted the request.
Was the 2nd referee’s decision correct to accept the request?

Answer 28

Ruling
Yes, the decision was correct.
The first player had to be substituted by an exceptional substitution due to injury. The team still had the right to REQUEST a substitution in the same interruption.
Rule 15.7

Question 29

4.8
A starting player was substituted, then returned to court - but became injured and was not able to continue in the match. Who can substitute for this player?

Answer 29

Ruling
Even though the player cannot be substituted by a legal substitution, he can be substituted exceptionally by any player not on court, except the Libero or his replacement player. This is recorded in the score sheet but does not count as one of the six allowed substitutions.
Rules 15.7

Question 30

4.9
A player listed on the line-up sheet was injured before the start of the match. Can he be substituted before the match?

Answer 30

Ruling
Yes – but it should be shown formally by the coach’s substitution signal and recorded on the score sheet as a regular substitution.
Rules 7.3.2, 7.3.4

Question 31

4.10
Player #7 of team ‘A’ was found to be on the court when he should have been on the bench. Team ‘A’ had used the allowable six team substitutions. Since there were no legal substitutions remaining, what was the proper procedure to be used by the officials?

Answer 31

Ruling
Since team ‘A’ had an incorrect line-up, the procedure given in Rule 15.9.2 should be the following:
a. Point and service for team ‘B’.
b. The substitution must be rectified. #7 has to be removed from the set and the correct player must return to the court. This correction does not count as regular substitution.
c. All points scored by team ‘A’ while #7 was in the game illegally must be cancelled, but the score of the opponent’s team will remain as it is.
d. There is no further penalty for team ‘A’.
Rule 15.9.2

Question 32

4.11
After team ‘B’ had used five substitutions, two substitute players entered the substitution zone. What is the proper response of the 2nd referee?

Answer 32

Ruling
The 2nd referee has to remind the coach that only one substitution will be possible and ask the coach which one will be made.
Provided there is no delay, the other substitution will be rejected as an improper request which is marked in the score sheet.
Rules 15.5, 15.6, 15.11, 16.1

Question 33

4.12
No.5 returned to court. Then he became injured and had to be substituted exceptionally. However, the coach wanted the Libero replacement player to do this. Is this allowed?

Answer 33

Ruling
No. The Libero replacement player cannot substitute for No.5
Rule 15.7

Question 34

4.13
A team requested two substitutions. When checking the substitutions, the scorer indicated that the first of the requests for substitution was legal and the other request for substitution was illegal. What is the proper response of the 2nd referee?

Answer 34

Ruling
The 2nd referee allows the legal substitution to take place. The illegal substitution must be refused no matter in which order the substitute players approach the side line. The request for an illegal substitution must be sanctioned with a “delay sanction”. If the delay is the first, only a warning is issued; others are penalized.
Rules 15.6, 16.1.3

Question 35

4.15
A substitute player was standing in the substitution zone, ready to enter. However, the player on court initially refused to leave the court. Is this delay? Should the substitution be refused?

Answer 35

Ruling
Yes, it is delay.
However, the substitution this time should be allowed:
Where the substitute player is not ready and causes a delay, the correct application of the rule is to reject the substitution and give a sanction to the team for delay.
However, the player in play caused this special case, and the substitute player did not cause the delay.
Rules 16.1.1, 23.2.3

Question 36

4.17
Player #6, ready to play, entered the substitution zone during an interruption. The scorer acknowledged the request by using the buzzer. At that moment the coach changed his mind and ordered the player back into the warm-up area. Should the substitution have been applied and what should have been the correct procedure of the referees in this situation?

Answer 36

Ruling
The request for substitution was correct and already acknowledged by the scorer in using the buzzer. Due to the request, the game was stopped. It is not obligatory to apply the substitution, but the procedure caused a delay and should be sanctioned.
Rules 15.10.3a, 15.10.3c, 16.1.1

Question 37

4.19
If a scorer presses the buzzer for substitution by mistake (after whistle for service/ player doesn’t enter substitution zone), should the team be charged with an improper request?

Answer 37

Ruling
Since the fault is made by the scorer, this should not be considered either as improper request or as a delay.
Rules 15.10.3a, 15.10.3c

Question 38

4.21
During an interruption, the receiving team ‘A’ requested a substitution. During this interruption, team ‘B’ was penalized, which caused team ‘A’ to rotate one position. After this, team ‘A’ requested a new substitution. Is this possible?

Answer 38

Ruling
This is currently not possible, because there is no completed rally between the two requests. A completed rally is the sequence of playing actions which results in the award of a point. The point by a penalty cannot be considered as a completed rally; therefore, the request for the second substitution is not legal.
Rule 15.2.2

Question 39

4.24
Which comes first – an automatic Technical Time out or a request for time out by a coach?

Answer 39

Ruling
A TTO has to be granted before a regular game interruption. If after the TTO the coach wanted to have also a normal TO, he should request this again.
Rule 15.4.2

Question 40

4.25
Can a team request a substitution before AND after a time out, all taking place in the same interruption in play?

Answer 40

Ruling
No – while two Time outs can be called by the same team in the same interruption, two successive substitution requests are NOT allowed and should be considered as improper request.
Rules 15.3.1, 15.3.2, 15.10.3a, 15.11.1.3, 25.2.2.6

Question 41

4.26
A coach made a third request for time-out which was granted by the 2nd referee. At that moment the scorer realized that it was the third time-out for this team and notified the 2nd referee about this. What is the proper procedure for the officials?

Answer 41

Ruling
Normally this is improper request – but here an actual delay occurred. So reject or immediately curtail the Time out. Players return to court. The Game Captain is informed of the actual delay and a delay sanction is applied.
Rules 15.11.1.4, 16.1.5, 25.2.2.6

Question 42

4.30
Prior to the start of the third set of a match, the 1st referee whistled the teams to enter the court. One team did not react. When they were too slow to respond, the 1st referee issued a delay warning to them.
The team then entered the court. Was this the appropriate action by the 1st referee?

Answer 42

Ruling
Yes, the 1st referee acted correctly. The teams must be summoned to take their positions on the court. If they do not react, the 1st referee must issue a delay warning to them pointing to the wrist with the yellow card, and this must be recorded on the score sheet. If the team still did not react, a delay penalty, indicated by a red card, would have been given. If this also proved to be ineffective, it would have been judged a refusal to play, the team would have been declared to be in default and the match would have been forfeited. In such a case, the score would have been recorded as 0:3 (0:25, 0:25, 0:25).
If a team is returning slowly to the court after a time-out, the same procedure should be followed.
Rules 6.4.1, 16.1

Question 43

4.34
What is the correct response of the 1st referee if spectators interrupt the match?

Answer 43

Ruling
The 1st referee should stop the match and the organizer or the Control Committee should take steps to re-establish the order. This interruption should be recorded on the score sheet.
Rules 17.2, 17.3

Question 44

5.3
Can the Libero be allowed to enter the match by a regular substitution procedure in place of an injured player?

Answer 44

Ruling
No. The Libero is not allowed to participate in any substitution, regular or exceptional.
Rules 15.5, 15.7, 17

Question 45

5.5
Can a Libero replacement take place at the same time as a substitution?

Answer 45

Ruling
Yes – because the “replacement” is not a “substitution” and vice versa.
Rules 15.3.2, 19.3.2, 19.3.2.8

Question 46

5.6
The Libero replacing the player in position 1 did it after the referee’s whistle for service but before the service hit. What is the proper response by the 1st referee?

Answer 46

Ruling
If it occurred first time in the match, the 1st referee should allow the rally to continue uninterrupted. After the rally, he/she should advise the game captain that this is not a correct procedure. Subsequent late replacements should trigger delay sanctions immediately, interrupting the rally. The Libero replacement remains valid, however.
If the replacement has been made after the service hit, the 1st referee should whistle this as a positional fault.
Rule 19.3.2.5

Question 47

.7
A team applied an illegal Libero replacement, but it was noticed before the service hit was made. How should this be handled?

Answer 47

Ruling
If noticed before the next service, the 2nd referee will use the whistle to call back the player. The illegal replacement will be cancelled and the team will be sanctioned for delay.
Rules 19.3.2.9, 23.2.3

Question 48

5.9
While running after a ball, the only Libero (replacing No.4) injured his leg muscle and could no longer play.
The coach then decided that he wanted player No. 4 to become the re-designated Libero.
Is this possible?

Answer 48

Ruling
Not directly. The coach may re-designate a new Libero from one of the players not on the court (replacement player excepted) at the moment of the request for re-designation.
If the coach wants player #4 to be the new Libero, #4 at first has to return to court and be substituted legally. Then he/she can be re- designated as the new Libero.
Rules 19.1.3., 19.3.2.2, 19.3.2.8, 19.4.2

Question 49

5.11
A mistake by two players led to the Libero/ replacement player leaving the court briefly (this event had not yet been recorded the Libero control sheet) – but they corrected the mistake immediately themselves. Is this counted as a replacement?

Answer 49

Rule 19.3.2.1 states that there must be one rally between two Libero replacements. This was an obvious mistake but should not be counted as a fault.
Rules 19.3.2.1, 19.3.2.2

Question 50

5.13
During the official warm-up the team’s single Libero was injured. Can the captain become the new Libero?

Answer 50

Ruling
If the team has two Liberos, the coach may replace the injured active Libero immediately by the second Libero. If the second Libero becomes injured, or if the team only has one Libero, the coach may re-designate a new one from one of the players not on the court at the moment of the re-designation.
While it is true that the Libero cannot be team or game captain, the team captain can give up his position and all rights and duties linked to it, in order to play as the re-designated Libero.
Rules 5, 19.2, 19.3.2.8, 19.4.2.5.

Question 51

5.16
The Libero of a team became injured during the match, and the 2nd referee authorized the medical doctor, with the coach in attendance, to be on the court for checking the seriousness of the injury. They decided to take the Libero out of the court and send the replaced player back on the court. After he/she was led off the court, the Libero claimed he/she had recovered and insisted on returning to the court to play. The referees allowed the Libero to go back on the court and to resume the match. Was this correct?

Answer 51

Ruling
No, it should not have been allowed. Even though it was the case of injury, the Libero could be replaced through a regular replacement. Also, the Libero still has the right to participate in the match until he/she is declared unable to continue (Rule 19.4.2).
Thus, this situation was a mistake because two consecutive replacements took place without any rally in between. This is a case for illegal Libero replacement. By the actual rule, at the moment of the 2nd replacement the referee should reject it and the 1st referee should issue a delay sanction.
Rules 19.3.2.1, 19.3.2.8

Question 52

5.15
The Libero was replaced by a normal player. After the service, a reserve ball penetrated into the playing court, and the rally was stopped.Libero attempted to replace the player in position #6. The 2nd referee called him back.
Is this a correct action by the 2nd referee?

Answer 52

Ruling
Yes, it was. This is a typical case for illegal Libero replacement, because there was no completed rally between two Libero replacements. At the moment of the 2nd replacement the 2nd referee should reject it, and the 1st referee should issue a delay sanction.
Rule 19.3.2.1

Question 53

5.17
The Libero of team ‘A’ injured her arm during the match, and a new Libero was re-designated. The original Libero sat on the bench for the remainder of the match. Should this have been permitted?

Answer 53

Ruling
Yes. The player was mobile, not providing any obstruction or danger to the teams.
This point is crucial to the ruling. The player should be permitted to stay on the bench. Had the player to be treated, the team doctor should have been advised to place the player behind the bench or in a place of safety outside the Competition-Control area.
Diagram 1a and Definitions; Rule 19.3.2.8

Question 54

5.18
When can two Libero replacements take place in the same interruption?

Answer 54

Ruling
Normally there has to be a completed rally between successive Libero replacements. However, in the case where a PENALTY to the opponent would force the Libero to rotate to position four, it is permitted, as the situation is not of the team’s choosing.
Rule 19.3.2.1

Question 55

5.22
Two players tried to block an opponent’s attack and jumped at the net. Between them the Libero also jumped, but didn’t reach at any time with any part of his body higher than the top of the net. Nevertheless the 2nd referee whistled this as block attempt. Was this decision correct?

Answer 55

Ruling
The decision was not correct. Because the Libero didn`t reach at any time with any part of his body higher than the top of the net, his jumping could not be considered as a block attempt.
Rules 14.1.1, 14.1.2, 14.1.3

Question 56

6.4
Between sets a penalty (red card) for rude conduct was given by the 1st referee to a member of Team ‘A’ which had the first service for the next set. What happens next?

Answer 56

Ruling
Sanctions imposed between sets are set against the next set. Thus, before the first service, the 1st referee should signal the penalty for team A. The team B gains one point, rotates and serves.
Rule 21.5
If there is an occasion in which there are penalties to both teams, the serving team is penalized first, and then the receiving. The following is a summary of infractions which occur between sets, the penalties for which must be recorded on the score sheet:
 Warning against a player of the serving team (yellow card). No penalty, but must be recorded on the score sheet.
 Warning against a player of the receiving team (yellow card). No penalty, but must be recorded on the score sheet,
 Penalty (red card) against a serving team player only. The receiving team gains a point, rotates and gains the service.
 Penalty (red card) against a receiving team player only. Point awarded to the serving team.
 Penalties (red cards) against each team no matter in which order.
Award a point for the receiving team,
This team rotates one position, and will then be penalized with point and service to the opponent.
The original serving team rotates one position and starts to serve with the second player in the service order. The score is 1-1. The score is counted only when each team has been penalized. Thus, a double penalty at the score of 24-25 would not end the set at 24-26, but the score would be 25-26.

Question 57

6.7
A player was expelled directly from the court with no prior warning
How should we regard a subsequent minor misconduct from any other member of the same team?

Answer 57

Ruling
The 1st referee should normally try to prevent a team from reaching the sanctioning level. However, should a clear case of offensive conduct be committed in the first instance, the referee must expel the player without a previous sanction. (red and yellow card showed jointly) The 1st referee may issue a warning to other team members after the expulsion – but once the yellow card is shown, it may not be shown again to any member of the team.
Rule 21

Question 58

6.8
After the match one team captain showed very unsportsmanlike behaviour against the 1st referee.
What is the correct procedure of the 1st referee?

Answer 58

Ruling
The player must still be sanctioned in some way. However, for FIVB events, since the match is regarded as not finished by the last whistle of the referees, the behaviour of the team captain must be reported to the Game Jury, and the details of the misconduct recorded in the REMARKS box of the score sheet, The FIVB Control Committee has a range of sanctions at its disposal, including suspension from the Competition.

Question 59

7.6
After a request for a third time out was refused, the coach changed his/her mind and sent a player for substitution. Is this allowed?

Answer 59

Ruling
Provided there was no whistle for service, the request for substitution should have been allowed as proper – only the time out was improper. However, the improper request for Time Out should be recorded on the score sheet.
Rules 15.1, 15.2.1, 15.11, 16.1, 16.2, 24.2.6, 24.2.7

Question 60

7.8
During a time-out a coach met with his/her entire team in the very back corner of the free zone near the warm-up zone. Is this permitted?

Answer 60

Ruling
Rule 15.4.4 states that the team must “go to the free zone near their bench” during a time-out. The 2nd referee should tell the team to go near to their bench.
Rule 15.4.4

Question 61

9.1 Ex, See 3.42
The back row setter in the front zone attacked the ball completely higher than the top of the net. Simultaneous with his/her contact of the ball, the opponent blocker reached across the plane of the net and contacted the ball in a blocking action.
What was the correct decision by the 1st referee?

Answer 61

Ruling
The correct decision is to call a double fault.
The attack hit by the back row setter was illegal. The simultaneous block by the blocker was also illegal, because the hit was done in the attacker’s team space.
If the contact by the blocker had been after the contact by the setter, then only the attack hit by the setter should have been a fault.
If the simultaneous contact had occurred ABOVE the net, where both teams have the right to play the ball, only the attack hit by the setter should have been a fault.
Rules 13.3.3, 14.3, 14.6.1, Diagram 7

Question 62

9.8 Ex (New)
Team “A” requested a substitution. The substitute player just entered into the substitution zone ready to play with numbered card, when the 1st referee was about to give the signal for the next service of team “B”. Neither the scorer, nor the 1st referee realized that the substitute player was already close to the sideline. The 2nd referee, waving her hands, sent back the player to the team bench. The 1st referee whistled for the service and the rally continued.
Was this situation handled correctly?

Answer 62

Ruling
The situation is complex. Although the substitute player entered into the substitution zone a little bit late, the request was still in correct time, before the whistle for the next service. Based on this the team made no fault, and cannot be sanctioned.
The 1st referee is obliged to check before his authorization for next service, if the teams want to request any game interruption. He was not attentive enough in this, missing this duty.
The scorer was also not attentive enough, missing the entering player and not pushing the buzzer to acknowledge the substitution request, which was correct.
The 2nd referee has the right to whistle at a substitution, when there is no buzzer sound or the scorer is inattentive.
With a better collaboration by 1st referee or a more definite attitude by the 2nd referee such situations can be avoided.

Question 63

9.20 Ex (see substitution cases)
The coach of ‘B’ requested a time-out. The 2nd referee whistled for it.
The 1st referee did not hear the 2nd referee’s whistle and he authorized the service by ‘A’.
The 2nd referee whistled again to allow the requested time-out. Amidst some confusion, the 1st referee awarded a delay warning to ‘B’.
Later in the same set, a server of ‘B’ was sanctioned for delaying the game. This second delay sanction for ‘B’ in the same match resulted in a delay penalty and gave ‘A’ a point. This was point 24 and took team ‘A’ to match point which they subsequently won.
Team ‘B’ vehemently protested against the delay sanctions.
Were they justified in their protest?

Answer 63

Ruling
Team ‘B’ had a good reason to protest.
In instances in which the referees have had a genuine misunderstanding, the team should not be penalized. Thus the first delay warning was probably not justified.
Had this been the case, the second instance would have merited only a delay warning and the protest of ‘B’ would have never taken place.
On the other hand, team ‘B’ should have registered their right to file a protest at the time of the first delay sanction. Once they fail to do this, they give up the right to protest against the decisions of the 1st referee.
Rule 5.1.2.1

Question 64

9.23 Ex
The referee decided team ‘B’ would serve for the next rally. Immediately ‘B’ substituted player #1 by player #9. Meanwhile the 1st referee changed his decision due to the line judge’s signal and gave the rally to ‘A’. Realising this situation, the coach of ‘B’ requested to delete the substitution and rectify the line-up. The 2nd referee permitted this and the game continued with the “original” line-up of ‘B’.
Was this procedure correct?

Answer 64

Ruling
Since the 1st referee changed his decision, which was the basis of ‘B’s’ substitution, in the spirit of the game the coach’s request could be accepted. No substitution would be charged against this team.

Question 65

9.24 Ex, see 4.27
During a rally a player received a blood injury. After the end of the rally the 1st referee called him/her and instructed him/her to ask for immediate medical help to stop the bleeding, because it is forbidden to play with a still bleeding wound. The treatment lasted about one minute. After the bleeding was stopped, the game continued. Was the procedure by the 1st referee correct?

Answer 65

Ruling
It is not allowed to play with a bleeding wound, independent of the seriousness of the injury. Referees have to stop the game immediately after realizing the nature of the injury and instruct the player to ask for a medical intervention. The team is not obliged to substitute the player. Therefore it was an acceptable procedure by the 1st referee to give neither a delay sanction nor to ask the team for a game interruption.
Decision of the Medical Commission of FIVB