FROM THE DELTA REGION OFFICE:
The insurance folks correctly decreed we shouldn't be allowing players to leap into the crowd to save a ball, nor should we allow them to jump over a barrel, run over the R2 and the opposing bench to play a ball back under the "pursuit" rule. A minimum of 2 meters (about 6 1/2 feet) of clear court space (which would be a consistent court surface--not SportCourt to concrete) to allow the pursuit rules. R1s should cover this topic in pre-match captains' meetings to avoid misunderstandings. When in doubt about the safety of allowing the pursuit rule, it should not be permitted during a match. The "old" rule of one foot in contact with the playing surface at the time a ball over a non-playable area is contacted remains in effect.
On advice from risk managers, the following rule interpretation has been
authorized by the Chair of the Rules Testing Commission and the USA Volleyball
Rules Interpreter. All sanctioned USA Volleyball events, national and regional,
will follow this interpretation/
The USAV Clarification for Rule 10 (located in a box at the top of page 32 of the
2004-2005 Rules) as been changed to delete: “This is a change for 2005. The
ball may, however, be retrieved from beyond the free zone.”
The replacement statement reads:
“Players may play the ball over a non-playable area if they have a body part in
contact with the playing area at the time the ball is contacted. They may enter
the non-playing area after playing the ball. Non Playing areas are defined as the:
(1) walls, bleachers or other spectator seating areas; (2) team benches and any
area behind the team benches; (3) area between the scorekeeper's table and
team benches; and (4) any other area outlined in the pre-match conference by
the first referee [Rule 24.2.5]."
Statements labeled a. and b. in USAV 10 remain the same and are copied below.
a. If nets or dividers are separating courts, only the player attempting to play the
ball may move the net or divider to play the ball.
b. When competition is scheduled or is occurring on adjacent court(s), it is a
fault for a player to enter the adjacent court(s) to play a ball or after playing a
ball. The free zone, including the service zone on an adjacent court, is a
playable area.
2004-2005 USAV RULES
By Ben Jordan - Rules Testing Commission Chair
By now many of you have received the USAV 2004-2005 rule book and have noticed a difference. After strong requests from FIVB, our rule book is now the FIVB rule book with clarifications and modifications for USAV play. In the process of making this change, a few things slipped past us. The ones we have noticed are mentioned below. If you find others, please email me at btjordan@tampabay.rr.com. Please make the following corrections to the new rule book:
The USAV Clarification for Rule 10 (located in a box at the top of page 32 of the 2004-2005 Rules) has been changed to DELETE: "This is a change for 2005. The ball may, however, be retrieved from beyond the free zone." The replacement statement reads:
"Players may play the ball over a non-playable area if they have a body part in contact with the playing area at the time the ball is contacted. They may enter the non-playing area after playing the ball. Non Playing areas are defined as the: (1) walls, bleachers or other spectator seating areas;(2) team benches and any area behind the team benches; (3) area between the scorekeeper's table and team benches; and (4) any other area outlined in the pre-match conference by the first referee [Rule 24.2.5]."
Statements labeled a. and b. in USAV 10 remain the same, that is, they are still part of the USAV Clarification for Rule 10.
Significant Rule Changes and Clarification - Rule 12.1.2 (page vxiii) - disregard this statement. USAV 12.1.2 (page 36) is correct.
Rule 24.3.3 (page 62) and Rule 25.3.3 (page 64) - Disregard these rules - for USAV-sanctioned play, the first and second referees do not sign the scoresheet at the end of the match. Also, we will continue to use the current USAV scoresheet.
Rule 22.3 Sanction Scale (pages 56 and 57) - please add the following USAV clarifications after the appropriate rule:
USAV 22.3.2.1 When facility space does not allow for a penalty area, a team member who is sanctioned by expulsion shall not play for the rest of the set and must leave the playing area, bench and warm-up area for the remainder of the set.
USAV 22.3.3.1 When facility space does not allow for a penalty area, a team member who is sanctioned by disqualification must leave the playing area, bench, warm-up area and spectator area for the remainder of the match.
2.1 Height of the Net (page 6) - correct all of the age groups listed under USAV 2.1 to read ".and under" instead of ". and above"
