1 Originally created by Malissa Williams, revised by Tom Craig Adapted by Al Cleary (Used with Author’s Permission) Version Jul 13

2 PLAYER POSITIONS Rule 6, Section 4, Article 1 In order to understand this rule you must know the names, abbreviations, and actual positions on the floor of the different players positions. The positions of players in order of serve shall be RB, RF, CF, LF, LB, CB.

3 LF CF RF LB CB RB NET FROM THE SERVER RB - I Right Back RF - II Right Front CF - III Center Front LF - IV Left Front LB - V Left Back CB - VI Center Back SERVING TEAM IIIV V VI III I

Service Order: RB, RF, CF, LF, LB, CB 4 LF CF RF LB CB RB NET I RB II RF III CF IV LF V LB VI CB Team Roster & Line Up IIIV V VI III I

5 The receiving team lines up one back for the first serve of each set ONLY because they have to rotate when they win a rally and are awarded the serve and then the RB will be the first server. PLAYER POSITIONS Rule 6, Section 4, Article 1 The positions of players in order of serve shall be RB, RF, CF, LF, LB, CB.

Service Order: RF, CF, LF, LB, CB, RB Used for the start of a set only 6 LF CF RF LB CB RB NET The first server for the receiving team (for the start of the set ONLY) will be the RF because they have to rotate when they win a rally and get the serve. I RF II CF III LF IV LB V CB VI RB II IV V VI III I Team Roster & Line Up

7 R2 LINE UP CARD I I V I I I V V I I 36c SERVE ORDER PLAYER NO. Libero 4 GAME 1S or R TEAM LINE UP S 36c BLUE - C CL: 4 T1 T

8 THE SERVE Rule 8, Section 2, Article 1 The first server of the set is the right back position of the serving team. Thereafter, when a team is awarded a loss of rally, the player in the right front position rotates to serve. The RF on either team is always the next player listed after the last server (RB). In this system, the R2 makes a mark on their line up card (LUC) each time a player begins a term of service. (Not mandatory but highly recommended). How do you know who the 3 front row players (RF-CF-LF) are if you don’t know who served last (RB)? For this class we will only be using position names, in your own chapter, referees need to learn how check player positions using the line up card and players numbers.

9 HOW TO CHECK PLAYER POSITIONS Before the start of almost every rally it is necessary for the R2 to check that players on the receiving team are in their correct positions and that there are no illegal alignments or over lapping. How does the R2 do this ? They use the R2 LUC. They find out who served last, the RB. The next 3 numbers after that number are the 3 front row players (RF-CF-LF). The next 3 numbers listed are the 3 back row players (LB-CB-RB). Find the last server, get the front 3 off your LUC and check them on the court, then get the back 3 off your LUC and check them on the court. This should take about 10 seconds, then put your LUC card down and watch play. Using a LUC is a DEAD BALL SKILL. SOME EXAMPLES

10 Last Server ? Front 3 ? Back 3 ? 36c RB LF CF RF LB CB BLUE - C C L: 4 S EXAMPLE - 1 First round of serves

11 Last Server ? Front 3 ? Back 3 ? 36c RB RF CF LF LB CB BLUE - C C L: 4 S EXAMPLE - 2 First round of serves

12 Last Server ? Front 3 ? Back 3 ? 36c RB RF CF LF LB CB BLUE - C C L: 4 S EXAMPLE - 3 Second round of serves

13 Last Server ? Front 3 ? Back 3 ? 36c BLUE - C C L: 4 S EXAMPLE - 4 Third round of serves

14 R2 LINE UP CARD 36c RF CF LF LB CB RB BLUE - C C L: 4 GOING FROM THE CARD TO THE COURT R

NET BLUE RECEIVING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE

AT THE MOMENT OF SERVE 16 All players, except the server and including the libero, shall be within the team’s playing area and may be in contact with boundary lines or the center line, but may not have any part of the body touching the floor outside of those lines. This is usually determined by the position of the players feet touching the floor.

17 OUT OF BOUNDS LEGAL or ILLEGAL IN BOUNDS Side Line or center line

18 OUT OF BOUNDS LEGAL or ILLEGAL IN BOUNDS Side Line or center line

19 R2 MECHANIC The violation can only be whistled once the ball is contacted for serve and at that moment, a player is touching the floor out of bounds or across the center line.

20 PLAYER POSITIONS - RIGHT Rule 6, Section 4, Article 3 b. Each right-side player shall have at least part of one foot touching the floor closer to the right sideline than both feet of the center player in the corresponding row (except the server and the center back of the serving team). In an actual match, you would use the R2’s line up card to find out the players numbers that are right side. In the examples that follow we will only use position names. AT THE MOMENT OF SERVE

21 Right side players must be closer to the right sideline than the center player in their corresponding row. LF CF RF LB CBRB NET LET’S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES

22 CFRF LEGAL ILLEGAL RIGHT SIDE LINE or

23 CF RF LEGAL ILLEGAL RIGHT SIDE LINE or

24 CF RF LEGAL ILLEGAL The RF must have at least part of one foot closer to the right sideline than the CF, even IS NOT closer. RIGHT SIDE LINE or WHY ? ? But don’t go looking for trouble here, if they are very close to even and you can’t be absolutely sure, let it go.

25 CF RF LEGAL ILLEGAL RIGHT SIDE LINE or

26 PLAYER POSITIONS - LEFT Rule 6, Section 4, Article 3 b. Each left-side player shall have at least part of one foot touching the floor closer to the left sideline than both feet of the center player in the corresponding row (except the server and the center back of the serving team). AT THE MOMENT OF SERVE

27 LF CF RF LB CBRB NET Left side players must have at least one foot closer to the left sideline than the center player in their corresponding row. LET’S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES

28 CF LF LEGAL ILLEGAL LEFT SIDE LINE or

29 CF LF LEGAL ILLEGAL LEFT SIDE LINE or

30 CF LF LEGAL ILLEGAL The LF must have at least part of one foot closer to the left sideline than the CF, even IS NOT closer. LEFT SIDE LINE or WHY ? ?

31 CF LF LEGAL ILLEGAL LEFT SIDE LINE or

32 PLAYER POSITIONS - FRONT and BACK ROW Rule 6, Section 4, Article 3 b. Each front-row player shall have at least part of one foot touching the floor closer to the center line than both feet of the corresponding back row player. In a real match you would use the R2’s line up card and players numbers to determine front & back row players. In these examples, we will only use position names. AT THE MOMENT OF SERVE

33 LF CF RF LB CBRB NET Front row players must have at least one foot in contact with the floor closer to the center line than their corresponding back row player. CENTER LINE

34 In the following examples the same rules apply to the following pairs: LF - LB CF - CB RF - RB We will only be showing examples of the CF and CB LET’S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES

35 CF CB LEGALILLEGAL CENTER LINE WHY: One part of the CF’s foot is closer to the center line than both feet of the CB

36 CF CB LEGAL ILLEGAL CENTER LINE or WHY ? The CF must have at least part of one foot closer to the center line than both feet of the CB, here the CF is obviously behind the CB.

Rule 6, section 4 states that players must be properly aligned with the players in front and in back of them and to the left and right of them in corresponding rows. Another term for players in corresponding rows and positions (left to right and front to back row) is adjacent players. 37

Illegal alignment (overlapping) only occurs between adjacent players. The arrows below show adjacent players. 38 LF CF RF LB CB RB NET

Players that are not in in corresponding rows or positions are NOT adjacent and cannot be illegally aligned with each other. 39 LF CF RF LB CB RB NON ADJACENT PLAYERS CAN OVERLAP EACH OTHER

40 RB LF CF RF LB LEGAL The CB is in front of the LF LEGAL They ARE NOT adjacent ILLEGAL Front Row Back Row LET’S CHECK THEM CB Front & Back

41 Must be Player Aligned with RB RF CF LF LB CB CF, LB, RB LF CF RF LB CBRB NET ADJACENT PLAYERS - 3.b. FRONT ROW NOTICE: the LF and CB ARE NOT adjacent, therefore the CB CAN be in front of the LF Adjacent players are circled

42 ADJACENT PLAYERS Now let’s look at each player position and who they must be properly aligned with.

43 Must be Player Aligned with RF CF, RB CF LF LB CB RB LF CF RF LB CBRB NET RIGHT FRONT

44 Must be Player Aligned with RF CF CB, LF, RF LF LB CB RB LF CF RF LB CBRB NET CENTER FRONT

45 Must be Player Aligned with RF CF LF LB, CF LB CB RB LF CF RF LB CBRB NET ADJACENT PLAYERS - 3 LEFT FRONT

46 Must be Player Aligned with RF CF LF LB LF, CB CB RB LF CF RF LB CBRB NET LEFT BACK

47 Must be Player Aligned with RF CF LF LB CB CF, LB, RB RB LF CF RF LB CBRB NET ADJACENT PLAYERS - 5 CENTER BACK

48 Must be Player Aligned with RF CF LF LB CB RB RF, CB LF CF RF LB CBRB NET RIGHT BACK

49 PLAYER POSITIONS Rule 6, Section 4, Article 3 c. After the ball is contacted for serve, players may move from their respective positions. Why do players move ? Usually a team moves to get into better offensive or defensive positions; setter, middle blocker, outside hitter, opposite hitter, defensive specialist, etc. How do you check players positions quickly and accurately ?

50 LEGAL LF CF RF LB CB RB LET’S CHECK THEM FRONT ROW BACK ROW ILLEGAL or FRONT to BACK R1R2

51 LF CF RF LB CB RB The RB does not have at least one foot closer to the right sideline than the CB LEGAL ILLEGAL or LET’S CHECK THEM FRONT ROW BACK ROW PROBLEM R1R2

52 LF CF RF LB CB RB The RB does not have at least one foot closer to the right sideline than the CB LET’S CHECK THEM FRONT ROW BACK ROW PROBLEM LEGAL ILLEGAL or NO NEED TO CHECK FRONT & BACK R1 R2

53 LF CF RF LB CB RB LEGAL ILLEGAL or LET’S CHECK THEM PROBLEM NO NEED TO CHECK ANY MORE The LF does not have at least one foot closer to the left sideline than the CF BACK ROW IS LEGAL FRONT ROW R1R2

54 LF CF RF LB CB RB LEGAL ILLEGAL or LET’S CHECK THEM All players are in legal positions FRONT ROW BACK ROW FRONT to BACK R1 R2

55 LF CF RF LB CB RB LEGAL ILLEGAL or LET’S CHECK THEM FRONT ROW BACK ROW FRONT to BACK Stack Left Offense R1R2

56 LF CF RF LB CB RB LEGAL ILLEGAL or LET’S CHECK THEM FRONT ROW BACK ROW FRONT to BACK PROBLEM NO NEED TO CHECK ANY MORE The LF does not have at least one foot closer to the left sideline than the CF R1R2

57 LF CF RF LB CB RB LEGAL ILLEGAL or LET’S CHECK THEM FRONT ROW BACK ROW FRONT to BACK PROBLEM NO NEED TO CHECK ANY MORE A common MS mistake R1R2 The LF is not closer to the left sideline than the CF

58 R2 MECHANIC Blow the whistle, you are already on the side of the offending team, give the signal. and indicate which players are aligned illegally. Give their numbers and positions.

Once the ball is contacted for serve and you have an illegal alignment. Blow your whistle to stop play. (Receiving team is out of position). As the R2 you are already on the receiving side for the serve, so there is no need to move, give the signal with the arm on the offending side (your outside arm). Before you tell the coach the exact violation, you may want to verify with the table that you have kept up correctly with the last server. You can ask the table, “42 should be the next server, correct ? “ Then turn to the coach and tell them the violation as follows. # 15 the CF is closer to the right sideline than # 34 the RF. Your front row should be 34, 15, 20. It was 15, 34, 20. Make the signal for Loss Of Rally, Point to the other team. EXAMPLE 59

It is probably one of the hardest rules to understand and call correctly and call with confidence. 60

It is pretty easy to judge player positions/alignments using position names such as: RB, RF, CF, LF, LB, CB. 61 In a real match, player’s jerseys do not have their position names on them ? Their jerseys have numbers on them and their position changes on every rotation.

NET LFCFRF LB CBRB

NET LFCFRF LB CBRB

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