1 Originally created by Malissa Williams, revised by Tom Craig Version 35 July 15, 2015

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. In other words their first server is in RF because they have to rotate when they win a rally and are awarded the serve and then the RF will rotate to RB and 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 each 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 Entering Line Ups on the R2 LUC The rule and case books give several different methods about how the R2 should enter the team line ups on their LUC. It is highly recommended that the R2 enter the team line-ups in service order. So the player listed in position I for the receiving team will be the RF. This way all forms used in the match are the same 1)The team line up submitted by the coach 2)The official scoresheet 3)The libero tracking form 4)The R2s Line Up Card

8 R2 LINE UP CARD(LUC) 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

9 THE SERVE Rule 8, Section 2, Article 1 The first server of the set is the right back position. 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) on the LUC. In this system, the R2 makes a mark on their 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.

10 HOW TO CHECK PLAYER POSITIONS Before the start of 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

11 THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT USING A LUC Using a LUC is a DEAD BALL SKILL. You should never be looking at your LUC while play is going on, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER

12 Using a LUC is a DEAD BALL SKILL. When you use a LUC, no matter how you use it, when play is going on you should have your hands down at your sides. If you have your arm up with your LUC in it, you will naturally tend to possibly look at it during play. AND YOU CANNOT DO THAT

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

14 36c RB RF CF LF LB CB BLUE - C C L: 4 S EXAMPLE - 2 First round of serves Last Server ? Front 3 ?Back 3 ? QUESTION ANSWER

15 36c RB RF CF LF LB CB BLUE - C C L: 4 S EXAMPLE - 3 Second round of serves Last Server ? Front 3 ?Back 3 ? QUESTION ANSWER

16 36c BLUE - C C L: 4 S EXAMPLE - 4 Third round of serves Last Server ? Front 3 ?Back 3 ? QUESTION ANSWER

17 R2 LINE UP CARD 36c RF CF LF LB CB RB BLUE - C C L: 4 GOING FROM THE CARD TO THE COURT FRONT ROW BACK ROW

18 SO THE R2 CHECKS PLAYERS IN THIS SEQUENCE, 36c RF CF LF LB CB RB BLUE - C C L: 4 GOING FROM THE CARD TO THE COURT FRONT ROW BACK ROW FIND THER LAST SERVER ON YOUR LUC, THE NEXT 3 NUMBERS ARE THE FRONT ROW, THE NEXT 3 NUMBERS AFTER THAT ARE THE BACK ROW

NET BLUE RECEIVING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE

AT THE MOMENT OF SERVE 20 All players, except the server, shall be within the team’s playing court and may be in contact with boundary lines or center line, but may not have any part of the body touching the floor outside of those lines. This is Determined by the position of a players feet touching the floor.

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

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

23 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.

24 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

25 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

26 CFRF LEGAL ILLEGAL RIGHT SIDE LINE or

27 CF RF LEGAL ILLEGAL RIGHT SIDE LINE or

28 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. Or better yet, just warn them.

29 CF RF LEGAL ILLEGAL RIGHT SIDE LINE or

30 PLAYER POSITIONS - LEFT Rule 6, Section 3, 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

31 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

32 CF LF LEGAL ILLEGAL LEFT SIDE LINE or

33 CF LF LEGAL ILLEGAL LEFT SIDE LINE or

34 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 ? ? 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. Or better yet, just warn them.

35 CF LF LEGAL ILLEGAL LEFT SIDE LINE or

36 PLAYER POSITIONS - FRONT and BACK ROW Rule 6, Section 3, 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

37 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

38 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

39 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

40 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. 41

Illegal alignment (overlapping) ONLY occurs between adjacent players. The arrows below show adjacent players. 42 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. 43 LF CF RF LB CB RB NON ADJACENT PLAYERS CAN OVERLAP EACH OTHER YOU SHOULD NOT CALL THAT

44 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

51 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

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

53 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 ? PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

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

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

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

57 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

58 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

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

60 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

61 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

62 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 as the R2 have an illegal alignment. Blow your whistle to stop play. As the R2 you are already on the receiving side during 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 red 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. The R1 will then make the signal for Loss Of Rally, Point to the serving team. 63

It is probably one of the hardest rules to understand and call correctly and call with confidence. 64

It is pretty easy to judge player positions/alignments using position names such as: RB, RF, CF, LF, LB, CB. 65 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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