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Rules online
The following documents will be posted on this page in a few weeks. Please stop back then.
OHSBVA Rules Book 2008 The key rules document that parallels the NFHS Volleyball Rules Book. The OHSBVA rules exceptions are shown in bolded red.
NFHS Rule Changes/Points of Emphasis and OHSBVA Interpretation In addition to OHSBVA rule exceptions, there are new NFHS rules and rule changes along with points of emphasis and how they will apply to OHSBVA matches.
Rule Exceptions for 2008 This is the document that captures in one place the major OHSBVA rule exceptions in comparison to NFHS/OHSAA.
Points of Emphasis for 2008 There are a series of issues that have occurred this past season and/or over the past few seasons, and we wanted to offer guidance to officials regarding these.
Short Rules Comparison OHSBVA Differences This document captures the differences between OHSBVA rules and NFHS/OHSAA rules and also compares the rules to NCAA and USA Volleyball rules. The document contains commentary on OHSBVA differences in a way that will benefit a USAV or PAVO official looking to officiate under OHSBVA if the official does not also officiate NFHS/OHSAA girls high school volleyball.
Full Rules Comparison: PAVO/NCAA versus USA Volleyball versus NFHS/OHSAA versus OHSBVA This document is the same format as the short version above but it details each rule comparison that is published by PAVO to show differences for many, many rules and procedures. The document contains commentary on OHSBVA differences in a way that will benefit a USAV or PAVO official looking to officiate under OHSBVA if the official does not also officiate NFHS/OHSAA girls high school volleyball.
Guidance for OHSBVA Officials 2008 This document offers some guidance regarding attending meetings, officiating garb, getting assigned matches, etc.
Requirements/Expectations for Officials This document covers some of the expectations that the OBSVCA has of its officials.
Officiating Boys High School Volleyball This is a document for a new official to cover every anticipated kind of question that might arise in preparing to officiate. With an index included, the document lends itself to researching items of interest, even for experienced officials.
Establishing Standards for Calling Hands The greatest controversy that occurs in most matches involves ball-handling judgments, setting the level that allows teams to play and calling what has to be called, leading to consistency that allows teams to know what will be called a fault and what will be allowed to play. This document offers guidance from experts on how to achieve that elusive consistency while calling the game in a way that conforms to the skills that coaches teach their players.
Pre-Match Task Checklist What do I need to remember to do before each meeting is answered by this simple checklist.
Pre-Match Discussion Checklist What do I need to discuss with my partner is covered by this simple checklist. Failure to discuss some of the suggested topics may result in unnecessary problems during a match.
Line Judge Instructions [Line Judging for OHSBVA: Summary of Responsibilities, Detailed Calls and Signals] How do I instruct my line judges and what do I cover? By reviewing the detail in this document, you help prepare yourself to not only instruct your line judges but to have your matches be the full beneficiary of the types of help that line judges can offer, if only instructed the right way!
Line Judge Quick Reference Training Sheet for Referees This quick sheet can help the referee remember issues to cover when reviewing duties with line judges pre match.
Line Judge Guidelines (2-page PowerPoint showing LJ positions and responsibilities) This document is an excellent summary with visual guidance that explains to line judges what is expected of them.
NFHS Official Volleyball Signals: Volleyball Signal Chart This chart that is provided in the NFHS Volleyball Rules Book and is used for OHSAA matches applies equally to OHSBVA matches. It contains the standardized signaling for each situation that arises during a volleyball match.
OHSBVA Official Volleyball Signals This document contains the verbiage that accompanies and explains the NFHS Official Volleyball Signals. It is up to date, including the new point signal and covers some items that have not yet been clarified by the NFHS.
Mechanics of Officiating OHSBVA Volleyball Matches The Mechanics referred to in this document relate to how officials should signal and how line judges should signal with or without flags. Hand signals must clearly communicate faults and results.
Proper Mechanics and Techniques for OHSBVA: Detailed Descriptions This document shows appropriate mechanics and signaling, signal by signal, for easy reference. It contains the most up-to-date techniques for officials to utilize.
How and When to Use Official Volleyball Signals This document contains guidance on when signals should be used and comments about some points that need clarification.
Player Number Hand Signal Options The umpire is required to signal the numbers of the captains to start each game and when the floor captain leaves the court as well as the number of a player committing a net foul, the number of a player committing a centerline fault and the number of a player whom the umpire wants the referee to issue a card to. This document provides information on how to signal numbers in a standardized manner and has been forwarded to the NFHS for consideration.
Non-Deciding Game Scoresheet (page 3) Be sure to print out and carry a copy with you. You never know when you might need one (to have copies made)!
Deciding Game 3 Scoresheet (page 4) Switch at 13 Be sure to print out and carry a copy with you. You never know when you might need one (to have copies made)!
Deciding Game 5 Scoresheet (page 5) Switch at 8 Be sure to print out and carry a copy with you. You never know when you might need one (to have copies made)!
Roster/Lineup
Sheet - Lineup in Player Floor Positions (page 1): This is
the standard form that has been used for several years, showing players
in their starting floor positions along with the opportunity to list a libero
number. This contains an optional lineup sheet that may be used in lieu
of showing players in serving order. Regardless, the scorer and assistant
scorer as well as the umpire must ensure that the lineups are recorded correctly
in serving order.
Match Roster/Starting Lineup: Lineup Submitted in Serve Order This is a new roster and lineup sheet that reflects the 2007-08 NFHS change reflecting that lineups must be submitted in serve order. Coaches are free to use this approach or player floor positions.
Libero Tracking Sheet (page 2) Be sure to print out and carry a copy with you. You never know when you might need one (to have copies made)!
Scorekeeping Manual 2008 This document is a compilation of guidance from the NFHS Rules Book and Case Book/Manual and provides guidance on what should be done and when in terms of scorekeeping and libero tracking.
Scorekeeping Tutorial This document walks a scorer through a typical game. It is intended as a review for officials to ensure they understand what to expect of the official scorer and libero tracker and how to interpret a scoresheet to try to fix scoring problems.
Libero Replacement Procedure 2008 The timing of libero replacements and the penalties for an illegal libero replacement have changed. This document addresses how the NFHS rule change applies to OHSBVA matches.
Penalties for Illegal Libero Replacements Penalties for illegal libero replacements changed for NFHS for the 2007-2008 volleyball season. This document address how the penalties were designed and how officials are expected to enforce the rules.
OHSBVA Complaint Resolution Process This document has two parts. First, it shows the action steps that will occur when an Incident Report is filed, including how to file the report and the timing for such filing, and the philosophy behind the complaint resolution process, including a commitment to fairness/due process for affected parties.
Incident Report This is the document to be used by an official, coach, AD, or other affected party to address an issue requiring a formal review in relationship to OHBVA volleyball matches. The form is not limited to an official addressing behavior on the part of a coach or player that requires a formal review or a coach/AD asking that an officials behavior be addressed. It is intended as a generic form to be used, as needed, when special circumstances require something to be reviewed for possible action that the action taken during a match was seen as insufficient to address.
Setting the Tone for a Match and Sustaining It This document offers some general guidance to officials on how to approach officiating assignments and how to conduct themselves in a way that is both professional and personal, making each officiating assignment the opportunity to have student-athletes, coaches, partners, support staff, fans and other interested parties come away feeling as if the match was conducted by human beings who enjoyed offering their officiating services to benefit the young people.
Establishing Your Comfort Zone Volleyball officiating is all about establishing comfort for all participants. This document addresses how an official can go about establishing comfort in the interest of creating a fair and safe playing environment for everyone.
Screening Issues in OHSBVA Matches Screening has become an on-going issue that surfaces as a problem from time to time and needs to be addressed in a standard manner. This document frames the issue of screening in terms of officials responsibilities, how to handle in a responsible yet facilitative manner, communication and the responsibility of coaches to not teach screening and to address it reasonably when the issue arises in a match.
Committee Report for OHSBVA The Committee Report is parallel to the NCAA/PAVO Committee Report in which the focus is on an issue review of ball-handling judgment and the philosophy that can effectively guide officials to offer greater consistency in calling hands for OHSBVA matches. This document challenges OHSBVA officials to more fully understand their responsibilities and how to fulfill them while avoiding unnecessarily intruding into matches.
Volleyball Officiating Advisories have been developed on the topics shown below. These are intended to offer guidance to officials on issues that have proven challenging over the past few years.
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 1: Illegal Participations
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 2: Injury Management
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 3: What Is an Attack and What Is a Block?
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 4: Use of the Lineup Card by the Umpire
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 5: Requesting a Time-out to Review the Referee
Decision/Rule Interpretation on the Immediate Preceding Rally
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 6: Coach Standing on a Live Ball
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 7: Legal versus Illegal Back-Row Plays
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 8: Interpreting Play at the Net
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 9: Libero Plays
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 10: Interpreting an Inadvertent Whistle or Horn
Volleyball Officiating Advisory 11: Ball Hitting Top of Net/Tape with a Block Up
Use of Informal Signals Informal signals are the life-blood of an effective officiating partnership. This document reviews the available signals and how they can contribute to getting calls right.
Dealing with Illegal Alignment/Overlaps Recognizing defensive and offensive player positioning that does not comply with rotational rules is the key to prevention (where possible) and appropriately penalizing (when necessary). Relying upon a lineup card (umpire only) or not, both match officials have to be able to effectively address player positioning and to understand which players are front and back row on any given play, especially setters. This document provides some basic reflections on typical overlaps and how to spot them as well as the importance of tracking back-row players.