Team Lineup and Rotation Order

10.1 Team Lineup

10.1.1.1 A coach or playing captain for each team submits the team’s starting lineup to the second referee or scorekeeper on a lineup sheet. For the first set of the match, lineup sheets must be submitted no later than the three minute mark on the clock timing the pre-match warm-ups. For all other sets in the match, lineup sheets must be submitted at least 30 seconds before the expiration of the interval between sets.

10.1.1.2 Lineups must be submitted on a proper lineup sheet and signed by a coach. Lineup sheets for each team may be provided by the scorekeeper, or each team may provide its own.

10.1.1.3 Six players are listed on the lineup sheet in the floor position they will occupy at the start of the set. A team may also list one specialized defensive player called the “libero” on the lineup sheet for each set. (See Rule 12.) If a libero is not designated on the lineup sheet for a set, that team may not use a libero in that set. A player designated as the libero cannot play as a non- libero player in that set. (Exception: Rule 11.3.6.1.2.3 and Rule 12.3.2.1.) 10.1.1.4 One of the six starting players on the lineup sheet or the libero must be

designated as the playing captain.

10.1.1.5 Coaches must be designated on the lineup sheet for the first set of the match.

10.1.1.6 Once a lineup sheet has been submitted to the scorekeeper, players may not change numbers. (Exceptions: Rule 7.1.2.8, Rule 11.3.6.1.2.3, Rule 11.3.7.3.2 and Rule 12.3.1.1.3.)

10.1.1.7 For the first set, changes may be made to the lineup sheet after it is submitted without penalty or substitution until the one minute mark on the clock timing the pre-match warm-ups. After that point, changes may only be made to the starting lineup if a substitution is used to replace a starting player. For all other sets, no changes may be made to the lineup sheet once it has been submitted to the scorekeeper unless a substitution is used to replace a starting player. Errors made by the scorekeeper in recording lineups on the scoresheet may be corrected as necessary. Opponents will not be permitted to see the lineup submitted by the opposing team.

10.1.1.8 Players listed on the lineup sheets (except the libero) may be substituted before the start of play. A delay sanction is assessed to the team

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only if the substitution causes an unusually long or deliberate delay. (See Rule 6.3.2.4.)

10.1.1.9 If a team submits its lineup sheet and lists a starting number that no team member is wearing, the team must substitute a player wearing a legal number into that position. The team is charged with a substitution.

10.1.1.10 If a signed lineup sheet is not submitted at the proper time, the team is assessed a delay sanction. (See Rule 10.1.1.1.) After an additional 30 seconds, if the lineup sheet has not been submitted, a delay penalty (team red card) is assessed. After each additional 30 seconds, if the team lineup sheet has not been submitted, another delay penalty is assessed. The set is defaulted five minutes after the proper submission time. If another set is required, the same process is used after the next interval between sets has concluded.

10.2 Rotation Order

Rotation order as determined by the starting lineup must be maintained throughout the set.

10.2.1 Number of Players

To begin a rally, six players per team must be on the court. Three players are front-row players and occupy position Nos. 4 (left player), 3 (center player) and 2 (right player). The other three are back-row players, occupying position Nos. 5 (left player), 6 (center player) and 1 (right player).

10.2.2 Rotation

When the receiving team gains the right to serve by winning a rally, its players must rotate one position clockwise (player in position No. 2 rotates to position No. 1 to serve; player in position No. 1 rotates to position No. 6, etc.)

10.3 Players’ Positions and Rotation

At the time the ball is contacted for the serve, each team must be completely within its own team court (except the server in position No. 1 on the serving team) in two rows of three players. The placement of players must conform to the service order recorded on the scoresheet as follows (the server is exempt from this requirement):

10.3.1.1 In the front or back row, the right-side player must have at least part of one foot closer to the right sideline than the feet of the center player in the corresponding row, and the left-side player must have at least part of one foot closer to the left sideline than the feet of the center player in the corresponding row. Each front-row player must have at least part of one foot closer to the center line than the feet of the corresponding back-row player. 10.3.1.1.1 The position of players is judged according to the location of

their feet in contact with the team court at the time the ball is contacted for service. An airborne player is considered to retain the status or position of the foot last in contact with the floor. The service zone is not considered to be a part of the court.

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10.3.1.1.2 The provisions of Rule 15.2.4.1 govern players in contact with the center line at the time of service.

10.3.1.2 After the ball is contacted for service, players may move from their respective positions.

10.3.1.3 On the lineup sheet for each subsequent set, the serving order may be changed, and those changes are recorded on the scoresheet.

10.3.2 Position Faults

The players of a team commit a position fault if they are not in their correct positions at the moment the ball is contacted by the server, including a player found to be illegally on the court (for example, excessive team entry) or entered in a wrong position in the service order.

10.3.2.1 The referee(s) signals a position fault as soon as the server contacts the ball for service. If the referee is unsure about a player’s position on the court, the referee may delay the decision and check the lineup sheet after the play has concluded. If a check of the lineup sheet reveals that a player was out of position, the fault may be called, even though recognized late. 10.3.2.2 A position fault is penalized with a loss of rally, and the players are

placed in their correct positions. Illegal players are replaced with no charged substitution. In addition, any player or team substitutions charged at the time of the wrong entry are removed from the scoresheet.

10.3.2.3 If the team at fault is serving or has just lost a rally, and the fault is discovered before the opponent’s serve, all points scored after the fault during that term of service must be canceled. In addition, all timeouts taken by the team not at fault as well as substitutions, libero replacements and team sanctions charged to either team after the commission of the position fault must be canceled. Individual misconduct sanctions and timeouts taken by the team at fault are not canceled.

10.3.2.4 If the team at fault is receiving and discovery is made after the opponents have served, all points previously scored by the offending team are retained. The serving team is awarded a point unless the error is discovered after the serving team has just scored a point; in this case, no additional point is awarded, the illegal player is replaced, and play continues without further penalty.

10.3.2.5 If it is not possible to determine when the error first occurred, the players are placed in their correct positions. If the offending team is serving, it is penalized with a loss of rally and only the last point in that term of service is removed. If the opponent is serving, it is awarded a point unless the play immediately preceding discovery of the illegal player resulted in a point.

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RULE 11