NFSHA MODIFICATIONS TO USA RULES
(updated 01/01/2001)
| ITEM | USA | PARK BUREAU | FEDERATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLOCK/SPIKE OF SERVE | CANNOT BLOCK OR ATTACK A SERVED BALL ABOVE THE HEIGHT OF THE NET | CANNOT BLOCK OR ATTACK A SERVED BALL ABOVE THE HEIGHT OF THE NET | LEGAL |
| CEILING HEIGHT | ALL BALLS LIVE | ALL BALLS LIVE | ALL BALLS LIVE |
| TIMEOUTS | ONLY 2 | ONLY 2 | 3RD, AS TEAMS REACH 14-14 |
| BACKROW BLOCKING | LEGAL,IF BALL NOT TOUCHED | LEGAL, IF BALL NOT TOUCHED | ILLEGAL ACTION |
| COIN TOSS | OPPOSITE TEAM CALLS LAST GAME | HOME TEAM CALLS ALL TOSSES, IF HOME TEAM HAS NO SCOREBOARD, VISITORS WIN ALL TOSSES | VISITING TEAM CALLS ALL TOSSES |
| CENTERLINE CROSSING | LEGAL OUTSIDE OF SIDELINE BOTH THE FOOT AND PALM CAN BE ON OR ABOVE THE CENTER LINE | LEGAL OUTSIDE OF SIDELINE BOTH THE FOOT AND PALM CAN BE ON OR ABOVE THE CENTER LINE. | ILLEGAL EVEN IF OUTSIDE SIDELINE |
| MULTIPLE CONTACTS | LEGAL ON FIRST BALL, INCLUDING SERVE, AS LONG AS ONE ATTEMPT. FINGER ACTION IS ALLOWED. | LEGAL ON HARD-DRIVEN 1ST BALL, INCLUDING SERVE, AS LONG AS ONE ATTEMPT. FINGER ACTION IS ALLOWED. | LEGAL IF RECEIVING HARD DRIVEN SPIKE OR BLOCKING NO FINGERS, ONE ATTEMPT. |
| CONTACT WITH OPPONENT | LEGAL UNLESS INTENTIONAL | LEGAL UNLESS INTENTIONAL | ILLEGAL IF IT INTERFERES WITH PLAY OR INTENTIONAL |
| JEWELRY | ALL JEWELRY ILLEGAL | NONE WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY, OFFICIALS JUDGEMENT | ALL JEWELRY ILLEGAL |
| SUBSTITUTIONS | 12 TEAM SUB-RULE-3 ENTRIES | 12 TEAM SUB-RULE-3 ENTRIES | 3 ENTRIES-TEAM UNLIMITED |
| ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION | CHARGED TEAM DELAY IF PLAY AFFECTED | CHARGED TEAM DELAY IF PLAY AFFECTED | UNNECESSARY DELAY - TIME OUT CHARGED |
| INADVERTENT CONTACT WITH STANDARDS | LEGAL | LEGAL | LEGAL UNLESS DANGEROUS, NO CABLE CONTACT |
| INJURY | STOP PLAY-REPLAY DIRECTED PLAYER HAS 15 SECONDS TO PLAY ONE TIME OUT CHARGED IF PLAYER IS TO REMAIN IN GAME. IF RE-MOVAL CAUSES DELAY, NO TIME OUT CHARGED | STOP PLAY-REPLAY DIRECTED PLAYER HAS 15 SEC. TO PLAY ONE TIME OUT CHARGED IF PLAYER IS TO REMAIN IN GAME. IF REMOVAL CAUSES DELAY, NO TIMEOUT CHARGED | STOP PLAY-REPLAY DIRECTED NO TIME OUT CHARGED IF PLAYER LEAVES GAME. IF PLAYER STAYS IN GAME AND IS NOT READY TO PLAY IN 30 SECONDS FROM STOPPED PLAY - TEAM CHARGED TIME OUT AND 60 SECONDS GIVEN IF TEAM HAS LEGAL TIME OUT |
| MATCH | BEST TWO OF THREE OR THREE OF FIVE | ALWAYS PLAY ALL THREE GAMES | PLAY THIRD, IF REQUIRED FOR MATCH. |
| BALL | APPROVED BY USA WITH SPEC | OFFICIAL DETERMINES GAME BALL. TEAMS PROVIDE | ANY BALL WHICH MEETS FEDERATION SPECIFICATIONS |
| SCOREBOARD | SCORE BOOK OFFICIAL | HOME TEAM PROVIDES | IS OFFICIAL SCOREBOOK OFFICIAL |
| NUMBERS | NOT LESS THAN 6" ON BACK AND 3" ON FRONT | FRONT ONLY (OR USA) 1-99 NO OO'S; NOT REQUIRED | NOT LESS THAN 3/4" WIDTH BACK 6", FRONT 4" |
| OFFICIAL'S UNIFORM | WHITE SHIRT, BLUE PANTS | WHITE SHIRT, BLACK PANTS | WHITE SHIRT, BLACK PANTS |
| NUMBER OF PLAYERS | MUST ALWAYS HAVE 6 ON COURT | MAY PLAY WITH 5 IF COED, 3 WOMEN, 2 MEN | MUST START WITH 6, CAN PLAY WITH 5 |
| TALK TO OFFICIAL | CAPTAIN ONLY | TEAM CAPTAIN | CAPTAIN OR COACH |
| SERVE | CLEARLY VISIBLE-BALL TOSSED OR RELEASED | CLEARLY VISIBLE-BALL TOSSED OR RELEASED | HELD OR TOSSED OR DROPPED |
| BALL MOTIONLESS OVERHEAD | DEAD BALL | AWARDED TO TEAM ON OPPOSITE SIDE BALL LANDS | REPLAY, UNLESS 3RD HIT |
| PROTESTS | ALLOWABLE IF BEFORE NEXT SERVE | ALLOWABLE IF BEFORE NEXT SERVE | NOT ALLOWED |
| PRE-GAME CONFERENCE | CAPTAINS | CAPTAINS | COACH AND CAPTAIN |
| SHOES | PLIABLE SHOES | NO BARE FEET, EXCEPT OUTDOORS | NO BARE FEET |
| OFFICIAL'S AUTHORITY | AFTER COIN TOSS | ENTERS GAME AREA | ENTERS GAME AREA |
| SERVICE AREA | ENTIRE BACK LINE | ENTIRE BACK LINE | ENTIRE BACK LINE |
| NET TOUCHES | INADVERTENT TOUCHES OK | INADVERTENT TOUCHES OK | INADVERTENT TOUCHES OK |
| SERVE RECEIVE | SET ATTEMPTS ARE LEGAL, PROVIDING THE BALL DOESN'T COME TO REST | SET ATTEMPTS ARE LEGAL, PROVIDING THE BALL DOESN'T COME TO REST | SET ATTEMPTS ARE LEGAL, PROVIDING THE BALL DOESN'T COME TO REST |
| LET SERVE | SERVE IS LEGAL IF IT HITS THE NET AND GOES OVER | SERVE IS LEGAL IF IT HITS THE NET AND GOES OVER | SERVE IS LEGAL IF IT HITS THE NET AND GOES OVER |
| DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST (LE BERO) |
LEGAL IN THE BACK ROW. COED TEAMS MUST STILL OBEY COED RULES. TEAM CAN ONLY USE ONE PLAYER PER MATCH AS LE BERO. | LEGAL IN THE BACK ROW. COED TEAMS MUST STILL OBEY COED RULES. TEAM CAN ONLY USE ONE PLAYER PER MATCH AS LE BERO. | LEGAL IN THE BACK ROW. COED TEAMS MUST STILL OBEY COED RULES. TEAM CAN ONLY USE ONE PLAYER PER MATCH AS LE BERO. |