Earlier this year, the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules Committee met in Indianapolis proposing a new rule change that states players may contact the ball more than once with any part of the body in a single attempt on a team’s second contact when the ball is played to a teammate. If the ball is played over the net in this type of scenario, it would be ruled a fault, and the team would lose the point.
In the past, the officiating of such double contacts has sparked debates between coaches and officials during matches. NCAA Committee members proposed this rule change because the elimination of this judgment call can bring more consistency to the game through the promotion of the continuation of play in the game rather than more pausing and debate of calls.
Despite the committee thinking it will promote a more entertaining game, the rule change has many players upset because it eliminates a key aspect of the setter position. Previously, setters have had to spend countless hours practicing how to set the ball without putting any spin on it in order to prevent a double contact violation. However, now under this new rule change, the setter position may change in that the double contact on the ball is allowed.
Critics of the rule change look at it from the point of view that players have trained all their lives for a position and to see a rule change possibly devalue someone’s hard work is disheartening. On the other hand, many coaches and players understand the rule change and advocate for the committee in the best interest of promoting the continuity of the game.
Another significant rule change included in the NCAA’s press release on the rule change included the designation of two liberos for each set of the match, where only one libero would be allowed on the court at a time and be allowed to serve in one position. The rationale behind this change is to allow more players the opportunity to compete, further improving gameplay.
In addition to the approval of double contact and two liberos, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel also proposed allowing the referee to issue a red card to the home team in instances where spectators encroach the playing area and the host administration fails to resolve the issue. As for gameplay, interference above the net, whether or not an opponent was touched, is now challengeable in video review. Lastly, players are now allowed to wear small, snug-fitting nose rings and ear cuffs.
All of these rule changes will take effect beginning the 2024-2025 collegiate season.
