1-8 New: This rule clarifies when music and sound effects may be used and prohibits the use of artificial noisemakers at all times.

Rationale: Provides direction to host management, coaches and officials as to when music and sound effects are appropriate during a match to prevent interference with play. Prohibiting artificial noisemakers minimizes interference with play and unsporting action by spectators.

4-1-6 New Penalty: The wearing of jewelry is prohibited in warm-ups and competition. A player observed wearing jewelry in warm-ups is directed by the official to remove the jewelry with no further penalty unless refusing to remove the item.

Rationale: Players are prohibited from wearing jewelry during warm-ups and competition for purposes of risk minimization. This penalty further clarifies that should a player be observed wearing jewelry during warm-ups he/she is directed to remove the jewelry with no further penalty unless the player does not comply thus resulting in unsporting conduct.

4-2-1d New: Bare midriff tops are prohibited and the uniform top shall be tucked in or hang below the waistband of the uniform bottom.

Rationale: The wearing of uniforms intended to expose the midriff of a player is inappropriate for interscholastic volleyball. When standing upright and wearing the uniform as intended by the manufacturer the midriff shall be covered.

4-2-4c: The rule will now permit more than one color to be used in the trim surrounding the uniform number. Either the color of trim or the body of the number shall be in sharp contrast to the uniform top to make the number clearly visible.

Rationale: This change is an effort to make some specific numbers which are clearly visible as a result of the sharp contrasting trim surrounding the number or the body of the number itself legal. The change will not expand the options to include numbers that are not clearly visible.

5-1-2: Broadens the existing restrictions for officials on the use of electronic devices related to making decisions on the game.

Rationale: With the advancement in technology, the restrictions relating to officials making game decisions based on TV monitoring and replay need to become more broad to address other electronic devices in existence and those on the horizon. The game officials are to make decisions without assistance from electronic and replay devices.

5-2-1 Note 2 New: Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year the state association adoption note to modify officials' uniforms shall be deleted from the body of the rules.

5-2-1 Note 3 New: The individual state association may make a temporary adjustment in the official's uniform and permit the wearing of black shorts to address heat related issues.

Rationale: Today's volleyball officials' uniforms consist primarily of the uniform requirements in Rule 5-2-1 of a white collared polo shirt, black slacks, black shoes and socks. The state adoption was previously included as the uniform was in transition from the stripe shirt which is no longer prominent. To provide for consistency in appearance for all officials the state association adoption is removed from the rules effective in the 2009-2010 season. States continue to have the option due to extreme hot, humid weather in the early part of the season to permit black shorts to be worn.

6-3 Penalty 2 New: Penalty for an illegal libero replacement found in the game is a loss of rally/point and considered illegal alignment.

Rationale: This change in the penalty clears up that whenever an illegal replacement is found in the game the result is illegal alignment. The game is about players being in proper position at the moment of serve. Thus, an illegal replacement in the game is an alignment infraction and not an unnecessary delay.

6-3-2e New: Rule 6-3-2e allows the libero to serve in one position in the serving order.

Rationale: Creates an additional avenue for the libero to participate fully while in the back row. The team may now receive full benefit of the libero being a defensive specialist by no longer requiring the player to sit out while another player serves who is to be replaced by the libero for back row play. Many times the libero is one of the better servers on the team and the better serving will enhance over play in the game.

5-6-3c New, 9-6-5d, 10-4-1a and c: Accompanying rules related to replacement, responsibilities of the assistant scorer and libero player action are changed to reflect the eligibility for the libero to serve.

Rationale: As a result of the libero being eligible to serve, various rules are changed to coincide with this rule change.

7-1-2: The requirement for the method of submitting the lineup is changed to a listing of the uniform number of the starting players in proper serving order and no longer uses a player floor position method.

Rationale: Scorers sometimes have a difficult time accurately transferring the order of the lineups to the scoresheet when the starters are listed in floor position. By listing numbers in serving order the lineup coincides with the scoresheet and will minimize problems transferring the lineup to the scoresheet.

8-1-5: A libero replacement shall not take place during a re-serve.

Rationale: A re-serve is part of a single attempt to serve and a team(s) has already had the opportunity for a replacement. This change is consistent with requests for substitutions, time-out and line-up check all of which may not occur during a re-serve.

9-5-4: A back-row player is treated the same no matter what circumstances. It is now illegal anytime a back-row player on or in front of the attack line contacts the ball completely above the height of the net and completes an attack or the ball is legally touched by an opponent.

Rationale: This clarifies that anytime the back-row player on or in front of the attack line contacts the ball completely above the height of the net and completes an attack or the ball breaks the plane and is legally blocked it is illegal, back row attack.

10-2-1: Deleted listing the conditions for when the head coach may stand from under the procedure for substitution as all conditions for the coach standing are listed in Rules 12-2-5 and 6.

Rationale: The statement is not needed in this portion of the rules and should be deleted from substitution procedures. The conditions for when the head coach may stand are addressed in Rules 12-2-5 and 6.

10-4-1f, 10-4-2c: The libero replacement shall be completed prior to the whistle and signal for serve.

Rationale: This deadline is consistent with requests for time-outs, substitutions and line-up check. The deadline will assist in game administration by having all court players in place prior to the whistle and signal for serve.

10-4-3: A libero replacement can take place once a time-out is completed and all players have returned to the court.

Rationale: Provides clarity that a libero replacement cannot occur during the time-out but may take place after the time-out is completed and the players have returned to the court and prior to the whistle/signal for serve.

10-4-Penalty 1: Clarifies the penalties for an illegal libero replacement entering the game as an unnecessary delay and being found in the game after the whistle/signal for serve as illegal alignment (loss of rally/point).

Rationale: Separates the two penalties which apply to an illegal libero replacement based upon the timing of the whistle/signal for serve.

12-2-6: Specifies the head coach shall be seated once the referee extends his/her arm in preparation to whistle/signal for serve.

Rationale: Gives direction to the coach and official as to when the coach should be seated after providing instruction to the players. The change allows the official to then direct all of his/her attention to the game as the signal for serve is initiated.

Official's Mechanics Signal #17-Point: The mechanics and point signal are changed to indicate point and team to have next serve to extending the arm in the direction of the team that will serve, palm perpendicular to the floor. (Whistle, signal violation, point)

Rationale: With rally scoring there is no longer a need to signal point. Each end of rally results in a point for the team being awarded the next serve. The revised signal will indicate the team to serve next which is also the team to receive the point