Proper Exchange of Court Procedure Between Sets
(Note: Players Do Not need to go to end line before changing courts.)
The NFHS Rulebook states on page 114, under Rule 9.2.3 “When directed by the first referee to change courts, the teams shall proceed immediately to their new team benches and the players shall proceed counterclockwise along the sideline past the standard to their new team benches.”
However Page 59 of the Casebook elaborates to state “5.4.4 SITUATION B: At the conclusion of the first set, the teams do not proceed to the end line when the first referee gives the end-of-set signal. They change courts by proceeding counterclockwise along the sidelines outside the standard to their new team benches. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Teams are no longer required to go to the end line at the end of the set. They are required to properly follow protocol by changing courts or proceeding to the team bench when indicated by the first referee.”
Excerpt From: NFHS. “2014-15 NFHS Volleyball Case Book and Manual.”
In the interest of preventative officiating it is suggested that you communicate these expectations to captains and coaches at the Pre-Match Conference. In light of the confusion currently surrounding this procedure, it is strongly suggested that it would be improper to penalize a team.