When it comes to competitive volleyball, the rules most commonly recognized are those set out by the FIVB (International Federation of Volleyball). Additional organizations in the United States include the likes of the USAV (United States Association of Volleyball) and NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). Each league may follow the FIVB rules or create their own version. Does your team handle its substitutions correctly?
How do substitutions work in volleyball? Indoor volleyball teams with 6 players on the court are allowed a max of 6 substitutions per set.
The volleyball substitution rules:
- Substitutes can replace players of the starting line-up only once per set.
- Substitutes must stand in the official substitution zone off of the court.
- Players can re-join the game only in his/her original position.
- Libero substitutions are unlimited but come with conditions.
- Correct timing must be used for substitutions.
Substitutions can get confusing as the number allowed per game can differ according to the level and league that is being played. The number of substitutions is also affected by whether you are playing best 2 of 3, or 3 of 5 for one match/game.
Of course, all of the substitution rules must be fully understood in order for a volleyball team to use them correctly. While volleyball teams consist of 12 players per team, only 6 play on the court at a time. The remaining 6 are the official substitutions.
Teams can only substitute players if they do so while abiding by all of the substitution rules. When a team does not adhere to the substitution rules, the result is a penalty – this can be in the form of a lost time out or a point awarded to the opposing team.
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FIVB Team Size & Substitution Limits vs USAV Team Size & Substitution Limits
Volleyball players have found that FIVB and USAV have different rules when it comes to how big a volleyball team can be and how many substitutions should be allowed per set (and the game as a whole). The FIVB states that volleyball teams can consist of a max of 12 players, but only 6 substitutions per set.
The USAV allows the same team size, but also allows a total of 12 substitutions per set. Unlike the FIVB that only allows a player to rejoin the game in his or her original position during a team’s rotation, the USAV allows teams to substitute the same player multiple times in one set. This is allowed as long as the 12-substitution limit is not exceeded.
Are you trying to become more strategic? Take a few moments to review How To Improve Your Volleyball Strategy
Volleyball Substitution Rules
Why are there substitution rules and does it hinder the game? Rules ensure that the game is fair. If substitutions could be carried out at any time and in any player-position combination, teams could be substituting non-stop.
If the rules are abided by, a team can use the substitution rules to their advantage. Whether strategic or for other reasons, it is important to know how to use substitutions legally.
Substitutes can be made one at a time or more than one player at a time, depending on the needs of the team. Consider the following FIVB rules and how they work:
1. Substitutes can replace players of the starting line-up only once per set.
The volleyball rule books state that when a player subs in for another, they must sub in for that very position, and can only be subbed in for that position. This means that players cannot change their original rotational position when used as a substitute for another player. This rule does not apply to libero substitutions.
2. Substitutes must stand in the official substitution zone just outside the court.
Where are substitutes on the court? Are they on a bench? In the waiting area?
The volleyball court has a special substitution zone where substitutes for the game in play must stand and be readily available if they want to be officially recognized. If they fail to do so, they will not be recognized as part of the game.
Substitutes who enter and leave the court for standard substitution have to cross the sideline between the center line and the attack line, in front of the scorer’s table.
For libero substitutes, it works a little differently. They can enter and exit the court in the area between the end line and the attack line.
If you are on the bench and planning to substitute, it is best to be nearby and actively watching the game. This will help you to play a better game if or when you are substituted for another player.
3. Players can re-join the game only in his or her original position.
The FIVB states that players who have been substituted do not have to sit out for the rest of the game. So substituting can be used strategically to have players perform different roles, not simply to take a player out for the entire game when they aren’t performing well.
The players can be substituted back into the game, but only back into their original position. What does this mean? It basically means that if you have 2 players that play one particular position and you have subbed them in at different times for that position during the set already, you cannot sub either of those players to other positions in the game/match.
If players re-join the game in different positions, it is considered illegal substitution which can result in penalties.
Are there ever any exceptions to this particular rule? Rarely, but yes. The only exception to this rule is if a player is injured on the court or has an emergency.
The team must first try to substitute the player legally, but if this is not possible, the team can proceed to an exceptional substitution. This is where another player can substitute for the position that is not their original position with the permission of the referee.
4. Libero substitutions are unlimited but come with conditions.
Libero positions have only been part of volleyball games since the late 1990s. Nowadays, they are a standard position in any indoor volleyball team.
Every team can have 2 dedicated libero players. The libero is a special position designed to be on the defensive while remaining in the back row for the duration of the game.
When it comes to substitutions and the libero, we use the term libero replacement. When a libero player is replacing a teammate, they can only play in the back row and must be replaced before rotating onto the front row.
The player that is in the libero position is not allowed to block, attack, or serve the volleyball. Because of this limited amount of play, libero positions can be substituted as many times throughout a volleyball game as a team wants to.
There is no limit. While there is no limit, there has to be a rally between two libero replacements.
The ball must be out of play when Libero substitutions take place. The second ref must also check the starting line-up before the libero can enter the court at the start of a set.
Can libero players be substituted normally too? No, libero players cannot be a part of regular substitutions and can only be substituted before the whistle is blown for service. If there is a need for late substitution, verbal consent needs to be given and sanctions may apply.
Learn more about the libero position in our Master Guide To Liberos.
5. Correct timing must be used for substitutions.
Should a substitution in a volleyball game be done at a specific time? When can a volleyball team handle substitution? Is permission required to go ahead with substitutions?
Teams are allowed to request subs during time-outs or at the very start of a set. Multiple players can be substituted at a time – you don’t have to send players on and off the court one at a time.
Before a substitution can go ahead, the referee has to give authorization on it, and the scorer has to make a note of the change. This is to help avoid illegal substitutions.
When it comes to libero player substitutions, the switch can be made during time-outs, before the service whistle, or before the start of the set. Of course, in the event of injury or emergency, untimed substitutions may have to take place and this is done with the permission of the referees.
To keep track of substitutions, the scorekeeper has to use a Volleyball Scorebook.
Last Word On Substitutions
Substitutions are quite simple to carry out if players are familiar with the rules. Is your team familiar with the current volleyball substitution rules? A referee will halt the game if any team gains an unfair advantage through illegal substitutions.
The game will also be noted if substitutions are poorly timed or the rules aren’t being adhered to. If you want to ensure that your team knows how to substitute correctly, practice it. It might not seem like a strategy that needs practicing, but it actually is, especially in the beginner levels of the sport.
Do you have questions about some of the words used in volleyball? Check out our post in Volleyball Terms, Stats, Acronyms & Abbreviations.
Photo credits:
Feature image by Dan Morgan on flickr.com: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, cropped.
Player #22 image by K.M. Klemencic on flickr.com: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Two pink substitutes image by Dan Morgan on flickr.com: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Yellow team image by Matt Sims on flickr.com: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
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