Rules & Regulations

Volleyball Official's Uniform Guide-2023

HOSTING A “PINK” EVENT

BALL: May be pink & white or pink, white, and another color. No waiver necessary. Ball must have NFHS authenticating mark.

UNIFORM:    Since volleyball does not have home and away uniforms, either or both teams may wear pink. Uniforms must meet NFHS requirements (Rule 4-2) including legally positioned numbers (Rule 4-2-4).        No advertising or slogans are allowed on the uniform. "Dig Pink" or other trademark phrases are not allowed since they are considered advertising. Additionally, the WIAA has a "clean jersey" policy, and therefore the pink ribbon symbol is not allowed on the jersey.

If the uniform tops are t-shirts which have been donated, the athletes must either pay for them or return them to the school when the event is finished. Failure to follow this requirement jeopardizes the amateur status of the athletes.

SOCKS, SHOES, AND WRISTBANDS: Are not covered by NFHS/WIAA rules so may be pink.

HAIR CONTROL DEVICES: Provided they adhere to Rule 4-1-5, may be pink.

FUND RAISING: From the Eligibility Page FAQ:  I am a high school girls basketball coach. Our girls basketball team would like to hold a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society this coming season and I just want to check that how we plan on doing it will not violate any WIAA rules. Here's our plan, our fundraiser will be based on how many free throws the girls varsity team makes during the season. Each player will solicit funds or donations based on the free throw made. People could donate a lump some or could donate X amount per free throw made. As an example last year we made 205 free throws, if you pledged a dollar per free throw, you would be donating $205 at year end for the team to donate to the American Cancer Society. No funds are kept by or for the team. 

Answer: While we appreciate the causes which our schools and athletes support, I recommend that you find a different method to raise funds. The WIAA Board of Control has made it clear that fundraisers connected to performance in competition are NOT allowed. Both from the sportsmanship perspective, as well as from the “paid to perform” and or gaming/gambling end of things, it is a not a good idea and not allowed. Your plan would be allowed in a practice setting.

OFFICIALS: May participate by using a pink whistle or wearing a pink wristband. Wearing a pink officiating uniform, shoes, or socks, would not be allowed.

Line Judge Duties and Responsibilities

Line Judge Signals

2025 Season Questions

Question 1:  What do you we do when the entire visiting team has not arrived for the coin toss or start of the pre-game warm up?  The rulebook and casebook only seem to outline what to do when a team has less than 6 players.

Answer: This can happen, especially with the current shortage of bus drivers/transportation.  If a team/school is proactive and calls ahead indicating they are indeed going to be late due to reasons beyond their control, it is preferred that the team is still given their full warm up and the match starts late WHENEVER POSSIBLE.  If the visiting team has not communicated with the host, officials can begin the pregame warm up 20 minutes before the match is scheduled to start, pause the clock when the team arrives for the pre-match conference and coin toss, then continue the remaining warm up time.  If there is no communication from the visiting school and the match is scheduled to start, per NFHS Rule 6-2-2 the team has fewer than six eligible players to start the match, a forfeit will be declared.

Question 2: The WIAA Tournament regulations changed this year indicating the top-seeded team is the home team (when there is a tie in seeds, the first team alphabetical is home).  At neutral sites during the regular season, who is considered the home team?

Answer: The Tournament regulations are indeed for the tournament (regionals and sectionals) only.  During the regular season, home team determination is left to local control and at invites should be determined in pre-event information and reinforced at the coaches meeting.  As a default, the first team alphabetical, as determined for competitions with a tied seed in the tournament, can be used.

Question 3: Can we use two different liberos in the same set in our matches?

Answer: No, current NFHS rules (6-4-2) only allow one libero to be designated and used in each set.  

Question 4: NFHS rule 2-1-5 indicates the attack line needs to be solid and of one clearly visible color.  A school as an attack line on their main floor that (a) has a segment of a different color,  or (b) is shadowed.  The event management is told they cannot tape the line as it will damage the floor or void the floor warranty.  Can we play on the court? 

Answer: To be compliant with the rule, these type of attack lines should be taped to be one solid color.  However, after some investigation there are many playing surfaces across the state that are indeed out of compliance with this rule.  As we navigate the issue, for the 2025-26 season, as long as there is a visible attack line on both sides of the court, we will allow play to continue with multi-colored or shadowed lines.  If officials discover floor markings that are out of compliance with this rule, please report them to the office but allow play to continue.  

Question 5: After an obvious double contact on the second hit by Team A, the ball trajectory went toward the net but didn't cross the plane.  Team B reached across the plane of the net in an attempt to block the ball and in doing so touched the net for what would be a net violation.  Does the official call the net violation on Team B or the the double contact as the next contact was indeed by the opposing team?

Answer: There would be a net violation on Team B.  Since the ball did not cross the plane of the net, the double contact was not illegal and the play should have continued for Team A.  

Question 6: Once rosters sheets are submitted, can they be given back to the head coach if the lineup sheet is on the same document?

Answer: Coaches can be given their roster/lineup sheet back IF the following requirements are met per NFHS rule: the roster is provided to the R2 after the pre-match conference and provided to the scorekeeper, is returned to the scorekeeper with completed lineups at least two minutes prior to the end of the prematch warmup (1 minute prior to the start of subsequent sets), and the roster/lineup sheet is left at the table for the duration of play of each set.  

NFHS Rule Interpretation 2025 #1

NFHS Rule Interpretation 2025 #2-Ball Handling

NFHS Rule Interpretations 2025 #3-Libero Replacement

NFHS Rule Interpretations 2025 #4-Compression Sleeves, Jewelry

NFHS Rule Interpretations 2025 #5 - Uniforms

NFHS Rule Interpretations 2025 #6 - Roster/Lineup

NFHS Rule Interpretations 2025 #7 - Net Play

NFHS Rule Interpretations 2025 #8 - Overhead Obstructions

NFHS Rule Interpretations 2025 #9 - Libero Rules

Questions and Answers from Previous Seasons

Wisconsin Adaptations to NFHS Rules -- Print and place in your rules book for reference.