INDIANAPOLIS ---With the start of the 2004 season, secretary-rules editor Marcia Alterman and the NCAA Volleyball Rules Committee have outlined rules changes of interest for media and fans.

Media Equipment and Personnel . – Under the previous rule, media equipment and personnel were restricted from a 2-meter area around the court and from the playing area between the two attack lines extended on both sides of the court. The rule was changed for 2004 to establish a media area as within one meter of the boundary defining the playable area, and to clarify that media is not allowed on the playable surface in front of the team benches, score table, or warm-up area. Media is no longer restricted from between the attack lines on the first referee’s side of the court. This change allows increased exposure for the media while keeping the safety of the student-athletes and the integrity of the pursuit rule in mind.

Designated Coaches . (Rule 5-2-4-c and Rule 6-1-4-i) – In order to improve the flow of the game, coaches may not enter the substitution zone to discuss judgment decisions with the referee. Failure to comply with this rules change results in an individual sanction for disruptive coaching. Coaches may continue to approach the referee to request a substitution, lineup check or timeout, to lodge a protest, or confirm the number of timeouts or substitutions their team has used, without unnecessary delay.

Sanction Procedures . (Rule 6-4-2 ) – The rules language states that when a sanction is given during the game to a player on the court, the first referee will direct the captain of that team to approach the stand to acknowledge the sanction. When a team member on the bench or in the warm-up area is sanctioned, the second referee will clearly communicate the sanction to a designated coach; the first referee may also communicate this sanction to the captain.

Libero Serving . (Rule 11-2-5-a) – This rule change will allow the libero player to serve in one position designated for the game. Coaches must still designate the number of the libero player before the game, but can designate the rotation the libero will serve in at any time during the game.

Libero Serving . (Rule 11-2-5-b2) – The previous rule stated that there must be a rally between two libero replacements. To allow the libero to serve, an exception will be made to this ruling. The libero is not required to sit out a rally between replacements when the next action the libero takes is to serve.

Contact with the Ball . (Rule 13-1-2 ) – The rules now state that contact with the ball made only by hair is insignificant contact and should be ignored.

Player Contact with the Net . (Rule 14-2-1 ) – The language regarding player faults at the net has been clarified to emphasize that insignificant contact by a player not involved with playing the ball should not be penalized.

For questions about rules changes, Alterman can be reached by e-mail at mavbref@sbcglobal.net. To order rules books, please go to www.ncaa.org or call 888/388-9748.