TheGreatLineJudge

Let the questions begin!! ===================================================== The Player Six players are listed on the lineup sheet in the floor position they occupy at the start of the game. A team may also list one specialized defensive player called the "libero" on the lineup sheet for each game. If a libero is not designated on the lineup sheet for a game, that team may not use a libero in that game. A player designated as the libero can play as a non-libero player in that game. (Exception: Rule 10-3-6 - Exceptional Substitution) A. Playing actions: 1. The libero is restricted to perform as a back-row player, and is not allowed to complete an attack from anywhere (on or off the court) if, at the moment of contact, the ball is entirely above the height of the net. 2. The libero may not block or attempt to block. 3. A teammate may not complete an attack when, at the moment of the attack, the ball is entirely above the height of the net and the ball is coming from an overhand finger pass by a libero on or in front of the attack line. The ball may be freely attacked if the libero overhand finger passes from behind the attack line. If airborne, the libero's position is judged according to the point of last contact with his/her team's court. B. Libero replacements: 1. The libero is allowed to replace any player in a back-row position. 2. Replacements involving the libero are not counted as substitutions, and are unlimited. There must be at least one rally between two libero replacements. The libero can only be replaced by the player whom he/she replaced. An incorrect libero replacement is penalized with a delay of game if the officials identify and correct the situation prior to the next service contact. If identified after service contact, a position fault results. 3. Replacements can only take place after the end of a rally or at the start of each game after the umpire has verified the starting lineup. The replacement must occur while the ball is out of play and before the referee signals for serve. A replacement will not be allowed after the signals for serve. 4. A libero and the player replaced by the libero must enter or leave the court only by the sideline in front of their team bench between the attack line and the end line. C. Uniform The libero must wear a uniform top that is immediately recognized from all angles as being in clear contrast to and distinct from the other members of the team. The primary color of the libero's uniform top must be different from any color that appears on more than 25 percent of the body of her teammates' uniform tops. In determining the body of the uniforms, the sleeves and collar should be ignored. The libero uniform must have a legal number. The style and trim of the libero's uniform top may differ from her teammates'uniforms, but her shorts must be like-colored to her teammates. D. Injury Substitution If the libero is injured and cannot continue play, he/she must first be replaced by the player whom he/she replaced. Then, a new libero may be re-designated using the following criteria: 1. Redesignation does not need to occur immediately after the injury and replacement, but may occur at the discretion of the coach(es). 2. When redesignation does occur, any substitute may be redesignated as libero for the injured libero. The injured libero may not play in the remainder of that game. 3. The player redesignated as libero must wear a libero uniform and must remain the libero for the rest of the game. The redesignated libero's uniform must have a unique number (not worn by any teammate), but, because of the injury situation, not necessarily the same number with which the player started the match. E. Exceptional Substitution The libero may be used as an exceptional substitution for another injured player if no other possible substitutes exist. When no longer playing as a libero, that player must wear the same uniform as her teammates, and the team continues play with no libero. F. Disqualification Substitution The libero may not be used as a substitute for an expelled or disqualified teammate. If no legal substitute is available for an expelled or disqualified teammate, that team will be declared incomplete and will default the game or match, as appropriate. G. Libero Disqualification If the libero is expelled or disqualified while playing, he/she must be replaced by the player whom he/she replaced. The team continues play with no libero player. INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIBERO TRACKER An individual other than the scorekeeper must be provided to track the entries of the libero player. This assistant scorekeeper is charged with tracking the libero replacements. There are two important procedures that the assistant scorekeeper is responsible for enforcing. The first procedure is to assure that once the libero is replaced, at least one rally must take place before the libero can replace another player. The second procedure is to ensure that when the libero leaves the court, the player replacing the libero must be the same player that the libero replaced when he/she last entered the game. Scorekeeper and Assistant Scorekeeper (libero tracker) Duties: Before the start of each game, the scorekeeper will: a. Obtain the lineup sheets from the umpire and record the uniform numbers of the starting players in serving order and the libero on the scorebook. Opponents will not be permitted to see the lineup submitted by the opposing team prior to the start of play. b. Ensure that the assistant scorekeeper (libero tracker) accurately records the lineups on the libero tracking sheet. After the toss of the coin and before each game: a. Review the lineups submitted to ensure that a captain is indicated, no duplicate or illegal numbers are entered, and the libero's number is noted. If no libero is indicated, as a courtesy (clarifies it's not a rule) notify the umpire so the coach can verify that no libero will be utilized in the current game. b. Record the team information and the positions of the player on the court according to the serving order on the lineup sheet. c. Record all libero replacements accurately, so the libero tracking sheet reflects the players actually on the court at all times. d. If an incorrect libero replacement occurs, notify the umpire unless the team immediately fixes the illegality with no delay. During the match, the assistant scorekeeper will: a. Record all substitutions and libero replacements on the libero tracking sheet. b. Notify the officials if the libero is replaced by an incorrect player, or if an undesignated libero enters the game. c. Notify the officials if the libero does not remain out of the game for one rally between replacements. d. Communicate and coordinate with the scorekeeper to ensure accuracy of both the scorebook and the libero tracking sheet.

Inside sources tell me that Tracey Berry is the new head coach at BGA. This is gonna shake things up a bit with Division II. Good luck to her in building a legacy of state championship teams.

NFHS Volleyball Section It's going to be a long and interesting season, folks.

Many thanks to my friend from Memphis who emailed this to me!! ------------------------------------ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cynthia Doyle INDIANAPOLIS, IN (January 28, 2005) ‹ Use of the libero player in high school volleyball, effective with the 2006-07 season, was approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Volleyball Rules Committee January 9-10 at its annual meeting in Indianapolis. All volleyball rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. The committee also approved use of the libero player for the 2005-06 season by state association adoption. A state association may permit use of the libero next season; however, all stipulations approved by the committee for use of the libero in 2006-07 will apply for those states electing to use the libero next season. Specific stipulations approved by the committee for using the libero include: € The libero must be designated on the lineup sheet prior to each game. € The libero must enter the game after the starting lineup has been checked.. € A team may exercise one replacement per dead ball. € The libero must enter and exit the game between the attack line and the baseline. € The libero may be the team captain. € The libero may be used as an exceptional substitution for an injured player if no other legal substitutions are available. € The libero shall not replace a disqualified teammate. € The libero shall not block or attempt to block. € The libero shall not serve. € The libero shall not set the ball using an overhand finger pass while in front of the attack line extended for an attack above the height of the net.. While the libero player has been approved for high school volleyball, use of the defensive specialist will be an option for an individual team¹s coaching staff. Since the use of the libero player is a coaching strategy, its use in a particular game is optional. The libero is a back-row player and is not allowed to complete an attack from anywhere if the ball, at the moment of contact, is entirely above the height of the net. The libero wears a uniform in contrast to other members of the team, and is intended to be a player who specializes in defense and serve reception. The libero may replace a back-row player, except the person serving, without taking away from the team¹s allowed number of substitutions. Only one libero may be designated per game. The libero player has been used at the international, collegiate and club levels for a number of years, and, this past year, 10 states experimented with its use at the high school level. Acting on positive feedback from these 10 state associations, the Volleyball Rules Committee agreed to approve its use across the board. ³The libero is used at all levels of volleyball,² said Cynthia Doyle, assistant director of the NFHS and liaison to the Volleyball Rules Committee. ³It has improved the caliber of play, and it allows for greater on-court involvement by the team¹s best defensive player.² The committee approved two additional rules changes ­ one regarding the umpire¹s responsibilities with the lineup card and another clarifying the limitations of a back-row player. Rule 5-4-3b (16) was revised to delete the requirement of the umpire to record illegal player equipment, uniform warnings, penalties and disqualifications for unsportsmanlike conduct on the lineup card. ³Although the umpire is required to use a lineup card to check the lineup, the umpire is no longer required to record illegal equipment or unsportsmanlike conduct violations on the card,² Doyle said. ³The umpire is required to report illegal equipment and unsportsmanlike conduct violations to the scorer, who records these violations in the official scorebook. The committee determined it was unnecessary to record this information on the lineup card.² Regarding a back-row player, Rule 9-5-4 was revised to state that if the ball is hit back into a back-row player whose hands are below the height of the net, it is ruled as the team¹s first hit/contact. In addition, hand signal No. 2 in the Official Volleyball Signals was changed from an open hand to pointing a finger at the line. Another rule that was passed by the committee last year takes effect this coming volleyball season. Beginning with the 2005-06 season, the standard official¹s uniform for high school volleyball will include an all-white, short-sleeved collared polo shirt, instead of an alternating black-and-white vertically striped, knit shirt. Other requirements for the officials uniform remain the same: black slacks and solid black athletic shoes and black socks. Volleyball is the third-most popular sport for girls at the high school level, with 396,322 participants, according to the 2003-04 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey. It also ranks third in school sponsorship for girls with 14,181 high schools offering the sport. In addition, a total of 40,093 boys participated in volleyball in 2003-04 at 1,683 schools. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Commentary and answers to come as questions arise!

This one made me laugh! Check out the caption at the bottom of the picture. CoachT Photo Those of you who know me will get a good laugh! Maybe that's Father Ryan's version?

You should be able to find all teams who have been in the state tournament, beginning with the 1997-98 season forward. Click here and scroll to the bottom. Getting to info is a bit of a pain, but it's there.

I'm glad you brought up middle school programs. If a girl starts out in 6th grade and knows absolutely nothing about the sport, she can be ready for some serious ball when her freshman year comes around. Good middle school coaches understand and appreciate the system the girl's future high school uses, and will teach those girls what the coach will be using. (i.e. 6-2 offense, various serve-receive positioning patterns, using back-row setters, etc) The most important thing about MS ball, though, is not being thought the previously mentioned things. It's about nailing down fundamentals. Fundamentals are a HUGE factor and difference in great programs and mediocre ones. When a freshman girl walks in the first day of practice, with solid fundamentals, that's a whole lot less time that the coach has to spend in practice getting fundamentals learned. They can focus so much more time on strategy, defense, and strong hitting. So many programs, especially where coaching is ok at best, have to devote a lot of time to getting fundamentals down. They don't have the time to advance themselves with strategy and better defense and stronger hitting. Ever noticed what teams like Brentwood and Harpeth Hall and Father Ryan do so well? They dig. They cover each other when they dive to save balls. They set so beautifully. They pound those balls into the floor. Middle school is meant to be the building block that creates strong high school programs. Private schools know this and appreciate that fact. And more importantly, many of them act upon this knowledge. Many of the Williamson County MS teams are fairly strong. Although several of the girls play club ball, they still have coaches who know the game, and these coaches ARE preparing their girls with the systems their high school coaches are using.

Also, please reference my website and look at the research I did back almost a year ago on a private school spin-off from A-AA. Notice how many A schools are left, as well as AA schools, and how districts would look. Also, you can see what an A/AA split would do. A few of the remaining single-A districts would literally have one team. Another would have ZERO teams! And the great majority of single-A schools are unheard of in the volleyball world. FYI, Boyd Buchanan, USJ, and Trinity are all single-A teams by student population. Again, please feel free to email/PM me about these issues, as I believe that volleyball needs its own districting. When you have one region consisting of 3/11 team districts (Region 4), and then another consisting of 13/14 team districts (Region 3), there's something not 100% fair about that. I'll hop off my stump for now.

I agree with you, silverpie. AA, in terms of strength and competition, is in a league of its own against single A. The issue to TSSAA, though, is that there aren't enough A and AA schools, as seperate classes, to justify a split. And I honestly only know of a very few single A schools that are even close to the level of most competitive AA schools.

A lot of the early "learning" in volleyball begins in either middle school or in club ball. Club ball has programs for all ages, depending on where you are. I think Williamson County is starting a public club program, the first "public" one, as all the others are privately run. I don't know of any elementary schools in the state that have volleyball. As far as club ball locations go, I know of programs in Memphis, Collierville, Nashville, and Chattanooga. Some of the students in schools near the Alabama border (think Loretto) play in programs based in Huntsville, and some girls in schools near Kentucky may play in Kentucky. There are probably more club programs out that I'm unaware of. If you want more specific information, please PM me and I'd be happy to answer your questions!

No. The only way this will end is when public schools across the state make volleyball a MAJOR sport instead of a MINOR sport. Private schools take volleyball SERIOUSLY, as opposed to a minority of public schools that do. How many public schools put any old Joe out to coach their county-pride girls' basketball team? Ponder that for a moment. Now consider how many of these SAME schools put out any old Joe, who is delegated the job, into the volleyball coaching position. And you expect these folks to bring home a state title? Are you kidding me? Do you have any clue how many volleyball "coaches" don't even know the rules of the game? Half of your precious single-A schools put out programs just to satisfy Title IX. These girls are being done a disservice by not getting quality coaching nor the crowd support that they DESERVE. You want more single-A schools to take state titles? Put in better coaching. Actually, just put in competent coaching, not "quality". AA schools take volleyball seriously. This is why the Pages and East Ridges of the state have been so strong for so long. They have parents, students, and administrations that CARE about the volleyball programs that are in place. And for that matter, even the best programs don't get the support they deserve. Page HS can't even get a banner for the championships they won in 2001, 2002, and 2003!!! Private schools take volleyball seriously. They're in the same boat as the Pages and East Ridges, in that the support is there for the program and coaching staff. So before you lecture me on why all the private schools should be spun out of A-AA, get off your couch, go support your local single-A school's volleyball program and get an understanding of where I'm coming from.

The only name I really recognize out of that bunch is Henry Clay, KY (courtesy of K-Digs). However, I do remember seeing CAK at state in 2002, and I have knowledge of them coming close to advancing last season. A-AA is relatively weak in East TN, save for Chattanooga. Safe to say, then, that CAK is the creme of the Knoxville A-AA crop!!

Out of those 23 wins, how many were against quality, well-respected wins? Name the wins that came against quality teams, and then we'll discuss how much of a sleeper they are.

#4 It'll knock The Mav's stetson off his head! #5 More referees will be forced to blow their whistles and make the right call. (Ouch!)

Everything's good again. Thanks iamoz!

Much love for Jacqui from all of us in the Volleyball forum. What an amazing story of the triumph of the human will and the faith we place in God. From someone who's experienced miracles in my own life, keep believing and never stop knowing that EVERYTHING happens for a reason.

I've been unable to see who's active in the volleyball forum. Is this something with the software/hardware change, or just a one-time bug? Thanks!

It's not a matter of if you pay tuition or not. It's a normal eligibility issue. It all depends on if you... 1) have made a significant change of address as to justify transfer to a new school, regardless of if you came from a public/private to the other. 2) played sports at your previous school. If you will go to the TSSAA Handbook, you will find eligibility rules for transfer students starting about halfway down Page 15. General eligibility rules start on Page 12. They also have an excellent Frequently Asked Questions section starting at Page 33, but the stuff we would be interested in is a few pages later. The TSSAA Handbook is an excellent source for answering many questions posed both on and off the CoachT site. I recommend reading it whenever you have some free time on your hands.

I don't know about the others, but I believe CHCA would be well served to declare for Division II. I know the school somewhat well. Their biggest advantage is that they are fairly close to the real meat of DII in middle TN. Smaller schools that aren't near Nashville- Columbia Academy and Zion (both in Columbia) come to mind- are at a disadvantage compared to College Heights. These two schools have to drive quite a bit for DII games if they go DII, as opposed to CHCA in Gallatin. I think it will be interesting. I'm of the opinion that private schools that are in or right outside a metropolitan area will go exclusively Division II. It just makes sense that they play schools of similar size in a similar area. It's like an association of "city league" associations.

From the Board of Control Minutes, as posted on the TSSAA website: 10. Approved Membership Request for College Heights Christian Academy in TSSAA effective with the 2004-05 school year. 11. Approved Membership Request for Ensworth School in TSSAA effective with the 2004-05 school year. 12. Approved Membership Request for Webb School of Bell Buckle in TSSAA effective with the 2004-05 school year. The Board voted to waive the year of affiliate membership for Webb School of Bell Buckle, since the last year that Webb School of Bell Buckle was a member of TSSAA was 1986. 13. Approved Membership Request for Grace Christian Academy in Knoxville effective with the 2004-05 school year. 14. Approved Membership Request for Knoxville Christian School effective with the 2004-05 school year.

Hey guys- Here's the results of some research I did in December for the Volleyball board. Proposed Classification Changes With Remaining Schools by Class Proposed Change to Division II Status for All Private With New District Alignments for Division I REMEMBER THAT LIVINGSTON ACADEMY IS PUBLIC NOT PRIVATE!! I goofed when I did the research originally in December. Also, please remember that this research shows only schools that offer volleyball, not all sports. This may render the information useless for this board's purposes, but it will give you an idea of how profound of an impact that a change like this would have on a sport like volleyball. This is basically taking all Private schools and assuming they change to Division II. It also removes these Private schools and shows how the 2003-2004 District alignments (non-football) would look without these schools in Division I. Now we can see the real impact of a "new" TSSAA. I hope everyone finds this useful.

I love my Queen City! It's only about 5 or 6 hours of driving, if the roads are fairly clear and you don't run into much construction. Skyline Chili is truly the best, but Gold Star is a pretty close second. I just might jump in on a Cincy trip, though it depends a lot on when we go. Keep us all informed!!

Weathers is the most famous athlete ever to come out of Lawrence County. He was drafted in either 92 or 93 by Toronto, and has gone on to play for several MLB teams over the years as a pitcher. And, Goldenboy, I got him to sign a ball and card at Fox Sporting Goods in Lawrenceburg.... waaaaay back in the day!

C'mon guys, this kind of taunting and flaming is pointless and stupid. 11-0 is pretty harsh all to itself, and WC doesn't need to be reminded of it. Leave WC alone and just let it go.

I was with a friend of mine in McDonald's Sunday night and in came Kevin Carter, his gorgeous wife, and young son. That guy is HUGE!! I've never seen a pro anything in my lifetime, and I just thought it was really neat that these guys are still normal people in some respects. This same friend of mine was his wife's personal trainer for a while, and was a trainer for Frank Wycheck and his wife and some other well-knowns. I just thought it was really neat to see one of these guys in person. And he drives the most awesome white Escalade you will ever see.