The World ParaVolley Board has supported the recommendations of the two Rules of the Game Committees to update the sitting volleyball and beach paravolley rules for the period 2022-24. As the two strategic disciplines of World ParaVolley, it was important that these Rules were updated as deemed necessary by the membership of the two Committees that had coaches, players, referees providing input.
The Chair of the Rules of the Game Committee for sitting volleyball, Janko Plesnik said:
“I am pleased with the updates of the sitting volleyball rules that are designed to foster the fast development and popularity of sitting volleyball in the future. We have followed the recent FIVB changes when appropriate and look forward to the implementation of the new rules at the 2022 Sitting Volleyball World Championships in China.”
The main changes to the sitting volleyball rules were:
- The playing surface colour of the front and back zones may be different
- The coaches’ restriction line was deleted
- The penalty area with chairs was deleted (the team dressing room is used instead)
- A team may have up to 14 players but only two may be VS2
- The libero may be team captain
- Technical Timeouts are deleted
- Jersey numbers shall be between 1 and 99
- Lifting is permitted all over the court area when playing the ball in a defensive action during the 1st, 2nd or 3rd contact if the contact is made when the ball is not entirely higher than the top of the net
- The receiving team must be able to see the service hit and the flight path of the ball
- A blocker may touch the ball simultaneously with the attacker or afterwards, but not before the attack hit
- To lift without touching the ball in a block is not a fault
- Ability to use the challenge system if made available by the host
The Chair of the Rules of the Game Committee for beach paravolley, Lori Okimura said:
“Following changes made by the FIVB and liaison with the Beach Commission and the Referees Commission, the new rules will contribute to the ongoing development of the discipline and allow more specifically for the extra time requirements that beach paravolley athletes need to deal with their physical impairments during a match.”
The main changes to the beach paravolley rules were:
- The ball can be retrieved from beyond the team’s free zone and over the scoring table
- The attack hit must be completed before blocking over the net is allowed
- Requested timeouts will last 45 seconds
- A Technical Timeout of 45 seconds will occur in the 1st and 2nd sets when the sum of the points scored by both teams is 21 points
- The interval between sets is extended to 75 seconds
- Allowance is made for a Challenge Referee if required
Although not currently a focus for World ParaVolley, the Beach Sitting Rules have also been updated as an acknowledgement that this discipline is played in some countries.
All Rules are downloadable from the World ParaVolley website at the below links: