Volleyball Rules on Hand Signals

According to the USA Olympic Committee's Domestic Competition Regulations for volleyball, each match must be overseen by a first referee, a second referee, four line judges and a scorer. The two referees are responsible for hand signaling, and each has specific individual signaling responsibilities. There are many detailed rules concerning which hand signals should be used, in what order they should be used, and who is allowed to use them.

  1. Pre-game and Time-out Signals

    • Before each match, it is the second referee's duty to identify and signal the team captains. The referee begins the signal with an open palm facing the floor and then points his open palm toward the captain. The captain must return the signal by raising her hand. The second referee is also responsible for displaying the "ready" signal after interruptions or delays in the game. Once the scorer has recorded the information, the referee must signal for the game to restart by holding his open palms out, slightly above his head. For a time-out, either referee must signal by making the shape of a "T" with both arms. The vertical arm should be nearest to the side of the requesting team.

    Violations Signals

    • For an illegal attack, the referee must signal with one arm raised above his head; he then brings the arm down to point at the offending team. For an illegal block, the referee raises both hands above his head with palms out. If a player touches the net illegally, the referee points to the offending player with an open palm. If one player contacts the ball more than once in a row, the referee signals a "double hit" indicated by holding up two fingers. If the players overlap each other while changing positions, the referee signals "out of rotation" by moving the index finger in a circular motion in front of the body.

    Signal Procedure

    • There is a strict procedure in place for signaling faults. In volleyball, faults are actions which cause the ball to change sides, such as stepping outside the service zone during a serve, catching or holding the ball rather than hitting it, or contacting the net. Either of the two referees can call a fault. If the first referee calls, he must extend his arm toward the team which won the rally. He must then make the signal for the illegal action which has occurred, as discussed above, and he must indicate which player caused the fault. The second referee then repeats the signals. If the second ref calls the fault, she must only indicate the type of fault and player. The first ref then signals the winning team.