Nassau County Volleyball Officials - Home Page
Interested in becoming a Certified Volleyball Official?
NVO, Inc. is a board/chapter of NYSCVOA. We conduct
instructional classes, training/rating clinics and administer
written and practical exams to certify both new and veteran
officials. There are minimum standards every official must meet
to remain a member of our association. Only those officials in
good standing are permitted to receive assignments, as required
by our contract with the NYSPHSAA Inc. If interested in becoming
a Certified New York State High School volleyball official in Nassau
County, please contact:
New York State Certified Volleyball Officials Association (nyscvoa.org)
Include your name, address, cell and home #'s, and please list your officiating experience.
Questions regarding the website? Please contact:
christinegiosa@nassauvbofficials.org
REMINDER: If you turn back a match for any reason, make sure that the "Turn Back / Rating Appeal Form" (under Forms) is sent in within 5 days of your cancellation. If you have additional documentation, that can be sent in afterward.
2026-2027 Nassau County has been issued a countywide waiver by the State that reads:
The Volleyball warm-up time will be:
10 minutes shared on the visible clock when the visiting team is ready to begin the joint warm-up, then 6 minutes - visiting team followed by 6 minutes - home team.
The 10 minutes on the clock can start before the officials arrive.
If a coach/team does NOT want to take their 6 minute warm-up, you must still run their 6 minutes on the clock even if no one is on the court.
Since this is a county wide waiver, it is not necessary for an official to ask for this waiver to be presented courtside.
Both Boys' and Girls' center line violations (interference/encroachment) follow the same rulings!
***New Rulings from "The Manual" 2026-2027***:
Head sets are for quick communication, not long conversations. Talking continuously can lead to communication break down and missed faults. Be careful of perceptions – smiles, laughter, frowns can be misunderstood. Head sets are a great tool for training and assisting your partner. Save critiquing for the post-match debrief.
There are two options for the coin toss procedure: have the visiting team representative call the coin while it is in the air, or call the coin prior to the toss. Always confirm the call with the other official or the opponent’s team representative.
If an official is working the match alone, they have the option to move the referee stand between the team benches in front of the scorer’s table. If an official does not feel safe on the referee stand for any reason, remove the stand and work the match from the floor.
Misconduct sanctions to players, coaches or bench personnel will remain for the entire match and not reset after a set is completed. Sanctions for procedural reasons (delays) will reset each set.
Boys will use the ARC for noncompliant uniforms per the NCAA Rules Book.
There are no limitations on the size of the jewelry.
Jewelry exception would be if the jewelry has sharp ends and could injure another player. Rule 7.2.1 Safety: It is forbidden to wear any object that may cause an injury or give an artificial advantage to the player, including, but not limited to, headgear, jewelry and unsafe casts or braces.
Facial/body paint, glitter (including hair glitter) will not be worn during warm-ups or competition. Bedazzling or adornments on sneakers is not allowed for player safety.
Girls’ and Boys’: Per Rule 9.1.2.3: During the pre-match warm up, when one team has exclusive use of the court, the other team must be at its team bench or out of the playing area.
The NYSPHSAA and NYSCVOA’s current interpretation of this rule is that players cannot shag balls or participate in any way with their opponent’s warmup.
Girls’ and Boys’ – VARSITY: Teams will switch sides between sets one, two, three & four. If a fifth set is to be played, the home team calls the coin toss for the deciding set. The winner of the toss chooses (a) serve/receive or (b) team area. Teams will switch sides when one team reaches 8 points in the deciding set.
Rule 13: The Service Players on the serving team will not be allowed to raise their hands above their heads during the serve until the ball crosses the net.
Rule 15: Play at the Net Players may pursue the ball, coming from the team's first hit, by going outside the net system and returning the ball to their side of the court, provided the ball has crossed the net plane to the opponent's free zone over or outside the antenna and is returned over or outside the antenna. A minimum of 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches) of unobstructed space behind the net system (including the referee stand) is required to use this rule. Players are not permitted to pursue the ball by going under the net or net cables. It is a fault for a player to completely cross the center line and contact the opponent's court with one or both feet.
Rule 17: Decisions and Protests Officials can go to the statistics crew to address a scoring discrepancy. Coaches will not have to a make a formal protest in these instances.
2026-2027 Boys & Girls JV Protocol
Girls’ and Boys’ – Junior Varsity: Match is 3 out of 5, sets 1-4 play to 25 (must win by two with no cap). If a deciding set is played, play to 15 ... when one team reaches 8 points, teams switch sides.
2023-2024 SUBSTITUTES are NOT allowed to celebrate in the service zone. Verbal warning first and a team delay thereafter.
2023-2024 SPORTSMANSHIP
NYS APPROVED: Add a Spectator Sportsmanship Regulation to the NYSPHSAA Sportsmanship Rule. (From NYSPHSAA)
Approved: Use of derogatory or racially explicit language; discriminatory harassment or bias conduct that creates a hostile environment that is disruptive to the educational environment. Spectators shall not be permitted to use vulgar/offensive or racially/culturally insensitive language or engage in any racially/culturally insensitive action. NYSPHSAA Sections may sanction, censure or place schools on probation that fail to address derogatory or inappropriate behavior deemed harmful to physical or mental well-being for those involved in interscholastic activities. (From NYSPHSAA)
If you have spectator issues at a district, please notify your board chair immediately. If a spectator is in violation of the behavior/s above, notify a site supervisor. The supervisor (or host coach) will address the behavior/s immediately, if you must ask for the spectator/s to be spoken to again, red card the home team per NCAA rules 19.2.5.3 and 19.2.5.4
YELLOW CARD FOR NASSAU COUNTY 2025-2026
Warning—For minor unsporting offenses such as inappropriately addressing opponents, spectators or officials, shouting and disrupting the conduct of the set, a warning (individual yellow card) is assessed by the first referee and is recorded on the scoresheet. A second minor offense during the same set by the same team member results in a penalty (individual red card).
Penalty—For rude, offensive conduct, a second minor offense or other serious offenses, a penalty (individual red card) is assessed by the first referee and is recorded on the scoresheet. A penalty automatically results in a loss of rally by the offending team and a point for the opponent. A second act warranting a penalty to the same team member during the same set results in disqualification.
Disqualification—Any simulated, attempted or actual physical aggression toward officials, opponents, other team members or spectators. Extremely offensive conduct or repeated rude conduct toward officials, opponents, other team members or spectators during a match results in the disqualification of the team member for the remainder of the current match and that team’s entire next match (red and yellow cards held apart), and is recorded on the scoresheet. Additionally, a disqualification automatically results in a loss of the rally by the offending team and a point for the opponent.
There is NO STANDING IN FRONT OR BEHIND THE TEAM BENCH. If a team bench has extended past the end line, players may stand in front at the end line.
Reminder on some protocols
LINESPERSON – the home school does not provide Linespersons; each school has their own Linesperson - they will start on the opposite teams corner and stay there throughout the match. Linepersons may be substituted in to play if necessary.
2 LIBEROS - The replacement player may replace and be replaced by either libero. The acting libero can only be replaced by the player whom he replaced (for that position) or by the second libero. The two liberos cannot be on the court at the same time.
GAME BALLS – should be 2-4 Game balls for each set. If school can not provide 4 than you can go with 2. (All the balls have to be the same.)
LIBERO SUBSTITUTIONS – enter the court from the sideline between the Attack line and in front of the End line.
R1 or R2 – the protocol is to talk to your partner to decide who will work as R1 or R2. Do not automatically assume you are R2. A coin toss can be a helpful decision maker as long as your the same rating.
NEWS
(updated 9/3/2026)
JV UPDATE: 5th set plays to 15 now, not 25...switch at 8
Warm-up information on "HOME" page
"The Manual" updates are highlighted in red on this Home Page
"The Manual" under "RULES"
State Mandated 2026-2027 Updated
2026-2027 Meeting Dates
2026 & 2027 Women's Volleyball Rule Book under "RULES"
"Emergency" contact information under " Emergency #"
Questions regarding official mechanics or an interpretation of a volleyball rule?
Contact: Daniel, the NVO rules interpreter at
