Net Rule & Scenarios

1. Centre line rule
 
11.2.2.1 To touch the opponent's court with a foot (feet) is permitted, provided that some part of the penetrating foot (feet) remains either in contact with or directly above the centre line.
11.2.2.2 To touch the opponent's court with any part of the body above the feet is permitted provided that it does not interfere with the opponent's play.
 
2. Quick sub rule
 
15.10.3 The actual request for substitution is the entrance of the substitute player(s) into the substitution zone, ready to play, during a regular game interruption.
15.10.4 If a team intends to make simultaneously more than one substitution, all players being substituted must report to the substitution zone at the same time to be considered in the same request. In this case the substitutions must be made in succession, one pair of players after another.
 
Check out this video-good clarification
 
http://www.fivb.org/en/technical/multimediareferees/

Rule 11.3 - Contact with the net

11.3.1 - Contact with the net by a player is not a fault, unless it interferes with the play (Rule 11.4.4, 23.3.2.3c, and 24.3.2.3)

11.3.2 - Players may touch the post, ropes, or any other object outside the antennae, including the net itself, provided that it does not interfere with play

11.3.3 - When the ball is driven into the net and causes it to touch an opponent, no fault is committed

Rule 11.4 - Player's faults at the net

11.4.1 - A player touches the ball or an opponent in the opponent's space before or during the opponent's attack hit

11.4.2 - A player interferes with the opponent's play while penetrating into the opponent's space under the net

11.4.3 - A player's foot penetrates completely into the opponent's court

11.4.4 - A player interferes with the opponent's play by (amongst others):

            - touching the top band of the net or the top 80 cm of the antenna during his/her action of playing the ball, or

            - taking support from the net simultaneously with playing the ball, or

            - creating an advantage over the opponent, or

            - making actions which hinder the opponent's legitimate attempt to play the ball

The important point here is that rules 11.3.1, 11.3.2 and 11.4 have undergone a MAJOR revision.  Additional clarification is given in the referee guidelines.  The guidelines state that 'contact with the net or antenna (Rule 11.3.1) is not a fault, unless it interferes with the play.  Touching the top band of the net or the top 80 cm of the antenna by a player during the action of playing the ball will always be considered as interference with the play.  The action of playing the ball is any action of players who are close to the ball and are trying to play it.'

If we look at the YouTube video, it shows a number of scenarios.

Attacking Scenarios

Scenario 1 - Attacker hits an overpass and, in the act of playing the ball, touches the top band of the net.  Ruling on this... FAULT.  They have touched the top band of the net during the action of playing the ball.

Scenario 2 - Attacker completes the attack hit, and during follow through touches the mesh of the net.  Ruling on this... NO FAULT.  They have not touched the top band of the net nor the antenna.

Scenario 3 - Attacker completes the attack hit; while in the process of landing brushes the net.  Ruling on this... NO FAULT.  They are not in the action of playing the ball; this action is deemed complete.

Scenario 4 - Middle attacker runs a fake attack in the middle, the set goes outside.  During the fake attack the middle touches the top band of the net.  Ruling... NO FAULT.  They are not playing the ball.

Scenario 5 - same as scenario 3

Scenario 6 - same as scenarios 3 and 5

Blocking Scenarios

Scenario 7 - Blocker touches the top band of the net during the attempt to block.  Ruling on this... FAULT.  They have touched the top band of the net during the action of playing the ball.

Scenario 8 - Blocker is coming down from an attempt and brushes the mesh.  Ruling on this... NO FAULT.  They are not in the action of playing the ball, nor have they touched the top band or antenna.

Scenario 9 - Blocker has completed the block, landed, and gone back up to prevent a possible quick attack.  They clip the mesh during the landing process.  Ruling... NO FAULT.  They are not playing the ball.

Scenario 10 - Blocker is going up to block and during the swing process hits the mesh on the way up.  Ruling... NO FAULT.  They have not touched the top band of the net, nor are they playing the ball.

Scenario 11 - Blockers are going up to block and hit the mesh on the way up.  Ruling... NO FAULT.  They have not touched the top band of the net, and this action precedes them playing the ball.

Scenario 12 - Blocker goes up with the fake middle attack and hits the mesh on the way down.  Ruling... NO FAULT.  They are not playing the ball.  This would be the same if the blocker had hit the top band.

Scenario 13 - Blocker goes up to block, the ball passes and the blocker lands forward into the mesh.  Ruling... NO FAULT.  They are not playing the ball.

Scenario 14 - essentially the same as scenario 13, but with a double block.

Setter Scenarios

Scenario 15 - The setter moves to receive a tight pass and hits the mesh and top band during their attempt to play the ball.  Ruling... FAULT.  Of note, it is not the touch of the mesh that is the fault, but the touch of the top band!

Scenario 16 - The setter swing jumps, hitting the bottom band, then plays the ball entering the vertical plane and brushes the top band.  Ruling... FAULT.  Again, the bottom band is not the issue, the top band is!

Scenario 17 - is essentially the same as 16 with more travel by the setter... this scenario has the potential to be ugly as the setter is also likely going to land on a blocker!

Scenario 18 - The setter completes play, then brushes the mesh on the way down.  Ruling... NO FAULT.  They have completed play and have not touched the top band.

Special Scenarios

Scenario 19 - The setter has set the ball to an outside attacker, then pulls on the bottom band.  Ruling... FAULT.  Not only that, this is unsportsmanlike conduct and should be sanctioned with a Yellow Card!

Scenario 20 - The ball is passed towards the net, and the blocker moves to redirect the ball so that it cannot be dug.  Ruling... FAULT.  The blocker cannot move to intercept a ball coming into the mesh.

Scenario 21 - The ball is passed towards the net; the blocker remains stationary and the ball hits them through the net.  Ruling... NO FAULT.  This play is legal.

Scenario 22 - A player attempts to dig the ball out of the net, and in doing so touches the bottom band or mesh.  Ruling... NO FAULT.  Although they are in the act of playing the ball, it is not the top band or antenna that has been touched.