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Home Page Features Yankee Picnic Nationals 2004 Rule & Policy Changes Tournament Results Sections Board Members B-AVP Email List Outdoor Schedule Membership Form Meeting Minutes January 29, 2004 March 15, 2004 Issue Index Spring 2004 Fall 2004
			Yankee Rules & Policy Changes
		There were several changes in the Yankee Rules & Policies (R&P) during this Volleyball year. While all of them have been recorded in the Volleyball New England Newsletter, usually in the minutes of the Yankee Executive Board meetings, we thought it would be useful to summarize them periodically in an article. This article summarizes all the Yankee R&P changes since the 2003 championships. The current Yankee Rules & Policies document can always be found at http://www.yankee.org/word/yanrules.html. Reverting tournament level names. In a move reversing an experimental move the year before, the names of tournament levels were changed back to coincide with the designations of the individual ratings. Yankee tournaments will be sanctioned for men's, women's, and co-ed/reverse co-ed categories.Levels of competition are A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C and C-. The specification of a category and level (i.e., Women's B) shall be a division of play. Aligning with USAV rules on Coed/Reverse Tournaments. The Yankee exception for Reverse Coed (Reverse Mixed Six) tournaments, which allowed men to attack from behind the three-meter line at B- and above tournaments, was removed. Point distribution allowed at Coed/Reverse Tournaments. Because all Coed/Reverse tournaments now run under the same USAV rules, regardless of level, the rule allowing no more than 3 points above the tournament level on either gender, which previously only applied to B- and above levels, removed that distinction. For co-ed or reverse coed tournaments, the ratings of the top three men and the top three women on the roster will be counted and the aggregate of either gender's rating cannot be more than 3 points above the tournament level. Alternative formats. A rule was added that enables Tournament Directors to run some approved alternative formats. This rule recognized that some players and Tournament Directors prefer formats of play that deviate slightly from USAV rules, such as the Coed/Reverse format that allowed men to attack from behind the three-meter line. Tournament Directors can run tournaments with alternate formats or minor deviations from USAV rules if (a) they get advance approval from the Yankee Tournament Coordinator and (b) all participants are notified of the format in advance. Expanding Tournament Director's discretion on work team assignments. A set of guidelines indicating which teams should work playoffs were removed, leaving the policy of which teams work which matches entirely up to the Tournament Director's discretion. Participating teams are expected to furnish support officials as requested, including a second referee, scorekeeper, and two linespersons. Teams are required to work the games indicated by the Tournament Director. Tournament draft skeleton changes. Recognizing the changes in demographics of the players over time, the draft rules were changed to allow more coed/reverse and women's tournaments to run in the same weekend. For coed/reverse-coed tournaments, 1/2 the tournament size (rounded down) will count against the women's quota and against the men's quota. (E.g., A 10 team CR C+ will count as a 5 team women's C+ and 5 team men's C+.) Optional championships. In the smallest change with the largest ramifications, the R&P was changed (a one-word change) to make yearly championships, which previously were mandatory, optional. At the end of each season the Yankee Volleyball Association may organize and run Championships at each level of competition that has had participation during the year and which draws sufficient entries to justify a tournament. Rules for Championships will be published annually. Ghost players available in more situations. In order to remove ambiguities in the rules for when ghost players were allowed and to allow them to be used in more situations, the ghost rule was rewritten. A ghost player can now be used in place of any one player in most situations, except in the case of a player being expelled or disqualified. Teams may play with one ghost player. The ghost player must appear on the lineup and must be maintained in the rotation. When it is the ghost player's turn to serve, the first referee will award a point/side-out to the receiving team. A normal game interruption will be allowed prior to the awarding of the point/side-out for the ghost player's serve. Teams playing with a ghost are eligible for tournament playoffs. A ghost player may be substituted for any player. A normal injury time-out is allowed prior to substituting a ghost for an injured player. If a ghost replaces a player, that player may not re-enter the game. If a player is expelled or disqualified, a ghost player may not be substituted for that player. If the team has five players or fewer after the sanction, they shall be considered an "Incomplete Team" as defined by USAV. In short, substitutions of the ghost must comply with the USAV rules governing regular and exceptional substitutions of any other player. However, use of a ghost player may not result in any other player entering the game in another position other than his/her original position. The Yankee rating for a ghost is the same as the level of the tournament (e.g., a C+ tournament will have C+ rated ghosts), regardless of whether the ghost starts the day or is a replacement for a player later in the day.
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