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Timeouts, substitutions, game delays, and exceptional interruptions
The only regular interruptions are timeouts and substitutions. Everything else such as injuries, external interference, equipment issues falls under exceptional interruptions.
Each team may request a maximum of two timeouts and six substitutions per set.
Only these people can request timeouts or substitutions:
Request a timeout when the ball is out of play, before the whistle for service. All timeouts last 30 seconds.
In professional play, teams use a buzzer then hand signal. In recreational leagues, just catch the referee's attention with the "T" hand signal.
Players on the court must go to the free zone near their bench. Players not in the game can warm up without balls in the warm-up area.
A substitution swaps a player on the court with one on the bench. Libero replacements are different - they're covered in the Libero chapter.
Each team gets six substitutions per set. A starting player can leave once and re-enter once, but only to their original position. A substitute can only replace one specific starter.
Here's how it works:
| Player Type | Can Leave | Can Re-enter | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Once per set | Once per set | Same position only |
| Substitute | Once per set | Once per set | Only for the same starter |
Example: If Player A (starter) subs out for Player B (substitute), only Player A can replace Player B later. Player B can't sub in for anyone else.
Want to sub multiple players at once? All substitutes must enter the zone at the same time. They swap one pair at a time, in sequence.
If a player gets injured, sick, ejected, or disqualified and can't be legally substituted, the team can make an exceptional substitution. This lets any player not on the court (except Liberos or their replacement players) sub in for the affected player.
Exceptional substitutions don't count against the six-sub limit, but they're recorded on the score sheet. The injured/ejected player can't re-enter the match.
A substitution is illegal if it:
A delay is anything that holds up the game. This includes:
First delay in the match (by any team member): Delay Warning. No penalty, just a warning.
Second and subsequent delays (by any team member): Delay Penalty. Point and serve to the opponent.
Delay sanctions stick for the entire match. Once your team has a warning, every delay after that (by anyone on your team) is a penalty.
| Occurrence | Sanction | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| First delay | Warning | None (just recorded) |
| Second+ delay | Penalty | Point and serve to opponent |
An improper request is asking for something you can't have:
First improper request that doesn't affect the game: rejected, recorded, no penalty.
Any further improper request: treated as a delay.
If a serious injury happens during play, the referee stops the game immediately and allows medical staff onto the court. The rally is replayed.
An injured player who can't be substituted legally or exceptionally gets 3 minutes of recovery time, but only once per player per match. If they can't continue after that, the team is declared incomplete.
If something outside the game disrupts play (lights go out, object on court, etc.), the referee stops play and the rally is replayed.
If the match gets interrupted (power outage, facility issue, etc.):
Interruption under 4 hours total:
Interruption over 4 hours: The entire match is replayed.
All intervals between sets last 3 minutes. During this time, teams change sides and coaches submit new lineups.
The interval between the second and third set can be extended to 10 minutes for broadcasts or event needs.
Teams switch sides after every set, except in the deciding 5th set.
In the 5th set, teams change sides when the leading team reaches 8 points. Player positions stay the same; just the court sides swap.
If the change doesn't happen at 8 points, it happens as soon as someone notices. The score stays the same.