Which rules do referees apply at Volleyball Australia indoor championships?

The 2026 VA Indoor Handbook, which covers the Australian Junior Volleyball Championships, Australian Youth Volleyball Championships, Australian Club Volleyball Championships and Australian Volleyball Schools Cup, says the events are played under the current FIVB Rules of the Game unless the handbook amends them. The FIVB rules named in the handbook are the FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028.

Handbook variations referees need to know include:

• Playing the ball: a ball may be retrieved from beyond the playing area only when the non-playing area surface is level with the playing area surface, and the player must be in contact with that surface when touching the ball (Youth Championships section).
• Substitutions: the 12 substitution rule applies to matches no longer in medal contention in some events (see the substitution question).
• Expulsion: with no penalty area, an expelled team member sits on the bench for the rest of the set.
• Blood: the match cannot proceed if a player is bleeding or there is blood on balls, equipment, the court or clothing. The player must leave and may not return until there is no evidence of blood, and play resumes only on confirmation by a Referee Supervisor.
• Protests: handled by the on-the-spot protest procedure.
• Heat: if the VA Heat Mitigation Policy is used, two technical time-outs apply when the first team reaches 8 and 16 points in a regular set (and at the end change in the deciding set), and reduced scoring may be introduced before the first point of a match.

The event ball is the Mikasa V200W.