Referee's Guide to Volleyball Canada Indoor Volleyball All ages 2026-27

Authority (Volleyball Canada Rulebook 2026-27, rule 23.2):

• The first referee directs the match from start to finish with authority over the refereeing team and the teams' members. Their decisions are final, and they may overrule other members of the refereeing team who are mistaken, or even replace a member who is not performing properly.
• The first referee also controls the ball retrievers and quick moppers, decides any matter involving the game including those not provided for in the rules, and decides before and during the match whether the playing area, equipment and conditions meet playing requirements.
• No discussion of decisions is permitted. At the game captain's request, the first referee explains the rule application or interpretation behind a decision.
• If the captain disagrees with the explanation, they must immediately reserve the right to file and record a protest at the end of the match, and the first referee must authorize this.

Protests (Referee Guidelines, Protest Procedures):

• A captain may protest only an error in applying a rule or rule interpretation. The referee's decisions on ball-handling faults are not open to protest.
• Before a protest proceeds, the first referee should communicate the basis of the decision clearly, repeat signals where appropriate, consult the relevant officials, and confirm the criteria for a valid protest and that the captain still wants to protest.
• The only four criteria for accepting a protest are: the referee misinterprets a rule; a scoring error (rotation or match score); a technical aspect of the match conditions (temperature, light, etc.); or the referee did not correctly apply the rules or did not assume the correct consequences of a decision. The first referee identifies the applicable criterion on the score sheet.
• After the match the captain describes the incident on the score sheet, or on paper attached to it, before signing off: set number, score, ball possession, player positions at the time, and the reason. The protest then goes to the higher authority (for example the league executive or jury), which accepts or refuses it. Refusal means the result stands. Acceptance means replaying the event in whole or in part.
• Once a captain has formally protested, the first referee should not choose not to proceed, and should not state the likely outcome to the player.

Sources: Volleyball Canada Rulebook 2026-27, rule 23.2; 2026-27 Referee Guidelines and Instructions, Protest Procedures.

From the Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Rule Change Summary:

• 18U liberos: teams in the 18U classification may use up to two liberos per set (previously one per set for 16U to 18U). 14U and 15U still have no libero, and 16U and 17U one per set.
• Internal pass (second contact): double contacts made with an overhand finger action are not punished if made during one action and the ball stays on the same side of the court. Double contacts made during a completed attack hit (completely crossing the plane of the net or contacting the opponent's block) are called as faults. The rule text on double contact is unchanged.
• Tip attack: the ball must not be caught or thrown (Rule 9.2.2). A tip must be a gentle attack with the fingers of one hand, completely above the height of the net, where the direction changes only once and contact is short in time and distance. If the ball does not rebound instantly, is accompanied by the hand, is thrown from the palm or changes direction more than once, it is a fault. In short: no push, carry, catch or throw; one hand; short contact; straight line.
• Two-handed attacks: a deliberate two-handed attack hit is a fault; a two-handed overhead pass (setting action) that sends the ball over the net is a legal playing action and is only a fault based on quality of contact. A ball coming from a team's own side, including a rebound off its own block, is an attack hit if directed towards the opponent's court. A block that holds, pushes, carries or throws the ball is called as a catch.
• Ceiling: see the faults question. Only the hosting entity decides the boundaries of the free playing space and must make the free zone and ceiling markings available to all participants.
• Rule 8.4 (ball "out") is reprinted for 2026 with the same wording as 2025.

Source: Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Rule Change Summary (volleyball.ca).

Faults listed in the Volleyball Canada Rulebook 2026-27 (the signal order for each is in the signalling question):

Playing the ball (rule 9.3)

• Four hits: a team hits the ball four times before returning it.
• Assisted hit: a player takes support from a teammate or any structure or object to hit the ball within the playing area.
• Catch: the ball is caught and/or thrown and does not rebound from the hit.
• Double contact: a player hits the ball twice in succession, or it contacts various parts of the body in succession.

At the net (rule 11)

• Contact with the net by a player between the antennae during the action of playing the ball.
• Touching the ball or an opponent in the opponent's space before the opponent's attack hit.
• Interfering with the opponent's play while penetrating under the net, or a foot (feet) penetrating completely into the opponent's court.
• Using the net between the antennae as a support or stabilizing aid, or creating an unfair advantage by touching it.

Attack hit (rule 13.3)

• Hitting the ball in the opponent's playing space, or hitting it out.
• A back-row player completing an attack hit from the front zone with the ball entirely higher than the top of the net.
• Completing an attack hit on the opponent's service while the ball is in the front zone and entirely higher than the net.
• A libero completing an attack hit with the ball entirely higher than the net.

Positional fault (rule 7.5): a player is not in the correct position when the server hits the ball. The consequence is a point and service to the opponent, and the positions are rectified. A serving fault at the moment of the service hit is counted before a positional fault, but if the service is correct and then goes out or over a screen, the positional fault is counted.

Ceiling (2026-27 rule change summary): if the first or second team hit touches the ceiling or structure directly attached to it above the field of play and stays available on the same side, play continues. If it rebounds into the opponent's court, or touches a ceiling or structure not situated over the field of play, it is a fault, signalled with the Out signal.

Sources: Volleyball Canada Rulebook 2026-27, rules 7.5, 9.3, 11 and 13.3; 2026-27 Rule Change Summary.

From the 2026-27 Referee Guidelines and Instructions, rule 30 (Official Hand Signals):

Sequence

• First referee: whistle to end the rally or fault, indicate the side to serve next, indicate the nature of the fault, then the player at fault if necessary. The second referee walks to the side of the team to receive next and follows the first referee's signals. (At FIVB, U SPORTS and CCAA matches the second referee does not take part in this signalling, but still walks to the receiving side and keeps eye contact.)
• Second referee (net fault, illegal back-row block, etc.): whistle, indicate the nature of the fault, indicate the player at fault if necessary, pause, then follow the first referee's signal for the side to serve. The second referee shows the signal on the side where the fault was committed, stopping and facing the court rather than signalling while walking.
• If both referees whistle at the same moment for different things, each shows the nature of the fault, but only the first referee shows the double fault signal and the team to serve next.
• A serve made before the whistle is entirely the first referee's job: replay and team to serve.
• End of set is signalled by the first referee.
• Referees must whistle quickly and with certainty, must not signal a fault because players or the public urge it, and if they realize they have erred should correct it immediately.

Out and touched balls

• A ball landing directly out after an attack or block by the opposing team: "ball out".
• A ball from an attack hit that crosses the net and lands outside the court, but was touched by a blocker or other defending player: only "ball touched".
• A ball that is out on a team's own side after its first, second or third hit: "ball touched".
• A ball smashed into the top of the net that lands out on the attacker's side without touching the block: "out", then indicate the attacking player. If it touched the block first, show "ball out" and indicate the blocker or blockers.
• A spiked ball that goes out because it hits the coach in the free zone or another person not in play: "out".
• If a team's ball does not cross the net after the third hit and the same or another player touches it again, the fault is four hits.

Source: Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Referee Guidelines and Instructions, rule 30.

Minor misconduct (Rule 21.1) is not sanctioned. The first referee works in two stages: Stage 1 is a verbal warning through the game captain (no card, nothing on the score sheet). Stage 2 is a yellow card to the team member, which is not a sanction but a symbol that the team has reached the sanctioning level. It is recorded on the score sheet with no immediate consequences. The first referee may go straight to Stage 2. Once the yellow card is shown, any further misconduct by any member of that team is sanctioned with at least a red card.

Misconduct leading to sanctions (Rule 21.2) has three categories: rude conduct, offensive conduct and aggression.

Scale (Rule 21.3):

• Penalty: the first rude conduct by any team member in the match. A point and service to the opponent (red card).
• Expulsion: the first offensive conduct, or the second rude conduct by the same team member. The person cannot take part for the rest of the set, is substituted legally or exceptionally if on court, and goes to the dressing room until the set ends.
• Disqualification: the first physical attack or implied or threatened aggression, a second offensive conduct, or the third rude conduct by the same team member. The person is substituted if on court and leaves for the rest of the match.
• Misconduct sanctions are individual, last the whole match and are recorded on the score sheet. Repeat misconduct by the same person is sanctioned progressively. Expulsion or disqualification for offensive conduct or aggression needs no previous sanction. Misconduct before or between sets is sanctioned by the same scale and applies in the next set.

Volleyball Canada specifics:

• With no team dressing room, an expelled or disqualified person must leave the Competition Control Area, including any viewing spaces. A disqualified participant may not return to the Competition Area after the match ends.
• It is recommended that a first referee who expels or disqualifies a player or coach submits a separate report to the PTA.
• Direct unsportsmanlike communication or behaviour from team members on the bench towards the referees results in at least a Stage 2 warning, and may result in a penalty, expulsion or disqualification.

Sources: Volleyball Canada Rulebook 2026-27, rule 21; 2026-27 Referee Guidelines and Instructions, rules 20 and 21.

Improper request vs delay (Rules 15.11 and 16; Referee Guidelines rule 16):

• The first improper request by a team in a match that does not affect or delay the game is rejected and recorded on the score sheet with no other consequences. If the game was actually delayed by it, it is recorded and treated as a delay, and the team still has the right to make another improper request. Examples of a first improper request: a time-out requested by an assistant coach, a time-out requested after the first referee has whistled for service or during the rally, a seventh substitution request or third time-out request, a second substitution request before the end of the next completed rally (except for an ill or injured player), and (Volleyball Canada) a time-out requested by a coach who is not at the end of the bench nearest the scorer or at the extension of the attack line.
• Any further improper request in the match by the same team is a delay. Other delays include delaying an interruption, prolonging an interruption after being told to resume, requesting an illegal substitution discovered before the next service, a repeated late libero replacement, and failing to replace the libero who rotates to position 4 when the referees have to remind the team and this delays the game.

Sanctions (Rule 16.2):

• Delay sanctions are team sanctions that stay in force for the whole match and are recorded on the score sheet.
• The first delay is a delay warning (yellow card, hand signal 25, recorded in column W).
• The second and any later delay is a delay penalty: a point and service to the opponent (red card, recorded in column P with the team letter, set number and score, and the point circled).
• Delay sanctions imposed before or between sets apply in the following set.
• When issuing a delay sanction, the first referee should not call the captain to the referee's stand, to avoid further delay.

Volleyball Canada specifics: tying shoelaces, or asking to, is not a delay of game, unless it is used as a deliberate delaying tactic. Referees must allow time to wipe a floor that is too wet or slippery after a proper request, but a delay sanction may be imposed if the wiping is unnecessary or deliberately delayed.

Sources: Volleyball Canada Rulebook 2026-27, rules 15.11, 16 and 17.4; 2026-27 Referee Guidelines and Instructions, rule 16.

Volleyball Canada Rulebook 2026-27, rules 15.1 and 15.4:

• Each team may request a maximum of two time-outs and six substitutions per set.
• In Volleyball Canada competitions every requested time-out lasts 60 seconds (the FIVB length is 30 seconds).
• Time-out requests are made with the hand signal when the ball is out of play and before the whistle for service. During time-outs the players in play go to the free zone near their bench.
• For Volleyball Canada 14U (and younger) and 15U boys and girls, the maximum is 12 substitutions per team per set, and they are limited substitutions.
• For 14U and younger "Fair Play" rules apply: no substitutions in the first or second set (an exceptional substitution is allowed for injury, and that player may not return in the same set but may in later sets), and a legal substitution must be allowed if a player is expelled or disqualified. A player expelled in set 1 may not start set 2 but may start set 3, when any line-up can be used. In the third set, 12 limited substitutions are permitted.
• A team may not make consecutive requests for substitution during the same interruption, and there must be a completed rally between two separate substitution requests.

Source: Volleyball Canada Rulebook 2026-27, rules 15.1 to 15.4.

From the Volleyball Canada 2026-27 rule change summary and Referee Guidelines (rule 19):

• 14U and 15U: no libero is permitted. The libero lines on the score sheet stay blank and all twelve players are recorded in the team roster.
• 16U and 17U: only one libero per set.
• 18U: up to two liberos per set (new for 2026-27).
• Liberos may be re-designated after each set. Their numbers must be on the line-up sheet for each set, the new libero can be any player registered on the score sheet, and the uniform number must match the player's number on the score sheet. The replaced libero can play as a regular player with the correct uniform.
• The libero must wear a uniform with a different dominant colour from the team jersey that clearly contrasts with the rest of the team, numbered like the rest of the team.
• For the 2027 Volleyball Canada Championships, the Athlete and Coach Pathway Committee is testing 15U teams competing with a libero. Whether competitions run by a Provincial/Territorial Association (PTA) follow suit is up to that PTA.
• A libero who completes an attack hit when the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net is at fault, and so is a player who attacks from higher than the net after a libero's overhand finger pass in the libero's front zone (the referee uses signal 21 and points at the libero).

Sources: Volleyball Canada 2026-27 Rule Change Summary; 2026-27 Referee Guidelines and Instructions, rule 19 and rule 30; Volleyball Canada Rulebook 2026-27, rule 13.3.

Volleyball Canada recognizes five levels: Level 1 (Local), Level 2 (Provincial), Level 3 (Regional), Level 4 (National) and Level 5 (International). Requirements on the Volleyball Canada Become a Referee page:

• Local: learn the rules, take part in practice calls, attend a clinic sponsored by the Regional Association, and pass written and practical examinations.
• Provincial (indoor and beach): active as a Local referee for at least one full season, complete a provincial referees' clinic, and pass the written and practical examination.
• Regional (indoor only): active as a Provincial referee for at least one full season, attend an advanced officials' clinic, pass the written and practical examination, and be approved by the National Officials' Committee.
• National (indoor): active as a Regional referee for at least three years, a recommendation from the Regional Officials' Chairperson, attend designated clinics led by certified Course Conductors, pass a written and practical examination given by the National Referee Committee at a major competition, and be approved by the National Referee Committee.
• International: active as a National referee for a number of years, a recommendation from the National Referee Chairperson, attend a ten-day International Referees' Course, pass written and practical examinations given by a member of the International Referee Commission, officiate as first referee under observation in seven international matches within three years of the course, and (indoor) be under 41.

Clinic dates and locations come from your Provincial/Territorial Association. The beach pathway has its own Level 1 to 4 stream.

Source: volleyball.ca/en/development/referee/become-a-referee; Volleyball Canada National Referee Committee Manual 2025-2026.

Registration: all Volleyball Canada referees register through their Provincial/Territorial Association (PTA) and must stay members in good standing. Fees sent directly to Volleyball Canada are returned. Consecutive years without registration may result in loss of certification. Referees who officially retire from active status keep their certification level.

Annual program fees (National Referee Committee Manual 2025-2026, the latest edition published on volleyball.ca): Recreation Referee $0, Level 1 $10, Level 2 $20, Level 3 $30, Level 4 $40, Level 5 $50.

Equipment for every match:

• Whistle with lanyard
• Watch displaying minutes and seconds
• Current Volleyball Canada rule book
• Sanction cards
• Flipping coin
• Ball pump and pressure gauge

Source: Volleyball Canada National Referee Committee Manual 2025-2026 (volleyball.ca).