Scorekeeper's Guide to Volleyball Canada Indoor Scoresheet All Ages 2026-27

Before each set the coach presents the starting line-up on a line-up sheet (or electronically), duly filled in and signed, to the second referee or the scorer. The scorer records the starting line-up of each team from the line-up sheet. If the line-up sheets do not arrive on time, the scorer immediately tells the second referee. The line-up order is the rotational order and must be kept throughout the set.

Once the line-up sheet is delivered, no change is authorized without a regular substitution.

If the players on court differ from the line-up sheet:

• Found before the set starts: positions are rectified to match the sheet, with no sanction. This also applies to a player on court who is not on that set's line-up sheet.
• Coach wants to keep a non-recorded player on court: the coach must request a regular substitution, which is recorded on the score sheet.
• Found later: the team at fault reverts to the correct positions. The opponent's points remain valid, the opponent gains a point and the next service, and all points the team at fault scored from the moment of the fault are cancelled.
• Player on court who is not on the team roster: the opponent's points remain valid and the opponent gains a point and service. The team at fault loses all points and/or sets (0:25 if necessary) gained from the moment the non-registered player entered, and must submit a revised line-up sheet.

Source: Volleyball Canada 2026-2027 Official Volleyball Rules, Rules 7.3 and 27.2.1.2.

The scorer controls the serving order of each team and indicates any error to the referees immediately after the service hit, using the buzzer.

A rotational fault is committed when the service is not made in the rotational order. The consequences, in order:

1. The scorer stops play by the buzzer; the opponent gains a point and the next service. If the fault is found only after the rally that started with the rotational fault has finished, only a single point is awarded to the opponent, regardless of the result of the rally played.
2. The faulty team's rotational order must be rectified.
3. The scorer should determine the exact moment the fault was committed, and all points scored afterwards by the team at fault are cancelled. The opponent's points remain valid. If that moment cannot be determined, no points are cancelled and a point and service to the opponent is the only sanction.

Rotation itself: when the receiving team gains the right to serve, its players rotate one position clockwise (position 2 to position 1 to serve, position 1 to position 6, and so on).

Source: Volleyball Canada 2026-2027 Official Volleyball Rules, Rules 7.6, 7.7 and 27.2.2.2.

• A set (except the deciding set) is won by the first team to score 25 points with a minimum two-point lead. At 24-24, play continues until one team leads by two (26-24, 27-25 and so on).
• The match is won by the team that wins 2 of 3 sets or 3 of 5 sets.
• The deciding set (the 3rd or 5th) is played to 15 points with a minimum two-point lead. There is no point limit.
• The scorer announces the end of each set to the referees.
• In the deciding set, the scorer announces the scoring of the 8th point to the referees. Once the leading team reaches 8 points, the teams change courts without delay and player positions stay the same. If the change is missed, it takes place as soon as the error is noticed, and the score at that time stays the same.
• The scorer also controls the interval between sets. Intervals last three minutes, and the line-up registrations on the score sheet are made during this time.

Source: Volleyball Canada 2026-2027 Official Volleyball Rules, Rules 6.2, 6.3, 18 and 27.2.2.

Recording: the scorer is empowered to acknowledge and announce requests for player substitutions by buzzer, controls their number, records the substitutions and time-outs, and informs the second referee. The scorer also notifies the referees of a request for a regular game interruption that is out of order.

Limits per set: two time-outs and six substitutions per team. In Volleyball Canada 14U and 15U competitions the maximum is 12 limited substitutions per team per set. All requested time-outs last 60 seconds in Volleyball Canada competition.

Limited substitutions: a starting player may leave once and re-enter once, only to his or her previous position. A substitute may enter once per set, and can only be replaced by the same starting player.

Sequence: no consecutive substitution requests in the same interruption, and a completed rally is needed between two separate substitution requests (except a forced substitution for injury, expulsion or disqualification).

Exceptional substitutions: these are not counted as regular substitutions but are recorded on the score sheet as part of the total substitutions in the set and the match.

Illegal substitution: one that exceeds the limits or involves an unregistered player. If play has resumed, the team at fault is penalized with a point and service to the opponent, the substitution is rectified, and the points the team scored since the fault are cancelled while the opponent's points remain valid.

Source: Volleyball Canada 2026-2027 Official Volleyball Rules, Rules 15 and 27.2.2.

Who tracks: the assistant scorer prepares the Libero control sheet before the match and set, records the details of Libero replacements and re-designations, notifies the referees of any fault in a Libero replacement using the buzzer, and signs the Libero control sheet at the end. Libero replacements must be recorded on the Libero control sheet (if one is used) or on the electronic score sheet. They are not counted as substitutions.

Where the Libero goes on the sheet (Volleyball Canada): the Libero is recorded on the score sheet with the team roster, not on the special line, and the Libero's number is recorded on the line-up sheet for every set.

What to check:

• Libero replacements are unlimited, but there must be a completed rally between two replacements involving a Libero.
• At the start of a set the Libero cannot enter until the second referee has checked the line-up and authorized the replacement with a starting player.
• The Libero may replace only a back-row player.
• An illegal Libero replacement includes no completed rally between replacements, or the Libero being replaced by a player other than the second Libero or the regular replacement player.

Re-designation: the number of the player re-designated as Libero must be recorded in the score sheet remarks section and on the Libero control sheet (or electronic score sheet).

Age classifications (Volleyball Canada): 14U and 15U teams may not use a Libero; 16U and 17U teams may use one Libero per set; 18U teams may use up to two Liberos per set.

Source: Volleyball Canada 2026-2027 Official Volleyball Rules, Rules 19 and 28.

The scorer records:

• Misconduct warnings, sanctions and improper requests. Misconduct sanctions are individual, stay in force for the entire match and are recorded on the score sheet.
• A yellow card (the formal warning, Stage 2) is recorded on the score sheet but has no immediate consequences.
• All delay sanctions. Delay sanctions are team sanctions that stay in force for the entire match. The first delay by a team member is a "delay warning"; the second and later delays by the same team in the match are "delay penalties" (a point and service to the opponent). Sanctions imposed before or between sets are applied in the following set.
• Other events as instructed by the second referee, such as exceptional substitutions, recovery time, prolonged interruptions, external interference and Libero re-designation.
• Non-compliance with the warm-up protocol, which the referees note on the score sheet.

Source: Volleyball Canada 2026-2027 Official Volleyball Rules, Rules 7.2, 16.2, 21 and 27.2.2.

At the end of the match the scorer:

1. Records the final result.
2. In the case of a protest, and with the previous authorization of the first referee, writes (or permits the team or game captain to write) a statement about the incident being protested on the score sheet.
3. Signs the score sheet him or herself, before obtaining the signatures of the team captains and then the referees.

The assistant scorer signs the Libero control sheet and submits it for checking, and also signs the score sheet. The second referee and first referee each check and sign the score sheet at the end of the match.

Source: Volleyball Canada 2026-2027 Official Volleyball Rules, Rules 24.3.3, 27.2.3, 28.2.3 and 23.3.3.