BLOG 3: Volleyball changes are positive changes

By Sandy Gholston

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris State University head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm recently commented on several rules changes this season in college volleyball.

Ferris State University volleyball player Arielle Goodson goes up for a block during a home match last season in Ewigleben Sports Arena. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

One of the changes is kind of a ho-hum one: What used to be called "games" will now be called "sets" beginning this season. Another change involves the controversial yet subjective ball-handling calls. Officials are going to take it a little easier on some of those ball-handling issues that had been called in the past. So, we could have some frustrated fans screaming in some of the early matches this season. Ugly contacts are not necessarily violations and there is belief this rule could assist officials in finding a level of consistency in their calls. One of the exciting changes is sets will now be played to 25 rather than 30 points while the fifth set will still be played to 15. The change from 30 to 25 makes the individual points even more meaningful during the course of a match. Brandel-Wilhelm indicated in a University press release: "The change to 25 points is a positive move. It's appropriate for us (collegiate volleyball) to be at the same scoring level as the international game."

One change not greeted quite so positively by Brandel-Wilhelm is one that most casual fans and even some more knowledgeable fans might not pick up on quite so quickly. There will be a change in the number of substitutions that will reduce the number from 15 per set to 12. The rule change will challenge coaches who like to make situational substitutions and have recruited players based on the 15-substitution rule. As Brandel-Wilhelm pointed out: "… We certainly must adjust our recruiting efforts to adapt to this rule change. We're going to recruit more well-rounded players."

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com