Starting with the 2026 season, a player's foot completely crossing the center line will be ruled a fault in women's volleyball.
Additionally, coaches can challenge whether an opponent's foot completely crossed the center line. Officials will also be able to look at possible net faults while reviewing a challenge as to whether a player's foot completely crossed the center line.
The Division I Women's Volleyball Oversight Committee and the Divisions II and III Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the rules changes, which bring NCAA volleyball more in line with the international center-line rule.
Previously, it wasn't a fault for a player's foot to completely cross the center line unless the player caused interference or created a safety hazard. Also, center-line faults couldn't be challenged.
Bench protocols
Teams switching benches only after the completion of the second set was approved. Also, after the coin flip for the fifth set — where a team can choose to serve, receive or which side to compete on — the teams will remain on their sides of the net the entire set.
The rationale for the change is to aid the pace of play and limit delays.
Previously, teams switched benches after each set and also in the fifth set when a team reached 8 points.
DII/III substitutions
In Divisions II and III only, substitutions allowed per set will increase to 18. Previously, teams could make 15 substitutions per set.
Experimental rule
An experimental rule can be used for conference games to allow the electronic transmission of live video to the bench area for coaching purposes only.
Other rules recommendations approved:
- Players on the serving team will not be allowed to raise their hands above their heads during the serve until the ball crosses the net.
- Challenges will not be permitted once a timeout is initiated.
- When requesting a video review challenge, coaches will form a "C" with their hands instead of presenting a card.
- Jewelry can be worn above the chin only. There are no limitations on the size of the jewelry.
- Misconduct sanctions will remain for the entire match and not reset after a set is completed. Sanctions for procedural reasons (delays) will reset each set.
- Players can go around the net pole to pursue a ball and play it back to their side. This action will be allowed for a ball that has crossed the net plane to the opponent's free zone over or outside the antenna. There need to be at least 2 meters of space behind the referee's pole to use this rule. Also, television cameras cannot be placed between the attack lines on the side where the referee's stand is located. Players cannot go under the net to pursue the ball.
- Officials can go to the statistics crew or use the Challenge Review System to address a scoring discrepancy. Coaches will not have to make a formal protest in these instances.
- Another optional timeout format will be added in which technical/media timeouts occur when a team reaches 15 points for sets 1-4, regardless of whether a team has already taken a timeout. The technical/media timeout will be a maximum of 90 seconds. The maximum time of a team timeout will be 75 seconds. There will not be a technical/media timeout in the fifth set.
- If a disqualified player doesn't sit out the next match as required, the head coach and player are required to serve a two-game suspension. If a coach who is disqualified doesn't sit out the next match as required, the head coach will be required to serve a two-game suspension.
- Two commercial logos will be permitted on the playing surface that can be no larger than 10 feet by 10 feet. One logo can be placed at each end of the playing court between the attack line and end line. The logos should not interfere with any required court markings or boundary lines.
