Law 15: Interruptions

The only regular interruptions are time-outs and substitutions.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15 · restitution

Each team may request at most two time-outs and six substitutions in a set.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.1 · restitution

All requested time-outs last 30 seconds; at top events the FIVB may approve another length.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.4.1 · restitution

In every time-out the players in play go to the free zone near their bench.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.4.2 · restitution

Only the coach may request them, or in the coach's absence the assistant coach or the game captain.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.3.1 · restitution

A time-out is asked for with the hand signal while the ball is out of play and before the whistle for service.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.4.1 · restitution

At the top level the buzzer and then the hand signal are obligatory.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.4.1 · restitution

Both time-outs are gone and four of the six substitutions are used, leaving two substitutions.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.1 · application

One or two time-outs and one substitution request may follow one another in the same interruption.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.2.1; Casebook 2024 4.28 · application

A third time-out is improper, but once it has actually delayed the game it is curtailed and sanctioned as a delay.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.11.1.4; Casebook 2024 4.29 · application

A player other than the Libero or his replacement player enters, after being recorded, to take another player's position.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.5.1 · restitution

A starter may leave once and re-enter once per set, only to his previous position in the line-up.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.6.1 · restitution

A substitute can only be substituted by the starting player he replaced.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.6.2 · restitution

A substitute may enter in place of a starter only once per set.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.6.2 · restitution

Two or more players may be substituted at the same time within the same request.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.2.2 · restitution

Separate substitution requests by the same team need a completed rally in between, injury and expulsion cases apart.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.2.3 · restitution

A substitution before the start of a set is allowed and is recorded as a regular one in that set.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.3.2; Casebook 2024 4.12 · application

No. 12 came on for No. 5, so only No. 5 may replace him, returning to his own position.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.6 · application

A starter may leave once and come back once, after which no further substitution involving him is possible.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.6.1 · restitution

Two substitution requests by the same team must be separated by a completed rally.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.2.3 · restitution

Only one substitution remains, so the coach picks one and the other is rejected as an improper request.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.1, 15.11; Casebook 2024 4.14 · application

The legal substitution is granted, and the illegal one is rejected with a delay sanction.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10.4; Casebook 2024 4.15 · application

Leaving once and returning once uses up the starter's substitutions for the set.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.6.1 · application

The pairing is fixed: a substitute can only be replaced by the starter he came on for.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.6.2, 15.9.1 · application

Two time-outs may be taken in one interruption, but two substitution requests may not.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.11.1.3; Casebook 2024 4.28 · application

After a rejected request sanctioned by a delay warning, no regular interruption may be requested in the same interruption.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.2.4; Casebook 2024 4.30.1 · application

The request starts when a substitute enters the zone, so only that player's substitution is part of it.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10.3.1; Casebook 2024 4.2 · application

A second substitution in the same interruption is improper even after a time-out; the others are legal.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.2, 15.7, 15.11.1.3; Casebook 2024 4.9, 4.28 · application

Without delay, the extra request is simply rejected as improper and written on the score sheet.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.11; Casebook 2024 4.14 · application

With six per set, they have four, two and none left.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.1 · application

An exceptional substitution is allowed when a player cannot go on through injury, illness, expulsion or disqualification and no legal one is possible.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.7 · restitution

Any player not on court at that moment may enter, except the Libero, the second Libero and their regular replacement player.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.7 · restitution

The player replaced exceptionally may not re-enter the match.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.7 · restitution

It is never counted as a regular substitution but is recorded as part of the total for the set and match.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.7 · restitution

Legal substitution first, then exceptional; if neither is possible the team is incomplete.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.8 · restitution

A substitution is illegal if it exceeds the limits of Rule 15.6, outside the exceptional case, or involves an unregistered player.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.9.1 · restitution

He may substitute exceptionally, and the expelled player cannot return, or accept that the team is incomplete for that set.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.8; Casebook 2024 4.11 · application

Team A's points since the fault are cancelled, team B keeps its 16 and gains a point and the service.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.9.2 · application

Rule 15.9.2 sets the order: the penalty, the correction, then the cancellation of points.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.9.2 · restitution

Only when a legal substitution is impossible may the team substitute exceptionally, and only then is it incomplete.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.8 · restitution

Substitutions take place within the substitution zone.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10.1 · restitution

Entering the substitution zone ready to play, during an interruption, is the request itself.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10.3.1 · restitution

Otherwise no hand signal is needed: entering the zone is the request.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10.3.1 · restitution

If the player is not ready at the moment of the request, it is not granted and the team is sanctioned for delay.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10.3.2 · application

The scorer or the 2nd referee acknowledges the request by buzzer or whistle, and the 2nd referee authorises it.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10.3.3 · restitution

Requests during a rally or at or after the whistle to serve are improper.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.11.1.1 · restitution

The first such request is rejected and noted on the score sheet without other consequences; later ones are delays.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.11.2, 15.11.3 · restitution

C is the substitution zone between the attack-line extensions by the scorer's table; A is a warm-up area, B the Libero Replacement zone, D behind the end line.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 1.4.3, 15.10.1 · application

Entering the zone makes the request, which is acknowledged, authorised and then carried out and recorded.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10 · restitution

All substitutes must enter together to be in the same request, and the changes are made one pair after another.

Source : FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10.4 · restitution