# Law 31: Official Hand Signals (FIVB Official Volleyball Rules)

Volleyball · Law 31: Official Hand Signals · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/volleyball/laws/law-31-official-hand-signals/)

The referees' official hand signals of Diagram 11: authorising the service, the team to serve, time-outs and substitutions, delay signals, faults in playing the ball, and the net and line signals.

## 31.311 Starting, Pausing and Ending Play

Authorisation to serve, the team to serve, change of courts, time-out, substitution and end of set.

### Test 1: Signals that start, pause and end play

- Authorisation to serve: a movement of the hand showing the direction of the service. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (1), 12.3)
- Team to serve: the referee extends his arm to the side of the team that will serve. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (2), 22.2.3.1)
- Change of courts: the forearms are raised in front and behind and twisted around the body. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (3), 18.2)
- Time-out: the palm of one hand over the fingers of the other, held vertically, then the requesting team. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (4), 15.4.1)
- Substitution: a circular motion of the forearms around each other. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (5), 15.5.1)
- The request starts when the substitute, ready to play, enters the substitution zone during an interruption. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10.3.1)
- The coach's substitution hand signal is needed for an injury, or before the start of the set. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.10.3.1, 15.5.2)
- Crossed forearms in front of the chest, hands open, is the end of set (or match) signal. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (9), 6.2, 6.3)
- The buzzer comes before the coach's hand signal; the referee then shows the T and the requesting team. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.4.1, Diagram 11 (4))
- At 8 points in the deciding set the teams change courts at once and keep their positions. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 18.2.2, Diagram 11 (3))

## 31.312 Delays and the Service

Delay warnings and penalties on the wrist, delay in service and a ball not tossed or released.

### Test 1: Delays, delay sanctions and the service

- Delay warning: the wrist is covered with a yellow card. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (25), 16.2.2)
- A second delay brings a delay penalty: the wrist covered with a red card. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (25), 16.2.3)
- For a delay the referee lays the card over his wrist; for misconduct he simply shows the card. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (6a, 6b, 25))
- Delay in service: eight fingers, spread open. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (11), 12.4.4)
- The server must hit the ball within 8 seconds after the 1st referee's whistle. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 12.4.4, Diagram 11 (11))
- Ball not tossed or released at the service hit: the extended arm is lifted, palm upwards. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (10), 12.4.1)
- Delay warnings and delay penalties may be given to any member of the team. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 16.2, Diagram 9)
- A red card laid over the wrist is the delay penalty; a red card simply shown is a misconduct penalty. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (25), 16.2.3)
- The first delay brings a delay warning, any later one a delay penalty. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 16.2, Diagram 11 (25))
- Over 8 seconds is a service fault, so the receiving team serves next and the 8-finger sign follows. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 12.4.4, 22.2.3.1)

## 31.313 Faults in Playing the Ball

Rotational faults, catch, double contact, four hits, attack hit faults, blocking, double fault, touched ball.

### Test 1: Faults in playing the ball

- Positional or rotational fault: a circular motion of the forefinger. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (13), 7.5, 7.7)
- Catch: the forearm is lifted slowly with the palm facing upwards. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (16), 9.2.2)
- Two fingers spread open is the double contact signal. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (17), 9.3.4)
- Four hits: four fingers spread open. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (18), 9.3.1)
- Attack hit fault: a downward motion of the forearm with the hand open. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (21), 13.3.3)
- Double fault and replay: both thumbs raised vertically. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (23), 17.2)
- Ball touched: the palm of one hand brushes the fingers of the other, held vertically. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (24), 24.2.2)
- Both arms straight up with the palms forward is the blocking fault or screening signal; ball out uses the forearms. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (12), 12.5, 14.6)
- After the whistle the 1st referee shows the team to serve, the nature of the fault, then the player. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 22.2.3.1, Diagram 11 (17))
- Hitting the ball without a toss or release is a service fault; the nature signal comes after the team to serve. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 12.4.1, 22.2.3.1)

## 31.314 At the Net and on the Lines

Ball in and out, net touches, reaching beyond the net, and pointing to the centre line or a line.

### Test 1: Signals at the net and on the lines

- Ball in: the arm and fingers point toward the floor. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (14), 8.3)
- Ball out: the forearms raised vertically, hands open, palms towards the body. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (15), 8.4)
- Net touched by a player: the referee indicates the relevant side of the net with the corresponding hand. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (19), 11.4.4)
- The same signal covers a serve that touches the net between the antennae and does not pass the net's plane. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (19), 12.6.2.1)
- Reaching beyond the net: a hand placed above the net with the palm facing down. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (20), 11.4.1)
- Signal 22 points to the centre line or the relevant line for those faults. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (22), 8.4.5, 11.2.2)
- A server touching the court (end line) at the hit is shown by pointing to that line. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (22), 12.4.3)
- Pointing to the centre line shows penetration into the opponent court or a ball through the lower space. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Diagram 11 (22), 11.2.2)
- Team B wins the rally; the team to serve comes before the ball-out signal. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 22.2.3.1, Diagram 11 (15))
- On his own whistle the 2nd referee signals what and who, and copies the 1st referee's choice of server. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 22.2.3.2, Diagram 11 (19))

Sources: FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, Diagram 11 with Rule 30 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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