Law 4: Teams

Outside FIVB senior competitions a team may consist of at most twelve players.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.1.1 · recall

Senior competitions at the top level allow up to fourteen players on the score sheet.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.1.1 · recall

The coaching staff is a single coach plus a maximum of two assistants.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.1.1 · recall

The medical staff allowed is one therapist and one doctor.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.1.1 · recall

The coach picks a maximum of five bench staff, himself or herself included, all listed on the score sheet.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.1.1 · recall

Team managers and team journalists may not sit on or behind the bench inside the Control Area.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.1.1 · applied

The two signatures lock the list of recorded players for the match.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.1.3 · recall

Under the general rule a team has at most twelve players; fourteen is only for FIVB senior events, and numbers need not run in sequence.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.1.1 · applied

One coach, up to two assistants, five bench staff in all, and up to fourteen players.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.1.1 · recall

The later the unregistered player is found, the more the team loses: the points, then the set, then the whole match.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.1.3; Casebook 2024 4.22 · applied

Players not in play either sit on the bench or use the warm-up area.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.2.1 · recall

Both benches stand next to the scorer's table, beyond the free zone.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.2.1 · recall

Team members sit on the bench but are allowed to leave it temporarily.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.2.1 · recall

These rights belong to the listed team composition alone.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.2.2 · recall

While the ball is in play, reserves warm up in the warm-up areas and without balls.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.2.3.1 · recall

Set intervals are the moment players may use balls, inside their own free zone.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.2.4 · recall

Players need not stand there, but they may not sit on benches, chairs, rails or walls in the warm-up area without special permission.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.2.1, 4.2.3; Casebook 2024 7.2 · applied

In a time-out reserves use the free zone behind their own court, which is B; A is on court, C is behind the opponents and D beside the net.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.2.3.2 · applied

The official warm-up comes before play; during a set reserves use the warm-up area, and in the interval they may use balls.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.2.3, 4.2.4 · applied

The benches are beside the scorer's table, outside the free zone, so the free zone lies between the side line and the bench.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.2.1 · recall

The uniform is jersey, shorts and socks, and the player adds sport shoes.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3 · recall

Colour and design are uniform for the team, with the Liberos as the one exception.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3.1, 4.3.5 · recall

Shoes must be light and flexible, with rubber or composite soles and without heels.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3.2 · recall

Jerseys are numbered from 1 to 20; FIVB senior events with larger squads may go higher.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3.3 · recall

The number sits in the middle of both chest and back, in a colour and brightness that contrast with the jersey.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3.3.1 · recall

Numbers are at least 15 cm high in front and 20 cm behind, drawn with a stroke at least 2 cm wide.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3.3.2 · recall

The captain is shown by an 8 by 2 cm stripe that underlines the number on the chest.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3.4 · recall

D underlines a legal number; A has the stripe above it, B has none, and C carries 27, above the usual limit of 20.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3.3, 4.3.4 · applied

A stroke is at least 2 cm, the captain's stripe 8 cm long, the chest number 15 cm and the back number 20 cm.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3.3.2, 4.3.4 · recall

The stripe underlines the chest number, so it sits just below it.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3.4 · recall

Rule 4.4 gives the 1st referee the power to authorise barefoot play.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.4.1 · recall

Wet or damaged kit may be changed between sets or after a substitution if the replacement matches in colour, design and number.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.4.2 · applied

Training suits are allowed when they are uniform for the team, Liberos apart, and numbered as Rule 4.3.3 requires.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.4.3 · recall

The test is the risk of injury or of an artificial advantage, not the material.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.5.1 · recall

Glasses and lenses are allowed, and the player bears the risk.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.5.2 · recall

Pads match the part of the uniform they cover; black, white or a neutral colour is also fine if every player using one wears the same.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.5.3 · recall

A hard cast can hurt other players, unlike a padded brace or a compression device, so it cannot be worn.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.5.1; Casebook 2024 1.1 · applied

A ring risks injury, so it is removed or taped; glasses are worn at the player's risk and padded or compression supports are allowed.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.5; Casebook 2024 1.2 · applied

The change happens between sets, the game captain asks, the 1st referee allows it, and the new jersey matches the old one.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.4.2, 5.1.2.2 · applied

Rule 4 lists the jersey, shorts and socks as the uniform, and the shoes go on the feet.

Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 4.3 · recall