VOLLEYBALL SCORING GETS A MAKEOVER
-Molly Yanity, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
January 31, 2003

Rally scoring it is.

After years of discussion, the National Federation of State High School Associations volleyball rules committee approved rally scoring for high school matches in all states by the 2004-05 school year.

The format ensures a faster pace and a host of rules changes.

Rally scoring wipes out the format in which points can be scored only on serve. Games are played to 25 with no cap. A "let serve" will be allowed, meaning play continues on contact with the net within the antennas. Coaches are allowed two timeouts.

"It is felt that one of the positives in the introduction of rally scoring is it will generate more spectator interest," said Sheryl Solberg, chairwoman of the rules committee.

"This can only be a positive for our young athletes to know they are involved in an even more exciting sport."

Garfield coach Leslie Hamman has been a vocal supporter of rally scoring.

"I pushed it so hard because, No. 1, we play on school nights. We played a match that went five games against Holy Names and it didn't finish until well after 10.

"It's good strictly because they are student-athletes," Hamman said.

"No. 2, it puts the final consistency on the rules for all the major jurisdictions."

Rally scoring is used at the NCAA Division I, international and professional levels.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association will rule in March or April whether to implement rally scoring in 2003 or 2004.