A year after women's volleyball experienced big changes, the NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules Committee has found no reason to make a similar impact in 2003.

Last year, the committee introduced the high-profile libero rule, but the majority of the committee's work during this year's meeting January 27-28 in Indianapolis pertained to rules modifications and language cleanup. The most significant rules changes included a revision of the pursuit rule to prohibit players from traveling under the net inside the net pole to pursue a ball. The change was based on concerns for player safety. Players can still pursue a ball outside the net pole into an opponent's out-of-bounds area.

"The committee wanted to maintain the objectives of the pursuit rule but also remove the greatest potential for physical harm," said Terry Pettit, coach advocate at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and committee chair.

Also involving player safety, the committee approved a ban on stationary exercise equipment in the warm-up area.

In other actions, the committee expanded the centerline rule to allow more leniency to players who cross the centerline while not involved with play. Encroachment of any body part or parts over the centerline will be allowed as long as the player remains in contact with her side of the court. The committee felt the change would result in fewer faults called without impacting safety issues, which would enhance the flow of the game.

More restrictive standards also were approved for coach misconduct and crowd control. Coaches who are disqualified from a match will be suspended for the next match. Administrators will be provided with clearer criteria regarding unacceptable fan behavior, and it will be emphasized that referees have the authority to suspend or end play if the host administration fails to keep crowd behavior from negatively interfering with play.

In the area of research, the committee took steps to collect more detailed information on volleyball injuries and any possible links to existing rules. The committee will work with NCAA staff and the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports to enhance the information gathered by the Injury Surveillance System.

In other efforts to fine-tune the playing rules, the committee decided to continue its collection of data from conference offices on match lengths and the number of substitutions used per game. Selected conferences will receive instructions in August about collection procedures.

The committee also worked to establish the spring season as a time for coaches and players to experiment with possible rules changes. The committee will ask coaches in March to use the libero as a server in one designated rotation during spring tournaments. The committee will seek feedback about the libero serving on the annual rules survey.

"Asking coaches to use an experimental rule in spring competition is our most effective way of surveying how a potential rule change would impact the game," Pettit said. "It also helps us gather information and responses from coaches who have actually coached a specific rule change in competition. We would like everyone to understand that we will definitely not be using any rule change that we experiment with this spring for the 2003 NCAA fall season. But the committee encourages coaches to participate."

Coaches can expect the survey in the mail October 1 for a November 1 return date. New this year, the call for proposals will be mailed with the survey instead of in April. The change was made to accommodate the playing season, when coaches are more likely to have discussions about potential rules changes. The proposals still will require the signatures of at least two coaches from different institutions in order to be considered by the committee. All proposals are due at the national office by January 15 in order for the committee to review them at next year's annual meeting January 27-30, 2004.

Finally, coaches will receive a memo outlining all of this year's rules changes via mail by late February. A copy of the 2004 NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules again will be sent to each head volleyball coach, and will be available for sale from the NCAA after June 1.