The NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules Committee has recommended a progression system referees can use in cases of a score discrepancy.

Meeting January 21-23 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the committee developed a protocol in which step one calls for the referee to consult with the alternate official, if one is available. The next step is to check with official statisticians who may be using an electronic system to keep score. Lastly, the referee can ask to review both teams’ scorebooks to see if both benches/coaches agree on the score.

The Playing Rules and Oversight Panel, which meets via conference call April 15, must approve the recommendation before it can be implemented for the 2009 season.

The rule book currently states that the sheet at the scoring table is the only reference for referees in resolving a score discrepancy (in addition to their own certainty as to what the score should be). But the committee believes current technology provides quick access to accurate information should a discrepancy arise.

“Electronic statistical programs are being used at many matches now,” said committee Chair Cindy Spiro, the senior associate director of athletics at UC Davis. “It’s another opportunity to make sure we can correct an error.”

Though rare, scoring discrepancies do occur, as they did during one of the 2008 Division I national semifinals and in the final, which caused delays. The committee believes the stoppages would have been shortened if the referee had more tools available for review.

Another key topic at the rules committee meeting was the substitution rule that went into effect for the 2008 season. Teams were allowed to make 12 substitutions per set, down from the 15 previously available.

The committee subtracted three substitutions because of the scoring change in 2008 that reduced the number of points necessary to win a set from 30 to 25.

In November, all three divisions were surveyed about the new substitution rule and nearly half of the respondents wanted to revert to 15 substitutions per set. Most of that sentiment came from Division III, where 63 percent of the respondents said they preferred the previous rule.

“We are sensitive to Division III institutions and their mission, which focuses on broader participation and getting more people into matches,” Spiro said.

However, while the committee heard compelling feedback from all three divisions, members decided to give the 12-substitution rule another year before judging the impact of the change.

“We felt another year of review would be more conducive to making a decision that’s best for the sport,” Spiro said.