Coaching

13.G. Verbal Warnings, Technical Warnings and Technical Fouls.

Receiving coaching at anytime during a rally by anyone other than a partner. Players may receive coaching in between rallies provided that the pace of play is not interrupted.  Coaching shall cease before the score call for the next rally. Coaches or spectators are not to be consulted for line calls and doing so may result in a VW, TW or TF.  Coaching lasting beyond the score call may result in a delay of game penalty.Except during time-outs and in-between games, receiving coaching from anyone other than a partner.

13.G. Verbal Warnings, Technical Warnings and Technical Fouls.

13.G.1.j. Except during time-outs and in-between games, receiving coaching from anyone other than a partner.

Coaching has become widespread especially in team play. International players and play has demonstrated that officials are not always able to identify when a player is receiving coaching as they may not understand the language. Referees are only able to penalize players when they understand the language and what is being said.

Allowing coaching in between rallies might add excitement to the game especially in Team play.  Spectators are not allowed to make line calls or consult on line calls however.

Coaching during the rally will result in a VW or stronger penalty.  Coaching that delays the game will result in a penalty.  Profanity from the coach will result in a penalty.

A coach does not have to be appointed.  Sometimes there are multiple coaches. Sometimes spectators shout advise that is non assignable.  With this change the referee does not have to guess what player or team the coaching was designed to assist.

At the end of an officiated rally someone in the crowd shouts playing instructions.  Currently the referee would try and identify which team received the coaching in order to possibly assess a VW, TW or TF. This rule takes that task off the referee.

In International play a player and a spectator talk at the end of a rally in a language not known by the official.  The official must either request they not talk or allow it to happen. Meanwhile the players opponent is discussing strategy in English and the referee issues a coaching penalty. This would not happen under this rule.

A team has lost four consecutive points and their parents in the crowd signal for them to take a time out. Now this would be allowed.

During a rally, a coach yells playing instructions to a specific team.  This would still be a penalty. Spectator interference will not be tolerated during the rally as it handled today.

At the conclusion of a rally a player is receiving coaching.  The serving team moves into position and calls the score signifying that they have 10 seconds to serve the ball.  By this rule the server and receiver will know that, when the score is called, coaching must cease.

At the end of the rally there is a no call on a bounced ball. The player that was to make the line call consults with their coach. This would be a penalty.