Commencing with this weekend’s North Texas Region sanctioned tournaments and continuing until further notice—NTR is implementing the following amendment to Match Protocol.
The match will begin with both teams lined up on their respective end lines. The First Referee will beckon the teams to the court. The teams will then proceed and run across their respective 3m attack lines with hands outreached (not the centerline.)
At the conclusion of the match, the First Referee will send teams, players and coaches, to the end lines. The R1 will then beckon them to proceed to their respective 3m attack lines to run across with hands outreached(again, not the centerline) to exchange congratulations from there.
During side changes, players and coaches should avoid direct contact.
Other points of emphasis:
· Players need to be conscious of their hands during team huddles and timeouts. “Hands in!” needs to be replaced with non-contact cheers.
· During substitutions, players should not touch hands.
· Players should replace their usual “high-fives” with individual celebrations (clapping hands).
· Athletes and coaches acting as an R2 should clean their hands before placing their whistle (which also needs cleaning) into their mouth.
· If a player or parent has a fever or is suspected of being ill, they should stay home. A volleyball match is not worth it.
· Pick up & dispose of your own drink bottles…do not leave at the bench.
· Wash your hands throughout the day and certainly before you eat or drink.
· We cannot effectively clean volleyballs, which are made of a porous leather surface and do not react well to spray & gels.
