An interruption is the time between one completed rally and the first referee’s whistle for the next service.
The only regular game interruptions are TIME-OUTS and SUBSTITUTIONS.
Each team may request a maximum of two time-outs and six substitutions per set.
Volleyball Canada - For Volleyball Canada competitions in the 14U* and 15U (boys and girls), 12 substitutions is the maximum permitted per team per set. The 12 substitutions are limited (Rule 15.6.1 and 15.6.2).
*For Volleyball Canada 14U and younger competitions "Fair Play" rules apply, which are as follows: Substitutions are not permitted in the first or second set. In the case of injury, an Exceptional Substitution may be made. The injured/ill player may not return to the same set but may return to play in subsequent sets. If a player is expelled or disqualified, there must be a legal substitution allowed for the set to continue. If a player is expelled in the first set, the expelled player may not start the second set but would be allowed to start the third set. Any line up can be used at the start of the third set. In the third set, 12 "limited" substitutions are permitted.
15.2.1 Request for one or two time-outs, and one request for substitution by either team may follow one another, within the same interruption. (VC Guidelines 6.2)
15.2.2 However, a team is not authorized to make consecutive requests for substitution during the same interruption. Two or more players may be substituted at the same time within the same request.
15.2.3 There must be a completed rally between two separate substitution requests by the same team. (Exception: a forced substitution due to injury or expulsion/disqualification (Rule 15.5.2, 15.7, 15.8; VC Guidelines 6.2)).
15.2.4 It is not permitted to request any regular game interruption after having had a request rejected and sanctioned by a delay warning during the same interruption (i.e. before the end of the next completed rally)
15.3.1 Regular game interruptions may be requested by the coach, or in the absence of the coach, by the assistant coach, or the game captain, and only by them.
15.3.2 Substitution before the start of a set is permitted and should be recorded as a regular substitution in that set.
15.4.1 Time-out requests must be made by showing the corresponding hand signal, when the ball is out of play and before the whistle for service. All requested time-outs last for 30 seconds.
Volleyball Canada - All time-outs that are requested last for 60 seconds. The players are to remain off the court for the 60 seconds.
15.4.2 During all time-outs, the players in play must go to the free zone near their bench.
15.5.1 A substitution is the act by which a player, other than the Libero or his/her replacement player, after being recorded by the scorer, enters the game to occupy the position of another player, who must leave the court at that moment.
15.5.2 When the substitution is enforced through injury to a player in play, this may be accompanied by the coach (or game captain) showing the corresponding hand signal.
15.6.1 Limited Substitution - A player of the starting line-up may leave the game, but only once in a set, and re-enter, but only once in a set, and only to his/her previous position in the line-up.
15.6.2 Limited Substitution - A substitute player may enter the game in place of a player of the starting line-up, but only once per set, and he/she can only be substituted by the same starting player.
15.6.3 Unlimited Substitution - A player of the starting line-up may leave the game multiple times in a set, and re-enter multiples times in a set, and only to his/her previous position in the line-up.
15.6.4 Unlimited Substitution - A substitute player may enter the game multiple times in the place of a player of the starting line-up and he/she can only be substituted by the same starting player.
A player (except the Libero) who cannot continue playing due to injury/ illness, or expulsion/disqualification should be substituted legally. If this is not possible, the team is entitled to make an EXCEPTIONAL substitution, beyond the limits of Rule 15.6.
An exceptional substitution means that any player who is not on the court at the time of the injury/illness/expulsion/disqualification, except the Libero, second Libero or their regular replacement player, may be substituted into the game for the injured/ill/expelled/disqualified player. The injured/ill/expelled player substituted via exceptional substitution is not allowed to re-enter the match.
An exceptional substitution cannot be counted in any case as a regular substitution but should be recorded on the score sheet as part of the total of substitutions in the set and the match.
An EXPELLED or DISQUALIFIED player (Rules 21.3.2 & 21.3.3) must be substituted immediately through a legal substitution. If this is not possible, the team as the right to do an exceptional substitution. If this is not possible, the team is declared INCOMPLETE.
15.9.1 A substitution is illegal, if it exceeds the limitations indicated in Rule 15.6 (except the case of Rule 15.7), or an unregistered player is involved.
15.9.2 When a team has made an illegal substitution and the play has been resumed (Rule 8.1), the following procedure shall apply, in sequence:
15.9.2.1 the team is penalized with a point and service to the opponent;
15.9.2.2 the substitution must be rectified;
15.9.2.3 the points scored by the team at fault since the fault was committed are cancelled. The opponent's points remain valid.
15.10.1 Substitution must be carried out within the substitution zone.
15.10.2 A substitution shall only last the time needed for recording the substitution on the score sheet and allowing entry and exit of the players.
15.10.3 a) The actual request for substitution starts at the moment of the entrance of the substitute player(s) into the substitution zone, ready to play, during an interruption. The coach does not need to make a substitution hand signal except if the substitution is for injury or before the start of the set.
Volleyball Canada - if there is no buzzer, the referee will use his/her whistle to announce and authorize the request for a substitution.
b) If the player is not ready in the moment of the request, the substitution is not granted, and the team is sanctioned for a delay.
c) The request for substitution is acknowledged and announced by the scorer or 2nd referee, by use of the buzzer or whistle respectively. The 2nd referee authorizes the substitution.
Where applicable, numbered paddles are used to facilitate the substitution (except when electronic devices are used to transit the data to the scorer).
15.10.4 If a team intends to make simultaneously more than one substitution, all substitute players must enter the substitution zone at the same time to be considered in the same request. In this case, substitutions must be made in succession, one pair of players after another. If one is illegal, the legal one(s) is/are granted and the illegal is rejected and subject to a delay sanction.
15.11.1 It is improper to request any regular game interruption:
15.11.1.1 during a rally or at the moment of or after the whistle to serve (Rule 6.1.3 & 15.2.1; VC Guidelines 6.2);
15.11.1.2 by a non-authorized team member (Rule 15.2.1);
15.11.1.3 for a second substitution by the same team during the same interruption (i.e. before the end of next completed rally), except in the case of injury/ illness/expulsion/disqualification of a player in play;
15.11.1.4 after having exhausted the authorized number of time-outs and substitutions (Rule 15.1).
15.11.1.5 Volleyball Canada: By a coach that is not at the end of the bench nearest the scorer when sitting or from the extension of the attack line in the free zone when standing or walking
15.11.2 The first improper request by a team in the match that does not affect or delay the game shall be rejected, but it must be recorded on the score sheet without any other consequences.
15.11.3 Any further improper request in the match by the same team constitutes a delay.