FIVB approved important changes to rankings, rules, and events according to the Strategic Vision 2032
The FIVB Board of Administration made several key decisions during its meeting, reviewing proposals from committees and councils. All of them are aligned with the FIVB's strategic vision until 2032, whose mission is to serve the global volleyball movement through sport.
World Volleyball Day
Approval:The creation of World Volleyball Day has been officially established.
Date:It will be celebrated annually onJuly 7th.
Symbolism:The date marks the first public demonstration of volleyball by William Morgan in 1895 and will serve as an annual global celebration of the sport.
World Ranking – Extended format and new rules
Goal:A proposal has been approved to expand the scope of the World Ranking, aiming to encourage broader participation of national teams and provide an accurate assessment of performance through the dynamic FIVB system.
Event Expansion:
Each continental confederation can include up totwoannual continental events.
Each zonal association can includeoneannual zonal event.
Minimum teams:To earn ranking points, official competitions must include a minimum offour men's national teams.
Inactive teams:The period after which a team is considered inactive in the absence of official matches is extended from one totwo years, effective from 2025.
Youth Competition Structure
Squad expansion:Team rosters for Age Group World Championships (U17, U19, U21, etc.) are increased from 12 to14 players, to meet the growing demands of competitions.
U17 Unification:The structure of U17 tournaments is aligned with those of U19 and U21, including 24 teams, identical qualification processes,competition formatsand world ranking point distribution.
Logistical Changes for the U19 Women's World Championship (2025)
Change:At the request of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia, the hosting is moved from Belgrade toVrnjačka Banja (Serbia).
Program:An additional dayis addedto the program to facilitate teams' travel and transfers.
Beach Volleyball - On-court coaching test
Context:In line with the strategic priority "Beach Volleyball Turnaround," the Board of Directors approved a proposal for a test in 2025.
Goal:To allow beach volleyball coachesto give instructions directly on the playing fieldduring a match, with the aim of improving athlete development and creating richer tactical plays.
Test Period (Phase 1):It will cover 15 events (4 Elite, 3 Challenge, 8 Futures) from July 23 to October 5, 2025.
Expansion (Phase 2):If the test is successful, the initiative will be expanded to all other events in 2025 and 2026, including the World Championship in Adelaide in 2025.
Rules of the Game – Important innovations and tests
Challenge (Volleyball):In order to reduce interruptions, teamswill no longer be able to request a Challenge during the rally itself.Instead, they can request a Challengeat the end of the rallyto review a referee's decision regardingany action during the rally, including the serve.
Double contact (New interpretation for testing):
Application:Double contact will be allowed during the execution ofthe technical element "pass", provided that the ball remains on the same side of the court.
Sanction:Violations will only be called fortwo clear consecutive touches.
Exceptions:For balls played into the opponent's court, as well as forcatches and holds, the current interpretation will apply.
Testing (Indoor):The new interpretation will be tested duringVNL 2025, after which it will be evaluated.
Testing (Beach Volleyball):It will be tested at the tournamentsGstaad Elite, Montreal Elite, Brazil Challenge and Baden Challenge.
Beach Volleyball (Retaining Challenge):Video replay rules are harmonized with those in the indoor game – if video evidence is inconclusive, the referee's decision remains final, butthe team retains its right to Challenge.
Coaches – Testing and Inclusion
Test for rotation errors (on reception):
Locations/Years:A test will be conducted duringVNL 2025, Age Group World Championships and Men's World Championship.
Test Rule:A rule will be tested where forreceivingteam the referee's signal determines the rotation, andthe toss of the ball for servicedetermines the moment when the athlete can change their position on the court.
Inclusion (Women Coaches):
Goal:Efforts continue to promote female coaches and increase their visibility as role models.
Requirement:FromVNL 2026andAge Group World Championships, each national team forwomenmust have at leastone female coachregistered in the match list (official roster).
Legal Commission "," New Federation Rules
Flexibility for Young Athletes (Federation of Origin - FoO):
Amendments have been approved, allowing a player to change their Federation of Origin (FoO) to the Federation of Origin of his/her nationality,if FoO differs from the nationality he/she possessed before the initial determination of FoO.
This change must be madebeforethe player is registered in Form O-2 for the national team of his original FoO orbeforethe player turns 18 years old.
Exception for 8 years of residency:The maximum age at which a player can benefit from this special case has been increased to38 years.
Change of nationality (already played):Players applying under the special case for 8 years of residency may have previously represented the men's/women's national team of their original Federation of Origin, butwill not be eligible to representthe national team of their new Federation.
