The Management Board of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation will discuss tomorrow the implementation of the new rules in the men's championships for the 2026/27 season. This was stated to volleyweek.bg by Hristo Apostolov, operational director of the National Volleyball League.
"Whether all new rules will come into force or only a part of them, if such an option exists from the European headquarters, will become clear after the meeting of the BFV Management Board tomorrow. Immediately after they are approved in full or in part, we will inform the clubs," commented Apostolov.
The clubs from WINBET Super Volley and the Higher League were warned more than two weeks ago that changes are expected even in the current season. The NVL was awaiting official information from CEV and FIVB.

EXCLUSIVE: CEV confirmed to Volleyweek.bg

Meanwhile, volleyweek.bg directly contacted CEV with the question of whether national federations must apply the entire package of "FIVB Rule Tests 2026," or if they have the right to choose which of the changes to introduce in their domestic championships.
The European headquarters clarified to volleyweek.bg that the decision of the CEV Administrative Board, taken in September in Milan, applies only to competitions under the auspices of CEV. The European Confederation does not interfere with the rules for domestic championships, as they are under the jurisdiction of the respective national federations and/or leagues. They can independently determine which of the FIVB test rules to apply for the 2026/27 season, including not introducing any of them.
This means that the BFV has the option to choose which of the new rules will be applied in the Bulgarian championships, without being obliged to introduce the entire package adopted for CEV competitions.
If we are to predict which change has the greatest chance of being approved here as well, the eight substitutions in a single set seem among the most likely. Italy has already officially introduced "FIVB Rule Tests 2026," and in addition to increasing substitutions from six to eight, the package includes a new method for determining reception positions, new interpretations of double contact and play when the ball touches the ceiling, as well as changes in attack actions, Video Challenge, communication between the coach and the first referee, and warm-up.
The coach of Scandicci, Marco Gaspari, spoke about the importance of the eight substitutions from a tactical point of view even before FIPAV's final decision. With the new limit, the classic double substitution setter-opposite no longer uses almost all possibilities and can be combined, for example, with a receiver-receiver substitution within the same set.
Vero Volley Sports Director Claudio Bonati also pointed to the choice between six and eight substitutions as one of the issues that directly affect the preparation and tactical options of the teams.
The NVL and the Refereeing Commission of the BFV will also organize special seminars to clarify the rules. Each club from the championships administered by NVL-men will have to send at least one representative of the coaching staff – head or assistant coach, and where possible, captains who communicate with the referees during matches will also be present.
The first seminar will be during the WINBET Supercup on October 17 and 18 in Sofia, and the locations for the others are yet to be specified.