The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) officially gave the green light to a package of experimental rule changes, which will be tested during the 2026 season. The test period will cover the Volleyball Nations League, U17 World Championships, and continental championships.

The reform is part of a broader strategy by the federation to modernize the game – with a smoother rhythm, fewer interruptions, and clearer decisions for spectators. The goal is ambitious – to double the global audience to 1.6 billion people. That is why the focus is on simplifying interpretations and speeding up match processes.

Below are the most significant proposals that will enter test mode.

More flexible setting play – no new text in the rules

Double touches during setting will continue to be tolerated, as long as the ball remains in the same half of the court. In practice, this means maintaining the current trend towards a more liberal interpretation, which gives more freedom to setters and reduces subjective rulings.

Reception alignment – more dynamism from the serve

The receiving team must be in the correct alignment at the moment of the referee's whistle, but immediately after the serving player's initial movement, players can take their preferred positions.

This will allow for a more natural reception setup and reduce contentious situations related to minimal displacements before the serve contact.

More substitutions in each set

The number of allowed substitutions increases from 6 to 8 in each set.

This is expected to provide coaches with more tactical flexibility, especially for double substitutions (opposite-setter) or when using specialists in specific rotations.

Flexibility in roster submission

In FIVB tournaments, teams will be able to register between 12 and 14 players, and must have at least one libero. The option to designate two liberos remains, with the choice being made up to one hour before the start of the match.

This decision provides greater operational freedom in case of health issues or last-minute tactical considerations.

The ball and the ceiling – rally can continue

If, on the first or second touch, the ball hits the ceiling or a structure above the playing area, but remains on the same side and is playable, the rally continues.

However, if after contact with the ceiling, the ball passes into the opponent's court – this will be considered a fault.

Contact with 'spider cam' or 'crane cam' systems remains a reason for a replay of the rally.

No more two-hand 'tricks'

Rule 9.2.2 will be applied significantly more strictly for attacking contact. Holding, carrying, or guiding the ball with two hands will not be allowed, nor will attacks with a distinct change of direction after contact.

Only a short and clean hit is allowed  without holding and without "carrying" the ball.

This is practically a clear signal against the "two-handed placement" type attacks that have spread in recent years.

A new challenge mechanism  including during a rally.

Teams will be able to mark a controversial situation even during the rally. If they lose the point, they will have the right to request a review, but only for one of the previously marked situations.

If both teams request a review in one rally, the entire sequence will be reviewed, and the first fault will be considered.

The system will be synchronized with the start of the rally to shorten the video analysis time.

Touches in defense and reception  subject to video review.

Situations involving saved balls in defense and service reception will also be subject to challenge. For the initial decision to be overturned, the video recording must clearly prove contact. In the absence of conclusive footage, the initial ruling stands.

Fewer tactical timeouts after video review.

After the decision of a video challenge is announced, the team that requested it will not have the right to immediately take a timeout before the next rally. This right remains only for the other team.

The goal is to reduce artificial pauses and the slowing down of the rhythm.

More limited use of the referee's whistle.

In obvious situations  ball clearly in or out, service into the net, or a clear block-out  an additional referee's whistle signal will not be used.

The idea is for communication to become clearer and faster.

Coach with the right to a clarifying discussion.

The head coach will be able to address the first referee for clarification regarding the type of challenge requested or a specific decision. Official protests, however, remain forbidden.

Separate time for service warm-up.

A 90-second separate period for service warm-up is introduced. Both teams will share the net for the attacking part of the warm-up, but for serving, they will each have 90 seconds of individual time.

The reason is player safety.

What does all this mean?

If the changes are definitively adopted after the testing period, volleyball will become faster, with fewer interruptions and with more strictly defined attacking actions.

The most significant effect is expected in three directions:

• limiting two-handed attacks;

• accelerating the process of video reviews;

• greater tactical freedom through increased substitutions.

The 2026 season will be a kind of laboratory for the future of the game. And whether the experiments will become a permanent part of the rules – will become clear after the analysis of the test results.