League Changes for 2010/11

In January 2009, Volleyball England started a discussion about the structure of our National League and how volleyball could be improved.  They defined a number of objectives:

• Create higher quality matches for spectators
• Create a more marketable product to match volleyball’s increasing profile
• Improve development opportunities for players, coaches, officials and volunteers
• Provide better links to regional and local leagues
• Respond to club feedback

The result of this process is a revised National League structure intended to meet these objectives.  At the head of this re-structure is Super 8 (effectively a premier league for English volleyball).

Super 8, a division of 8 teams, will head the National League.  Beneath Super 8 will be Division 1, comprised of 10 teams.  Division 2 will be comprised of two conferences (North & South), each formed of 10 teams.  Division 3 will be divided into four conferences; an East & West feeding into each of the Division 2 conferences.  Regional and local leagues will feed into the relevant Division 3 conferences.

Other Changes

• There will be a new points system, allocating 3 points for the match winner and 1 point for the loser of a 3-2 match.  Teams losing 3-1 or 3-0 will gain no points.
• Technical Timeouts (already used in FIVB competitions) will be applied automatically when the leading team reaches 8 points and 16 points in each of sets 1 to 4.  Unlike team timeouts, technical timeouts last 60 seconds.
• Teams must wear shirt numbers 1to18 during matches.
• Teams will be expected to use substitution paddles and buzzers to indicate substitutions.

There are other detailed changes that will be outlined over the coming months.  Watch this space.