Delays and team sanctions
FIVB · 2025–2028Why repeated delays cost a point and service.
Rule 16 — What counts as delay
Prolonging an interruption after being told to resume, slowing a substitution, requesting an illegal substitution, repeating an improper request or another team action that postpones play can be a delay. These sanctions apply to the team, not just the person who caused the delay. A new set does not reset the team’s record.
Rule 16 — Escalation for the whole match
The first delay by any team member in the match receives a delay warning. Every subsequent delay of any kind by that team receives a delay penalty: a point and service to the opponent. All delay sanctions are recorded. A sanction before or between sets applies in the following set. The official signal shows a yellow card at the wrist for a warning and a red card at the wrist for a penalty. These team delay sanctions are separate from individual misconduct sanctions.
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