Scoring system assessment continues in Ljubljana

Ljubljana, Slovenia, September 8, 2017 - A new scoring system for volleyball under review from the FIVB will undergo further testing at the 2017 FIVB Women's U23 World Championship beginning here on Sunday, after the first extensive assessment at the respective men's competition last month in Cairo.

Matches in Ljubljana will be played to best-of-seven sets with each set to 15 points (with at least a two-point difference needed). Three ranking points will be awarded to teams winning 4-0, 4-1 or 4-2. Two points go the winner of a 4-3 match with one point for the loser.

If successful, this new scoring system could mark a historical turning point for volleyball - much as the introduction of the Rally Scoring System did in the late 1990s.


Manual scoreboard on scorers table at the Men's U23 World Championship in Cairo, showing final score of 4-0 under the new scoring system being tested.

It is hoped that the new scoring system will reduce overall duration of matches, while making each set more attractive and exciting - much as tie-breaks are under the current regulations.

The interval between sets is reduced to two minutes (from three). Teams will switch ends after the second set - and also, if needed, after sets 4, 5 and 6. They will also switch ends after a team reaches the eighth point in the seventh set.

In addition, there will be no technical timeouts - just two regular thirty-second timeouts per team per set.

The basic numbers from last month's Men's U23 World Championship in Cairo, played under the new system, were the following:

Matches Played: 38
4 sets: 14 (37%)
5 sets: 10 (26%)
6 sets: 7 (18%)
7 sets: 7 (18%)
Quickest set: 9 minutes (5 times)
Longest set: 34 minutes
Quickest match: 43 minutes
Longest match: 2 hours
Average set: 15 minutes
Average match: 1 hour 17 minutes

All calculations are based on actual playing time (not including intervals between sets).

The basic principles for the new scheme were tested for the first time in the Dutch League last year.

During and after the Ljubljana competition, players, coaches, referees and officials will be evaluating the new system through a questionnaire, while duration and scoring statistics will again be gathered and analysed.

In addition to the scoring system, a new serving regulation will be tried out in Ljubljana, with the server not allowed to land inside the court after a jump service.

Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017
FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017 - Schedule
FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017 - Teams
FIVB.com - Volleyball
FIVB.com
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