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sports
Men's volleyball
uses new scoring
By Gabriel Lefrancois
On-line Forty-Niner
Every now and then
a single rule change can revolutionize a sport.
In February of
1999, the NCAA Men's Volleyball Committee met to adopt a scoring
system, known as the "Rally Point System," that
would significantly change the game for NCAA men's volleyball.
Gone is the term
side out -- a side out means the team that is serving is the
only side that can score on that particular point. Under the
new system, a side out will no longer be needed in order to
receive a point. The rally system means that either side can
score on any given point regardless of whom is serving
The traditional
scoring system, which deemed a winner of a game at 15 points
and required a team to side out for each point, is over. Many
involved with the game, including Head Coach Alan Knipe, say
the new rally scoring system speeds up the game and makes
it more interesting for fans to watch.
"The new scoring
system has made the game change so the errors are much more
magnified," Knipe said. "One of the more difficult
things to do is score real points. The points that are actually
scored come much easier with rally scoring than they did with
the traditional scoring system."
Former USA volleyball
rule interpreter, Tom Blue, said the change in the scoring
system to all rally scoring enables tournament organizers
to better project match-time requirements, since the average
time of each match would be more predictable. In addition,
Blue said the change would help attract more outside influence
to the game.
"I would say
the rule change was a factor in trying to attract attendance
and in trying to attract television coverage," Blue said.
"Around the world, rally scoring has been generally accepted
and has been felt to be a positive change in the game."
When the rule change
was first introduced, the first team to reach 25 points in
a single game was the winner. According to Blue's knowledge
of the change, a compromise was made between those who wanted
to keep the 25 point system and those who thought the 25 point
system led to matches that were too short.
Dave McKienzie,
who leads The Beach in kills, feels the new scoring system
benefits the game in a positive way.
"I think it's
a great thing," said McKienzie. "The change to 30
points is just long enough were the better team will prevail.
Before, when it was at 25 points, the games were in the air.
Now it's just right."
As well as benefiting
the game, rally scoring adds more pressure to coaches and
players alike. Knipe feels that the scoring system is unforgiving
to the players and, in coaching, makes for quick substitutions
that allow non-starting players to receive playing time, allowing
an opponent to score points rapidly while making room for
a possible upset.
"All in all
it's positive for the game," Knipe said. "Fans are
more involved and the game happens a lot faster. With traditional
scoring, a good team could win a match with ease. Now every
point counts, regardless of how well a team plays.
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