The way volleyball is played and viewed in New Jersey will soon change starting with the 2024-25 season.
On Wednesday, the NJSIAA voted at its year-end meeting to approve a proposal to create an option for volleyball games to be played in a best-of-five format. The NJSIAA is just one of three state associations that uses a best-of-three format in all volleyball games.
The proposal would take effect from the 2024-25 season, and all member schools would have the option to agree before games whether to play in a best-of-three or best-of-five format. All leagues and conferences also have the right to choose which format to play in their respective county and conference tournaments.
Starting with the 2025-26 season and the NJSIAA, all rounds of the state tournament will move to a best-of-five format. Any changes to the optional format will have to wait two years before the NJSIAA has a chance to approve a permanent best-of-five format ahead of the 2026-27 season.
New Jersey volleyball has seen an increase in volleyball participation at the high school level since the 2018-2019 season, which is one of the primary reasons for the decision to approve this proposal. The number of players at the men's level increased by 52%, and at the women's level by 15%. The number of teams increased to 198 for boys and 323 for girls.
As with any major change proposed by the NJSIAA, both men's and women's coaches across the state reacted to the decision.
Eric Maxwell, who helped develop both the Southern boys and girls into state powerhouses, has been a strong advocate of moving to a five-game format for several years.
“I really like the fact that the NJSIAA leadership has really gotten to the point where they realize this is what we need to do,” Maxwell said. “This is what other parts of this country are doing as well. I credit Colleen McGuire for seriously looking into this issue. It was their recognition that it was what was best for the student-athletes. We We've been waiting a long time to get this right, so we're happy that they're willing to move this forward.”
Livingston men's and women's coach Dan Kim was also happy with the decision, feeling New Jersey took a step back with only a permanent best-of-three format.
“We should have done this years ago,” Kim said.Implementation is slow and we need to continue working together [the NJSIAA], coaches and officials on why it's important to grow your game. ”
Princeton women's coach Patti Manhart added, “Ultimately, New Jersey will be on par with other states.” “That part is great.”
Some may object to the approval and ask additional questions. St. John Vianney coach Jessica Gadaleta is in the unique position of having played high school volleyball when New Jersey first attempted a best-of-five system in 2004. The state moved away from that idea after just one year, and all players and coaches were told there would be a two-year waiting period before the best-of-five format was reinstated.
For the past 20 years, all matches have been played in a best-of-three format.
Gadaleta said he feels as a coach at a small Group 1 school, he may end up losing players from an already small roster instead of attracting more players.
“Being a small school, I rely on our multi-sport athletes,” Gadaleta said. “If we go to the best of five, we're going to lose a lot of athletes, especially guys, because if they have to choose between going to volleyball or AAU basketball practice or travel soccer, Because then they're going to stick to their game.'' Primary Sports. ”
Another potential problem is that teams could play the next two regular seasons in a best-of-three or best-of-five format before participating in the best-of-five state tournament in 2025-2026. It's an arbitrary decision that you have to play. The NJSIAA also announced that the PowerPoint format will not be affected by the decision whether to play a No. 3 or a No. 5 match.
But problems can arise when the daily format is inconsistent and teams from all over the state compete at different times.
“Personally, I would like to see this rule widely adopted and not left up to coaches and school games,” Old Tappan girls coach Melissa Landek said. “I would much rather see us go all in. Without a consistent daily format, the complexity of game management with sub-varsity scheduling, linemen, libero trackers, assistant coaches and staffing. will inevitably occur.”
NJSIAA Executive Director Colleen Maguire added that an optional format will be available for players and coaches to become familiar with the format.
“We're going to wait until we decide if we're going to make the regular season a best-of-five game, but we need to at least try it out and get some feedback,” McGuire said. “My gut feeling is that in 12 to 18 months people will come back and say it was no big deal.”
Questions still remain to be answered about additional costs, transportation to games, and the logistics of freshman duels and joint games, among other things that will likely become clearer in the coming months and year.
Maxwell added that the commission's approval vote shows that there is an effort to take the sport more seriously, not only in the state but nationally.
“Which varsity sports can be over in 30 or 40 minutes, and which varsity sports have shorter playing times than the high end that federations actually recommend,” Maxwell said. “If you look at basketball, if you try to take away a quarter of the play, people aren't going to accept that. In football, if you say you're only going to play three-quarters, in baseball, I think we've been doing it wrong in some ways because it means more kids can play. That makes sense, because some schools probably don't have that many kids on the team and playing No. 5 is still the national federation's first recommendation. You have to look at the majority because it works for the majority of people.”
Donovan Hugel can be contacted at: dhugel@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @Donohugel.
NJ.com girls volleyball reporter PJ Potter contributed to this report.
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