Last week, TruVolley(opens in new tab)
launched significant updates to improve the TruVolley algorithm and rating experience. Changes will be made retroactively, which means most players likely saw a change in their rating when the new system went into effect on September 17, 2026.

Improvements Include:

• More precise match evaluation: Players are now evaluated against each individual opponent rather than just the opposing team’s average rating.
• Better protection: Play with friends, developing players, or up-and-coming athletes with less rating risk. The larger the rating gap between partners, the more protection the higher-rated player receives from a loss.
• Smarter handling of forfeits and unusual match results.
• More accurate predictions: The new system has been tested using more than 1.37 million matches from over 240,000 players, with significantly improved predictive accuracy across different levels of play.
• Faster updates and ongoing statistical analysis as the system continues to improve.

Important Notes:
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1. A win can no longer lower your score.
   1. If you win a match, your TruVolley score will no longer go down — regardless of the point spread. Your score may increase or stay the same, but a win will not negatively impact your rating.
2. Playing with a lower-rated partner won’t hurt as much.
   1. Partner protection begins when there is as little as a 0.1 difference between partners. As that gap gets larger, the higher-rated player receives progressively more protection from a loss.
   2. The higher-rated player can still lose rating when the team loses, but the result will have less impact than it would if both partners were similarly rated. At the largest rating gaps, this protection can reduce the calculated rating loss by as much as 46%.
   3. The goal is to make it easier to play with friends, developing players, or crossover athletes without putting a disproportionate amount of rating risk on the higher-rated player.
3. Your TruVolley score will update much faster.
   1. TruVolley scores will now update the same day your tournament director closes your division. This typically happens the same day the tournament is completed.
4. Your TruVolley score will gradually adjust after 3 months of inactivity.
   1. If you go more than three months without playing a rated match, your TruVolley score will begin to gradually decay.
   2. This isn’t a penalty for taking time off. The longer you are away from competition, the less certain TruVolley can be that your previous score still reflects your current level of play.
   3. After three months of inactivity, your score will drop by about 0.05, and confidence in your rating will gradually decrease the longer you are away.
   4. Once you start playing again, your new results will carry more weight. When you return, your score will adjust more quickly.