Officiating High School Volleyball

1
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Doing It Right
• Notes to accompany DVD from
  www.vbofficiating.com

2
INTRODUCTION

• This video offers some great information about
  officiating high school volleyball. The narrator
  is USAV National Referee Jim Beyer. Be sure to
  jot any questions on your handout for a
  discussion afterwards.

3
CHALLENGE

• The DVD uses the services of officials who have
  been asked to demonstrate some scripted
  scenarios. Keep in mind the point being
  illustrated in each segment of the video, and try
  to identify and dont hesitate to critique the
  signals, mechanics, techniques and protocols that
  are shown. Identifying both good and bad things
  that other officials do can help you grow your
  own officiating as well as sharpen your mechanics
  and better understand techniques and proper
  procedures as communicated through the NFHS Rules
  Book and Case Book/Manual.

4
Becoming the Best OfficialThat You Can Be

• The intent was to facilitate a video volleyball
  clinic for high school referees and umpires. It
  is intended to provide information to help you be
  the best official you can be and
• Encourage a dialogue between you and a mentor
• Aid in small group discussions about officiating
• Provide a tool for local volleyball associations
  to use in helping to train officials, and
• Offer training that a state association could
  choose to use with coaches and officials to
  promote common understandings

5
Officiating High School Volleyball

• This video was developed for high school
  volleyball officials in order to
• Provide consistency in presentations
• Assist in improvement of officials performance
  while maintaining the highest standards of
  professionalism of the sport
• Be used in conjunction with NFHS Rules Book and
  the NFHS Case Book Manual

6
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Overview
• There are many factors to officiate a high school
  volleyball contest
• To become an official, you must obtain a state
  license or certification, and should strive to
  attain the highest level possible
• You must maintain this certification by meeting
  annual requirements including attending meetings
• You must adhere to NFHS Rules in your officiating
  and any adaptations your state may have adopted

7
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Preparation
• Begins before season gets close through making a
  commitment to offering quality officiating and
  includes
• Developing a Realistic Schedule
• Constantly Assessing Your Skill Level
• Understanding How to Get Matches

8
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Develop a Realistic Schedule
• Your ability to get matches starts by
  understanding who makes matches available and
  when they may become available, and this varies
  from state to state
• Your state association may provide information to
  help
• Working with local volleyball association
  assigners is key
• Some leagues or conference commissioners may have
  matches to offer
• Local school administrators (Athletic
  Directors/designees) who dont use an assigner
  may have matches to offer

9
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Develop a Realistic Schedule
• Avoid attempting to work matches that are well
  beyond your current ability (assess your skill
  level constantly)
• Working a match for which youre not ready can
  cause a lack of confidence in you and affect
  future contracts
• Honor your contracts (this is a statement about
  your integrity)
• Keep a notebook/planner so you can accept/reject
  dates quickly and to ensure you show up to all
  your matches
• NEVER, EVER double book honesty is paramount

10
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Working Toward Advancement
• When get a chance to work higher-level match and
  youre already booked, the assignment you
  accepted is binding
• Consult your assigner/mentor if you have any
  questions
• Even if you could find a suitable replacement and
  get released, this might not be the right thing
  to do
• Asking to be released to work another match can
  cost you future contracts and is not the
  professional thing to do
• Contact partner and host school no later than a
  week before match to ensure information you have
  is accurate

11
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Know the Rules and Be a Student of the Game
• Study the rules before each season begins
• Consider attending higher-level matches when you
  are not working including college womens
  volleyball to learn current playing techniques
  and skills
• Attend your local association meetings and use
  this time to grow your knowledge and lock in the
  new rules
• Ask questions and keep reading, thinking about
  and discussing the rules throughout the season
• Work matches Experience is the best teacher

12
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Learn a Practical Approach to Theory
• To be the best you can be requires a practical
  approach to theory knowledge of the rules is
  not enough
• Each rule has an intent, and the rules taken
  together provide broad guidance to officials
• Rules represent theory, and practical rule
  application is what moves you toward becoming an
  effective official
• Understand why you are officiating and what your
  role is in high school volleyball
• Learn how match facilitation provides better
  officiating and puts matches in the hands of the
  student-athletes

13
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Learn a Practical Approach to Theory
• Observe higher-level matches to get a feel for
  match flow, how skills are applied and judged in
  terms of legality
• Get a feel not so much for what should be called
  but for what should not be called
• Practice proper officiating mechanics and use of
  signals that look professional and that
  communicate effectively
• Use of proper mechanics is necessary to conduct a
  match that benefits all who participate
• Use a mirror to catch bad signaling habits

14
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Perception Is Reality
• Your character and conduct will always be under
  scrutiny
• Dont show the type of casual and unprofessional
  behavior that the official in the video is
  showing with feet up at the officials table,
  talking on a cell phone
• At no time should your give the impression of
  partiality, comment on the performance of a team
  or fellow official or accept a match at a school
  in which you have a personal affiliation

15
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Teamwork and a Cooperative Attitude
• Your pledge to give your best effort, support
  your partner and keep emotions in check must be
  constant
• These are part of teamwork and a cooperative
  attitude
• Make impartial decisions, recognizing the
  possibility errors may occur
• Reflect on situations after the match so your
  attention is on that next call
• Do not allow yourself to be distracted or
  influenced by players, coaches or spectators

16
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Impartiality
• Maintain the highest level of professionalism
• Again, perception is reality
• Over-familiarity is as harmful as being
  unapproachable or showing an air of superiority
• Slap on the hands with player can be seen as bias
• The hand-in-the-face to the coach is
  inappropriate

17
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Plan to Leave the Court Together
• After performing necessary tasks at the
  conclusion of the match (signing/initialing
  scoresheet), you should plan to gather your
  belongings and leave together
• Try to use a non-spectator exit
• Neither avoid nor seek contact with coaches or
  players
• At no time, are public comments to be made
  concerning the match to anyone
• Report any irregularities or unsportsmanlike
  incidents immediately to your state association
  and assigner

18
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Reflecting upon the Match
• Keeping a journal of an honest assessment of your
  performance and experience can pay rich dividends
  for future matches
• No matter what level, each match deserves your
  best effort
• Take time for a post-match discussion to grow
  your officiating
• Arrange your post-match when you have your
  pre-match with your partner

19
Officiating High School Volleyball

• Violations Must Be Penalized
• When violations occur, they must be penalized
• Where actions or words could be used to prevent a
  violation, officials are permitted to issue a
  warning before there is a violation that has to
  be penalized
• Preventive officiating includes warnings,
  reminders, seeking information and, if need be,
  ignoring and denying requests that do not give an
  advantage to either team
• This concludes the Overview (Chapters 1 and 2)

20
THE CLINIC

• Three Main Areas of Responsibility/Focus
• Pre-Match (Chapter 3 begins at 705)
• During the Match
• Post-Match

21
Pre-Match

• Develop an Entrance Plan with Your Partner
• No later than a week before the match, contact
  partner and host school to verify details
• Ensure accuracy of information you are going by
• Initial information could be wrong so assume
  nothing
• This communication establishes the cooperative
  team effort that promotes the importance of the
  match
• Dont leave messages on answering machines or
  email without asking for a reply
• Have cell phone numbers of your partner, assigner
  and host management to deal with unforeseen
  delays

22
Pre-Match

• Arrival at the Site
• Ideally, establish a time to meet to ride
  together or meet at the location
• If at all possible, meet and walk in together
  (reinforces concept of teamwork)
• Ensure time for pre-match discussion with partner
  to set expectations and understandings
• Delay in arrival should be the exception, not the
  norm

23
Pre-Match

• Arrival at the Site
• Minimize outside contact with anyone other than
  event manager, typically the Athletic Director or
  designee of the home school and might be one of
  the home coaches
• Find this individual and find out where host
  management will be available before, during and
  after the match
• Identify secure room for dressing/storage of
  belongings
• Before (or after) getting dressed, go over any
  special ground rules, inspect the court and
  equipment and identify any special promotions
  that might affect the timing of the matches
  including delay in starting time

24
Pre-Match

• Arrival at the Site
• If the host school has provided a private and
  secure area, hopefully with bathroom and shower
  facilities, this can be a good place to conduct
  the pre-match meeting
• Find out if water will be provided and anything
  from concessions but do not push the concessions
  issue
• Pre-match discussion with partner sets
  expectations and creates understandings this
  occurs most comfortably in private but if a
  partner is delayed may have to occur courtside

25
Pre-Match

• Pre-Match Discussion
• Can use a pre-match checklist which is available
  at www.vbofficiating.com
• Before the officials go to the court, they should
  meet in private to discuss referee and umpire
  responsibilities
• This is a key time for creating understandings
  between the officials so they can function as a
  team throughout the match

26
Pre-Match

• Pre-Match Discussion Checklist (Chapter 4, 917)
• Referee/Umpire Pre-Match Conference is led by the
  referee
• Maintain eye contact/communication before, during
  and after every rally (centering, part of
  referees scan)
• Deer-in-the-headlights look (umpire takes lead,
  same with referee if umpire is stuck)
• If referee looks at umpire during play, a shake
  of head by the umpire typically means that the
  play was okay, nothing should be called, play on

27
Pre-Match

• Pre-Match Discussion Checklist
• However, there can be an agreement between
  referee and umpire that a ball hit into the tape
  with a block up where the umpire believes that
  the block did not touch the ball would be shown
  with a head shake that will mean I didnt have a
  touch by the block
• There should be an agreement that the umpire will
  get the referees attention quickly for game
  interruptions such as time-outs, substitutions,
  lineup checks, floor wipe, shoe tie, blood issue,
  and time needed at officials table

28
Pre-Match

• Pre-Match Discussion Checklist
• Agreement upon discreet/informal signals is
  crucial
• Preference should be set regarding how to show
  that the next contact will be 4 hits (show
  early/not show early, etc.)
• Typically, umpire doesnt show a touch signal
  based on philosophy of only showing rally-ending
  information
• Should discuss that umpire will step out with a
  clear 4-hits signal for the unanticipated 4 hits
  (extra contact seen by umpire this is a trust
  me call)

29
Pre-Match

• Pre-Match Discussion Checklist
• Umpire stepping to side of team umpire has losing
  the rally lets referee know what help umpire is
  offering
• Should discuss hands calls where umpire believes
  the referee has been screened (illegal hits, 2
  hits)
• In addition, discuss whether the umpire should
  show an informal signal for illegal hit or 2 hits
  when the umpire sees ball handling that the
  referee has already whistled as a fault earlier
  in the match (not in the range of what the
  referee has been allowing considered a rescue
  call)

30
Pre-Match

• Pre-Match Discussion Checklist
• Umpire leads on bang-bang attack/block/antenna
  play or ball untouched by block into the tape and
  landing out
• Illegal attack (back-row/attack of
  serve/libero/attack off a libero set in attack
  zone) or illegal block
• Umpire should step out to show a ball down that
  touches the court, and the referee should scan to
  pick up the call but if not and the referee
  does not shake off the call no longer discreet
  and the umpire should whistle it
• Referee has to trust the umpire on these calls
  since it will be the umpire who explains the call
  to the affected coach

31
Pre-Match

• Pre-Match Discussion Checklist
• On illegal attack or block, umpire shows informal
  signal, hesitates to see if referee looks but, if
  sure, whistles/calls if referee doesnt look but
  not if referee waves it off
• The important thing is to get the call right
• Game point on shoulder of team that has game
  point after umpire verifies with scorer referee
  does not signal back
• If ball goes behind referee, umpire takes the
  next contact (signaling ball-handling fault, out
  or touched out) while referee takes the center
  line and net calls
• If there is an intermission, agree where to go

32
Pre-Match

• Pre-Match Discussion Checklist
• Exit plan for leaving court at the end of the
  match and leaving the venue/school
• Meet with coaches on court with both officials
  present, cordial greetings and wish good luck
• Officials divide duties with referee typically
  checking the net height and using the chain as a
  plumb bob/line to properly place the antennas
• Umpire checks game balls with pressure gauge (no
  Charmin test and can mark valve to identify
  game balls)

33
Pre-Match

• Pre-Match Discussion Checklist
• Referee typically briefs or instructs line judges
  on expectations, signals and techniques and ball
  shaggers
• Umpire verifies experience of scorer and
  assistant scorer (libero tracker) and reviews
  libero replacement with libero tracker and libero
  serving with both
• Umpire establishes rapport with scoretable staff
  including timer/scoreboard operator and announcer
• Identify where host management representative
  located
• Umpire steps to the sideline to request a card
  (no secret)
• If umpire puts toes to the line, referee will
  call across court

34
Pre-Match

• In Uniform at the Court
• You must be in uniform at the court no less than
  30 minutes before the scheduled starting time
• This is a minimum amount of time, and more time
  is actually needed to ensure ability to handle
  any net or other equipment problems and to
  conduct an effective pre-match with your partner
• Your first impression walking in can establish
  your credibility for the entire match and the
  future
• You get one chance to make a first impression

35
Pre-Match

• Initial Impression, Professional Expectations
• Appearance sets the tone of professionalism, and
  walking in with your partner emphasizes that you
  are a team
• A neat, clean, pressed uniform, a fit appearance
  and proper equipment is expected
• Carrying your uniform to the school rather than
  wearing it to the site is preferred since this
  makes it less likely that you will have a
  wrinkled look
• You should have two official shirts and two pair
  of black dress pants, preferably without cuffs,
  as back-up

36
Pre-Match

• Initial Impression, Professional Expectations
• Black dress shorts if the venue is extremely warm
  
• Your shoes/socks combination should match the
  options approved by your state association
• If a jacket is worn to the court, it should be
  black
• Your equipment should include a small bag that
  you bring courtside that contains a variety of
  needed tools of the trade

37
Pre-Match

• Professional Expectations
• Tools of the trade include
• A flipping coin between a quarter and a dollar or
  a special coin with easy-to-understand
  designations
• Yellow and red cards
• A wrist watch with stopwatch ability
• Two whistles (preferably black with black
  lanyards)

38
Pre-Match

• Professional Expectations
• Small carrying bag you bring courtside
• A net-measuring device
• Ball-pressure gauge
• Ball pump
• Rule Book and Case Book/Manual
• Extra watch
• Pen and pencil
• Breath mints to help with whistle breath

39
Pre-Match

• Schedule Duties So Match Starts on Time
• Both officials re-check court to ensure properly
  marked
• Determine and address safety equipment concerns
• Identify any special ground rules
• Check padding of referee stand, both posts,
  antenna placement, exposed metal, and anything
  else that involves safety
• As a courtesy, at an appropriate time, greet the
  coaches when both are courtside

40
Pre-Match

• Take A Little Time with the Coaches
• Be cordial but brief
• Spend equal but short amount of time with each
  coach
• Ask if the coaches have any questions (early
  season, these would probably be more focused on
  new rules)
• Communicate any special ground rules
• Do NOT be overly familiar to avoid the appearance
  that the officials might show favoritism
• End the meeting by saying good luck or have a
  great match

41
Pre-Match

• Divide the Pre-Match Duties Referee
• Measures net, checks for tightness of net
• Places antennas using net chain as plumb
  bob/plumb line so inside edge of antenna is right
  over the outside edge of each sideline
• Ensures metal at bottom of antennas is covered
• Verifies necessary padding is present for both
  posts, referee stand, metal net pulls, etc.
• Ensures referee stand is stable and proper height
  

42
Pre-Match

• Divide the Pre-Match Duties Umpire
• Assures that benches, chairs and tables are
  positioned correctly
• Measures suitability and pressure of each ball to
  be used in the match, ensuring game balls are
  stamped with NFHS authentication seal
• Ensure all balls used are inflated to same
  pressure between 4.3 and 4.6 pounds per square
  inch
• Marks valves to distinguish game balls

43
Pre-Match

• Identify Location of Host Management
• If there are equipment issues, knowing where the
  representative of host management is located can
  help with timely resolution
• This is especially true if there are net
  adjustment or referee stand problems or if
  additional padding or coverings are needed

44
Pre-Match

• Conduct Conference and Coin Toss (Chapter 5,
  1206)
• This occurs prior to timed pre-match warm-up
• Referee and umpire facing the court together,
  showing you are a team
• Referee blows whistle and calls for head coaches
  and captains to meet for pre-match conference and
  coin toss
• Head coach and at least one captain from each
  team are required to attend the conference which
  is administered by the referee

45
Pre-Match

• The Referee
• Conducts the conference and indicates that
  coaches and captains should introduce themselves
  (shake hands, say names)
• Introduces self and the umpire by name
• Clearly explains ground rules, the format for the
  match and warm-up protocols (x minutes shared
  court, x minutes serving team, x minutes
  receiving team)
• Asks if there are any questions and asks the
  umpire for additional information

46
Pre-Match

• The Referee
• To be proactive, mentions that all players remove
  all jewelry and any hair control that are not
  legal (coaches, captains, are both your teams
  legally equipped and properly attired?)
• Conducts coin toss which should precede the timed
  warm-ups after verifying bench selected by home
  team
• Shows both team the side of the coin that will be
  heads and the side that will be tails (or any
  other insignia used to call the toss)

47
Pre-Match

• The Referee
• Identifies which visiting team captain will call
  toss and which home team captain will verify what
  she called
• Instructs visiting team captain to call the toss
  in the air, noting that the coin will be tossed,
  caught and uncovered and, if dropped, there will
  be a re-toss
• Tosses the coin which should rotate in the air,
  catches the coin and uncovers the result without
  turning the coin over
• Conducts a re-toss if the toss is not properly
  called or the coin is dropped

48
Pre-Match

• The Referee
• Shows the result of the toss to both teams
• Since the home team has already chosen its side,
  notes the options for the winner of the toss are
  serve or receive
• Verifies the choice made by the winner of the
  toss, reiterates warm-up protocol (shared court,
  who will have exclusive use of the court first)
• Puts coin in pocket of team that will serve first
  with frame of reference being the referees
  position on the stand while the umpire does the
  same with frame of reference being the officials
  table

49
Pre-Match

• The Referee
• Indicates the expectation of good sportsmanship
  and something along the lines of have a great
  match or good luck
• As players and coaches shake hands, both
  officials put their coins in the pocket of team
  that will serve first with referee using position
  on the stand and umpire using the officials
  table as frame of reference
• Immediately instructs scorer who serves first
  while umpire instructs timer when to begin timing
  warm-up
• As back-up both referee and umpire keep time on
  their watches

50
Pre-Match

• Coin Toss Prior to a Deciding Game
• Teams go to end lines, and referee whistles and
  signals for captains to meet with umpire for the
  toss
• The coin toss may occur near the referee stand
  where the referee can observe the toss
• Home team captain will call the toss, and winner
  of toss has options of serve, receive or
  bench/side
• Umpire reports results of the toss to the referee
  who whistles and signals teams to either switch
  sides or report to their current benches
• Umpires wishes players good luck and verifies
  outcome to scorer and ensures timer starts clock

51
Pre-Match

• Rosters and Lineup Submission (Chapter 6, 1430)
• Rosters are due no later than 10 minutes prior to
  start of match, and initial lineups are due no
  later than 2 minutes prior to the end of the
  timed warm-up
• The umpire uses prevention to obtain rosters
  prior to the time they are due as well as lineup
  sheets
• The umpire also makes sure lineups are submitted
  by both head coaches no later than 1 minute prior
  to successive games
• Both umpire and scorer are responsible for
  ensuring lineups have no duplicate numbers or
  numbers of players not on the roster

52
Pre-Match

• Lineup Submission and Recording Information
• Umpire and scorer check to see if a libero is
  listed and to verify that new lineup form is used
  that shows serving order rather than initial
  court positions.
• As courtesy, the umpire brings it to coachs
  attention if there is any missing information
  (such as no captain identified and no libero
  shown) or if the old lineup sheet was used
• As scorer enters numbers on scoresheet, umpire
  provides an extra pair of eyes to verify players
  were listed in correct serving order and does the
  same with the libero tracker

53
Pre-Match

• Lineup Submission and Recording Information
• Umpire verifies numbers on scoresheet are the
  numbers on the submitted lineup for each team
• Umpire also ensures team that will serve first
  has been marked correctly and that names and
  numbers of the officials have been entered on the
  scoresheet along with the printed name of the
  scorer

54
Pre-Match

• During the Warm-up (Chapter 7, 1534)
• Referee instructs the line judges as to their
  duties while the umpire monitors the warm-up and
• When time permits or the referee is done
  instructing the line judges, umpire identifies
  the ability/experience of the scorer and
  assistant scorer and establishes rapport
• The referee establishes how line judges will
  signal and the importance of strong, clear
  signals and eye contact
• The umpire sets expectations regarding reporting
  illegal libero replacements, libero serving,
  wrong server and illegal substitutions and may do
  a short tutorial
• Either the umpire or referee would instruct the
  ball shaggers

55
Pre-Match

• During the Warm-up
• As much as possible, both officials watch the
  teams as they warm up to get a feel for the
  match, ensuring safety on and around the court
  including the off team possibly infringing on
  the space of the team that has the court
• Both referee and umpire watch ball handling,
  figure out who are the setters and what positions
  they will start in and look for obvious position
  players to determine easy ways of identifying
  opposites and their positions
• Both officials look for setter and opposite,
  identify likely setter formation (5-1, 6-2, 4-2),
  and main hitters

56
Pre-Match

• During the Warm-up
• Officials should not make any comments or
  gestures about the skill levels of the players of
  form any pre-conceived notions
• This is a good time for prevention and the
  identification of jewelry or illegal equipment,
  checking the uniforms of regular players for
  legal numbers, ensuring no exposed midriffs and
  looking at libero uniforms for contrast and
  number legality
• If the referee completes line judge instruction
  in about 5 minutes, both officials should have
  the opportunity to observe both teams setting and
  hitting the ball

57
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• It is the responsibility of the home school to
  provide trained and qualified line judges,
  hopefully prior to the start of the season
• Regardless, the referee has to quickly assess the
  experience and ability of each of the line judges
  
• Based on this assessment, the referee offers
  either a refresher or basic initial instruction
  covering initial positioning, line judge signals,
  movement away from play of the ball, eye contact
  during and after play, position when server is
  close to the left sideline, position during
  time-outs, and position between games

58
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• Highly recommended that adults be used, not
  players
• In reality, few schools may properly train line
  judges
• Line judges should refrain from actions or
  wearing clothing that give the impression of
  partiality
• Some schools value the contributions of line
  judges and pay them, although this does not
  guarantee competence
• The referee takes the line judges to the
  intersection of the side line and end line to the
  right of the referee or umpire to avoid hindering
  the teams warming up or have balls hit into them
  

59
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges Chapter 8, 1726
• The more experienced or competent line judge is
  typically positioned to the umpires right
• As a guide for consistency, the acronym SALT
  helps line judge instruction Server, Antenna,
  Lines and Touch
• S Server means the referee reminds line
  judges that if the server comes within 6 feet of
  the line judge, the line judge should move behind
  or to the side of the server in order to not
  distract the server
• The referee may instruct the line judge to move
  laterally away from the sideline and right on the
  end line based but the line judge has to move
  quickly back into position to make a call on a
  served ball hit down the sideline

60
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• When the line judge gives up the end line, the
  referee will pick up the foot fault
  responsibility
• Referee reminds line judges that the server must
  be on the playing surface to initiate the serve,
  cannot contact the end line or the court before
  contacting the serve and must be inside or on the
  extension of the side line
• Jump servers can be over the end line as the
  serve is contacted a jump server is judged by
  last contact with the floor prior to contacting
  the serve
• All non-servers must be completely on their court
  the moment the serve is contacted

61
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• The referee demonstrates the signal for a foot
  fault with or without flags and then has the line
  judges repeat the signal
• The referee moves to instruction regarding A -
  the antenna - asking that the line judges
  visualize the antenna extending indefinitely to
  the ceiling
• For a ball to remain in play, it must cross the
  net entirely inside the antenna without touching
  the antenna or any fixture outside the antenna
  (referee stand, post, etc.)
• If it does not, it is an antenna fault including
  balls that contact the antenna in the net or the
  part of the net that is outside the antenna

62
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• The referee demonstrates that by moving off their
  corners to line up a ball crossing the net near
  the antenna,it will enable them to call both
  antennas accurately
• The referee demonstrates the signal for antenna
  fault and has the line judges show the signal
  with or without flags
• Next L Line is covered with the referee sharing
  that each line judge is responsible for his/her
  sideline and end line
• The ball is in if it hits the floor on or inside
  the line

63
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• The ball is in if it hits the floor on or inside
  the line in this video, the producers put in
  several errors to see how sharp you were
• The referee is showing the line judges, who are
  then demonstrating the same call, but the flag
  and hands are being directed toward the line the
  ball landed near and not the middle of the court
  as line judges are supposed to signal
• Referees will tell line judges to show a ball
  that is down on the court when the line judge can
  see the ball land ANYWHERE on the court,
  especially if a play is being made on the ball

64
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• Even if a line judge believes it to be obvious
  that the ball landed in, the line judge should
  signal in whenever the ball lands inside the
  court including the lines of the court
• Line judges never know when the referee and
  umpire are screened on a ball possibly touching
  the court, so the line judges call may show that
  the ball touched the court and this might be the
  only official to have the call
• Making the call toward the line, then, is not
  accepted technique since the flag or two hands
  (without flag) should be pointed to the middle of
  the court
• The ball is out if it hits the court outside
  the lines
• Line judges call out only on balls that land
  out

65
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• Line judges call out only on balls that land
  outside the court on their assigned sideline or
  end line (or both) and not on the sideline or end
  line which belong to the other line judge
• Referee demonstrates the signal with or without
  flag, and the line judges repeat the signal
• A good suggestion is not to follow the path of
  the ball once there is no chance of a touch by
  a defensive player but rather to look ahead
  (shoot the eyes) to an approximate spot where the
  ball will hit the floor, letting the eyes settle
  and be steady as the ball lands

66
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• The referee should remind the line judges of the
  possibility of being overruled and not to take it
  personally
• The referee assumes responsibility for the
  overrule based on the referees angle and how
  well the line judge may have sold the referee
  with a strong call
• If a line judge is screened from seeing a ball
  land, the signal is arms crossed in front of
  chest, with or without a flag line judges
  should not guess a call
• When an overrule is necessary because the referee
  is certain an error has been made, the referee
  shakes the head no, tweet-tweets and shows the
  corrected call

67
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• T is for Touch, which is shown when a player
  touches the ball and it hits the floor out of
  bounds on that players side of the court
• However, if a touched ball crosses the plane of
  the net outside the antenna and goes to the
  opponents side of the court, this should not be
  signaled as a touch call but, rather, as an
  antenna fault
• The referee demonstrates the touch signal, with
  or without flag, and the line judges repeat the
  signal
• The touch signal with hands is shown with raised
  hand on the side of the player that touched the
  ball with the other hand lightly brushing the
  fingers at head height

68
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• If both line judges see the touch, both should
  signal it
• In the DVD, the only line judge signaling the
  touch is on the side on which the ball then
  landed out when it is likely that the other line
  judge also saw the ball touched
• Line judges are instructed not to show a touch
  call while the ball is in play since touch means
  the ball has landed out of bounds

69
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• Note the referees informal signal of legal
  attack when the short libero attacked the ball
• As with other decisions made by line judges, the
  LJs are not to be influenced by players, coaches
  or spectators
• If a line judge hears any improper comments, the
  LJ should report the comments to the referee
  after the rally
• The instructions to line judges include where to
  stand during a time-out and between games, to
  move if a player goes after a ball in the line
  judges direction and to maintain eye contact
  with the referee when making a call and at the
  end of each rally

70
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• The instruction to line judges that their
  position during time-outs is at the intersection
  of the sideline and attack line on the referees
  side of the court (toes to the line) is important
  primarily based on the opportunity this offers to
  communicate
• From this position, instruction can occur as
  needed including fixing the use of incorrect
  signals, a line judge not making calls when the
  ball lands, the need for more eye contact, along
  with offering support, encouragement and praise
  as well as to move the line judge on the bench
  side away from that team

71
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• Line judges are instructed that if a ball is
  touched and lands in, the call should be in,
  not touch
• Most schools do not use ball shaggers which means
  a line judge may occasionally need to retrieve a
  loose ball
• Line judges should be instructed to make the call
  first, then go after the ball
• For introductions and National Anthem, the normal
  position for line judges is to join the referee
  and umpire between the centerline and attack
  line
• The officials stand closest to the centerline on
  either side of the net with line judges on the
  outside and on the side of the official on whose
  side they will be positioned

72
Pre-Match

• Instructing the Line Judges
• Some states will have the referee to the right of
  the referee stand along with the line judge who
  will be to the right of the referee while the
  umpire will be bench-side along with the line
  judge who will be to the right of the umpire
  during the match
• The referee thanks the line judges in advance for
  the difficult and often thankless job they will
  do during the match
• Unless something unusual occurs, line judges
  remain in the positions in which they started the
  match and are not replaced unless there are
  serious performance issues that are affecting the
  match or an urgent need occurs

73
Pre-Match

• Instructing Ball Shaggers
• If ball shaggers are used by a school, they need
  to be instructed in their duties so that players
  are not endangered by an errantly rolled ball
• The key is that ball shaggers remain alert and
  get the ball to the next server expeditiously
• Properly done, the flow of the match is greatly
  enhanced
• Typically, there are three ball shaggers for a
  three-ball rotation, one at either end and one
  behind the referee stand, and they can help match
  tempo tremendously

74
Pre-Match

• Instructing Ball Shaggers
• Ideally, the next server receives the ball while
  the other two balls are sought after and
  exchanged
• The position of the ball shaggers is determined
  by the configuration of the facility, but ball
  shaggers typically are placed on the side of the
  referee, remote from the corners and center line
• The ball exchange occurs behind the referee stand
  rather than bench side where players are
  constantly moving onto and off the court
• Ball shaggers should carry a towel to ensure the
  ball is dry as they get the ball to the next
  server

75
Pre-Match

• Instructing Ball Shaggers
• This establishes the tempo mentioned earlier
• Ball shaggers are certainly not required, but
  they can greatly benefit a match, and student
  volunteers will suffice
• Instruction in the DVD is shown as offered by the
  umpire, but other states may have the referee
  handle this responsibility

76
Pre-Match

• Checking the Lineup Sheet (Chapter 9, 2244)
• Before the first game, the teams line up on the
  end line and are beckoned to the centerline by
  the referee to shake hands and immediately go to
  their positions.
• If this occurs after introductions/National
  Anthem with teams on the end lines, teams are
  permitted a little time to huddle at the bench,
  then are brought onto the court where they may be
  directed to the end lines and brought on the
  court with another gesture by the referee.
• At this time, teams should assume their position
  in the rotation to allow the umpire to conduct a
  lineup check.
• The umpire uses a lineup card although in some
  states umpires use the lineups submitted by the
  coaches.

77
Pre-Match

• Checking the Lineup Sheet
• The DVD says that, in successive games, teams
  line up on the end lines and are beckoned onto
  the court where they immediately go to their
  positions
• However, in some states, teams simply are brought
  back onto the court by the umpires whistle and
  move into their positions in the rotation
• With ball in hand, the umpire uses a lineup card
  to ensure the players are in their correct
  positions
• In some states, umpires are permitted to use the
  lineups submitted by the coaches to do the lineup
  checks
• Nothing should be taken for granted

78
Pre-Match

• Checking the Lineup Sheet
• The umpire first checks the receiving team, back
  row, authorizes the libero to enter, and front
  row, then signals the number of the captain to
  the referee, showing a c and then the number
• Umpires who dont have an established convention
  for signaling numbers may gesture to the captain
• The umpire then checks the serving team, back
  row, authorizes the libero to enter, and front
  row and either rolls the ball to the first server
  to avoid having to signal captain number while
  holding the ball or signals the captain and then
  rolls the ball
• Both umpire and referee chart setter positions

79
Pre-Match

• Checking the Lineup Sheet
• The umpire verifies that scoretable staff are
  ready, returns the lineups (if using lineup
  sheets for lineup check) and if ball shaggers
  are being used either rolls a ball to the ball
  shagger at the end of the court on each side or
  verifies that the ball shaggers have ball in hand
  and are ready
• Then, the umpire quickly steps back into position
  on the receiving teams side while charting
  positions of both the serving team and receiving
  team to verify setter positions and each teams
  rotation

80
Prior to the Serve

• Checking the Lineup Sheet
• The umpire and referee should have completed
  their scans, allowing service to be authorized
• The umpire extends an open hand to the referee to
  signal readiness but not until the umpire is in
  position on the receiving teams side
• The referee completes his/her scan, then
  establishes eye contact with the umpite, called
  centering, establishing readiness for play
• The referee should also attempt to center with
  both of the floor captains to verify their
  readiness

81
Prior to the Serve

• Scanning and Centering
• The referee scans the court from the line judge
  on receiving team side, receiving team, the
  setter and opposite player, receiving team bench,
  scorers table, umpire, serving team bench, line
  judge on the serving team side, serving team, the
  setter and opposite, and server
• All of this is done in a few seconds (after
  considerable practice)
• The referee uses centering and goes back to the
  umpire who would be standing back from the court
  (not in the position shown for illustrative
  purposes only), then authorizes serve

82
At Service Contact

• The Serve
• At the exact moment the serve is contacted, the
  referee watches for violations by the server
  (foot fault, illegal serve) and violations by the
  serving team (overlap/illegal alignment,
  screening)
• The umpire, prior to the beckon for service,
  identifies the setter on the serving team and the
  setter on the receiving team, listens for the
  contact of serve and concentrates on receiving
  team overlap violations
• If either official spots a player with a foot
  down off the court (other than the server), this
  is typically handled by guiding the player to
  become legal rather than making a call

83
At Service Contact

• The Serve
• The referee follows the flight of the ball,
  making sure it legally travels over the net,
  focusing on the receiving team players part of
  the body ready to pass the serve
• The umpire helps the referee with this first
  contact by staying in position, then transitions
  to the blocking teams side
• This protocol is followed for every live ball for
  the entire the match making sure not to
  transition if there is a play at the net to avoid
  missing a net foul or center line violation

84
During the Match Responsibilities

• The Serve Chapter 10 (2541)
• In addition to what has been previously
  mentioned, after the whistle and then beckon for
  serve, the server has five seconds to contact the
  ball
• The referee will discreetly count to himself or
  herself, one one-thousand, two one-thousand to
  ensure the server is not delaying serve
• If a server releases the ball for service, then
  catches or drops it, the referee signals for a
  re-serve, then authorizes and directs a second
  and last attempt to serve
• There are no additional re-serves available to
  that server during this term of service, but each
  substitute during the term of service is entitled
  to one re-serve

85
During the Match Responsibilities

• The Serve
• If during a given term of service, a player who
  has been given a re-serve is substituted back in
  to serve again, this player does not have an
  additional re-serve available
• During this time, no interruption requests will
  be honored such as for a substitution, time-out,
  or lineup check, nor may either team make a
  libero replacement
• There is one re-serve and only one re-serve per
  player serving in that term of service

86
During the Match Responsibilities

• Screening
• While screening is not often called, it is
  becoming evident that teams are using screen
  techniques as part of their defensive strategy
• Screening is an action by the serving team which,
  in the judgment of the referee, prevents the
  receiving team from seeing the contact of the
  serve and the flight of the served ball
• Potential screens exist when players are standing
  close together or in a stack
• Individuals or groups that raise or wave hands or
  move sideways with the served ball passing over
  them also create the potential for a screen

87
During the Match Responsibilities

• Screening
• In addition, a serving team player who moves to
  block the view of a receiving team player who has
  moved to see the serve contact should be called
  for a screen
• Screening is illegal even though it is perceived
  to be unintentional
• Rule 6, Section 4, Article 1 says Players on the
  serving team shall not take action to prevent
  receivers from seeing the contact of the serve or
  the path of the served ball
• Preventative officiating allows for a warning,
  but a screen may be called whether or not a
  warning is issued
• Officials are not supposed to judge intent and,
  while potential screens may be warned, actual
  screens should be called

88
During the Match Responsibilities

• Factors for a Screen
• The referee should weigh the following factors in
  judging whether a screen has been committed
• Relative positions of the serving team in
  relationship to one another
• Path of the serve
• Speed of the serve
• Trajectory of the serve
• If any of the above factors does not come into
  play, a screen has not been committed (serve 1
  not over a clear group screen and serve 2 high
  trajectory and not a rocket, speed-wise however,
  serve 3 low and short over the screen, and
  screening is called)

89
During the Match Responsibilities

• Factors for a Screen
• When warning a team that a potential screen
  exists, the referee should show the screening
  signal to alert the umpire and coaches that this
  is what is being addressed
• The referee may address comments to the players
  forming the screen or call the captain to the
  stand
• Without delaying play, the serving team should be
  advised of the potential screen to allow the
  players to separate, lower hands, bend or take
  other actions to allow the receiving team to see
  the serve
• Receiving team players are not entitled to a
  particular spot on the floor but receivers are
  also not required to move more than a step or so
  to try to see around a group screen that covers
  much of the court by where the server positions
  herself

90
During the Match Responsibilities

• Factors for a Screen
• The rules identify as potential screens a player
  standing in front of the server, a player or
  players of the serving team waving arms, jumping
  or moving sideways and the ball is served over
  any of these players
• It should be noted that no receiving team player
  is entitled to a position on the court and that,
  if unable to see the server, the player should
  move
• However, if a player on the serving team moves to
  block that players view (and it can be a subtle
  adjustment of position as shown in the video),
  the referee should call screening
• As you can see in the video, line judges may be
  in a very good position to see screening but they
  are not permitted to assist the referee in making
  this judgment

91
During the Match Responsibilities

• Overlap Alignments
• Before addressing the subject of overlap and
  alignments, it is important to understand the
  types of offenses teams run based on the number
  of setters
• There are three basic offenses
• 4-2 setter comes from the front row (2 setters)
• 6-2 setters come out of the back row (2 setters)
• 5-1 setter is always the same player, therefore,
  the setter comes from the back row and the front
  row in different rotations this offense
  probably used most
• The key to making sure players are in their
  proper position usually allies with the position
  of the setter and who is opposite at the moment
  the serve is contacted (the player who plays
  opposite the setter in a 5-1 is called the
  opposite)

92
During the Match Responsibilities

• Overlap Alignments
• The positions of each team on the court are
  numbered and named
• 1 Right Back (RB)
• 2 Right Front (RF)
• 3 Center Front (CF)
• 4 Left Front (LF)
• 5 Left Back (LB)
• 6 Center Back (CB)
• Players shall be in correct order with no
  overlapping of adjacent players front to back and
  side to side at the contact for service

93
During the Match Responsibilities

• Overlap Alignments
• The position of the player is determined by the
  players foot relative to the adjacent player
• A front-row player must have a part of the foot
  closer to the center line than the corresponding
  back-row player
• A right-front (back) player must have a part of
  the foot closer to the right sideline than a part
  of the foot of the center-front (back) player
  judging with the foot closest to the right
  sideline
• Players may move prior to the serve but must be
  in their correct positions when the serve is
  contacted
• After the serve is contacted, players may move
  from their respective positions

94
During the Match Responsibilities

• Overlaps Occur for a Variety of Reasons
• They enhance team passing
• Facilitate server and hitter transitions
• They disguise modes of attack (where coming from,
  who is a front-row player)
• The gray areas of the rules can be applied to
  issue a warning when a team is close to an
  overlap (in the video situation, it appears that
  the setter is CB who is clearly behind the CF
  while the LF is back in serve receive the CF
  and RF are close to an overlap but are legal
  assuming no movement prior to serve contact )

95
During the Match Responsibilities

• Overlaps Occur for a Variety of Reasons
• At no time, however, should an overlap be
  ignored, but officials should be 105 before an
  overlap is called
• Undoubtedly, the affected coach will inquire
  which players were overlapped (and/or the
  positions of the overlapped players) so be ready
  to give information (1 left too soon) or a brief
  reason (position switch, setter or hitter left
  early, LF/LB, etc.)

96
During the Match Responsibilities

• General Duties of the Referee and Umpire
• Referee Chapter 11, 3153
• Responsible for initiating play
• During play, the referee follows the ball,
  concentrating on ball handling and player
  positions
• Before each play, referee determines the position
  of the setters for each team (Red 7/Blue 14 is
  a start but RF left, RF right may be more useful
  some incorporate this into identifying all
  back-row players on both teams or both teams
  lineups on the courts for each rally)
• Verify positions with setters and their opposites
  and possibly include who leads and who follows
  the setter

97
During the Match Responsibilities

• General Duties of the Referee and Umpire
• Referee
• Serving team players will often call out numbers
  of the teams front row or number of hitters and
  setter live (front row) or dead (back row)
• To evaluate ball handling, the referee should
  anticipate and focus on the part of the body of
  the receiving player that will contact the ball
  by looking ahead of the ball once the ball will
  clear the net
• When the ball is in play near the net, the
  referee should widen focus to include the plane
  of the net
• Note that the referees hand signal awarding loss
  of rally is the new signal also note that the
  hand signal is not straight out parallel to the
  floor

98
During the Match Responsibilities

• General Duties of the Referee and Umpire
• Referee
• The referee should have hands comfortably at
  his/her side and should not have hands resting on
  the stand since this does not look professional
• Looking comfortable is a good thing but this must
  be matched by good mechanics/signaling and
  position on the stand
• When the ball hits the floor, the referee blows
  the whistle immediately to stop play
• If there is uncertainty as to whether the ball
  was in or out or whether there was a touch
  on the play, the referee looks at the line judges
  before giving a signal

99
During the Match Responsibilities

• General Duties of the Referee and Umpire
• Referee
• In the situation shown on the video, the referee
  scanned the line judge on her side for
  information before showing the ball was out
• However, the referee did not appear to include
  the other line judge or the umpire in the scan
  which can lead to signaling out and then having
  to accept that another official is showing a