Here is a checklist and manual for all officials working WPIAL High School Volleyball matches this season. Please print this guide and review it before your matches to best-prepare your crew every night. We ask all officials to follow with this pre-match routine for consistency on all future matches. Best of luck to all officials and have fun this season.
Match Confirmation – Referee contacts host school (Athletic Director / Secretary) via email. Ask host management for a locker room in your communication (if needed). CC officials assigned to match in the email. Please discuss uniform preference in email or group text message to the crew (do not include the AD / Secretary in your uniform discussion)
Match Arrival – R1 & R2 arrive 45-30 minutes prior to every match – Line judges 30 minutes. Conduct pre-match expectations with crew near the table. Wear correct uniform and equipment. All 4 officials must match.
Host Management / Site Manager – Find the site manager. Discuss communication on how the host administration will resolve potential issues.
Check Nets & Balls – R1 & R2 inspect nets and balls prior to warmup.
Coach’s Certification (In Substitution Area) Prior to 20 Min. Timed Warmup – R1 tweets whistle to greet head coaches / captains. R1 addresses all housekeeping matters that involve the warmup, ground rules, table, uniforms, jewelry, injuries, etc. The R1 then reads the PIAA Sportsmanship Message.
PIAA requires all registered sports’ officials to enforce the sportsmanship rules for coaches and contestants. Actions meant to demean opposing contestants, teams, spectators, and officials are not in the highest ideals of interscholastic education and will not be tolerated. Let today’s contest reflect mutual respect. Coaches please certify to the contest official(s) that your contestants are legally equipped and uniformed according to NFHS rules and PIAA adoptions. Good luck in today’s contest.
Coin Toss – Home Team decides side of court. Teams will not change sides. Away Team calls coin toss. Home Team calls coin toss for the deciding set (3rd Set for JV / 5th Set for Varsity). Team winning the coin toss in the deciding set may choose Serve or Receive. They do not pick sides.
Warm-Up Protocol – Host Team decides their Warm-Up Format
R2 blows warning whistle blast 15 seconds prior to court change.
6-7-7 Format
20:00 – 6 Minutes Shared
14:00 — Team A.
7:00 – Team B
2-4-4-5-5 Format
20:00 – 2 Minutes Shared
18:00 — Team A.
14:00 – Team B
10:00 — Team A
5:00 – Team B
5-5-5-5 Format
20:00 – Team A
15:00 — Team B.
10:00 – Team A
5:00 — Team B
Line Judges – R1 talks to line judges. Make sure the line judges are comfortable with signals and protocols. Line judges (certified officials only) take their corners between 9:00 – 3:00 mark to warmup their eyes. Line judges should understand the timeout & end-of-set mechanics. At the end-of-set, the line judges walk across the court straddling the 10-foot lines. The line judges then walk across the court and stand or sit for the intermission in a designated area behind the scorer’s table.
Anthem – All officials position themselves by the stand. R1 on same side as Line Judge #1. R2 on same side as Line Judge #2. Student line judges do not need to follow this recommendation.
Match Notes
1. R2 Responsibilities (Before the Set) – Establish positive communication between the official scorer and game clock operator. Make sure they are confirming the score and timeouts throughout the match. The official scorer should notify the R2 if there is an illegal server at the end of a rally. The R2 can whistle the play dead for an illegal server with help of a lineup card. Work with the table on lineup sheets in between sets. Never stand into the court when giving a courtesy lineup-check. Stay off the court. Identify the captain. Captain signals / waves to R1. Allow libero to enter the match when done checking lineup. Make sure the clock operator stops the clock, so it does not sound during the serve or during the rally.
2. Timeouts – R2 whistles all timeouts and then signals the side and how many timeouts used to the R1. The R2 then signals to the game clock operator to start the clock immediately after both teams exit the court. Whistle warning blast at :15. Horn to end timeout. The R2 signals to R1 timeouts taken after all 12 players are back onto the court. R1 mimics / mirrors. The R2 hands the court back to the R1. The R1 notifies the receiving team for service and then beckons to serve.
3. End of Set – R1 awards point, followed by the action that ended the rally. R1 gives the end of match signal. R2 mimics/ mirrors. R2 should then turn to game clock operator and signal to run the 3-minute intermission on the gamer clock. The R2 may assist in handing the lineup sheets to the coaches to build good rapport with both coaches. Use good judgment. In a heated match, considering stepping toward the court and turning to monitor the table as the coaches collect their lineup sheets. Prior to a deciding set, the R2 will call in both captains to conduct a coin toss. The clock does not run until the coin toss has concluded and both teams know who is serving / receiving. After the R1 signals who is serving, the R2 then signals to the game clock operator to run the 3-minute clock.
4. Injuries – Most injury timeouts last 30 seconds. R2 should wear a watch to monitor the time. There is no 30 second injury timeout for serious injuries. Be considerate and understanding the difference between a minor injury and a serious injury.
5. Coach’s Conduct – R1 & R2 should identify a mechanic or signal for carding a player / coach. Use cards when necessary – Listen to understand, not penalize. Use professional language and volleyball terms. Talk head coaches down instead heating them up. The R2 should defend their R1 when appropriate to deescalate all situations. Do not ignore coaches. Communicate effectively.
6. Bench Protocol – All players must sit in their seats in the front row. Players may stand or “warmup” in the row behind the bench. No assistant coaches may stand. Make sure the players respect the integrity of the chair line when pursuing the ball. Address the extended bench policy in the pre-match with the head coaches.
7. Spectator Behavior / Artificial Noise Makers – Please contact the site manager and have the PA Announcer address any issues. Site management and PA announcer should alert all spectators that unruly spectator behavior or use of artificial noise makers are grounds for removal from the facility.
7. Exit Strategy – Use the “toot-and-scoot” routine to get out of the gym after a competitive match. Get to your destination for the Post-Match Debrief.
8. Post-Match Debrief – Please try to conduct a 5-10 minute Post-Match Debrief in the locker room, a conference room, or the parking lot to discuss areas of successful officiating and areas that need improvement (signals, mechanics, techniques, misapplication of the rules, faulty judgement, poor body language, etc.). This discussion should include plays-of-interest also known as “hot plays.” The debrief should not last longer than 15 minutes. Walk out of the athletic facility together as a crew and safely to your vehicles.
9. Match Report – R1 for Varsity Match submits Match Report. Match Report is on the Golden Triangle website. The link is also in the Arbiter. Click R after the match in the Arbiter.
BEST OF LUCK & HAVE FUN