Here are some very important notes as we finish out the regular season.
Uniform
Please wear the correct uniform. We always wear clean black slacks during regular season matches. Please tuck-in all uniform shirts. Our officiating shoes should always be clean black shoes. We always wear black socks with our shoes.
We have received reports of officials wearing sweatpants. Sweatpants are never permitted. Our pants should never have stripes on them either.
Whistles
Please use a strong whistle. A strong whistle will make a strong official. We recommend using a Fox 40 – Classic. These whistles can be purchased for $6 on Amazon.
We must always end a rally with a whistle. Please use a strong, bold whistle to stop play. We have received reports of weak whistles or no whistles at all to end a rally. As a result, some players have continued to play while other players stopped resulting in potential player injuries.
Ball Handling
Please enforce all ball handling rules as they are written. Please call illegal contacts – lifts / doubles. You may want to establish ball handling early in the match so both teams understand the match’s ball handling expectations. Both teams may adjust to that line, and it may make your job easier as the R1. Too many officials aren’t calling any ball handling violations – thus affecting the outcome of matches and allowing some matches to turn into a circus. We have had outcomes where weaker ball-handling teams weren’t penalized at all and won a match over a much higher-skilled ball handling team. We must enforce all ball handling violations.
Net Violations
The R2 must keep their eyes on the net while assisting the R1 with match play. Too many R2’s are watching the ball as it travels as away from the net. We have had incidents where the attacking player crashed into the net after contacting the ball with no whistle because the R2 followed the ball. Process the play and follow your net responsibilities. In addition, too many officials have penalized the blocking team when the attacking team touched the net before the blocking team. Work with R1 to determine who attacked the net first.
Center Line Violations
Please be careful over-officiating borderline, center line infractions. Center line infractions are illegal. We want all officials to call centerline violations. However, please take caution on over-officiating a borderline, center line violation during a long rally or late in the set or match when points are paramount. You may put your crew or yourself into a difficult position by splitting hairs over a center line violation, especially if it away from play. Please use common sense and let match play take care of itself.
Rotations & Overlaps
The R2 should be watching the receiving team during service. Too many R2’s are watching the server, thus missing setters leaving too early on the serve to get to their next position.
Illegal Back Row Attacks
Both officials – the R1 & R2 must understand Illegal Back Row Attacks. Both officials must also understand where our setters are positioned. If a team is running a 6-2 offense, then the setter will always be coming from the back row. If a team is running a 5-1 offense, then the setter will be coming from the back row for half of the match.
Talk to your officiating partner during warmups or during the match (timeouts / end of sets / etc.) about each team’s offense. We should always locate where each team’s setter is coming from and whistle these illegal violations when they occur. The vast majority of illegal back row attacks / illegal back row block violations will occur on overpasses when the back-row setter is trying to save a ball. Please also keep in mind that “interference” in reaching over the net to play a ball may be in-play on an overpass as well. The blocker may be interfering with the opposing team’s setter and their attempt to play the ball. These plays can be extremely difficult to officiate. Use your best judgement.
Exit Strategy & Post-Match Debrief
We should always exit the gym together as a crew. We should always have a brief post-match debrief and discuss some areas of improvement and areas of success as a crew. We have received too many reports where our officials have dashed-and-darted off after a match without even waving goodbye to their partner & crew. This behavior is unprofessional and unacceptable.
We must have accountability and responsibility to improve as officials from one match to the next match. Please use to these notes to help improve yourself as an official. Best of luck and finish strong this season.