Positive feedback

by

It is always great when we receive positive feedback from coaches in regards to our officials. I would like to share an email I received in regards to two of our finest…Greg Lockley and Ryan Lynn.

Hello Greg and Ryan,

Sorry I didn’t get to talk to you last night after the match much. Senior night and wanted to get the kids moving so they could get to their banquet and get home at a decent hour.

Just wanted to say that I thought both of you did a good job last night with the match. And I am not saying that about calls or anything, although I did think you both called a fair and consistent game for both of the teams. You both handled the match and did a great job communicating with coaches, keeping a good flow and pace to the match, and handled yourselves with professionalism. A competitive match like the one last night often has emotions riding high for all parties and I thought your calm influences both the players and coaches and keeps the temperature down in the gym. That effects the players, coaches, and the spectators. It made for a great atmosphere.

I don’t know if I will see you down the road, but you are both WPIAL/PIAA Championship caliber officials and I hope that word gets spread. Not only last night, but the other matches you have officiated for Shaler Area this year.

Thanks for all your time and effort. It is greatly appreciated and good luck moving forward.

Sincerely,

Paul Stadelman
Shaler Area Boys Volleyball

Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023 – Tom Phillips, Volleyball, Freeport

by

Tom Phillips, one of the most decorated volleyball coaches in Pennsylvania history, was a graduate of Freeport Area High School and has carved his legacy as the head coach of the Yellowjackets’ girls volleyball team. Phillips is also a graduate of Butler County Community College.
Phillips has been the head volleyball coach at Freeport since 2001. Phillips also owns and operates Big Valley Volleyball. To date, his teams have won 18 consecutive section titles, seven WPIAL Titles, four WPIAL runner-up finishes and two PIAA Championships, in 2017 and 2022.
Phillips owns an incredible career record of 405 wins against jut 38 loses. Phillips has been selected to numerous Coach of the Year honors and will also be inducted into the Alle-Kiski Hall of fame this coming May.

Regular Season Guidelines

by

Arbiter Sports Maintenance / Accepting Matches – R-1 / R-2 – Decisions

  Please check your Arbiter account daily. After accepting an assignment, please make sure you can see that assignment in your Arbiter Schedule. Please double-check your accepted matches in the Arbiter and put those dates in your calendar / planner. The R-1 in the Arbiter does not mean that official goes up to R-1 the varsity match. The officials should discuss their comfort level and decide which official is best suited to R-1 the varsity match. Even if a newer official shows up late for the JV match (because they are coming from a middle school match), they should NOT be forced to R-1 the varsity match. An official should never R-1 the varsity match until they are confident and ready for that responsibility. Please use common sense so the varsity match can be best-officiated. 

Match Confirmation & Details

  Please confirm your matches 24-48 hours before the scheduled date of the match or confirm the match with the host school on the date of the match. The best method to confirm a match is thru email by including the athletic director, athletic secretary, and your entire crew. Crew communication is more effective than individual communication because everybody will then be on the same page when the athletic department responds back to the officials.  

  Here is a sample email on how to confirm a match with a school.

(Athletic Director / Secretary Name),

   Good morning, we are scheduled to officiate (School Name – Sport) today or tomorrow (Date of Competition) at (Time) vs. (Opponent). We plan to arrive around (30-45 minutes before the Schedule Match Time in the Arbiter). to begin our pre-match duties. Please confirm all of the match details are correct. If there are any changes, please email our crew or text / call us directly. We look forward to working this assignment. See you tomorrow or later today. Thank you!

Sincerely,

(Official Name)

(Phone Number)

Match Reports

All of our officials are required to submit match reports after each varsity high school match. We do not need match reports from middle school or JV matches, but information from those matches may be submitted. The R-1 for the varsity match should submit the match report. We do not need 2 different match reports. Please be fair and honest with your reports and do not protect your partners or yourself in your match report. Match reports carry a ton of weight for future assignments, especially for officials who take the time to submit the report. Officials who make the extra effort to submit the match report and provide the chapter feedback may benefit for future assignments as we appreciate all officials going the extra yard. 

Post-Match Debrief

All crews should conduct a professional post-match debrief. The discussion should not exceed 10-15 minutes. The debrief should emphasis on areas of concern while discussing plays of interest. All debriefs should be a positive experience.