Officiating volleyball is much different than officiating any other sport. There are many reasons for this, but this article is going to focus on only one of those reasons, and it is probably something most officials don’t really even think about because it has become second nature.
What makes volleyball so unique is part of the officiating crew may not even be certified. And at the high school level, and even some college levels, part of that crew may be supplied by the host school. Talk about a conflict of interest.
A Crew Unlike Any Other
Think about it. In bat and ball sports, you don’t show up to the field and have the school supply the base umpires. The school isn’t providing one of the referees in basketball, either. In soccer, the assistant referees aren’t high school students or parents of the players. And the wing officials for a varsity football game aren’t JV players.
But in volleyball, we accept the fact that some of our crewmates may have some of these conflicts. And we usually don’t even bat an eye. It is the nature of the sport. While most college matches have certified line judges, the same can’t be said for high school matches and the travel-ball circuit.
At those levels, we have the added responsibility of getting to know the line judges just prior to the match and then giving them a quick refresher course. Could you imagine having to do that in another sport?
That makes the line judge meeting an important part of the larger prematch process. Officials can also review how to tackle pre-match responsibilities as a team to make sure the entire crew is prepared before the first serve.
Working with line judges is a skill that comes with experience. Newer referees may struggle as it is an unfamiliar job they may not have ever been trained to do. But it is an integral part of the job as line judges play a vital role in every match.
Officiating is all about angles and sometimes there are plays in every match that the two referees can’t get angles on to see perfectly to decipher — close in/out calls, balls over the antenna and potential pancakes. This is where the extra set of eyes of the line judges is crucial and we rely on them heavily to get the call right.
For a deeper look at the position itself, see Line Judges are Critical, which covers positioning, responsibilities and making confident calls.
So, what should we do as referees to make sure our line judges are on the same page as us and are focused on the task at hand?
Introduce Yourself
It is important to get to know who your line judges are before the match. This gives you an opportunity to get on a first-name basis with the line judges, but it also gives you an opportunity to learn about them as well.
You only have a few minutes prematch to spend some time with the line judges and it is during this time you need to be able to figure out who the stronger line judge is of the two. Ask them their experience level and find out their comfort level with the task at hand. Ask them if they have a preference on which side of the court to work.
You ultimately want the strongest line judge to be opposite of the first referee. The theory is first referees can “protect” line judges on their side of the court as they can help with the lines on their side. Second referees are often focused on plays at the net and what is happening there and may not be able to get eyes to the lines quite as quickly, so the stronger of the line judges should be on that side.
This doesn’t always hold true, however, as some line judges do not like to be on the same side as the benches and you may need to adjust your thinking based on comfort level.
Set Expectations
For those few moments you have with the line judges prematch, set the tone for the match. Let them know they are an integral part of the crew and set the expectations for that match.
Explain what signals you need from them and the appropriate way to show those signals. Don’t be afraid to use the flag and show them exactly how you want them to call a foot fault or antenna violation. Show them how to give in and out signals and explain why they need to be decisive in their calls.
We have all had matches where a ball landed near a line and we looked at the line judge and in return got the “deer in headlights” look. Then the line judge half-heartedly gives an in signal. There is zero believability in that call.
Explain how important they are to that match. Let them know they are a part of the crew and it is important they stay focused and locked in for the entirety of the match.
One of the ways to show convictions in their calls and to stay focused is through the use of eye contact. Let them know that you expect eye contact on every point. This helps to keep everyone engaged throughout the match.
Importance of Communication
One of the keys to having a successful match is having good communication. With line judges, most communication is non-verbal and done through body language. However, there are times when verbal communication is essential.
Remind the line judges to take advantage of timeouts or the time between sets to ask questions. Also, remind them to notify you if they hear any derogatory language or if they feel uncomfortable for any reason.
This can be difficult if you have a JV player line judging a varsity match. That player may not feel comfortable complaining about something a varsity player or the coach said as they may fear retribution. In instances where you may have a JV player on the lines, be extra mindful of how they are being treated by players and coaches and you may be able to jump in before it becomes an issue.
Do your best to make them feel as comfortable as possible as a relaxed line judge will be much more useful than one who is experiencing stress.
Remember, line judges are part of our crew. They are our responsibility, and it behooves us to welcome them in to our crew and make them feel wanted, appreciated and valued. It is a unique situation not found in any other sport and it is our responsibility to make it look as smooth as possible.
Be Ready for Your Next Volleyball Match
Strong crew communication starts with knowing the current rules, responsibilities and mechanics. Visit the Referee Volleyball Store for updated volleyball rules books, case books, officials manuals, preseason guides and additional training resources to help you prepare for the season.
Brad Tittrington is an associate editor for Referee. He umpires D-I softball and officiates high school basketball, college and high school volleyball and high school football.
