Volleyball referee stand safety must be part of every prematch routine to ensure a secure officiating environment.
Referees have a tough job. They have to make hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions every match. It can be draining to have to figure out the legality of every single touch of the ball as well as in/out decisions, rotations, alignments and a slew of other decisions.
However, there are a couple of decisions referees must make in the prematch that can ultimately decide the fate of the match. This is a volleyball referee stand safety priority that can’t be skipped. These decisions have to do with the volleyball net standards and I would bet the majority of us take those for granted. Normally, the net is set up before we ever enter the gym. And in a lot of cases, the net is set to the right height, the antennas are in place and the net stand is attached properly. However, it would behoove all referees to take a few minutes to check the referee stand prematch to make sure it is properly attached, it is safe to climb up onto and the base of it is secure to hold your weight for the match. Otherwise, the results could be tragic. If you have worked long enough, you have most likely either climbed up on a ladder and had it sway or give out or even worse, you have fallen off a ladder during play. This is extremely dangerous and has led to some serious accidents. This is why referees are instructed to check equipment before each match, even if you have been to a school a multitude of times. While we would like to think the schools are doing everything in their power to keep us safe, ultimately it is our responsibility to check the stands and standards to make sure they are safe and secure not only for the participants, but also for us.
And while it is important to check the referee stand, it is also important to see what is lurking on the second referee’s side of the court. Not all standards are the same. Not all are just a single pole in the ground with padding around it.
Many colleges, and even some high schools, use multi-sport facilities to host their volleyball matches. These facilities often don’t have holes in the floor. Instead they use above-ground systems, like the one used in this photo:
In these instances, the second referee’s side looks more similar to the first referee’s side, with a smaller stand. These weighted standards can cause a lot of problems, and it is important for referees to talk about mechanics and safety before the match in order to not get surprised during the match. Ignoring volleyball referee stand safety can result in serious injuries.
As you can see from the photo, there isn’t a lot of room to maneuver between the standard at the scorer’s table. And while second referees often get squeezed as when working tournaments with multiple courts, we aren’t as used to it in single matches, and especially not at the highest levels. In these types of matches, it is important for the first and second referee to prematch some additional responsibilities.
The first thing to discuss is the centerline. The first referee will need to assist the second referee when it comes to calling centerline faults. While the second referee may be able to see the centerline on plays at the center of the net and plays near the first referee’s side of the court, on plays close to the pin on the second referee’s side of the court, the second referee may not be able to see any part of the centerline. The standard, being as bulky and wide as it is, may obstruct the second referee’s view of the play.
On these types of plays, the first referee may need to assist in making those centerline faults (this also puts additional pressure on the line judges as the first referee may not be able to stay with blocks very long as they may have to focus on the feet as soon as the ball is contacted in order to make sure both the attacker and blockers don’t cross the centerline and interfere).
Referees can remind each other over headsets if they are wearing them to keep an eye on these situations as well. It is a little more difficult to convey if officials aren’t wearing headsets. And the first referee may need a reminder in-between sets if the second referee notices the first referee isn’t providing help in these situations. Remember, this goes against prescribed mechanics so it is important to communicate.
Always take a few minutes when you first arrive on the court to check out the standards. This will keep you from getting surprised once the match starts. Remember, focusing on volleyball referee stand safety is better than being sorry.
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.
