IGHSAU OfficialÕs Recommendations & Procedures
In
an effort to provide consistency of interpretation, appearance and game
administration across the state, the following guidelines shall be followed
when officiating interscholastic volleyball in Iowa.
UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT
The official uniform is: black dress pants; black belt if
your pants have belt loops; white short-sleeve collared Polo shirt (the new
white shirt with red or navy side panels will be permitted during the regular
season and district/regional tournaments);all black athletic shoes, black
socks; black, white or silver whistle with black lanyard. If a jacket is worn, it should be black
or white.
It
is recommended that you have a carrying case or small duffel bag which
includes, but is not limited to the following: at least two additional
whistles; flip coin (the larger the better) yellow and red cards, to be kept in
your pants or shirt pocket during the match; device to measure net; ball
pressure gauge/pump; rule book/case book; individual schedule/important phone
numbers.
ARRIVAL AT SITE AND PRE-MATCH DUTIES
Allow
yourself sufficient travel time in order to arrive at least 30 minutes before
the match. In most cases, you will be greeted by the athletic director/court
manager or home coach, otherwise seek out someone who can assist you in
securing a room to meet with the other official(s).
It
is important to determine who is the school official in charge of
spectators. If conduct becomes an
issue, the official shall never directly address or eject spectators. The school official in charge is
responsible for discipline and/or removal of unruly spectators.
The
positions of referee and umpire are of equal importance, but different responsibilities.
If you have a preference which official you want to be, make that known to your
partner. If it cannot be resolved (no preference), then flip a coin. Please do
the following: to exemplify the "team" concept, approach each coach
together to introduce yourself; treat both coaches and players equally; avoid
any actions which may give the appearance of bias (i.e. fraternizing, using
first names, singling out an individual, etc.); keep conversations cordial and
brief, but don't be distant or aloof; do not supply information to anyone about
a specific team or match; obtain ground rules and procedures from the home
school and relay them to the visiting school; maintain a "professional
image" in the way you walk, stand or sit.
The
referee and umpire should inspect the site together and check for the
following: court markings; padding on net standards; referee stand (height,
stability and padding); net height and tension; antennae (p]aced on outside
edge of vertical tape marker); team benches 10' from extension of center line
(safe distance from court); floor obstacles; scoreboard/timing device; game
balls; towels for floor and/or ball wiping; if equipment needs adjusting, call
home management, don't do it yourself; conduct coin toss, verify rosters, check
player's braces to see they are covered properly (consult the coach first
before you approach any player); thoroughly brief line judges (use SALT as a
memory device; S-Server A-Antenna L-Lines T-Touches); emphasize their
importance to the "team; insure that the scorekeeper has written the
lineups correctly on to the scoresheet; the umpire should establish a rapport
with the scorekeeper; and if at all possible begin the match without any
penalties (preventative officiating).
DUTIES OF BOTH OFFICIALS
Your
job is to cause the game to progress smoothly with as little interference as
possible on your part. Let the players be the "stars" of the show.
Officials
will miss calls. Players and coaches make mistakes. Never attempt to "even
up" calls. If you make a
mistake—just keep going.
DonÕt allow one mistake to create another mistake.Be friendly and
courteous, but firm when necessary. Listen to reasonable inquiries, but do not
allow inappropriate questioning of your judgment.
Do
not lose your temper. If a player
or coach becomes abusive, penalize accordingly being as calm as possible. Do
your best to drown the crowd out, avoiding "rabbit ears". Any problem
with a spectator should be handled through the home manager.
Review
rules regularly, especially the ones which can cause delays or controversies in
the match, if not properly handled.
Maintain your style of calling the match. Strive for consistency. Work as a team, offering support and
encouragement at all times. Never, by gesture or comment, indicate disapproval
of a decision of a fellow official.
DURING THE MATCH - REFEREE
Before
starting play: scan the playing area before each service beckon (check
readiness of officiating team, receiving team, both benches, serving team, know
the position of each setter and what player is opposite); observe more than the
server (watch for overlap, screen, illegal movement); if certain ball will
clear net, look ahead to receiving player and focus on the hands/arms; don't
look ahead too soon and possibly miss an illegal hit; the keys for determining
illegal hits are duration and direction (it is your judgment and should not
questioned without warning or a penalty).
Relax
on routine plays and bear down on the potential trouble areas; end play
immediately with a decisive, consistent whistle, after a slight pause give the
proper signal to indicate what happened, then another slight pause and
signal point (hold signals high
enough and long enough for everyone to see); use multiple whistles (blasts) for
ball in court or injury; don't make up signals and if an explanation
(non-judgment) is necessary take whistle out of mouth to explain; you are the
final authority, but be very sure
if you overrule another official.
Work closely with umpire and seek assistance (eye contact during play)
on touch calls, back row players, pancake plays, bench control, 4-hits or
block?, who's in the net first?; allow the umpire to blow whistle for
substitution and time-out, but give signal.
Avoid
calling borderline ball-handling calls on game or match point, but obvious
calls cannot be ignored; end game with end of game signal and remain on the
stand (unless there is a reason to come down) until the match is completed; if
possible thank the support officials, sign the scoresheet and immediately leave
via a non-spectator exit (decided in advance), but if you suspect a
confrontation, get the umpire's attention and leave immediately.
DURING THE MATCH - UMPIRE
The
duties of the umpire are often the least understood and not given the proper
emphasis the role deserves. After
having checked the line-up sheet to make sure the players are in the proper
order, the umpire should: see that the line judges are in the correct position
and scorekeeper is ready; indicate to the referee that everything is ready
(usually a nod or pointing with open hand to the referee); position yourself on
the receiving side with shoulders parallel to sideline near the scorerÕs table
(approx. 6' from sideline), for good peripheral vision of both benches; after
the whistle for serve take a step forward and watch for overlap or other
occurrences (your position from the net should be approx. 3'); view any play at
the net (block serve) and serve receive and move quickly to the blocker's side
before the second hit of the receiving team (you should be able to view the
second hit and third hit through the net while concentrating on the net and
centerline.
If
equipment does not allow moving back and forth to the blocker's side, take a
position on the receiving side and stay there, avoid hiding behind post; your
main focus should be on the net and not the ball, relax when play is away from
net; watch particularly for the setter approaching the net on a tight pass,
players swinging their hands up to begin their jump, players coming down and
turning away from net; assist with ball-handling calls ; you may call the
antennae on your side; anticipate time-out requests, keep track of time for
time-outs, blow whistle at 45 seconds and 60 seconds; for both time-outs and
substitutions "give" the court back to the referee in a similar
manner that you used to start the game; if there is a request for a line-up
check, use the scoresheet and not the line-up sheet.
Support
your referee when questions or concerns arise from the bench (never say or indicate
you disagree with any official); a discreet "thumbs up" to the
referee after a tough game or situation can encourage him/her tremendously; if
possible, after (game) match secure the ball, thank support officials, sign the
scoresheet and leave with referee through a non-spectator exit.
Unsportsmanlike
conduct and the authority to penalize are defined in Rule 12. The purpose of
sanction cards is to provide a less provocative method of enforcement that
avoids verbal confrontation between official and coach or team member. Sanction
cards must be used as a tool and not a weapon.
The
referee and umpire are empowered to issue cards. If the referee and/or umpire deem the violation
sufficiently serious, a penalty or disqualification may be issued without prior
warning.
Examples of unsportsmanlike conduct listed in Rule 12, Section 2, may apply equally to a player, coach or any team member. Additional examples are:
1. Throwing
of objects.
2. Kicking
or throwing a ball in situations other than attempting to play the ball.
3. Tactics
designed to delay the game -- this may include intentionally and/or repeatedly
making requests for time outs or substitutions only seconds before the referee
signals for service. If the referee and/or umpire deem such action to be a
deliberate tactic to delay, a warning should be issued followed by penalty if
repeated.
4. Repeatedly
questioning officials about calls.
Cards
issued to the same individual during a single game shall be progressive. For
example: if a warning (yellow card) is issued and the individual repeats the
same or a different minor violation during the match, it must result in a
penalty (red card). All cards issued in one game do carry over to the next
game. Infractions committed
before or between games of a match will be sanctioned in the following game.
Whenever
a card is used, it must be recorded in the comment section of the scoresheet.
Whenever a disqualification is given, the calling official and school
administration of the ejected coach or player shall notify the State Office by
phone the next business day. A disqualified player shall remain on the team
bench. A disqualified coach must move to the locker room or bus and can not be
allowed to remain as a spectator.
Unsportsmanlike
conduct committed by coaches, players and/or other team members may result in
the following warning, penalty of expulsion by the referee and/or umpire.
A.
Warning: For minor breach of
conduct, a warning (yellow card) is issued and recorded on the scoresheet. A
second violation by the same individual during the match must result in
a red card.
B.
Penalty: For rude behavior or
a second minor offense in the same match a penalty (red card) is issued
and recorded on the scoresheet. A penalty automatically results in awarding a
point against the offending team.
C.
Disqualification: For what the
referee and/or umpire deems excessive unsportsmanlike conduct or for a second
penalty issued against the same individual during a match, the offender is
ejected. This results in disqualification (red and yellow cards together)
from further competition in the match.
ANY DISQUALIFICATION MUST BE REPORTED TO THE STATE OFFICE.
An official carries the responsibility of determining
when enthusiasm crosses the line and becomes taunting or unsportsmanlike
behavior. Any celebration must be
a reflection on a positive play by a team, not a reflection of a negative play
by an opponent. Any comment or
gesture or action directed at or to the opponent results in a card penalty
against the offender. (See Rule
12-2) Encircling an opponent is
always unsportsmanlike. (This
violation does not carry a card penalty, rather notify the State Office the
following business day.)
Note
that when a card sanction is issued, it must be recorded on the scoresheet.