1. Roster verification

Rosters, if used, are verified pre-match by scorekeeper, assisted by second referee. Both referees visually review uniforms for legality.

2. Coin toss procedures

USA Volleyball does not designate “home” or “visitor” teams, so it is appropriate for the first referee to designate one team as “heads” and the other team as “tails” for the pre-match and deciding set coin tosses. The coin should be tossed and the result immediately revealed without turning the coin onto the back of the opposite hand. If the coin is dropped, it shall be re-tossed. Captains have the options of: serve or receive the serve, or the side of the court to occupy.

3. Pre-set line-up check by second referee

When checking line-ups at the start of each set, the second referee should stand at the sideline of each team’s court with both teams’ line-up sheets in hand to verify player positions. The second referee should not enter the court. The game ball should remain at the scorer’s table or on the barrel until line-ups have been verified and Libero replacements authorized. Once the line-up sheets have been returned to the scorer, the game ball should be rolled to the first server.

4. Referee signal sequence

• If the fault is whistled by the first referee, the first referee indicates which team wins the rally by extending the arm in the direction of the team that will serve (palm perpendicular to floor), then the nature of the fault and the player at fault if necessary. All signals are repeated by the second referee except net serve and service beckon. (Rule 22.2.3.1)
  

• If the fault is whistled by the second referee, the second referee indicates the na ure of the fault and the player at fault if necessary. The first referee then indicates the next team to serve and the second referee repeats that signal. The first referee does not signal the fault or player at fault. (Rule 22.2.3.2)

5. Second referee position at end of rally

• When the second referee’s whistle ends a rally, s/he steps to the offending team’s side of the net before signaling the fault.

• When the first referee’s whistle ends the rally, the second referee should attempt to step to the offending team’s side of the net and repeat the signals of the first referee. When facilities do not present enough space for the second referee to easily accomplish this, the second referee should simply step laterally away from the post and repeat the first referee’s signal sequence.

6. Illegal attack signal (Signal 20)

Completely extend the arm straight up, above the shoulder, hand open, and then bending at the elbow, make a downward motion toward the opposing team. The final position of the arm should not obstruct the referee’s view.

7. Illegal block/screening signal (Signal 17)

Completely extend both arms straight up from the shoulders (elbows are not bent), palms facing away from the body.

8. Improper request signal & technique

An improper request is signaled with a “wave off” – a sweeping motion with the arm extended, open hand, palm facing away from the body, on the offending team’s side of the court. Second referee communicates to coach (or first referee to captain) at earliest opportunity, without delaying the match. Recorded on score sheet at the end of the rally.

9. Same player makes 3rd and 4th team hits

Signal “double hit”. (Signal 8)

10. Indication of which player(s) contacted the net

Indicate the player at fault by pointing with an open hand.

11. Completed attack-hit from an overhand set by Libero in the front zone

Signal illegal attack (Signal 20), and then indicate the Libero by pointing toward the Libero with an open hand.

12. Identification of game captain

During pre-match line-up checks, the second referee indicates the floor captain to the first referee by placing the arm in the chest area, hand open and palm facing the floor, and then pointing, open hand, toward this player. This technique should also be used when the captain is replaced by substitution or the Libero. The captain should acknowledge this designation by raising a hand.

13. Second referee “ready” signal

Indicated by holding both hands in front of body, just above head height, palms toward first referee. Used by a second referee after any regular game interruption or a delay to the resumption of play. Also used by the scorer upon completion of recording a substitution(s), or at the end of a time-out. “Ready” means that the scorer has recorded all necessary information, the second referee is in proper position, all players have taken their positions on the court, and that the second referee is ready for play. The first referee is still obligated to complete a court scan, check that the server has the ball, and ensure team readiness before authorizing the next serve.

14. Deciding set coin toss

For the deciding set coin toss, the first referee may conduct the coin toss near the scorer’s table or may request the second referee to do so. During this time, teams are released to their benches while each team’s game captain attends the toss. The coin toss takes place during the three-minute interval between sets. The first referee should blow a whistle to direct teams to change courts or to remain at their current benches to start the deciding set. After the toss, the scorer should be immediately notified of the result in order to prepare the deciding set score sheet, and the first referee should return to the stand (if s/he conducted the toss).

15. Change of courts during deciding set

The first referee signals for teams to change courts immediately after the eighth point has been scored by a team. Teams are not directed to the end lines during this court change but teams should change sides by going counter-clockwise around the post to their respective right side (or under the net as near the posts as possible if space does not permit the players to pass outside the posts).

16. Substitution notification

With the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th team substitutions, the (second) referee will notify the coach by displaying the substitution signal (Signal 11), followed by the number of team substitutions used during the set. (10 – clenched right fist, 11 – clenched right fist plus index finger of left hand, 12 – clenched right fist plus index and middle finger of left hand). The second referee will then notify the first referee in the same manner after getting into position for the resumption of play before signaling “ready”.

17. Time-out administration

• Second (or first) referee whistles to acknowledge time-out request. Both referees make the time-out signal (Signal 10) with the vertical hand of the signal on the side of the requesting team, and point toward the requesting team’s bench with an open hand; second referee may informally display each team’s time-out status to first referee at the beginning of the time-out

• Players are not required to leave the court and go to the bench area.

• Second referee whistles at end of 30 seconds and ensures both teams re-take the court.

• Upon conclusion of each team’s second time-out, the second referee will notify the coach (or captain, if necessary) by visually displaying the time-out signal (Signal 10) and then showing two fingers. The second referee will then notify the first referee in the same manner after getting into position for the resumption of play before signaling “ready”.

• It is not necessary to notify teams after their first time-out unless requested to do so by the coach/captain. Similarly, it is not necessary for the referees to visually display each team’s time-out status at the end of any time-outs unless necessary for clarification.

• Teams may re-take court prior to expiration of time-out, unless necessary for court to remain clear; however, time-outs will not end early.

18. Multiple substitutions by one team

Only one incoming and outgoing player may be in the substitution zone at a time awaiting authorization to enter. Subsequent substitutes must wait outside the substitution zone until the first pair of players has been authorized to enter by the second referee. For multiple substitutions by a team during the same dead ball, there can be no significant delay between substitutions.

19. Requests for game interruption by opponents during same dead ball

When opponents request a game interruption (time-out, substitution, etc.) during the same dead-ball period, the second referee will acknowledge each team’s request with a separate whistle. Multiple substitutions by the same team require only one whistle.

20. Coaches’ location

All coaches must remain 1.75 meters (5’10”) from the court while the ball is in play. During dead-ball periods, coaches may briefly approach the court to give instructions to players on the court but must step away from the court when the first referee prepares to beckon for service. If a coach fails to adhere to this rule after being reminded to do so, a delay sanction may be assessed. NOTE: When the distance between the sideline and the team bench/bench area is less than two meters, the coach must remain in the free zone near the team bench/bench area while the ball is in play. Coaches may not enter the substitution zone. A coach or one assistant coach may give instructions to a player in the warm-up area but may not remain there for any extended length of time.

21. First/Second referee duties

• First referee controls player conduct during the pre-match warm-ups. First referee also times the warm-ups but may request the second referee to assist while first referee instructs line judges or attends to other pre-match duties.

• Either referee may whistle net faults, and (back row) attack-hit or blocking faults.

• Second referee calls (whistles) antenna faults on his/her side of the court.

• First referee checks the score sheet for accuracy, and then signs it at the end of the match.

22. Second referee discreet assistance techniques

Discreet assistance from the second referee should only be offered when, from the second referee’s view, a fault has occurred. Discreet assistance should not be used for possible faults, i.e., to indicate that no opposing player touched the ball after a team’s third contact. Expectations regarding these techniques should be the subject of referees’ pre-match briefings. NOTE: When possible, discreet signals which are indicated using only one hand (ex: 2-hits, 4-hits, attack-hit fault, etc) should be signaled with the hand corresponding to the team at fault. If the view of the second referee is obstructed, the discreet signal may be made with the more visible hand

• 2-hits vs 4-hits: The second referee should use the appropriate discreet assistance only after the same player has hit the ball twice in succession (“2-hits”) or after a team has touched the ball four times and the third and fourth hits were not by the same player (“4-hits”). NOTE: “4-hits” should not be used to indicate “no touch” by the blocking team.

• Attack-hit fault: The attack fault signal (Signal 20) should be shown in the chest area, and the second referee should allow the first referee the opportunity to whistle the fault or to communicate that the play was legal before whistling this fault. (USAV 24.3.2.4)

• Blocking fault: The second referee may whistle this fault immediately, or a discreet illegal block signal (Signal 17) may be shown in the chest area with hands only shoulder-height.

• Requesting an individual sanction: The second referee should whistle, step to the offending team’s side of the court, and verbalize the sanction and offending team member. Other hand signals are not necessary to request an individual sanction.

• Requesting a delay sanction: Display the delay sanction signal, without a card in chest area.

• Ball in/pancake play: Step to the side of the court where the ball hit the floor, maintain a position visible to the first referee, and give the “ball in” signal. If the first referee does not see this assistance, the signal should be made more visible. If the first referee does not quickly recognize the assistance, the second referee should whistle this fault.

• Ball handling opinions: The second referee should not offer ball handling opinions during a match. Only if the first referee has requested such assistance during unusual plays (i.e., the first referee is screened from viewing the play) should the second referee offer an opinion.

• Touch information: At the end of a rally in which the second referee has observed a player touching the ball before it lands out of bounds, the second referee should offer a visible “touch” signal (Signal 5). If the first referee does not notice this assistance, the signal should quickly be made more visible and the second referee should step laterally, away from the post.

23. Ball hitting an antenna

When the ball is hit into an antenna, the referee will whistle and signal “out”, and if necessary, will indicate with an open hand the player who hit the ball into the antenna.

24. First referee whistling positional faults on receiving team

First referee should normally check position faults for the serving team only; second referee is authorized to check position faults for receiving team only. If the second referee does not call a blatant positional fault after ample communication/notification by the first referee, the first referee may whistle this fault. This should occur only on very rare occasions.

25. Sanction procedures

• For a player on court: The player being sanctioned must approach the first referee’s stand to acknowledge the sanction. The first referee awards the loss of rally if necessary, displays the appropriate card(s) to this player, and then verbalizes, “This penalty (or expulsion or disqualification) is for you for unsporting conduct.”

• For a team member on the bench: The first referee will call the captain to the stand, award the loss of rally if necessary, display the appropriate card(s), and verbalize “This penalty (or expulsion or disqualification) is for player (or coach) ‘X’. Please inform him/her of the sanction.” The captain should go immediately to the bench to inform the team member, who should acknowledge the sanction while the R1 continues to display the card(s).

• For delay sanctions: The first referee will call the captain to the stand, award the loss of rally if necessary, and verbalize “This delay sanction is for [delay action],” while displaying the appropriate signal. The captain may inform the coach of the sanction for clarification purposes.

• For verbal (official) warnings: Verbal or hand signal warnings must be accompanied by a whistle and are notified directly to the team member being warned or through the team captain. Multiple warnings to the same team member during the same set/ match are permitted for minor unsporting conduct.

• For simultaneous sanctions to opponents: When individual sanctions are assessed to opponents for simultaneous unsporting acts, the team member from the serving team shall be sanctioned first, followed by the team member from the receiving team. The sanctions are administered following the above procedures.

26. Notification of illegal Libero replacement

The assistant scorer shall notify the second referee of an illegal Libero replacement after the contact of the serve. A positional fault is the resulting fault.

27. Line judge position during time-outs

At midpoint of respective end line.

28. Line judge position when server is within 1-2 meters of the line judge

When a server takes a position within 1-2 meters of the line judge, the line judge must step behind the server along the sideline extension. After the service contact, the line judge should quickly return to the position at the intersection of the end line and sideline.