Improving Your Officiating

1. Improving Your Officiating

2. OVERVIEW A lot of good information about volleyball officiating is available from the experience shared by top-level national officials who work closely with the NFHS. Hopefully, some of the information we’re offering in this presentation will be useful to you in growing your officiating!

3. Making a Commitment toward Becoming a Better VB Official A Challenge to Officials • Obtaining your officiating permit for volleyball, renewing it each year and attending meetings are just a start. • Schools who contract with you are entitled to quality services which come, in part, from making a commitment to becoming a good volleyball official. • This commitment is part of what it means to be a “professional.”

4. Making a Commitment toward Becoming a Better VB Official Commitment • Your commitment should include constantly improving your officiating which comes, in part, from: • Studying the rules. • Learning new rules each year. • Understanding rules to allow practical application. • Engaging in a self-critique process. • Soliciting input about strengths/weaknesses. • Incorporating feedback. • Setting goals. • Evaluating progress.

5. Understanding the Rules of Volleyball AND the Game of Volleyball Challenge • Reading and studying the rules is important. • This is just the starting point each year. • Ask yourself this question: Are you interested in becoming a better official, or are you simply putting in your 4 meetings? • If the truthful answer is the former, then this presentation is designed with you in mind.

6. Understanding the Rules of Volleyball AND the Game of Volleyball Reading and studying rules is important. Notes: • Beyond this, understanding how rules are applied helps determine how good an official you are. • Understanding how the game is played today can be the difference in how you officiate and your ability to “facilitate” a match. • Observing matches can help you grow as an official. • Go with another official so you can compare notes.

7. Preparation Preparation for the season • Know the rules. • Be up on the current techniques and trends. • Observe matches. • Discuss situations with each other, brainstorm. • Ask questions. • Keep notes. • Make the uncomfortable, comfortable through confronting your weaknesses; learn from mistakes. • Take challenging matches to “grow” your comfort zone. Learn to become comfortable with tension.

8. Preparation Preparation for the season • Anticipate situations through visualization, quick realization regarding which rules apply and how to apply the pertinent rules appropriately. • If you study the game, you realize the plays and situations that seem to happen on a regular basis. • Realize that your preparation is vitally important to the success of each match. • Always remain positive. • Exude quiet confidence because you realize the match isn’t about you. It’s about the players and teams. That’s why our goal is to facilitate a match.

9. Communication Communication is a key skill • It should come as a shock to no one that communication is a key skill for volleyball officials. • Officials need to fully understanding the ways in which communication contributes to facilitating a match. • The effort to communicate effectively can set a positive tone for how the match goes.

10. Communication Communication is a key skill Notes: • Effective communication starts with: • Awareness of roles and responsibilities. • Being respectful of others. • Sharing with openness and consideration. • Listening. • Self-awareness (understanding how you’re being received and perceived). • Spending appropriate time with a number of key parties.

11. Communication Notes: • Success of any official depends upon effective communication and creating a “climate of comfort.” • The climate of comfort involves all of the key parties you will work with at a volleyball match including: • Your fellow official. • Volunteers (scoretable crew and line judges). • Players. • Coaches. • Host administration/management. • Yourself.

12. Working with Your Partner Guidance • Communication drives teamwork and partnering. • Whether it’s your “regular” partner or not, it’s still your partner. • Officials are judged in terms of how well they do as a team. • You can’t do well unless your partner does well. Your “rating” is logically linked to your partner’s performance. • You should support your partner throughout the match. • An acknowledged role of the umpire is to “serve and protect” the referee. • When the umpire asks for a card, the referee gives it.

13. Working with Your Partner Communication and teamwork/partnering Notes: • Entering the court together helps promote that you’re a team. • You meet the coaches together as a team, you work as a team and you leave as a team. • You arrive timely enough to share the pre-match workload. • The umpire “defends” the referee’s decisions.

14. Working with Your Partner Guidance • Arrive early enough to share the pre-match workload. • Make the time for a productive pre-match discussion. • If possible, arrange for a post-match discussion. • Agree upon an exit plan allowing both of you to “toot and scoot” after the last match.

15. Working with Your Partner Notes: • Pre-match: net check, area inspection, ball pressure check, and instruction of support staff. • Pre-match discussion: • Umpire gets answer to “what do you expect of me?” • Informal signals are agreed upon. • Eye contact before, during and after each play is agreed upon. • Post-match discussion with candid assessment of how you partnered, what worked well, what could have been done better. Special situations. • Avoiding possible confrontation with toot & scoot.

16. Working with Your Partner Equipment • Make sure you take the time to measure the net with an accurate net chain. • Don’t hesitate to ask for help from the host administration in terms of fixing a net that proves problematic to adjust to the right height. • Line up each antennas on the outside of the respective sideline using the net chain as a plumb bob/line. Check for sharp edges at the bottom of the antenna. Use adhesive tape.

17. Working with Your Partner Notes: • Measure your net chain and verify that the marking is at the correct height. Don’t assume your net chain is marked at the correct settings! • Get help from host management or the coach if you can’t adjust the net with the net ropes and cables. • The general rule is that antennas should be on opposite sides of the net. You’ll see some experienced referees ensuring the antennas are on the “strong side attack,” one to the right of the referee and the other to the right of the umpire.

18. Working with Your Partner Equipment • Make sure you check pressure in all balls that will be used for the match. • All balls for the match should be set at the same ball pressure. • Identify who at the scoring table will keep control of the game balls during warm-up to avoid getting them mixed up with warm-up balls.

19. Working with Your Partner Notes: • Don’t just feel for correct pressure without also measuring using a reliable ball pressure gauge. • Accuracy is difficult to verify. Some officials test the accuracy of their gauges by comparing readings to another official’s gauge. • Eventually, officials get pretty good at feeling a ball and ascertaining if pressure has been lost in the course of a match. 

20. Working with Your Partner Equipment • Make sure the standards and referee stand are padded. • Make sure all court lines are down and at correct distances. • Check to ensure the referee stand is properly secured. • Ensure the scoretable is set far enough back and that the chairs/benches are back far enough. • Get unsafe objects removed from warm-up area.

21. Working with Your Partner Notes: • Padding is not an option. For safety purposes, a match can’t be played without proper padding. • Blue/white painters’ tape good to fix a line. • Check to ensure the referee stand is at the right height for the official. Some officials have a pad that adds height. • Keep things out of the substitution zone between benches and score table. Safety is paramount. • Pre-match should identify any immovable objects posing a possible safety hazard and how these will be handled.

22. Working with Line Judges (LJs) Line Judges • Who instructs the line judges? • Should you have/purchase and use flags? • What is an easy technique for teaching LJ duties? • How do you place your line judges (which corner)? • What do you tell line judges about a call being overruled?

23. Working with Line Judges (LJs) Notes: • Referee instructs LJs, evaluates experience, places them in their respective positions, and evaluates performance. The “SALT” acronym (meaning Service, Antenna, Line, Touch) may be used to teach/review signals – with or without flags. • Explain why an overrule could occur and how to handle it. • Using line judges calls helps involve the line judges and benefits the match. • Ask line judges to make consistent eye contact with the referee including after each rally. • Use time-outs for further instruction.

24. Working with Scoretable Staff Umpire Responsibilities • What are reasonable expectations? • What is the minimum these folks need to be able to do? • Official scorer. • Assistant scorer/Libero tracker. • Visiting team scorer and libero tracker. • Time/Scoreboard operator. • Announcer.

25. Working with Scoretable Staff Notes: • Who volunteers to do these jobs? Sometimes adults and sometimes students. • Creating rapport is important with these unpaid, uncertified volunteers who can make key decisions during the match. • Some are experienced; some are not – how to tell? • How do you teach someone how to keep score properly?

26. Working with Scoretable Staff Umpire Responsibilities • Pre-match discussion: evaluates experience of official scorer and discusses expectations. • Checks “book” during time-outs. • Ensures scorer knows how to mark libero serving. • Ensures scorer is ready to provide numbers of next 3 servers when requested. • Identify wrong server prior to serve but report after service contact. • Show game point, time-outs taken, captain leaves court, when team reaches 15-16-17-18 subs used.

27. Working with Scoretable Staff Notes: • Umpire must verify lineups are properly recorded. • Scorer asked to ensure score on the scoreboard matches scorebook. • Umpire verifies that scoreboard matches book. • Umpire attempts to ensure proper information is recorded by giving scorer enough time to record substitutions. • Umpire verifies libero serving properly recorded. • Umpire verifies time-outs taken with scorer. • Umpire verifies game point with scorer.

28. Working with Scoretable Staff Umpire Responsibilities • Umpire has a pre-match discussion with the assistant scorer (LT) who tracks the libero. • Reviews with LT how libero replacements will be recorded and recording all substitutions. • Reviews libero serving with LT. • Reviews libero exchange rules with LT. • Ensures LT knows when to report illegal libero replacements and how to do so.

29. Working with Scoretable Staff Notes: • Umpire ensures LT is partnering with scorer. • Umpire reviews with LT how libero replacements to ensure proper libero replacements occur, that same 2 numbers are on either side of the “L” and recording all subs. • Libero exchange rules are followed and that libero serving is properly recorded. • Illegal libero replacements should be reported immediately when identified by the libero tracker.

30. Working with Scoretable Staff Timer • Umpire works with timer to ensure buzzer/horn sounds under certain circumstances and that the score is posted accurately. • The umpire observes the timing of match segments throughout the match and addresses any problems. • The umpire should communicate expectations for warm-ups, time-outs and between-game intervals.

31. Working with Scoretable Staff Notes: • Buzzer/horn: discuss timing for warm-ups, time-outs and between-game intervals. • Posting accurate score should be done through partnering with scorer. • Same person should not be posting score and tracking the libero. • Umpire should observe warm-up to ensure buzzer sounds at appropriate intervals. • Umpire should ensure horn sounds with 15 seconds left in a time-out if teams not back on court.

32. Working with Scoretable Staff Announcer • Umpire works with the announcer to ensure a common understanding of: • How/when player introductions and the National Anthem will occur (timing). • Address how flash photography and fan behavior issues will be handled.

33. Working with Host Management Host Management • Affirm you will be officiating the week prior to the match with a phone call or email to the Athletic Department. • Upon arrival, identify a room where you can change clothes and store your officiating gear. • Identify where host management will be located at three important times: before the match, during the match and after the match. • Involve host management when there are facility problems, safety concerns, unruly fans, or other such issues.

34. Working with Host Management Notes: • Upon arriving, be sure to say “hello” to the Athletic Director or Assistant Athletic Director if you see either person and offer a “thank you” for the opportunity. • Involve host management when there are facility problems, safety concerns, unruly fans, or other such issues. • This is the reason the officials need to know where help will be if there is a facility issue, a problem during the match or an uncomfortable post-match situation. • If a match has to be stopped for good cause, the officials should do so, then get assistance.

35. Dealing with Fans Fans • Generally speaking, do not respond to fans during a match. • If there is an unruly fan, get host management. • Stop flash photography during play (safety issue). • Avoid using a public restroom and avoid crowds to prevent unnecessary problems.

36. Dealing with Fans Notes: • Perception that the official has “rabbit ears.” • If there is an unruly fan, get host management involved, especially if what is being said is truly offensive, threatening or aimed at intimidation of the players or the officials. • If the opportunity presents itself, you might seek to explain a rule to a fan. But, avoid confrontation at all cost since this is a no-win situation. • Avoid post-match contact that could lead to confrontations which are, inherently, no-win situations.

37. Helping Yourself Guidance • Use “self encouragement” through positive thinking. • Don’t dwell on mistakes; learn and don’t repeat them. • Try to create your own personal comfort zone. • Set goals for the season and for each match. • Evaluate yourself fairly but compassionately. • Be aware of how you relate to others. • Use a practiced “scan” to create focus and awareness. • Try to maintain wide-to-narrow focus while you’re on the stand or working on the floor as umpire.

38. Helping Yourself Notes: • If you’re thinking about the call that you might have missed, you’ll probably miss the next one!  • A comfort zone can come from positive thinking, relaxation techniques (including during a match), a smile from your partner, deep breathing, imaging and other forms of stress relief. • Use what you learned in your last match to benefit you for this match. • Be aware of how you relate to others and how you are “received” and “perceived.” • Train yourself to do a consistent scan of the court area before and after every play.

39. Helping Yourself Appearance • How do you look, and how do you carry yourself? • Body language says a lot, along with an official’s facial expressions. Create the perception of being laid back but not uninterested. This helps create comfort for everyone around you. • Good posture on the stand and on the floor is very important. Never lean on the post or stand. It looks too casual and appears unprofessional. • Hands on the hips can project a confrontational feel. Don’t be too rigid. Look and feel relaxed.

40. Helping Yourself Appearance • You get one chance to leave a first impression. • Be careful and be aware of how you conduct yourself with the people around you. • Have a friendly and approachable demeanor, but do not spend time schmoozing. The time should be spent on duties including spending the proper time in your pre-match meeting! • Look neat. Good grooming is important. • Be fit enough to meet the demands of officiating.

41. Helping Yourself Appearance • Wear the proper uniform and look good! • Your shirt should be bright white and unstained. • Bring an extra shirt and pants in case of an accident. • Make sure you’re wearing black dress pants. • Bring an extra belt and an extra pair of socks (perhaps for your partner who forget them). • White shoes should look white (white polish for scuffs). Black shoes (black socks), black polish.

42. Helping Yourself Notes: • Perception is reality. • Have a friendly and approachable demeanor but do not attempt to be everyone’s friend. • Pressed shirt and pants, white or black shoes that are in good condition and not scuffed, with shirt tucked in help project a neat appearance. • Remember that if you wear shorts, you project a casual look. Does this look convey professionalism? • Looking and being physically fit helps convey that you are up to the task of officiating.

43. Helping Yourself Show Confidence • Confidence can be shown in a variety of ways including through use of signals: • Clear and distinct. • Marked by signal separation. • Set the tempo. • Strong but unrushed to avoid creating confusion where players, coaches and fans wonder what was the call, especially when the fault is shown first before who won the rally and serves next. • Don’t be sloppy and use CORRECT signals.

44. Helping Yourself Show Confidence • Confidence can be shown through use of your whistle; it shows you are in control. Different whistle sounds are based on the reason for the whistle. • Beckon for serve. • Ending a rally. • Acknowledge a substitution request. • Indicate a time-out was requested. • Call attention to a potential safety hazard. • Hold up play. • Overrule a line judge. • Issue informal warning to a player on the court.

45. Helping Yourself Show Confidence in How You… • Do your pre-match inspection of the site, equipment, ensuring no sharp metal protruding from bottom of an antenna. • Conduct your pre-match meeting with partner. • Hold your pre-match meeting with captains/coaches. • Brief the line judges, scorer, assistant scorer, timer/ scoreboard operator and communicate with the announcer. • Engage in on-going communication that is verbal and non-verbal. • Assist the referee and monitor warm-ups.

46. Helping Yourself Show Confidence Through… • Rapport with the bench to create a climate of comfort and an open ear. • Making sure the court is ready for play and give it back to the referee as umpire. • Control substitutions as umpire. • Proper position and transitioning as umpire, focusing on the net and center line and focusing on play between the center line and the attack line while also taking care of coaches’ requests. • Following player movement as umpire or following ball movement as referee to provide proper court coverage.

47. Working with Players Guidance • Don’t call players by their names. • To talk with the captain, say “captain,….” • If you do need to talk directly with a player, use the player’s number to address her (“#17,….). • Work through captain to prevent problems. • Limit post-match interactions to “nice match.” • Do not seek out anyone for post-match handshake. Only shake hands if initiated by other person. • Never touch player other than a handshake.

48. Working with Players Notes: • Calling players by name or seeking out a player for a post-match handshake can convey favoritism. As we keep stressing, perception is reality. • Work through the “captains.” They’re the only players who can address the officials. • If referee needs to deal directly with an issue involving a player on the court, going through captain is a good way. • Umpire needing to deal with an issue involving a player on the court may go through coach or captain, whichever makes more sense. • Work through the captains to prevent possible screening, close to illegal alignment, close to delay of serve, close to issuing a card or to carry a communication to a coach.

49. Working with Players Player Issues • Both officials should be aware of jewelry and illegal equipment worn during warm-ups. • To talk with a player on the court, the referee should use the player’s number to address the player and should keep it short. • During the match, if umpire has to address a player on the bench, the umpire should also use the player’s number.

50. Working with Players Notes: • Be proactive in getting a player who is warming up off the court as needed for removal of illegal items. • New rule results in unsporting conduct charged for failure to address jewelry/illegal equipment during warm-up. Prevention and early intervention help! • Examples: “#15, please remove the rubber band from your wrist.” “#25, you have tape over an ear. You can’t warm-up or play with jewelry. Please take care of this now so you can go back to warming up.” “#10, are you okay?”