Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Referee Development Program

Be Nothing Less Than A Great Referee
Corny Galdones, August 2004

Anyone can become a good referee. Becoming a great referee is a lot tougher. A great referee isn’t an automatic entitlement, but an accolade earned from and bestowed by others. There is one fundamental difference between a good referee and a great referee. A good referee knows the game and is technically sound. A great referee understands the game and the expectations and responsibilities that come with the position. A great referee is aware of forever being under scrutiny and performs appropriately, whether it is for officiating a match, interface with players, coaches and personnel, or off duty activities.

Judgment calls separate the good from the great. A good referee knows what to call. A great referee knows what not to call. That’s easier said than done. Here’s a simplistic implementation. Blow your whistle to initiate play. Then DON’T GET INVOLVED. Stay out of the way of the players and the playing action. By no means should you swallow your whistle. There will be times when a violation must be whistled to stop play. If unsure, let the play flow toward normal conclusion. Don’t interject yourself into the match with a call from out of the blue that is inconsistent with your previous calls or kills a rally. Go without notice and don’t influence the match. The teams are there to compete, not to hear your whistle. Smooth the progress of a match by interrupting play as little as you can.

Another area of officiating distinction is dealing with coaches and players. Remember, the match is about them. It’s not about you. Never! A great referee facilitates, while a good referee administrates or worse, dictates. Treat coaches and players as your equals and with total respect and courtesy. The same goes for anyone you come in contact with in the sport. Use people skills in communication and address. Although the match is for their enjoyment and fulfillment, which you must permit, set limits on the behavior that’s acceptable. Let the coaches coach. Don’t interfere with their business. If they start coaching you, then draw the line. Let the players and coaches vent their frustrations, provided they’re not abusive or disruptive. If they start pushing the envelope on their conduct, put a stop to it. A great referee uses sanctions as the last, not first, resort to control misconduct. Of course, a great referee seldom gets to this point by taking preventive measures at the first sign of potential trouble so that the adverse situation doesn’t escalate and get out of hand.

A great referee knows image is everything. Foremost, self-assurance in your ability isn’t enough. Can others rely upon you in everything you do? Taking care of No. 1 isn’t enough; look out for the sport and the other guy. Getting the job done isn’t enough; tend to the mundane details. Doing your duties isn’t enough; be a willing team player. Acting civil isn’t enough; be dignified. Being on time isn’t enough; be early. Making the right calls isn’t enough; be beyond reproach in judgment. Confidence in your decisions isn’t enough; project poise. A proper uniform isn’t enough; get it spic-and-span. Correct signal mechanics aren’t enough; be crisp and polished in their display. Moving up the ladder isn’t enough; wait your turn. Staying out of trouble isn’t enough; avoid it at all costs, including conflicts of interest if there’s any shadow of doubt. To put this and more in proper perspective, perception is reality.

Being good is never enough. Any referee who practices this philosophy and improves to have suitable skills altogether, not just whistle blowing, will likely win the praise and esteem of peers and others as a great referee. Here’s a fitting adage. Good, better, best, never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best. Be the best that you can be.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Referee Development Program

Judging Ball Handling Is Easy As A-B-C
Corny Galdones, February 2004

It’s a wonder we referees aren’t paranoid for every ball contact is open to question. Well, a few of us may be for other reasons but that’s personal. Worse, our clients are poles apart on a ball-handling standard. Loose? Tight? Each one has a preference. Goodness gracious! This isn’t rocket science. Judging ball handling is simply four R’s: Receive, Release, Result and Reaction.

Whenever a player receives a ball with both hands, it’s a double hit because the hands aren’t exactly in sync. Using a microscope brings nothing but trouble. If the second hand trails the first but the ball keeps moving and is handled cleanly with one joint contact by both hands, that’s fine. Citing this otherwise earns a puzzled look or a response of “What?! Are you crazy?” (Shhh. That’s secret.) Ignore the player’s form and positioning. Focus in on the ball bouncing from one hand to the other, being bobbled or slipping out of the hands. If it does, by all means, blow that whistle on the second or third team contact for a double-hit violation.

The ball must be released instantly upon receipt, i.e., can’t stop. The leeway on how brief should be the same for every contact. Technically, every ball stops in order to rebound. Bah, physics. Did the ball pause? Was it caught, lifted or over-controlled? Did it roll along the hands or body? Was it in contact for a long time or long distance? Was it started in one direction then redirected? Was it palmed or tossed like a basketball? On a setter dump, directional block or power tip, was the hand unmoving (not already thrusting) then loaded up at the point of contact? If the hands stopped in mid-motion, would the ball have remained on the hands? Any answer of “yes” is a held-ball violation, regardless.

Players, coaches and fans tend to be influenced by the result — ugly, unexpected, sound, or most common, spin. Forgive them if they know not what we enforce. Nonetheless, until everyone is on the same page, these irrelevant factors are part of the game. Deal with it. Was the ball received and released properly or not? Be consistent. After release, the ball can rotate some and be legit. Spinning like a top may be okay, but that’s a warning sign. Here again, consistency is key. Uphold an even standard for the entire match that is comfortable to us, accepted by both teams and doesn’t take the game away from the players. Adjust from match to match to meet these expectations. Is everyone satisfied? Great!

“Aawww,” “Oh, my gosh!” and similar dissenting reactions must not sway us. Act like we know what we’re doing. Remember, calls are all about angles. We shouldn’t whistle anything we don’t observe. Don’t guess. Still, don’t dismiss this valuable difference of opinion. Review the situation mentally. What did these critics see from their vantage point that we didn’t see? Maybe they’re right. Nail it in the future.

Learning the basics of ball handling is easy. Now go out and apply it. That’s the hard part.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Referee Development Program

Communication Spawns Perceptions
Corny Galdones, January 2004

How you express yourself and appear in officiating intercourse through conduct, speech, motion, sound, and sight influences the regard and repute bestowed on you. Wise application of these communication vehicles fosters favorable perceptions.

Demeanor. Your behavior reflects your character. Each match is meaningful to someone. Appearances count. Look sharp, work hard, and do your best; first impressions can be lasting. Treat all match participants with absolute respect. Body language and facial expressions say a lot. Smile, show pleasantness and a sense of humor. Have an upright, poised carriage. Manage in a dignified, business manner. Provide order with modesty. Style matters. Be fair not partial, decisive not hesitant, approachable not confrontational, confident not arrogant. Opinions of credibility or unreliability will depend on whether you're sensed respectively as an expedient or an impediment to the match.

Dialogue. Verbal communication is a two-way street. Listening is critical. Before the match, as the first referee or second referee interact with the match administrators, team captains and coaches, scorekeeper, and within the work team to exchange the vital information to conduct the match efficiently. It's essential to talk. It's never suitable to chatter. As the first referee address, do not ignore, any questions or concerns of the team captains. Think before you speak. What you say and how you say it will determine whether the situation is eased or aggravated. Be calm not excited, precise not inconclusive, congenial not abrasive, tactful not blunt, brief not protracted, firm not autocratic. Do likewise as a second referee in dealing with the coaches.

Whistle and hand signals. These evident modes for the start and end of each play and match interruptions set the tone for your public portrait. Your whistle should be audible to everyone present and be blown promptly to end a play. Every signal should be displayed separately, long enough, and high enough for everyone to observe and understand. Execution should be with unrushed, crisp, natural motions and conform to standards. (During the play customized signals between the first referee and work partners should be brief and discrete). A sharp whistle and proper, polished signals present a professional image.

Eye contact. Eye contact is an effective communication tool during the match, not only among work team members, but between the officials and teams as well. For example, eye contact can be productive in getting a subtle warning or point across without speaking. A first referee can build teamwork by maintaining visual contact with work partners to verify their readiness before each play and to obtain their input for calls within their respective jurisdictions at the end of each rally, and not to be overlooked, during the rally. A prompting whistle or gesture may be necessary at rally's end. Neglect of visual communication could lead to indifferent support from work partners. A second referee in turn should have regular eye contact with the coaches between plays in anticipation of requests or queries from the bench. This small practice reaps huge benefits in building a client rapport and trust.

Appearances through communication form perceptions which become reality. Every official should be skillful in applying the relevant types of communication to produce affirmative results, especially an esteemed match presence.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Referee Development Program

Are You Ready for Prime Time?
Corny Galdones, March 2005

Anyone with a general idea of the sport and knowledge of the rules can blow a whistle and claim to be a volleyball referee. Upper echelon referees have to do better. Much better. The following assessment will give an aspiring referee a good gauge of being ready to move up the ladder. This technical checklist, which may be useful to all, isn’t inclusive. Performance standards of local jurisdictions aren’t covered.

• Can you cite chapter and verse of every rule? Do your common sense and “spirit of the rule” prevail over “going by the book”?
• Do you know the game? Are you familiar with every current player technique and skill? Can you explain today’s defensive and offensive team strategies and alignments?
• Are you really professional? Do you give back? Do you know what causes conflicts of interest and wrong perceptions? Can you be relied upon to do the right thing? Do assignments recruit you and not the other way around? Are you faithful to your commitments? Are you forthright when a better offer comes up? Are your uniform and appearance spic and span? Do you treat everyone with respect and courtesy? Do you converse with coaches and players only on matters pertinent to conducting the match? Do you take care of every logistical and administrative detail of your matches? Are you an ambassador of your organization and our profession, and not a maverick?
• Are you punctual? Do you show up at courtside prepared for your matches by the report time? Do you end warm-ups in the period allotted? If the preceding match ends on time, is your first service beckon no later than the scheduled match time?
• Do you have a commanding presence that sells your calls? Are your signals not only mechanically correct, but also strong and crisp? Is your whistle prompt and authoritative in sound? Do you project a dignified, “I know what I’m doing” body language that’s not overbearing?
• Are you a facilitator and not a rules dictator? Do you make your matches a pleasant experience for all involved?
• Are you battle tested? Are you court wise? Have you made tons of mistakes and been yelled at countless times by players and coaches to know how to handle any situation under fire quickly and properly in a calm manner?
• Are you at ease officiating at the highest competition level? Can you keep up with the action? Do you act by instinct and reflex instead of thinking about it?
• Is your ball handling judgment correct? Are you comfortable with your standard? Is it consistent throughout a match? Have you officiated innumerable matches to tell instantly between an ugly or weird but legal set and a pretty but illegal set? Do you no longer draw questioning looks and negative reactions from the teams on ball handling?
• Are you catching all violations besides ball handling violations?
• Are you invisible? Are your errors few and far between, and not same ones as before?
• Are you approachable to explain calls? Are these talks short and sweet? Do you think fast and placate the different but common questions that may be asked? Do you cut off ongoing conversations? Do you do it with tact and finality?
• Do you take preventive control measures? Do you recognize the difference between venting of frustrations and abusive behavior? Do your matches rarely get out of hand? If they ever do, do you regain control at once? Can you do it without sanction cards?
• Are you a team player and communicator and not a Lone Ranger? Do you coordinate duties with your R1/R2 partner and line judges before the match, have them do their jobs and solicit their input with eye contact throughout the match? Do you treat them plus the scorekeeper as your equal?
• As an R1 and R2, do you know all the places to look and what to look for before a serve? During a rally? At the end of a play? During warm-ups? Before start of a game? Are you seeing and not just glancing?
• As an R2, do you know where to be positioned and are you getting there in time before a serve? During a rally? At the end of a play? For bench requests? Do you minimize damage from coaches disputing calls and protect the R1? Do you resolve scorekeeping problems promptly if the scorekeeper needs help?
• As an R1 and R2, do you know what hand (and maybe whistle) signals to make and how to display them for specific situations during a rally? For a violation? At the end of a play? For sanctions? For match interruptions? For bench requests?
• Can you track player rotations and quickly detect an overlap no matter what formations the teams are in?
• Do you keep your matches moving at a lively pace regardless of playing caliber? Have you stopped from causing match delays?
• Do you continue to learn and grow? Do you accept criticism without having to defend or explain yourself? Are you listening and not just hearing? Do you implement suggestions and advice right away and not get messed up?

This isn’t a pass/fail questionnaire. It might not be a bad idea to consult a candid, learned colleague. Your skills must be developed so that every answer is “yes” to these criteria similar to the formal evaluation process. Here’s the bottom line. Would each and every referee be confident and willing to have you as a partner for any given match, including the big one?

You can fool yourself, but not the expert raters who will determine your fate in being promoted to the next officiating certification level. Why take chances? Scrutinize yourself. Where are you now? What ideals must you still strive for? Be honest and realistic for the good of one person. You.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Referee Development Program

"Ugly" is Not a Ball Handling Situation
Corny Galdones, July 2002

Ball handling judgment is perhaps the most important officiating skill for a volleyball referee. Ball handling is the core of the game. Every time any player contacts the ball, that’s ball handling in one form or another. All through the playing action, a referee must decide on what to call and what not to call. Having a grasp of the ball handling rules and an “eye” to make judgment calls are critical. A referee is expected to call violations on all blatant or obvious ball handling errors. There’s some leeway for a referee to judge whether or not a marginal ball handling action should be called. That’s a gray area.

Ball Handling Criteria. On a team’s first ball contact in any attack, the ball cannot come to rest or be held. On the second or third contact, the ball cannot be double contacted, come to rest or be held. It does not matter what the player or the ball does before the contact is made or after contact is completed. All that matters is what happens while the player is in contact with the ball. “Ugly” is not a ball handling violation. Nor is inferior talent, poor technique, bad body position, contact sound, or ball spin. If the player or the ball does something unusual or surprising, that is not necessarily a ball handling error. Once you understand these concepts and incorporate them into your decision-making, you have a sound base to judge ball handling.

Judgment Standard. What is legal and allowed for ball handling is left to the referee’s discretion. Some referees call it tight or by the book. This standard does not leave much room for judgment error, especially at the higher competition levels where a ball handling action may seem illegal but is executed legally because of the better playing skills. Other referees call it loose and let the players play. This standard is more apt to get complaints from those coaches and players who favor tighter calls. Most referees call it somewhere between these two limits. No one is wrong. Each referee established a correct ball handling standard that’s personally comfortable to use.

Consistency. In any given match, the teams and players will adapt to whether it’s called tight or loose, so long it’s consistent. Trouble starts when similar play actions are not called the same way. Observe the teams during warm-ups. Watch for peculiarities of the setters and tendencies of the hitters. Determine a correct standard you’ll be at ease in using that is in line with the players’ abilities. Set your standard to the skill level of the better team. (Consider adjusting to the competition level so that you make about the same number of ball handling calls every match.) Whatever standard you start the match with, stick to it for the entire match.

Judgment Technique. Ignore how the ball handler is positioned to the ball. Zone in on only the player’s body parts making actual contact with the ball. Evaluate what happens during (not before or after) the entire contact. If the ball comes to a stop, it’s a held ball violation. If the player stays in contact with the ball for a long time or distance, i.e., not quick, it’s a held ball violation. The length of contact allowed should be the same for all types of ball handling action. If the player starts the ball one way then changes direction, it’s a held ball violation. If two body parts of the player touch the ball at separate instances during the team’s second or third contact, it’s a double hit violation. Anticipate a violation, but keep your whistle in check. Practice the three R’s. Ready. Read the ball handling action. React to whistle a violation. Call only what you see. Don’t guess. If you get screened from the action, get visual help from the second referee. Once the ball is released and the contact is considered legal, do not track the ball after it goes above your eye level. Instead, look ahead to the court area where the ball will end up. Identify the next ball handler and watch the hitters and blockers get into position. This will give you a better overall picture of the coming action and more time to get ready.

Keeping Up With The Action. The better the players, the faster the action. There will be less time between ball contacts to prepare. Do not follow a moving ball. Zoom forward with rapid eye and head movements to where the next contact might occur. During an attack, quickly shift your view from attacker to net to defense. Observe all of the hitter’s attack. Then skip to the net for possible contacts of the ball by the blockers. After the ball goes by the blockers, find the defensive player who will be playing the ball. Get there before the ball. If your eyes are still moving and not focused at the moment of contact, you can miss a call.

Situations. The ball may be handled in countless ways. Here are rough sketches of more common situations. The live action may differ.

• The ball may slip of or out of the hands of a player receiving the ball with a setting motion. On the second or third contact, it’s probably a double hit violation. On the first contact, it may be sloppy for being mangled or poorly controlled, but it’s legal. However, if the ball is “massaged” or over-controlled, then it’s a held ball violation.
• When the ball immediately pops off a one-hand set, a double hit violation is very unlikely even if the ball is imparted with lots of spin. Call a lift violation if the hand stays in contact with the ball for a long duration in time or distance.
• When a spike is blocked, the deflected ball can fly anywhere. The quickly reacting players will do anything to keep it in play. Expect the unexpected. If the ball comes down at the net, get visual help from the second referee for a possible ball handling violation. If the player pins the ball against the cable or net, it’s a held ball violation. The blocked spike may bounce back into the attacker. If the attacker has any body part above the height of the net when this happens, it is considered a block. If the attacker is entirely below the top of the net, it is considered the first team contact.
• On a power block the ball is pushed straight down with force in any direction by the blocker’s hands. The initial contact must be made in front of the blocker and not directly over the head. If not, the blocker more than likely started the ball forward then changed its direction down, which is a held ball violation.
• On a power tip the ball is pushed forward with force by the finger tips of the attacker. The attacker’s hand must already be moving forward before contact is made. If not, the ball was stopped upon contact with the stationary hand then projected forward, which is a held ball violation. Be alert for a throwing motion, palming of the ball, change in direction during contact, or a long distance in which the attacker stayed in contact with the ball. Any of these actions is a held ball violation.
• A player may do a “deep dish” set, staying in downward contact with the ball then releasing it upward. The contact must be brief. If not, the contact probably will be long in either distance or time, thus being a held ball violation.

There is a lot of subjectivity involved in ball handling calls because of their general criteria. Understanding and putting into practice the spirit of the rule and its nuances is hard for some volleyball referees to master, easier for others. Regardless, developing competence in ball handling judgment is essential for all referees. This officiating skill cannot remain static, however. It must evolve to keep up with any rule changes or advances in the game. The keys are to call all obvious ball handling errors, and to find a correct, flexible standard for borderline ball handling actions that you are comfortable with and can apply with consistency throughout a match.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association Archives
www.vball-life.org/officials/referees.htm

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Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Referee Development Program

Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Corny Galdones, January 1998

Not being remembered is the highest compliment you could receive for officiating a match. That means the teams and the playing action were featured. You did not draw any attention to yourself for contested decisions or overt deeds others recall. You achieved the ultimate of being an invisible facilitator. Consider it a job well done.

Match objectives.The various groups have their own reasons for being at a match. Each team is there for the spirit of competition and to win the match with assurances its opponent does not gain any unfair advantage of the rules. The spectators are there for the enjoyment of the athletic competition. Neither team nor spectators are there to watch the officials perform. You are there as an official in a working relationship with the teams to unobtrusively conduct the match in accordance with the rules.

Applying the rules. Every official is required to know the rules. Flaunting this rules knowledge invariably proves disruptive and alienates the coaches and players. Instead of strictly enforcing the rule book, understand rules are intended as guidelines. Learn when it is appropriate and necessary to apply them. First and foremost, use common sense and take preventive measures. Bear in mind correctness, consistency, and diplomacy promote acceptance of your decisions without incident. Orchestrate the competition with precision and fairness without hindering the teams with insignificant or incorrect rulings.

Interrupting play. As volleyball evolves as a power game, the players are being taxed more to keep the ball in play and sustain rallies for viewing interest and excitement. Be sensitive of this and use your leverage as an official to help the sport develop. Let the players' athletic performances decide the outcome of each rally. Work at being a non-factor in the outcome by interfering the flow of action as little as possible. Do not impose unless something of serious consequence happens. If it's marginal on whether to make a call, give benefit to the player in question and be a catalyst for continuing action. In essence, let 'em play (without overlooking gross infractions).

Going unnoticed. The smooth, silent operation of a match is an excellent barometer of the job you did. Be low-profile, evenhanded arbiter in behavior and performance. Leave the limelight to the teams and the playing action. However, if you do not always succeed in this ideal, make sure it's for doing something right and not for doing something improper, conspicuous, or impeding. Socializing with the teams, showboating, and court chattering fall in the latter category.

An official efficiently running the show with limited intrusion is a competent, understanding facilitator who unassumingly supports the players and their athleticism in being the main attractions of a match. Staying out of sight and out of mind are worthy professional goals when officiating any match.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association Archives
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Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Referee Development Program

Bench Control
Corny Galdones, May 1999

The second referee has primary responsibility for controlling the conduct of the team benches with assistance from the first referee. As the second referee, you are closest to the heart of the bench action and can make a big difference on whether there is order or disorder in the match.

Professionalism. Being an effective overseer of the bench starts with a professional attitude and demeanor. Each match is important to those involved. Look your best, do your best. Show everyone the same respect and courtesy you expect. Being in close quarters with the benches, you may be tempted to fraternize or chatter with the players and coaches. Don't. That creates an unwanted perception of being too friendly and lessens your authority to resolve any bench conflicts that arise.

Working relationship. Build a working rapport and trust with the teams. Proper mechanics, which have been discussed in detail in previous articles and manuals, project an image of competence. Earn the teams' confidence by making the correct calls under your jurisdiction. Work with the coaches, not against them. Let them coach. Avoid imposing restrictions on their jobs that cause unneeded friction. Be approachable. Answer all questions from the coaches amicably and with eye contact. Be able to predict when a coach will beckon for substitution or time out. Communicate with the coaches to prevent their team from being cited for player misconduct or procedural violations such as excessive substitutions or time outs, team delays, etc. Cultivate a positive relationship with quality service and performance that coaches count on and appreciate.

Secondary activities. Stay alert for any secondary court activity that could become an issue with the benches. Keep reserves standing at the end of the bench from intruding onto the court. Unsporting conduct such as trash talking often happen at the net at the end of a play, especially after an outstanding individual effort. While mimicking the first referee’s signals for the play, keep an eye on the players at the net. If you see any adverse action, step in right away to caution the offending players. After a string of points by the opponents, players may try stalling tactics such as untying their shoelaces or wiping the floor of non-existent moisture. Monitor these activities and inform the first referee with a "team delay" signal if they are not legitimate. When you are notified by a bench that the serving team is screening, relay this circumstance to the first referee with an "illegal screen" signal.

Questioned decision. Sooner or later the bench, in particular the coach, will show disagreement in a decision by the officials. Do not be passive and force the first referee to handle this potentially harmful situation from across the court. Your mission is to keep the displeased coach calm and clarify any questioned decision. Deal with the coach only. Let the coach control the rest of the bench. First, realize the coach is merely looking after the team's best interests. Dissenting remarks or gestures made in passing by the coach can be dealt with a cautionary whistle or settling motion. If the coach approaches the sideline to address the first referee, blow your whistle if needed to get the coach's attention and intercept the coach as close to the bench or attack line as possible. Position yourself between the coach and the first referee, and face the coach. Be the sounding board for the coach's complaint or concern. To placate the coach, think about what you will say and how you will say it, especially for the coach to accept an unfavorable decision. Most times the coach wants to know what the officials saw on the play and the reason for the call. Explain this vital information in a concise, cordial, and convincing manner. Know the rules. A wrong explanation could worsen matters. Also, if a rule is misapplied, the first referee must be informed verbally or if possible with the appropriate signal so a proper decision can be rendered. If it is a judgment call however, sell the call. Do not give any indication you disagree with the first referee's judgment call or final decision. Be careful of falling into the common trap of dividing the officiating team. Think "we." Above all, be proactive in serving and protecting the first referee.

Controversial call. Your toughest challenge will be to support a poor decision or judgment call by the first referee. There is no easy, set procedure for mollifying a coach upset with the controversial call. Your top priority is damage control by blunting the coach's wrath. Statements like, "It's the first referee's call." or "I can't help him when he does things like that." will not do. A good approach is a conciliatory but conclusive response such as, "I understand coach, but the call stands." or words to that effect. A reinforcing statement such as, "That call was consistent with previous ones made." could work. In a very obvious situation, sometimes collectively admitting, "We missed it." is acceptable to a coach. (Use only once per match!) Confidently handling this dilemma with kid gloves and a united front comes with experience.

How other officials deal with a coach protesting a call. Officials from around the country were asked how they would deal with a coach who gets up to protest a call in a collegiate or USA Volleyball match. Their suggested responses could be grouped in three general categories although some answers cross categories. FIVB matches or high school matches may require different techniques so the following advice must be matched to the environment In making choices between all these possibilities, it is best to consider how the phrase will sound to the coach. You are attempting to control the coach. You need to decide how to do that in the best manner possible.

1. Indicate to the coach that the play might have looked different from the official's angle. Many officials use this tactic. An experienced coach will have heard it many times. Therefore be careful not to overuse it. Here are suggested phrases to use:

"Coach, I know how it looked from your perspective, but my partner had a different perspective and we have to go with that."

"Coach his/her angle is a bit different."

"From his/her angle, it looked OK."

"You may be correct. He/she had a different angle and it probably looked cleaner from their vantage point.

"Coach that was a tough angle. I probably did not get into position fast enough to help."

2. Give unequivocal support to the other referee. This can be done by indicating that the call was correct, or that you saw exactly the same thing. Care needs to be taken in using this tactic. If the coach agreed with the call in the first place, there wouldn't be a complaint. Usually, there is little value in trying to be confrontational on a judgment call. However, this may be the only technique to work with some coaches and should be used selectively as an official.

"That's a judgment call coach and in his/her judgment, it was clean.

"Coach, she had a very clean view of that call and did not see a lift/double."

"Clearly my partner did not judge the contact to be a lift/double."

"I saw it as a clean play."

"It was a good call, coach. Please sit down. Thank you."

"Your captain is the only spokesperson for your team. You need to sit down."

"I've worked quite a few matches with my partner and I have yet to see him/her change a ball handling call, even if he/she might have missed it. Arguing probably will not help."

"It was a lift/double."

"It's a judgment call, coach; let's play now."

"Coach, she/he had a good look and he/she is the only one of us who can call ball handling in that situation."

"Coach, s/he is working hard up there. Please give him/her a chance to do his/her job."

3. Agree with the coach that something MIGHT have been missed. The key word is "might." You are agreeing that there was a possibility that the call was incorrect. You are not agreeing that it was incorrect. The best way to lose a partner is to criticize your partner to a coach. Accepting possible error works very well when you are the person who missed the call, or when you could have helped on the call but did not. Thus, the R1 can use this to his advantage when the captain questions a ball handling call by indicating that he saw X, but Y might have happened and he certainly will look for it. It is more problematical when the R2 is talking to the coach. It is possible that the R2 has a different way of calling the game than the R1 does. Thus, the R2 must be confident that she knows how the R1 usually calls a match if she is to use this tactic. It is NOT necessary for you to agree that something was missed to use this tactic.

   "We may have missed that one coach."

   "That one was my fault – I should have helped him/her."

   "When I see something, I'll try to make sure that he/she can better see my signal."

   "If it happened as you said it did, then we missed it. We'll keep a better eye on it next time."

   "We'll keep an eye out for those coach."

   "Coach, I should have helped on that one, it was my fault."

   "Thanks coach, I'll help out next time."

   "Coach, I do not think that "R1" got a good look at that play. That's the reason he/she may have missed it."

   "Coach, that one's long gone. Let's move on."

Settling a coach. Let the coach have a brief, civil say and be done with it. If the coach insists on pursuing the matter or continues to vent frustrations, halt this disruptive behavior. Stay composed so you can defuse the pressure situation and restore order. Be conscious of your body language. Avoid finger pointing, waving off the coach, or any aggressive or offensive posture. A smile helps. Be tolerant but firm, not brusque or confrontational. Warn, don't threaten, a coach who is close to getting a sanction. Never say "the next time ...". Threats and ultimatums just cause further tension. You will then have to follow through with a sanction or else lose credibility and control of the bench. Instead, use people skills such as diplomacy, sweet talk, humor, or similar means to persuade the coach to cease and desist. Keep in mind the other team will expect the same treatment and privileges. You must let the coach know that the discussion is over with a phrase like, "We understand" or "Thank you, let's get back to the game." Turn away from the coach and return to your position. If the coach still complains, use a firm but nonaggressive tone to indicate that the conversation is over or call for a sanction.

Issuing a sanction. Gauge whether a sanction is warranted at this point. You will have a better feel for the coach's temperament and conduct than the first referee. If the coach is non-compliant, demonstrative, hostile, or casts aspersions on the officials' abilities, a sanction for discipline is required immediately. Make sure you and your officiating partner discuss before the match how sanctions are to be administered and how the issuance of one will be communicated to each other. It’s acceptable for a second referee to issue an official verbal warning to a bench player or a coach. The first referee must be notified through pre-agreed signals this action has taken place. For individual yellow card or higher sanction, the first referee does the issuance after being requested by the second referee.

Preventing a sanction late in a game. In a situation late in a game, you would prefer that sanctions not be given, especially if it could influence the match outcome. However, you should not tolerate disruptions by the bench at the end of a game or match any more than you would at the beginning. The officials were also asked how they handled these end of game/match situations. Here are some of their responses:

"Coach, the R1 is going to call them as he sees them. It is a waste of time to do something that will not change his calls. You could hurt your team if a sanction is issued at this point."

"Let it go and sit down so that we can move on."

"Coach, please let the players decide the match and sit down so that we may continue."

"Coach, you need to sit down; It is too close to the end of a well-played match to penalize your players. Please sit down. Thank you."

"Coach, don't do anything that might penalize your players – they are playing hard and don't need anything else that would hurt their chances."

"Coach, do you really want to push the issue at this point in the match?"

"Coach, sit down."

"I have heard your input; please return to the bench to avoid sanction."

"Coach, you're doing a great job coaching your team, but you need to let it go and sit down so we can support both teams good play without being distracted."

"Coach, you do not want this to end on a card. Your team is working hard. We can either work together or not. Your team will have a better opportunity to win if you are coaching them."

"Coach, we're in a situation here where a card could really hurt your team. Please sit down."

After a sanction. Make sure the coach and bench are informed that a sanction has been issued by the first referee. That should curb the misconduct at hand. It also discourages the coach from acting up again knowing the team will be at risk of further penalty. Give the coach a chance to settle down after being sanctioned. If the sanction does not restore order, another one might be necessary but should be averted as much as possible. Tactfully reminding the coach that a sanction has already been issued will often do the trick.

Match control is the responsibility of not only the first referee but the second referee as well. How the second referee interacts with and controls the benches, mainly the coaches, is a major factor on whether there is harmony or discord during the match.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association Archives
www.vball-life.org/officials/referees.htm

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Once An Official, Always An Official
Corny Galdones, April 1998

Once you become a volleyball official, you are held accountable to higher standards for conduct and ethics. Officials are expected to be models of excellence in morality, integrity, and behavior on the stand, off the stand, and away from the stand. You will be perceived as an official at all times, regardless of venue or function. So be responsible in and for your actions.

Officiating conduct. Each match is meaningful to someone and deserves nothing but your best in dress, demeanor, and effort. Professionalism is key. Respect all match participants unconditionally. Manage the match in a dignified, business fashion with composure, diplomacy, and fairness while allowing the players and spectators to enjoy the spirit of competition. Your decisions must be unquestionable in impartiality. Activities having any hint of impropriety or personal exhibition are to be shunned. Discussing game matters with the match administrators, coaches, captains, and work partners is essential and suitable, fraternizing is not.

Non-officiating conduct. When at a match in a non-officiating capacity, be it as a player, coach, or spectator, apply the Golden Rule. Treat and respect the match officials as you would want to be treated and respected as a match official. You are no better or worse than the match officials, even if a difference in stature or ability is discerned. If an official makes a perceived mistake, be understanding and keep your emotions and opinions in check. Be on best behavior when asserting your rights within the playing rules. Do not abuse your status as an official by impugning or discrediting the match officials. If you feel the need to provide them constructive input about their performance, do so privately and civilly after the match. Remember, we officials compose a fellowship. Support each other.

Public conduct. An official is obligated to be a model citizen in society. Your actions should be beyond reproach. People trust you will morally know right from wrong. Don't break that trust. Be aware perception is reality. Assume your every action is under scrutiny. Should you have an opportunity to socialize with someone associated with a team you recently officiated or will officiate in an upcoming match, avoid it at all costs unless there is absolutely no possible semblance or question of this being perceived by anyone as inappropriate, a conflict of interest, or a wrongdoing. If there is any uncertainty whatsoever of this being acceptable, play it safe and abstain, no matter how noble your intentions are. All other circumstances and personal actions should be dealt with similar discretion.

Having chosen to become a volleyball official, you represent not just yourself, but the entire brotherhood of volleyball officials. Expectations for your conduct and ethics by your peers and the public are now raised. Whether you want to be or not, you are a role model. You are depended upon to police yourself to do the right thing and be accountable for your actions.

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Common Sense Is Uncommom
Corny Galdones, September 2005

Knowledge is power. Thirst for knowledge. Learn everything there is to learn about officiating. This solid base, however, is only the start toward excellence. What looks black and white on paper is riddled with gray areas when applied.

To officiate a match requires study and training. To do it well takes an eye and feel for the game. This means technical skill laced with common sense. Every match is different. Is it competitive or informal? Are the players skilled or novice? The questions and nuances vary from contest to contest. Adapt.

We referees provide match structure and influence its tone. Be a good cop on rules and procedures. Know when to enforce them and when to lighten up. We don’t have to control everything. Be confident to stay out of the action, present when needed and calm under pressure. See that the competition is fair and safe using balanced judgment and a firm yet relaxed authority to keep our high profile low-key. Being bossy and full of ourselves just points us out and turns others off. Instead, be like chameleons. Blend in with finesse.

Remember, the sport is about the players and coaches. We merely provide a service. Like any business, the customers come first. What’s best for them is good for us. Tend to their needs, which hopefully are their wants. The rules won’t deal with every possibility. An unclear situation mustn’t be forced to fit into an existing rule. No, don’t break the rules. But they certainly can be bent to suit the situation. How? Think! Our biggest aid is our head, not the rule book.

A rules stickler dictates rather than facilitates. That’s not us, is it? Going by the book word for word without reasoning wins no friends nor influences people. To waste our logical minds is to stagnate. Explore other options. If an alternative fulfills a rule’s intent and spirit but not its exact terms, go with the flow. It’s no big deal. Nothing is perfect in life. Exercise discretion to make a sage verdict of least damage overall. Pleased or not, is everyone okay? Let’s play ball.

Some rules concern judgment. Oh, boy! Leeway. Understand what the coaches and players expect of the officiating. Adjust to gain an advantage. If a player chucks the ball on a second or third team contact, is it a violation? Yes. Should it be called? Yes and no. What?! Suppose it’s a Special Olympics match. A hustling player executes proper technique but muffs. Show some heart. Did you “ooooo” or “oo”? This extreme example illustrates a point. Tweaking rules within their parameters to satisfy patrons is practical and prudent. The key is to be consistent for the entire match.

Rules smarts launches us whistleblowers. Court smarts is our goal. It’s theory versus practice, knowledge versus savvy. Making the right decisions for the right reasons involves thinking things through. Rules are guidelines. Common sense takes precedence.

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Time Matters
Corny Galdones, May 2006

10:00 PM! What am I doing here? To my brethren who officiated ahead of me today taking your sweet time, I thank thee. May your roommate saw a forest tonight.

Being stuck at an ungodly hour doesn’t make for happy campers. Granted, we can’t do anything about how the players play or the scheduled match times. Everything else, we certainly can. Better court management of our matches is all it takes.

Start right to end right. For everyone’s sake, please show up on time at courtside. Then take care of business instead of chatting and goofing around. Are the playing and officiating setups safe and proper? What about the team benches and the administrivia?

The time allotted before matches is for teams to warm up, not for us officials to get our acts together. The clock starts as soon as the previous match ends. Our captains’ powwow, coaches’ hello, line judges’ briefing, work partner chat, paperwork and pit stops take up time. Move things along by conducting this rigmarole not before, not after, but while warm-up occurs. Watch the clock. Dilly-dallying won’t earn us any smiles from our bosses, just grief.

So what if our match begins five minutes late? Big deal! Well, it really is. Lost time is hard to catch up. Suppose there are ten matches for that court and each warm-up period takes five minutes extra. By day’s end, we’re 50 minutes behind. Even Cinderella might beat us home. Can a match late in the day start earlier than scheduled? Depends. Sometimes, asking for forgiveness rather than permission will work. Wink, wink.

Delays happen. Still, we can prevent them. Clear the playing surface of riffraff, human or otherwise, that could stop play. Protests and disputed calls are bugaboos. Resolve them pronto. Know the rules, issue firm answers and limit replays. Crew get-togethers are another source of concern. Use signals to save time. Also, visits by the second referee to the first referee are by invitation only.

Players feed off our officiating tempo. If our sounds are slow, they’ll lollygag. Liven up the music. This doesn’t mean to service beckon before the server crosses behind the back line. Scan during this time. Is the receiving team ready? Serving team? Work team? Once the server faces the court, beckon for serve. Eight seconds is eternity for a server to check the coach’s sign, bounce the ball and make service contact. Don’t waltz. Boogie!

Keep an eye out for stall tactics, especially after a string of points by the opponent. Sweat may need wiping off the floor. Shoelaces may become untied. A lineup check or number of time outs or subs taken may be requested. Players may inch into position for serve. Coincidences? Perhaps. Cut off what’s deliberate. Then again, if it’s a match of seniors, limping and wheezing, give them a break or else be prepared to administer CPR.

Time matters. Like falling dominoes, our matches running late affect those down the line. Think of our fellow officials who must turn off the lights at day’s end. Let’s rock and roll.

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Officiating Is About C's
Corny Galdones, May 2003

Practically all components of volleyball officiating start with the letter C. These can be classified into three major groups. The first group of C’s is the core qualities every official should have or practice.

Competence. Know how the sport is played. Know the rules. Be skilled in making correct calls using proper mechanics. Know what to call and what not to call.

Consistency. Apply each rule the same way throughout the match.

Common Sense. Not everything is cut and dried. Use good judgment to know when to apply the spirit of the rules instead of going by the rulebook.

Control. Regulate the atmosphere and administration of the match on an even keel. Allow the coaches and team captains to express their points of view and players to vent their frustrations without being abusive or disruptive. Do not ignore any misconduct. Use tact, verbal or whistle warnings, and if necessary, sanctions to settle the situation quickly.

Confidence. Internally, don’t doubt yourself. Be positive in your calls. Avoid replays. Externally, project a commanding presence. Groom and dress impeccably. Stand straight and tall. Do not hesitate in making and displaying your decisions. Be polished, crisp and smooth with your mechanics.

Composure. Stay cool, calm and collected, especially when under fire. Curtail your emotions.

The second group of C’s pertains to various elements in officiating a match.

Competition (not Center of Attention). The contest is not about you. Let the match and the players be the attraction. Be invisible. Facilitate and administrate, ensuring neither team gains an unfair advantage over the other.

Coaches. Be cordial with them, but don’t chat. Let them coach. Don’t let them coach you.

Captains. As the first referee, be approachable, but only by the captains. Let them have their say and be done with it. Address their concern then get on with the match. No prolonged conversations.

Coordination & Cooperation. You’re not a one-person band. Officiating a match is a collective effort. Make every member of the officiating crew feel part of the team. Let each one do their respective jobs. Gently prompt them if needed.

Communication. What you say to coaches and players and how you say it in tone and body language can make a big difference in their acceptance and respect for you. Be clear, concise and considerate when dealing with or addressing them. Talk with members of your officiating crew before the match about possible match situations and what actions or signals you expect from them. Then be sure to get their signaled input during the match. Keep them in the match with continual eye contact.

Concentration. Stay focused. Do not let activities irrelevant to the match or play action distract you from the business at hand.

Court Management. Take care of all match-related business. Start the match on time. Keep the match moving to completion. Secure the game ball. When permitted, proceed with the next match if your relief official is tardy.

Court Awareness. Widen your view. Be aware of any activity on the court and its periphery that may affect play.

Continuity & Cadence. Keep the match flowing at an even, lively pace without rushing the players. Avoid delays.

Cards. Prevent sanctions from happening. Use sanctions judiciously to maintain control.

Critique. After the match, review with your officiating partners the circumstances that could have been handled better. Curb repeating mistakes.

The third and final group of C’s is the intangibles of being an official.

Character & Conduct. Technical skills are not all there is to being an official. Professionalism and ethics are just as important, if not more. Once you become an official, you always will be conceived as an official. Be ever conscious of your behavior on the stand, off the stand and when in public. Be accountable for your actions. Carefully consider the consequences of participating in activities that may be perceived to be irresponsible, inappropriate, unethical, noncompliant or a conflict of interest. Perception is reality.

Community. Being volleyball officials bonds all of us. As Sister Sledge sang in the late 1970’s, “We are family.” You represent us. Be a credit to our corps.

Cash (or lack thereof). Net earnings from volleyball officiating are more like chump change than a cash cow. Choose this calling for the love and enjoyment of the sport.

Commitment. Make officiating a top priority. Give it your best shot.

Colleagues & Camaraderie. Your cadre of cohorts can become your friends, advisors, supporters and fellow carousers. Cultivate and cherish these rewarding relationships.

Contribution. Show care, concern and passion for our profession. Give back to officiating by sharing your gained experience and knowledge with neophyte officials. Assume officiating-related positions or responsibilities that will benefit others. Lead. Be a role model.

The craft of officiating can be difficult because of its many facets. However, it’s easy to describe officiating by remembering its basics start with the letter C. Ciao.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Earning Respect
Corny Galdones, May 1997

Every official should aspire to be respected. Respect means being highly regarded as a decent, responsible person and a competent professional. Respect means being sought by colleagues and others for technical answers and advice. Respect means the teams are glad to see a trusted match official, confident they can concentrate on their playing performance and not worry about anything else. Respect is not an official's right based on standing or experience. Respect is an honor earned through demonstrated model demeanor, quality performance, and sustained consistency.

Model demeanor. Perception of an official's behavior and appearance on and off the court invariably becomes reality in terms of earning respect. Be dependable and cooperative. Exhibit integrity and exemplary moral standards. Take pride and be impeccable in uniform and grooming. During any officiating capacity be all-business, dignified, approachable, impartial, and pleasant but not fraternizing. Command with diplomacy and deference, never by being overbearing. Execute officiating fundamentals with natural and proper actions.

Quality performance. Proving one's officiating proficiency with excellent match performance earns respect. Each match should have the teams as its focal point while the official with minimal whistle disruptions functions as a background facilitator in concert with the work team. Match procedures and protocol are performed without a hitch. Steady control is maintained with a skillful combination of tact, common sense, preventive measures, and rational issuance of sanctions without taking the enjoyment and spirit of competition away. And most importantly, officiating decisions are correct, consistent, and done decisively with projected self-assurance.

Sustained consistency. One's officiating style and decision-making criteria should be correct and remain constant from match to match to earn everyone's trust and thus respect. This familiar pattern builds everyone's comfort and confidence with knowledge of an official's permitted playing parameters and that a well-officiated match can be expected. Teams in turn will make some allowances for a trusted official, but this deserved privilege should not be abused by relaxing one's officiating routine and standards.

Earning respect is a continuous, cumulative process. Respect gained can be easily lost with one bad deed or performance. To be respected, an official must always put forth one's best conduct and efforts regardless of the circumstances.

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Giving Back
Corny Galdones, April 2005

None of us would be where we are today without the nurture and care from various
individuals and groups eager and glad to share their time, knowledge and support with us.
Our debt to them is priceless, our gratitude boundless. The ultimate tribute we can make is to
carry on their legacy by giving back in kind to others.

For whatever reason, some within our ranks disappear when it comes to giving back.
Others stay in the background. Perhaps their supervisors can motivate these detached who
have forgotten what got them here. Gads, by doing their own thing, they may even have a life!
The dedicated among us bearing the brunt of the burden can only hope for one. Thank
goodness for these folks. Else, officials would soon become an endangered species.

For the uninitiated who don’t know how to get involved or are new in the limelight,
here’s a Giving Back 101 primer. If management is your goal, show over time that you’re
competent and committed. Be careful for what you wish for because ambitious, quality leaders
willing to work for peanuts are in demand. If no one comes calling, start out on your own.
Every individual effort counts.

We once admired and patterned ourselves after role models. We’ve become one. On
the sly, those of less stature will study us as icons on assignment and in public. What we say
and do will be gospel. So set a shining example everywhere you go. Be someone’s idol.

We once learned from teachers, observation and experience. Pass on your acquired
wisdom to a novice. Tutor and guide. Focus on your charge’s mentality and behavior as much
as technical skills. “Do as I say, not as I do” is okay for nobody’s perfect. Cover the ideals,
logistics and expectations of core activities. Develop a grounded, rounded professional that
people can trust anytime, anywhere. After your protégé matures, recruit and aid another and
continue on. Seeing them grow and prosper rewards you with a sense of pride and
gratification. Improving their welfare while treating them with respect gains you respect in
return as a mentor. That’s a bonus.

Our membership organizations once invested in us and still do. Be not only a taker, but
a giver too. Volunteer laborers as well as leaders are sought. You’re in the wrong outfit if
you’ll only work for pay. Make time and step forward. Find a staff job where you can be of
use. If no opening exists, create a niche to fill a need. If you find fault in a system function, fix
it. Solve, not complain. Aim to serve and produce results, preferably good results. Do your
share and do it well, and you’ll earn acceptance and acclaim. Moreover, our organizations
survive, if not thrive, for another day and everyone’s happy. Well, almost everyone.

Officiating is a choice. Protecting its lifeblood and health is in the best interest of all
who elect to pursue this enriching avocation. Ascent and attrition now make us the
torchbearers of our profession. Just blowing the whistle isn’t enough. We have a higher calling
to help others like others once helped us. Our commitment, loyalty and sense of obligation are
vital to growing our pastime for the benefit of one and all. Show our love. Give back.

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Dare To Be Great
Corny Galdones, April 2005

To an average fan there is not much distinction between a good referee and a great referee. But there are many intangibles that separate the two.

There is a fine line between a good referee and a great referee. Understanding and overcoming the subtle differences between the two will help a good referee become a great referee.

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Mistakes Happen
Corny Galdones, April 1998

An official must be well prepared in terms of rules knowledge, technical skills, game experience, and match management. Despite all this, Murphy's Law of "Anything that can happen will happen," including mistakes, is an officiating fact of life.

Handling a mistake. If you make a perceived mistake in judgment or rules application, make every diplomatic and preventive effort not to penalize the affected team again with a sanction for venting frustrations or expressing disagreement with your call. However, sometimes you will have no other recourse if the players or team bench are vocal and contentious. Allow only the team captain to approach and question you (or the bench coach to the second referee). Do not get caught up in the probable heat of the moment. Be open-minded and non-confrontational while keeping your authority and composure. Let the team captain have a say and be done with it. If necessary, get helpful clarification for the play from your work team either verbally or preferably through signals. If a consultation is needed, summon them to your stand and banish eavesdroppers. Make a swift, conclusive decision and convey it with confidence. Your decision might not be popular, but render what's fair and proper to right a wrong.

Judgment error. If you are viewed to have made an error in judging a play, doing a replay or reversing your call is permissible if your work team can provide sufficient justification for doing so. On the other hand, an unwarranted replay or call reversal leads to second guessing by the teams and loss in credibility. Minimize replays for judgment calls. Be decisive, such as for double net violations when usually one team contacts the net first by a split second. Stick with your judgment call unless proven otherwise, particularly when it deals with ball handling. Believe in your skills and abilities. Doubting yourself produces mistakes.

Rule misapplication. If you realize you have misapplied a rule, don't make it worse by staunchly defending your position. This could result in a protest being filed, which is a "no win" situation for you because at the minimum the match is delayed with administrative procedures. Acknowledge your mistake and dispense the fair and proper ruling. If any measure of respect is to be gained from your inadvertent predicament, it will be for admitting you are human and not afraid to correct your error.

Focus. Don't worry about the last play or dwell on your mistake. Initiate the necessary damage control quickly and properly, then forget about it. Be concerned and focused on the next play. If you don't, another mistake is likely to happen.

Review. After the match, discuss the troublesome match situations in private with your work crew and/or attendant colleague, but not with the participants ... that's unwise. Determine what you could have done differently to prevent or better handle these occurrences. These might have been unavoidable, but mistakes can be reduced in future matches when sticky situations are reviewed with regularity. Be honest with yourself. The first step in fixing a technical weakness is admitting there is one. Implement your findings to become a better official by being a quick study in not making the same mistakes again. Make every match a learning experience.

An official can and must limit mistakes. However, mistakes are inevitable and can be an acid test. It's how you react to these mishaps that will determine the kind of official you are. An outstanding official is distinguished not only by the few mistakes made, but by how well the mistakes that happen are managed with poise, speed, and resolve.

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Moving Up The Ladder
Corny Galdones, July 2007

Wanting to validate our abilities through advancement is normal. Go for it. One
common dilemma faces us. How do we convince the powers we’re ready for the next level?
It’s easy. Brown-nose. Not! Oh, we’ll become known all right — for wrong reasons. Don’t
even think of going there.

Our peers are who matter. Build a solid reputation and network with them. Work hard,
excel and keep at it. Be patient. The officiating nation is small. People talk. Sooner or later,
hearsay of our distinction, good or bad, will spread far and wide. Watch when a big mess
occurs. News of our snafu might flash so fast across country and back that it beats us home.
Even a hick from the sticks could hear about it. Once our fame is created, particularly one of
notoriety, it shadows us like a dark cloud everywhere we go. The sun shines only if we shine.

Impressing leaders higher up the chain of command to get ahead can’t hurt. What
harms our careers is to neglect one detail. We must tend to business at home first. Bypassing
the system turns everyone off. Have we fulfilled our local obligations and proven ourselves?
Are we problems solvers or pains in the patoot in our units? We fool no one. What happens in
Podunk doesn’t stay in Podunk. Hardly anything escapes the folks who need to know.

Be a ghost while officiating. Still, we can’t expect to be noticed unless we’re visible. This
calls for showing up all over the place. Attend clinics, camps, conventions and tournaments
inside and outside our area. Embrace work and advice. Take on tasks. Matches above our
comfort level but not over our heads improve our skills and measure our progress. Push
forward. But don’t be pushy. Rather, let our good deeds speak for us. Hence, making
appearances isn’t enough. Learn and do each job right because we’re always being watched.
Word gets around.

The cream will rise to the top. Cliché or not, it’s true. Believe in ourselves. Aim high.
Nothing’s given, however. Those who control our destinies tell it like it is. Trust them. Listen!
Listen! Listen! Denying the truth holds us back. To progress, correct our flaws and
demonstrate time and again we have what it takes.

Success? Congratulations! First, be sure to thank all who aided us along the way. Next,
don’t take the patch and run. Look after more than just ourselves. Assist those below us up the
ladder. Prime assignments are limited. Don’t hog them. Give up-and-coming officials cracks at
these. Be a mentor. Be a role model. Grow the organization. Contribute.

No duty is beneath our egos. Each and every match deserves the best officials and our
best efforts. When we toot whistles and tutor wannabes at lower playing levels, the entire sport
benefits. Here are well-kept secrets. Officiating old-timers is a riot if we can stay awake. Preteens
are fun. Plus their moms and dads, whichever fits, are cuter. Rest assured rewards wait
for the diligent and caring. Character counts.

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Overlaps
Corny Galdones, November 1997

A rule on players' positions at ball contact for serve is that one foot of each front row player must be closer to the centerline than the corresponding back row player, and one foot of each left/right side player must be closer to the respective left/right sideline than the center player of the corresponding row. Otherwise, it's a violation for overlap.

Calling An Overlap. Instead of applying this criteria literally, go by the spirit and intent of the rule. If corresponding players are lost or have lined up in the wrong relative positions, it's a violation. Call it. If corresponding players are aligned in proper relative positions but their feet are encroaching or a player leaves early before the service contact to create an overlap, discretely warn the coach and/or players so the team can take corrective action. If the same situation recurs after being warned earlier, call it. If you miss calling an overlap at time of service, it can be called during or at the end of the play. However, the offending players will no longer be in their service alignment for absolute proof. It is better to make a mental note of the overlap and catch it the next time it occurs. Calling an overlap at game point is gutsy, particularly in a close game. Be sure it's irrefutable.

Between Plays. A second referee (R2) must attend to many duties between plays besides watching for overlaps on the receiving team, e.g., scan and monitor team benches, administer substitution or time out requests, etc. An R2 won't have much time before the serve to quickly recognize overlaps, especially with today's complex "receive" formations with two, maybe three, primary passers. If unsure of the rotation order, the R2 could inconspicuously get the scorekeeper's input. One helpful hint for the R2. Take a fast glance at the serving team before each serve. Note the order of the front (or back) row players and whether the setter is in the front or back row. This aids tremendously when the serving team becomes the receiving team upon side out. The first referee (R1) should do likewise with the receiving team. The R1 may see a receiving team overlap not detected by the R2 (or vice versa). How this information is conveyed to each other should be covered in the pre-match R1-R2 conference.

Detecting An Overlap. There are many schemes to detect overlaps at time of service. Each team's hub is its setter. Key on the setter and the teammate directly across from the setter in the rotation. If these two are not aligned directly opposite one another, that's an alert for an ongoing overlap. Most detection schemes build on this major key by including at least two more players: 1) the players adjacent to the setter, 2) the swing (strong side) hitters, or 3) the middle hitters. Experiment to find a practical scheme that best suits you. Don't fixate on the setter when looking for overlaps. As an R2 examine the primary passers in relation to other teammates for front-to-back overlaps of passers positioning themselves better to receive serve, or side-to-side overlaps of back row non-passers lining up wrong. Also watch an unprepared substitute who comes into the game lost.

Administering An Overlap. When an overlap is cited, be sure to identify to the offending team the players at fault and what their correct positions are. Prevent from citing a team for overlap on two consecutive serves. On the other hand, don't prolong your explanation.
Recognizing and calling overlaps is a basic function in officiating volleyball. Make sure you understand its principles and methodologies.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Referee Development Program

Overshot Passes
Corny Galdones, December 1997

The pass from a team's first hit ideally should be placed close to the net with room and flexibility for a setter to run the offense. Sometimes the ball will be overpassed toward the top of the net, putting the offensive team in jeopardy. Of all the playing situations, an overpass presents the greatest possibility for a violation, especially if the setter is a back row player.

Pointers. The team on offense should not expect you to bail it out for its passing error. Once any part of the ball enters the extended vertical plane of the net, either team has equal right to play the ball. If it is not conclusive when the opponents contacted the ball in relation to its entrance into the plane of the net, deducing the ball entered the plane is prudent. If the offensive team begs to differ, confidently indicate the ball was in the plane by pointing one entire hand parallel to the top of the net.

Ball handling. Don't overlook ball handling during the quick ensuing action. Zero in on the setter's hands contacting the ball to judge ball handling. Don't be swayed by the setter's likely awkward positioning and other irrelevant factors. Be alert for the possibility of an overpass when played being pinned against the side of the net. That's a "held ball" violation.

Over the net. If any of the following occurs, it's a "reaching over the net" violation.

• If no part of the ball has entered the plane of the net, an opponent cannot block the ball while the offensive team still has a legal and realistic chance to play the ball, nor can an opponent attack the ball.
• A player cannot make interfering contact with an opponent attempting to play a ball which is either in the plane of the net or entirely on that opponent's side of the net.
  
• A player cannot play a ball that has traversed entirely onto the opponents' side of the net.

Illegal back row attack. A back row player jumping from on or in front of the attack line might contact a ball completely above the height of the net and direct it toward the opponents' court. If the ball then is blocked by an opponent or completely crosses the plane of the net, it's an "illegal back row attack" violation by the setter.

Illegal back row block. When an opponent directs the ball into a back row setter who had any part of the entire body above the height of the net sometime during the play, it's an "illegal back row block" violation by the setter. The same applies for simultaneous ball contact by a back row setter and an opponent while the ball is in the plane of the net.

Legal actions. If a back row setter never had any part of the body above the height of the net and the ball is directed by an opponent into the setter, the setter's contact is considered the first team hit and play continues. When two opposing front row players simultaneously vie for a ball in the plane of the net, play continues on this joust. Likewise for when a back row setter:

• Contacts a ball not completely above the height of the net regardless of resultant direction of the ball, or
• Contacts the ball completely above the height of the net, directs it toward a teammate, and the ball enters the plane of the net and is blocked while in the plane by an opponent.

The often fast and furious pace at the net for an overpass requires concentration and instant judgment. Facilitate your decisions by being familiar with the proper rulings for the myriad potential playing actions.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Professionalism Is In The Heart
Corny Galdones, March 2006

If we referees blow the whistle well, folks will look up to us. Right? Don’t bet on it. Too often we overlook another factor that has a bearing — professionalism.

Image is everything. Perception is reality. Clichés these may be. Outdated they’re not. How we behave, how we connect, how we dress, how we look, and how we perform determine how professional we are in the eyes of others. Much has been said and written about these. We’re not going there since some people are either blind or deaf to this stuff that’s to their advantage. They just don’t get it. Instead, let’s examine what makes us tick. Why do we do what we do? Our hearts hold the answer.

Professionalism can’t be stressed enough. Want it! Applause won’t occur unless our entire hearts are into it. Turning it on only as seen fit gets us nowhere except in the doghouse. Like it or not, our officiating places us under a microscope, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Aim with all our hearts to earn an undying trust of always doing the right thing at the right time. One “bad,” and it’s curtains for us. Build a good name, not a good excuse.

When we claim to be professional, are we sincere? Or are we giving lip service and putting up a front? Being of character is opposite from being a character. Which are we? Trying to fool merely makes us fools for we wear our hearts on our sleeves. Actions that are phony, selfish or plain stupid seem nothing but empty. Our hearts must be in the right place. Mean what we do. Do what we mean.

Respect society. Respect orders. Respect the game. Respect our profession. Respect everyone. With all due respect, take these to heart and more. Respect what others have done for us. Do we remember it? Do we show our gratitude? Do we return the favor? Do we continue to share its rewards? Do we even care? Yes. A thousand times, yes. Proving it does our hearts good.

We’re all kids at heart. Forget about the money. We officiate for the fun and games. So live it up to your heart’s content, but with common sense. Our antics shouldn’t step on toes, question our morals and judgment, or try anyone’s patience. Think about it. Is it proper? What are the consequences? If nothing else, what would Mom think?

Looking out for ourselves is near to our hearts. That’s okay, provided we don’t break any hearts. The welfare of others comes first. Helping them from the bottom of our hearts helps us, whether it’s valuing mediocre matches, watching out for the little guy, doing a Good Samaritan deed, or anything of benefit. What’s in your heart? Show the love, the passion.

Sound referees produce sound calls. Classy hearts produce classy actions. Combine everything and what do we have? Me. Hey, stop laughing! After all, every official can turn into a sound class act. Cross my heart.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Professionalism
Corny Galdones, July 2003

Officials should not confuse being skilled and competent with being professional. Ability has little to do with professionalism. Professionalism is about character and conduct. It’s about what an official does off the court. Regardless of ability, an official who is a class act is far more professional than an official primarily concerned with one’s performance on the court. Apart from technical skills, the fitting personal characteristics listed below (not inclusive) must be cultivated to be professional. All, not just some, must be exercised. An official accomplished in all of these aspects is a true professional to revere and emulate.

Law-abiding citizen. This goes without saying. No further discussion is necessary on this leading trait.

Trustworthy. Like Diogenes, we’re looking for an ethical person with sense and integrity. Know right from wrong and act accordingly. You are counted on to do the right thing without being told. Avoid situations that may be perceived to be conflicts of interest, improper, immoral or illegal. Be responsible for your actions. Police yourself.

Respectful. Practice the Golden Rule, not the Gold Rule, i.e., he who has the gold rules. Be nice to everyone on your way up because you’ll meet again on your way down. Work with and not against your peers. Look for and bring out the good (not the bad) in your working partners. Treat subordinates as your equals. Defer to superiors without being a sycophant. Value everything related to the sport for it’s more important than you.

Dependable. Be independent but reliable. Be low maintenance and require little handholding or supervision. Like them or not, follow the regulations and procedures of your governing organizations. Don’t be a maverick. Be a team player who is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty. When help is needed, pitch in, get your task done and do it right. Don’t aggressively seek assignments, especially choice ones. Once you commit to an assignment, keep your word. Don’t back out of it for a better assignment. This action is not only frowned upon, you’ll fall out of favor with your assignors also. Show up for your matches and functions on time and prepared.

Sharp looking. Having the correct uniform and appearance are not enough. Be spic and span in your dress, grooming and demeanor. Avoid accessories, jewelry, hairstyles and mannerisms that draw attention.

All business. Act dignified and be conscientious at courtside. Don’t lounge or clown around. Administer and tend to all match details before getting involved in secondary affairs. Take charge but be diplomatic and fair in your dealings. Be polite to coaches and players but don’t schmooze or fraternize. Limit discussions with them to the match events. No chitchat or long conversations. Better yet, refrain altogether. Create rapport and a desirable reputation with coaches and players by doing a good job, not by socializing. Performance, not association, earns these merits.

Impartial. Base all officiating decisions on the court action, and not on favoritism or knowledge of the players, coaches or teams.

Approachable. Be open and accommodating. Don’t be condescending, overbearing or aloof. Don’t know it all, be high and mighty, or dominate the spotlight. Be someone that others are not afraid or reluctant to engage in conversation. Invite interaction and listen to what others have to say. You may even learn and benefit as a result.

Supportive. Help and look out for one another. Be sensitive, encouraging, understanding and caring of each other. Show concern for up-and-coming officials and aid their growth. Protect and defend your fellow officials in public. Don’t air out dirty laundry. Negative or critical comments about an official should be made one-on-one in private with that person or up the chain of command, else not said at all.

Professionalism consists of a core of suitable behavioral skills that an official must develop and polish along with technical skills. These two separate skill areas have to go hand in hand for one to be considered a complete official. An individual’s talents will determine the eventual level of technical competency. On the other hand, all officials are on equal basis for becoming professional. It’s a choice of applying oneself properly in attitude and conduct. Great officials are admired and respected not only for their excellent abilities, but for their classy professionalism as well. Aim to be great.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Second Referee Duties
Corny Galdones, August 1997

A second referee (R2) is as important as a first referee (R1). While the R1 orchestrates the match, the R2 does the grunt work. Serving as an R2 requires your attention to other key functions besides the basics of overlaps and net/centerline violations.

Pre-match procedures. Obtain the match equipment. Assist the R1 in checking the match equipment setup, team rosters, and player uniforms. Ensure distribution and completion of lineup sheets. Monitor the warmups. Confer with the R1 to discuss potential game violation situations and actions preferred from you.

Communication with scorekeeper. Before the match, discuss with the scorekeeper the information you desire on scorekeeping problems or delays, time outs taken, and individual and team substitutions taken. Confirm when it is game point so it may be signaled to the R1.

Positioning. Before each serve be on the receiving team's side to detect its overlaps. Both team benches should be within your peripheral vision. Throughout a rally, continually switch courts to be on the blocking team's side and stationary before the second ball contact by the attacking team. Stay on the attacking team's side if you might miss a net play during a switch. At the end of the rally, side step away from the net to establish clear communication lines with the R1. Mimic the R1's signals.

Team requests. Scan the team benches before and after each rally. Anticipate requests. Fulfill them without delay. For substitution requests, be positioned at the attack/side lines intersection before the subs; face the scorekeeper, call the player numbers, and release the players right away; return straight to your pre-serve station; and signal to the R1 when ready. For time out requests, signal to the R1 the number of time outs taken; monitor the teams and elapsed time; whistle when five seconds remain and when time expires; and prompt the teams to return to the court if needed.

Assisting on potential violations. Be on the constant alert for back row attacks from the attack line, attacks and blocks by a back row setter at the net, opponents reaching over the net, ball handling violations screened away from the R1, unsuccessful pancake digs, and other potential violations discussed in your pre-match conference with the R1. Perform the pre-agreed actions, e.g., whistle, side step and signal, etc., if a potential violation arises.

Serve and protect the R1 by controlling the bench. Address and settle any bench misconduct right away. Use tact and verbal/motion/whistle commands. Request the R1 to issue a sanction if needed. Always reinforce the R1's decisions if they are questioned or criticized. Remember, you're a team.

The duties of a second referee are not to be taken lightly. The actions and decisions of a second referee directly influence the administration and outcome of the match. The position is as important as a first referee and should be given the proper regard it requires.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Individual Sanctions
Corny Galdones, May 1998

The intelligent issuance of individual sanctions is a fine balance of letting the teams express their opinions and vent frustrations in the spirit of competition while making sure their activities are not harmful to anyone or the match. It's getting a feel for the tenor and severity of each misconduct and determining the suitable action to take. Technically, an official could issue a sanction for every misconduct, but that's taking the fun out of the game. However, ignoring and not regulating misconduct results in the match getting out of hand. Find a happy medium.

Types of individual sanctions. Inappropriate behavior by an individual can be formally disciplined with sanctions in non-repeating, progressive order: official verbal warning, yellow card, expulsion and disqualification. A sanction level may be skipped based on your judgment on which punishment fits the misdeed. An official verbal warning is only a warning and causes no scoring harm. If it's warranted, feel free to use this handy deterrent of future misconduct. A yellow card with its scoring penalty consequence is issued if trouble persists from the same individual who received an official verbal warning. Expulsion (or red card) of a disorderly individual from the game is better to use at game point than a yellow card to avoid ending the game on a penalty point. Disqualification (both cards held in one hand) is advisable to remove an aggressive, hostile individual from the facility for the match. Similar misconduct by different individuals should be treated the same. Individual sanctions are in effect for the entire match, not just the game they were issued.

Types of misconduct. There are two basic types of misconduct, accidental and deliberate. Accidental misconduct, commonly by a player who just made an error, is a spontaneous, improper action without malice and not damaging to the officiating crew, opponents, or operation of the match. It usually can be handled with preventive measures as described below. All other improper behavior is deliberate misbehavior. Control deliberate misbehavior! Otherwise, it will be perceived that you have lost control of the match. For deliberate misbehavior, your objectives are to restore order and to inhibit this type of misconduct from happening again. Take preventive measures if that will do the job. Definitely issue a sanction to defuse a volatile situation when tensions are running high or an individual is unruly.

Drawing the line. Set your limits on the type of behavior that will be tolerated. Timing is critical. Establish control on the very first incident having any hint of improper behavior and continue to reinforce that control throughout the match. Being passive implies approval of that type of behavior and leads to worse conduct that will become harder to control unless nipped in the bud. What might seem harmless at first could reach a boiling point. An example is playful banter between teams turning into trash talk, or worse, animosity. An ounce of prevention goes a long way in curtailing misconduct. At the very first sign of improper behavior, take affirmative action with preventive measures such as a cautionary whistle, a "settle down" gesture, a stern look, a verbal warning to both teams communicated through the floor captains, or a combination of these actions. Use "people" skills to ease your informal reprimand and promote cooperation. A repeat offender of deliberate misbehavior deserves a sanction. You've already given a forewarning. If you don't follow through, you lose credibility and authority. Show the teams you mean business, or they will walk all over you.

Being addressed. Permit only the floor captain to address you. Never stray from this policy. Any player other than the floor captain confronting you to dispute a call deserves a sanction. Players other than the floor captain wanting to speak to you should be instructed to discuss their concern with their floor captain. A player repeatedly ignoring this directive warrants a sanction. The floor captain should be allowed to state his/her case. Be approachable and diplomatic. Explain your reasoning or ruling, then get on with the match. Do not put up with abusive, belligerent, or offensive language, or delaying tactics. These are grounds for a sanction.

Dealing with bench coaches. Let the coaches coach, but don't let them coach you. Do not invite or allow the coach to approach you on the stand. Any complaints, questions, or concerns the coach has should be communicated to you through either the second referee or that team's floor captain. Let the coach express his/her view, but without delaying the match, being obnoxious, or telling you how to do your job. If that happens or the coach yells a criticism to you from across the court or approaches your stand, issue a sanction.

Play calling and mistakes. If the teams become more concerned about your play calling than playing the game, issue a sanction to the next person(s) questioning your judgment and get the teams' refocused on the game instead of on your play calling. If a team feels you have done it a wrong, do whatever is possible to prevent penalizing the team twice, once for your perceived mistake and again with a sanction for probable misconduct. Stay level-headed. Perform preventive measures to tactfully deal with players letting off steam. If the affected team is obstinate, quiet it with a sanction. If needed, gather play input from your work team. Then enact the necessary corrective actions for your mistake. Do not continually hide behind sanctions to protect your officiating weaknesses. Improve yourself to limit these circumstances.

Work team protection. Your work team of the second referee, line judges, and scorekeeper is to be accorded the same courtesies from the teams as you. Protect them. Take charge. Whistle and motion any harassing individuals away from them. If any misconduct directed at your work team gets out of line, issue a sanction. Your second referee is empowered to request from you the issuance of a sanction using communication modes discussed in your joint prematch conference. Honor these requests. Don't leave your partner high and dry.

Identification of offender. When issuing an individual sanction, it is important all players, both team benches, second referee, scorekeeper, and especially the offender are aware you are issuing a sanction and to whom it is being awarded. Letting everyone know of the disciplinary action discourages others with similar notions. Don't be in a hurry to issue the sanction the instant the infraction occurs. Otherwise, you might not achieve full effect. Often it's best to wait until order is restored.

Issuance mechanics. A composed, unrushed delivery shows you're in control. Keep your yellow card and red card separate and concealed. Know in which pocket each one is placed so you don't fumble around to retrieve the desired colored card. If you don't have everyone's undivided attention, toot your whistle. When a player on the court is being sanctioned, beckon that player to the stand. When someone on the bench is being sanctioned, call the playing team captain to the stand to inform the bench offender of the sanction. Keep a poker face. Use the hand on the side of the court of the offender. For an official verbal warning, hold up the index finger and state, “I am issuing an official verbal warning, let’s play.” For all other sanctions, hold the card(s) straight up in the hand. The offender must acknowledge to you of receiving the sanction. For a yellow card, signal its resultant scoring action. Add sparing remarks for penalty clarification only, no ad libbing. Settle the entire situation before resuming the match.

Effective match control is an art. Maintain order by wisely managing the conduct and emotions of the competitors with clever use of finesse, preventive measures, and individual sanctions without dampening their spirit and enjoyment of the competition. Learning these techniques and recognizing the specific deliberate misbehavior for which the issuance of an individual sanction is the only viable option are master skills every official should develop.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Stress Management
Corny Galdones, February 1998

Stress is an officiating occupational hazard. Volleyball officials are expected to be consistent during the entire match in making instantaneous decisions that are fair and proper. Unfortunately, we are not infallible and are subjected to stress. Coping with causes and incidents of stress is paramount to being a productive official.

Preventing stress. Avoidance of stress by stagnating is counterproductive. Challenge and improve yourself with tougher assignments. However, use discretion in pursuing an assignment above and beyond your capabilities. If you do, you will be burdened with an overwhelming task. You're definitely ready for the next level when the playing action seems to you to be in slow motion, all decisions are being made properly, and the match is under control throughout. Knowledge and skills deter stress. Know the rules and when it's necessary and appropriate to apply them. Attend matches and peruse technical publications to study the current playing and officiating techniques and strategies. Polish your officiating mechanics and abilities. Physical fitness and mental readiness are essentials in precluding stress. Be well-rested. Visualize possible match situations and your correct officiating responses. Allow time to arrive promptly and prepare fully for the match. Do your best thus averting careless mistakes. Haste and errors bring on stress. Being unfit, unprepared, hurried, or underachieving are stress factors within your control.

Dissipating anxiety. Uneasiness and tension on your part are normal for a trying match due to its quick pace, demands, and expectations. Personal measures must be taken to keep this anxiety in check, or your decision making and overall performance will be impaired. When feeling stressed or on the verge of losing your poise during the match, use the interval between plays to regain your composure. Don't feel pressured to rush, the play cannot start without you. Take your time without dawdling, relax. Chuckle at yourself and lighten up, it's not the end of the world. Bolster yourself with a pep talk. Breathe deeply down to your diaphragm and slowly exhale. Do it once or twice. Make eye contact with your partner for moral support and reassurance you're not alone. Tune out all movements, views, crowd noise, side conversations, thoughts, and other distractions that have no bearing on the next play. Concentrate on the court activities pertinent to your play calling. Thoroughly examine the defensive and offensive team alignments to buy more time, and more important, to better prepare yourself for the ensuing action. Start the play by whistling forcefully as though blowing your tensions away. Slow down your signals for added benefit.

Handling difficulties. Thinking and acting positive breeds confidence which in turn curbs stress. Worrying about failure or mistakes creates self-doubt and causes mistakes, thus inducing stress. Don't be concerned if you think you made a mistake. It might not be considered one from other perspectives. If a decision is perceived to be in error by others, don't take any dissent or criticism personally. It's your position as an official that's under scrutiny. Nobody is perfect. Every official makes mistakes, even the great ones. Granted, the great ones make fewer mistakes. What is important is how you react and recover from this adversity. Regardless of the emotions and adrenaline raging inside, maintain a calm, confident demeanor, or else you will lose credibility with the players and coaches. Smile. This sign of confidence has an overall soothing effect. Take charge. Sort out all the facts, collect your thoughts, then take a logical, firm action and get on with the match. If necessary, issue a sanction to quell a misconduct which caused a strained match atmosphere. Don't prolong the situation or be indecisive. Otherwise, players and coaches will detect a vulnerability to further questioning, testing, or manipulation which could induce stress. Once the matter is over and done with, forget about it. Dwelling on the past is detrimental. Blank it out of your mind and focus on the game at hand. Regain your composure if needed before restarting the match.

Reviewing performance under fire. After the match, be sure to analyze your performance. Get a critique of your decisions, match management, and mechanics from your partner (and perhaps later from other knowledgeable colleagues). Discuss problematic situations and alternate solutions. Keep a match diary detailing prominent events and needed improvements. Periodically consult this diary to gauge your progress in preventing future stress.

Stress is inherent in any officiating assignment. Whether it is self-inflicted or precipitated by outside elements, stress must be wisely managed so your performance in officiating the match is not adversely impacted.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Self-Employment Tax Basics
Corny Galdones, July 1997

A volleyball official is considered to be a self-employed independent contractor. This article is for officials unfamiliar with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) basics and requirements.

Publications. Information may be obtained from the IRS at (800) 829-1040 or its Web site (www.irs.ustreas.gov). Several IRS tax guides are helpful for the self-employed. Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals), is the most informative. Some others are:

• Publication 463: Travel, Entertainment, and Gift Expenses
• Publication 529: Depreciation on Computers or Cellular Telephones
• Publication 533: Self-Employment Tax
• Publication 535: Business Expenses
• Publication 560: Retirement Plans for the Self-Employed
• Publication 917: Business Use of a Car

Deductions. Most unreimbursed expenses of officiating activities can be deducted. Retain documented proof of these expenses. Keep a log (date, time, place, purpose, amount) and worksheet of individual expenses and all income generated from officiating. The (not all inclusive) list below of deductions is subject to change by IRS.

• Local travel expenses (mileage, tolls, and parking fees) between residence and site of officiating duties. Record the starting and ending car odometer readings for each business trip, and also for the tax year. The standard mileage rate for business miles fluctuates yearly.
• Transportation, taxi, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses for officiating trips longer than a day or requiring rest during the trip. Record the departure and return times. You have the option of deducting actual costs for meals and incidental expenses, or taking the standard meal allowance (SMA) for a day (based on 6-hour quarters). See IRS Pub. 463 for higher-cost SMA areas.
• Uniform and gear required for officiating.
• Membership dues and fees to associations from which income is earned.
• Computer equipment for self-employed purposes.
• Officiating-related long distance phone calls.
• Contributions to a self-employed retirement plan.

IRS Reporting. When filing your regular income tax return, you have two self-employed reporting options.

• Schedule C-EZ (Net Profit From Business) in which officiating income and gross deductions are reported.
• Schedule C (Profit or Loss From Business) in which officiating income and itemized deductions are reported. This form is supplemented by Form 4562 (Depreciation and Amortization) for purchased computer equipment.
• Both Schedule C-EZ and Schedule C require an additional Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax) if your officiating net income is $400 or more.

Disclaimer. This unofficial primer is for information only and must not be considered legal guidance.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
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Finger Tip Attack-Hits
Corny Galdones, February 1998

A hand thrust by a player attacking the ball by controlling and directing it with finger tips is called a tip, and formerly, a dink. It is one ball handling play that often falls in the "gray area" of being legal. The difficulty in judging a tip stems from the controlling and directing actions and the occasional surprise element of an unexpected tip.

Types. There are two types of tips that are differentiated by the attacking speed. A regular or soft tip is done with finesse. A power tip is done with force. A play in which a player in the act of setting decides at the last moment to direct the ball over the net with the finger tips of one hand technically is a tip but is better known as a dump. Regardless of type or label, all tips are judged the same way.

Duration of contact. The ball can be contacted on a tip only for a brief interval, both in time and in distance. Time-wise, the ball contact must be momentary. The attacker should not be allowed time to contemplate where to direct the ball during contact. Distance-wise, the ball must be released near to its initial contact point. Ball contact should not last through the full range of the attacker's arm span. Watch the entire duration of contact when judging the legality of a tip. Do not look ahead of the actual ball contact.

Contact of ball. The ball cannot be caught, i.e., the attacker's hand cannot stop or move backward on initial contact with the ball. On a power tip, force is used to propel the ball. The hand must already be in forward motion before contact is made with the ball. That way, the ball is legally rebounding upon contact. Otherwise, it is being caught first before being moved forward. It’s a held ball violation if the hitter makes contact with the ball, reloads, then pushes the ball forward. During contact, the hand must move continuously forward at the same speed without changing course from its initial direction. Giving upward impetus to the ball or cradling it from underneath is allowed on a tip provided the ball instantly bounces off the fingers. If the ball contact is extended, the ball cannot come to rest. Theoretically, it should drop freely from the fingers if the attacking motion were stopped. The ball cannot be thrown or be analogous to a baseball toss. Any subsequent hand actions after the ball is released, such as breaking of the wrist, is immaterial. The palm of the hand must not come in contact with the ball during a tip. Else, it is a caught, held, lifted, or thrown ball.

The tip is a very effective attack-hit especially when it's unexpected. Always be on the lookout for it. Like other ball handling plays, deciding what is a violation on a tip is a judgment call. Using the above guidelines, set your own judgment parameters as the match develops and be consistent in properly judging its legality no matter what transpires during the ball contact.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Archives - www.vball-life.org/officials/referees.htm

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Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Referee Development Program

Tricks of the Trade
Corny Galdones, February 2002

There are many individual techniques and tricks to help one officiate volleyball. Here is what one seasoned official has learned through the years of plying the trade.

Record Keeping

• Study the IRS regulations on self-employment to know your entitled tax deductions, i.e., mileage, uniforms, equipment, dues, plane fare, per diem away from home, etc. You can even write off an officiating-related trip to a vacation spot such as Hawaii!
• Maintain a spreadsheet of income (at least amount and date paid) and expenses by tax category for each match assignment or officiating activity. Keeping it current saves a lot of scrambling at tax time.
• Maintain a yearly folder of officiating receipts and supporting documents. When in doubt, save it.
• Carry a manual or automated daily planner with the pertinent info of all your assignments.
• Confirm each assignment with your assigner and partner. There’s nothing like showing up for a match and no one else is there.
• Carry a list of phone numbers for your assigners and fellow officials. Have a cell phone, phone card, or coins available.
  

Personal Equipment

• Appearances matter. A clean, crisp, immaculate uniform creates a good first and lasting impression. A threadbare or discolored uniform shirt won’t pass muster.
• Transport your official’s shoes and clothing in protective bags to your match site to keep them fresh.
• Have a regular shirt to wear after the match in case a social opportunity comes up.
• Have a double-sided sticky Velcro strip handy to hold your official’s patch onto your shirt in emergencies. It works better than a pin.
• Have pencil and black/blue pen to serve as supplies backup for the scorekeeper.
• A film canister with a slit on top or a squeeze-open flat plastic coin purse is a convenient container for the net measuring chain. Winding the chain for storage is a good way to get it tangled. A better way is to let it drop in bead by bead.
• Every so often wash your whistles with warm water and baking soda.
• Every so often launder your white whistle lanyard with bleach. Dry it right away so its metal parts won’t rust.
• Never loan out the whistles you use. Carry a spare, disposable one for that purpose.
• Whistles can damage your hearing. Stay low profile in color, shape and use if you decide to wear earplugs or noise reducers. A good time to put them on is when the teams huddle at the end of warm-ups and before you walk to your post. Do not wear them if you cannot hear normal conversation with them on, especially as an R2 where you have to interact with the coaches and scorekeeper. If you cannot find an appropriate model to wear, experiment with shortened lengths of a foam type until you find an effective size. Cutting off a fourth or a third of it and placing it looser in your ear might work. In the absence of hearing protection, turn your whistle upside down during use. This also prevents the pea from sticking in an old-fashioned whistle.
• Right after the coin toss in the captains’ meeting, put the tossing coin in a pocket on the side of the serving team.
• Keep red and yellow cards hidden and separate for easy retrieval. R in R is easy to remember, i.e., red in pants right pocket, yellow in pants left pocket. A card placed in the shirt pocket could become exposed, which sets a negative tone.

Match Equipment

• The net can be cranked tight only so high. Further cranking could bend the poles inward or snap the top cable (oops!). If the net height has to go higher, raise the bottom net cables. If that doesn’t work, have the poles raised and the bottom net cables may need to be pulled down for the right net height.
• Toss a ball into the middle and bottom of the net along its entire court width to check if the net is tight enough for playing a ball going into the net.
• Place the antennas on the side of the net away from the strong side hitter. Secure them more by weaving through the net.
• Use your net measuring chain to plumb the antennas.
• Put a distinct mark, e.g., your initials, at the needle hole of a game ball after checking its pressure. It will be easier to find if it gets mixed with other balls.
• Get up on the referee stand to be sure it’s a comfortable height for you.
• Keep a towel up on the referee stand, not on the bottom net cable. It will not be in the line judge’s line of vision and can be tossed to the players when needed to wipe the floor.

Teamwork

• Juniors players like to be line judges when flags are used.
• Brief all the line judges for the entire match en masse. Make it short and sweet. You lose their attention fast.
• No matter how thorough your briefing is, the line judges will be only as good as you make them. Keep them in the match with you as an R1. Prompt a line judge for a signal whenever none is given. Make eye contact with the line judges even on obvious calls.
• Work together with your partner during pre-match activities. Do not do your partner’s job. Instead give a gentle reminder if the job is not getting done.
• Make a nature call before the match, even if you feel you don’t need one. If it’s during pre-match proceedings, take turns with your partner so that at least one of you is monitoring the court at all times.
• Serve and protect your partner during the match.

Teams & Lineups

• Watch the players during warm-ups. Identify the outside hitters, middle hitters, opposite hitters and their hitting tendencies. See if there are any peculiar techniques by the setters.
• Study each team’s submitted lineup before the match to identify at least the setter’s position and the player opposite the setter. Note who the captains are and the positions of the opposing teams’ setters relative to each other.
• As an R2, holding onto the ball during the lineup check of players on the court makes it clumsy to signal the captain’s number to the R1. Either give the ball to the server right away or retrieve it from the scorekeeper table after checking the lineups.
• While the R2 is checking the lineups before the start of each game, study each team’s rotation, especially the setter and the player opposite the setter.
• Before the serve, after checking the receiving team for possible overlaps as an R2, note the serving team’s front row players in service order. After a side out, the passing formation of that team will be less confusing when looking for overlaps.
• If you miss calling an overlap at time of serve, make a mental note of the situation and catch it on the next go-around. If an overlap is called at the end of a play, there will denials and arguments because the supporting evidence is gone.

Match Control & Sanctions

• Take action to prevent a team from being sanctioned or penalized. For example, check for jewelry during warm-ups.
• Take action to prevent a potential problem from becoming one. For example, if no libero is
  indicated on the submitted lineup, verify with the coach if that is correct. Make sure the libero wears a shirt of contrasting colors to teammates before the match starts.
• Establish a working rapport with the coaches as an R2. Let them coach so long they’re not disruptive. Make sure the coaches submit their lineups to you and not the scorekeeper. Fetch the lineups instead of making the coach walk. If applicable, inform coaches without being asked when there is a minute left for serving in their warm-up period. Anticipate a time out request and look for a coach’s subtle signal requesting one. Know when a substitution request is coming up. Warn the coach of a possible overlap. Be approachable for questioning. Explain all questioned calls.
• Control the teams’ behavior. Address each act of misconduct, no matter how slight. Otherwise things can get out of hand real fast. Give a whistle warning toot and cautionary hand motion to a harmless, venting of frustration by a player.
• Be approachable as an R1 but only by the playing captains. Remind the captain of this when a teammate discusses a call with you.
• Clear all players away from your stand when talking to the R2 or line judges on a controversial call. Letting your conversation be overheard adds fuel to the fire when your final decision is made.
• At the end of the play, don’t look at your signals. Watch the net for possible misconduct by the players before resuming your other duties.
• There is no formal signal for an improper request sanction. One way the R1 and R2 can communicate this sanction to each other is the sign language “R”, i.e., middle finger crossed over index finger.
• With rally scoring, it pays dividends to check that the scoreboard is correct after every play.
• Smile. Everyone will react more favorably to a smile.

Play Actions

• Most illegal plays at the net (excluding net and center line violations) will involve the receiving team’s setter on an overpass of the serve. After beckoning for serve as an R1, check the location of the receiving team’s setter so it’s fresh in your mind. Make sure to return your view back to the server before the serve is made.
• Don’t follow the flight of ball as an R1 after it goes above your eye level. Look ahead to where the ball is headed to identify who will handle the ball and watch the hitters approach. You will get more reaction time to judge ball handling and a better picture of the overall action.
• “Ugly” is not a ball handling violation. Don’t judge on looks or body positions. Don’t make a call just because a player or the ball did not do what you expected.
• Focus in on the player’s body parts contacting the ball for whether the ball came to a stop, was held, or double contacted. Nothing else.
• Use rapid eye movements as an R1 during a spike: hitter, net, defense. Watch the hitter making ball contact. As soon as the hit is completed, focus on the net for possible touches of the ball by the blockers and net violations. Skipping this step reduces input for making a call. After the ball passes the blockers, find the defensive player who will be playing the ball.
• When a spike hits the top of the net and rebounds back, quickly look to your R2 for input on whether the blockers contacted the ball as play continues.
• When there’s a possibility the ball may have gone by the antenna illegally or hit it, quickly look to the line judges for input as play continues. Don’t get fooled by a spike that nicks the top of the net as it passes close to the antenna. It will have the same sound and effect as a ball nicking the antenna. Check with the line judge.
• On a power tip (not to be confused with a soft tip), the spiker’s hand should already be moving forward before contacting the ball. If not, the ball was caught before the forward motion. Be alert for a flinging motion during contact.
• On a spike close to you as an R1, the ball could ricochet off the blockers toward you. Ducking doesn’t always work. Use the antenna as a shield. Your first reflex should be to protect your face with a hand so the ball won’t six-pack you (ow!) or bash the whistle into your mouth (OUCH!!).

End of Match

• After a hotly contested match, stay at your post to guard against any shenanigans while the players and coaches shake hands.
• Quickly perform your administrative duties and hightail out of the area. The people more likely to talk to you will be the unhappy ones.

These officiating pearls of wisdom have been gleaned from years of lessons learned and are still functional for today’s game. Although several are personal practices and not standard procedure, it won’t hurt to consider them all. You might find some of these trade tricks are worth adopting for your own use.

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Archives - www.vball-life.org/officials/referees.htm

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Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Referee Development Program

Tunnel Vision
Corny Galdones, February 2007

What problem is most common to second referees? Some might say a sore back, probably from carrying a partner or some extra weight. In either case, what could relate is coaches chewing our butts off about questionable decisions by the first referee. My educated guess would be tunnel vision. Don’t take my answer as gospel, however. I once flunked out of college by carousing too much in my spirited youth. I wouldn’t call that educated. Neither did my parents.

By gluing our eyes as second referees to the net during rallies to catch every net and centerline violation, we lose sight of what else is happening on the court. Zoning on the net leads to missing calls because without the big picture we aren’t aware of or fail to anticipate all sorts of violations. Fixations aren’t good for anyone except psychiatrists. Open up that vision. Spectators have the best view in the house. They see the entire court and all the action. It’s too bad we aren’t spectators. In fact, we must be exactly that to do our second referee job right.

Helping the first referee on concealed ball handling errors, four team contacts, libero in front of the attack line, illegal attacks or blocks by back row players at the net, players reaching over the net, jousts, failed pancakes, and especially illegal back row attacks from the attack line are other duties as assigned for a second referee. That’s more reason to tune in on the action instead of just concentrating on the net and centerline.

Pay little attention during play to the net and centerline until the ball enters the vicinity. Relax. The blockers aren’t going anywhere. Meanwhile, we should enjoy the game but be on our toes to assist the first referee on calls. Take in everything occurring on the court. Transfer those eyes over to the action and identify what could happen next. That’s important. To eliminate any doubt in detecting a violation and signaling it to the first referee, look through the net directly at the playing scene with peripheral vision on the net activity, not the other way around.

As the attack unfolds, watch the game, not the net. Once the attacker is recognized plus feet placement in relation to the attack line noted, or when a player could contact the net playing the ball, that’s the proper time to shift our second referee eyes to the net and centerline. Focus on the blockers without ignoring the offensive players. Don’t follow the ball as it crosses beyond the blockers. Keep those eyes front and center until no player at the net can commit a violation. When all is clear, track down the ball quickly while transitioning sideways to the blockers’ side with either side steps or a crossover first step but not a Sunday stroll. Set in position before the second team contact and start the process anew with a broad scope to observe the entire attack develop.

Tunnel vision? Oh, my aching back!

Reprinted with permission from Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association
Archives - www.vball-life.org/officials/index.htm

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