GUIDELINES FOR 2nd REFEREE TRAINING
While the Officials Division of USA Volleyball prefers that all referees be trained as both First and
Second Referees, we do acknowledge that, under certain circumstances (e.g., junior teams), it may
be desirable to only provide Second Referee training to new and less experienced referees. To that
end, we are providing the following list of Responsibilities of the Second Referee for use as training
topics in clinics for Second Referees. These topics should be discussed in detail with the trainees,
stressing the necessity of professionalism and teamwork. Clinicians should also stress throughout
the training process that the Second Referee is a very important and necessary part of the officiating
team and, as such, should take pride in performing their functions to the best of their ability.
A) Clinicians may also wish to refer to USAV Rule 25 for additional details regarding the location,
authority and responsibilities of the Second Referee.
B) Please note that the list of topics provided in this document should be considered the
minimum knowledge set required for any volleyball referee. It is recommended that the
trainee receive on-court training related to the topics included in the clinic.
C) It should be noted that the trainees being addressed by these guidelines should also have a
general knowledge of the rules of the game and of scorekeeping techniques.
Responsibilities of the Second Referee
A.
General Techniques
1) Stand upright about 2-3 feet behind the net pole or just behind the barrels (if
applicable). Do not lean on the pole. Do not sit on the barrels.
2) Use a lanyard and keep the whistle in your mouth during play so you can promptly:
a. Whistle positional faults of receiving team
b. Whistle net and centerline faults during play
c. Whistle for substitution requests
d. Whistle for time out requests and at the end of time outs
3) Use a loud, firm whistle so that everyone can hear it. (Short blasts of air)
4) If players do not stop playing when you whistle, blow the whistle again louder and, if
necessary, repeatedly to prevent any players from becoming injured.
5) Do not accept rude remarks from the coaches or players. Inform the R1 of any rude
remarks directed at any member of the officiating team (R2, Scorer, line judges, etc)
and let him/her handle the situation. The officiating team’s coach, who must be
assisting with the match, should be able to offer assistance in dealing with this matter.
6) You are an important part of the officiating team. Be ready to work from the time
warm-ups begin until the end of the match. Do not allow teammates or parents to
interrupt your concentration during the match.
7) Make your signals clear and visible. This makes you look more professional and will
keep the coaches and spectators from asking “What’s the call?”. Imitate the signals of
the R1 (except for the service beckon and service net faults).
8) Pay attention – focus on your responsibilities. Don’t dwell on any calls you think you
may have missed. Focus on the upcoming play.
9) Remember that you are representing your team. A professional appearance and
demeanor makes a positive impression on participants and spectators. Do your duties
the same way that you would want the other teams to do when they are officiating
your match.
B.
Pre-match Responsibilities
1)
2)
3)
4)
Attend the pre-match conference with the R1 and the team captains.
Supply line-up sheets to the coaches.
Time the warm-up period (if requested by the R1).
Check players for legal uniforms, jewelry, and other player equipment.
5) Check playing area for safety concerns and establishing ground rules.
6) Establish a working relationship with the table crew.
a) Briefly discuss with the score table personnel how you will communicate
substitutions. Remind the scorer that she should signal “ready” (holding both
hands in front of the body, just above head height, palms toward the court)
after completing substitution requests for each team. (Substitutions by both
teams would require multiple ready signals.)
b) Remind the scorer to inform you of set point when one team reaches 24 points.
c) Remind the scorers to inform you if the captain leaves the set.
d) Remind the scorer to inform you when a team has reached 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
substitutions.
e) Discuss how the scorers will handle any illegal substitutions, wrong servers,
and illegal Libero replacements.
7) At least two minutes before the end of the timed warm-up period, collect and return
the completed line-up sheets to the scorer. Check the line-up sheets for team name,
coach’s signature, game captain and the designation of a Libero(s).
8) Check the player’s positions as they take the court before the start of the each set to
ensure they match what is written on the line-up sheets. After checking the line-up,
authorize entry of the Libero.
C)
During the Match
1) Provide the game ball to the first server of the match.
2) At the time of service, watch the receiving team for position faults (overlapping).
3) Primary responsibilities during rallies are to watch for net and center line violations. To
best view these, the R2 should transition to the blocker’s side of the net (where the
ball is not) after the attacking team’s first contact and every time the ball crosses over
the net until the end of the rally. It is not appropriate to duck under the net (except
where the nets are tied together). Stay in your base position (2-3 feet behind the pole)
and step from side to side.
a) Your job is to remain focused at the net and center line. You will often not see
the first contact when it is away from the net (back zone).
b) After players have cleared the net and center line, experienced R2s should be
able to watch through the net for and identify illegal attack and block situations
from this position before re-focusing on the net and center line.
4) Contact with the net by a player is NOT a fault unless she touches the top band of the
net or the antenna above the net during the action of playing the ball. It is NOT a fault
to contact the posts, ropes or the net itself outside the antennae.
5) Center line violations (penetration faults) occur when a player’s foot has completely
crossed the center line within the sidelines. If the foot is in contact with or still above
the center line (shadowing), then there is NO fault. Completely crossing the center line
with any body part above the feet is permitted provided it does not interfere with play
(making contact with an opponent or creating a safety hazard).
6) Watch for the ball hitting the antenna (or the net or other objects outside the antenna)
or crossing the net above or outside the antenna on your side of the court and clearly
whistle and signal this violation.
7) Between rallies, be alert to incoming substitutions. Be ready for time-out and line-up
check requests from the head coach.
a) If a substitution is requested, whistle and signal substitution. The actual request for
substitution is the entrance of the substitute player(s) into the substitution zone,
ready to play, during a regular interruption. Check the player’s numbers and
release the players with the authorization to enter signal (sweeping motion of arm
on side of substitute close to the body next to your thigh, palm facing court). Be
sure the scorer has the correct information to record. Wait for the scorer to show
the ready signal. Then, show the R1 the ready signal.
b) If a legal time-out is requested, whistle and indicate which team requested the
time-out. Time the time-out and whistle when it is over (30 seconds). Request the
players return to their positions. If this is a team’s first time-out, provide the ready
signal to the R1. If this is a team’s second time-out, inform that coach by showing
the time-out signal followed by the number 2. Then, show the R1 the time-out
signal followed by the number 2. Then, show the ready signal.
D)
Between Sets
1) Time the interval between sets (3 minutes)
2) Return the line-up sheets to the team coaches.
3) Return completed line-up sheets to the scorer as quickly as possible (due at 30
seconds remaining); check for the same information as you did before the match.
4) If requested by the R1, conduct the coin toss prior to the deciding set.
5) Keep track of the game ball or delegate this responsibility to the line judges. Help
locate the game ball so it is not lost between sets or after the match. Remember, you
will need to provide the game ball to the first server of the next set.
6) Stay focused on the match. This is NOT the time to visit with or text your friends or
teammates. Make eye contact with the R1, to see if they want to discuss any
situations that may have arisen. Never discuss players, coaches or game situations
aloud.
7) Whistle teams back onto the court with 30 seconds remaining.
E)
After the Match
1) Collect the game ball and return it to the proper location.
2) Thank your support officials (scorers, flipper and line judges).
3) Quietly ask the R1 any questions you might have to make yourself a better R2 for the
next time you have to officiate.
4) Someday you might want to pursue officiating further. A great R2 can help facilitate
the match to ensure that everyone can focus on their position specific tasks to the best
of the abilities.