A few basic rules to keep in mind as a referee
Before the match:
- Have pen and paper ready, and make sure you can log on to your Nevobo account on your smartphone (or someone else’s) so you can check and fill in all the details in the ‘dwf’, the digital form, read about it (in Dutch) here. That’s the form to use to check the list of players and coaches. Together with the coach, check off all players while going through their Nevobo player cards.
- If you’re in time, keep track of the time used to warm up. Take initiative to switch warm up elements (from warming up in general to smash/spike warm up left, mid, right, to serve). Allow about 3 minutes for each element
- Call the captains together for the so-called ‘toss’. You don’t have to do an actual toss anymore, but allow the visiting team to choose ‘side’ or ‘serve’ first. At the start of a possible 5th set, the home team may choose first.
- Pick a nice ball to play with. During each set, write down positions of players, time-outs, end scores per set, etc. on your piece of paper. Don’t opt for ‘live tracking’ in the digital form if it isn’t necessary, as it is time-consuming.
During the match:
- Be clear as a referee. Blow your whistle loud and clear each time😊, and whistle at the end of each rally, even when it is clear that the rally ended and who scored a point. Whistling for each point keeps things clear, also for yourself. After you’ve whistled, signal the side who gets the serve and then signal the foul with the appropriate hand gesture.
- At the start of each set, it is appropriate to check with the captains in each team (of the 6 on the court) if they are ready to start the set. An added bonus is that you can check for yourself again who the captains are. After that, whistly for the fist serve.
- Besides the common in/out/net fouls, it is useful to keep a few rules in mind:
* foot fouls during serve
* a jump/hit in front of or on the attack line (3-metre line/ 10-foot line) by a player in the back
– back players who hit the ball in front of or on the attack line
– the setter, being a back player, who plays the second ball over the net, and while playing reaches above the net
– the libero who sets the 2nd ball with an overhand pass in front of the attack line, after which the attack is completed with a hit
* playing the ball 4 times, which often happens when the attack hits the top of the net only, or during attack fouls or block fouls
* held ball. Note: a lot is allowed nowadays in terms of technique, especially for the 2nd ball by the setter, but a held ball is still not allowed.
- Write down the final score at the end of each set on your piece of paper – you will have to add it to the digital form at the end of the match.
After the match:
- Add the final scores of each set to the ‘dwf’ and double check wether you’ve filled them in correctly for home and visiting teams, and whether the final match result is correct.
- Have the final result and scores checked by the captains of both teams, and tick the boxes accordingly to finalise the results.
- Done! Thanks! Because of your efforts, two teams have been able to play a great game of volleyball!
Want to know about the courses given by the nevobo? They are only in Dutch, but some explanation on this page with google translate might help you already Tips voor scheidsrechters