This presentation is prepared for officials of levels 4-6. The focus is on R2 training. The notes section of each slide contains descriptive information for presenters and officials who wish to review material. Notes specific to presenters are italicized.

2014 – Barb Besal

1

2

This is a rough outline of the timing leading up to the match. The R2 should go with the R1 to introduce themselves to host administration before the match. The R2 should assist the R1 in checking the net, ball, antennas, and stand. During the pre-match conference, the R2 should only offer input if the R1 has missed something important (ground rules, sportsmanship, equipment). The R2 (or R1) should indicate to the scorer which team has serve at the conclusion of the pre-match conference and be sure that the 20:00 timed warmup period has started on the timer. Assuming the table crew has arrived at 20:00 before the match, the R2 should brief the table crew (more about that on subsequent slide). The R1 and R2 can team up to check rosters (if turned in early) and legality of equipment. There are a lot of things to do before the match begins; the more you and your partner help each other out, the better you will be set up for success in the match!

3

The final 12 minutes can be broken down in a variety of ways, but these are two of the most common. Make sure you know how the timed warm-ups will be divided. It’s best to ask the home coach before the pre-match conference if there is no set standard. The R2 is typically responsible for controlling the timing of the pre-match warmups, however, if the R2 is busy, the R1 may take care of whistling at the appropriate times.

4

First and foremost, introduce yourself. The scorer needs your name for the scoresheet anyway. Ask the scorer his or her name and do your best to remember it! They may be your biggest help during the match, and it’s very impressive when you walk through the doors of that facility again and can greet them by name. When briefing the scorer, try to gauge their experience level. At the beginning of the season, you may need to be more thorough in your briefing to remind the scorer of what they’ve forgotten in 10 months. As the season progresses, you may be able to just “hit the highlights”. Some scorers are brand new and you have be able to be detailed and thorough without overwhelming them. Don’t insult their intelligence if they are knowledgeable, and don’t overwhelm them if they’re not. Regardless of the experience of your scorer, let them know you’re here to support them and that if they need assistance, that’s your job. Be sure your scorer knows a few things:1. How to record substitutes properly2. When to notify you that there is a wrong server3. Indicate the number of timeouts used (at the completion of the timeout, but any

time during the timeout is fine)

When it comes to giving the scorer information, ASK THEM what they prefer! Some scorers don’t like to hear numbers. Some need to hear “on the left” or “on the right”

5

with the numbers. Some will ask the libero tracker to call out the numbers instead. Defer to their preferences. The easier you make their job for them, the faster the match will go. Ask your scorer to give you confirmation that they have recorded the substitution properly. A visual “ready” signal is helpful, but not necessary. An audible phrase (“got it”) works just fine. Remind your scorer that if they find an error – or think they find an error – they should let you know immediately.

Let your scorer know what questions you may have to ask in the match so they are not caught unawares. You might want to know how many timeouts or substitutions a team has used, who the next server is on a particular team, or who the next three servers are. Let them know you might turn around during a dead ball to get some information from the scoresheet. Be sure to verify that the lineups are written correctly on the scoresheet.

Keep copies of the scoresheet, libero tracking sheet, and lineup sheet on hand. If someone forgot to run copies, you can save the day!

When briefing the libero tracker, ask them what they are supposed to do and why they are supposed to do it. Many libero trackers know that they track substitutions and replacements, but they don’t know what they are looking for in terms of legal and illegal replacements. Be sure your libero tracker knows when to get your attention and how to identify an illegal libero replacement. If the libero tracker needs training, be sure to mention the double libero replacement that can happen when the libero goes back to serve from on the court. When this happens during the match, stop and help them. You may have to help a newer libero tracker with verbal cues during the first set (“libero in on the right”), but try to get them to become independent in subsequent sets. Remind your libero tracker to give informational signals to the R1 about whether the liberos are on or off the floor. This may take prompting during the timeout as well.

Talk to the timer about keeping the time for timeouts and between the sets. Let them know when to start the timer in each case. Ask them if the timer is equipped with an audio horn and whether it will be in use. Let them know that you will sound a whistle with 15 seconds remaining in a timeout and that if the teams take the floor before 60 seconds elapses, you will whistle again to end the timeout early and they should stop the clock and not let the horn sound. Ask them to stay in communication with the official scorer. If there is a discrepancy between the scorer and the visual score as controlled by the timer, the official scorer is the score we go by.

We will discuss more completely all the responsibilities of the scorer, libero tracker, and timer in our scoring clinic.

5

When briefing with your partner, make sure you finish with the answers to these questions:1. What does my partner need help on?2. How will I communicate information to my partner? Whistle? Signals (obvious or

discreet)?3. How will I tell my partner if a sanction needs to be given?

6

Net and Center Line: The R2 is responsible for making calls involving players contacting the net and completely crossing the center line. During play, the R2 should have a wide focus to see what’s happening on the court and to be able to help the R1 as necessary. When the ball comes close to the net (2nd and 3rd contact, usually), the R2 should narrow focus onto the players at the net playing the ball. Look for net faults by the setter (even after contact) or center line violations by a jumping setter who lands. Look for net faults by hitters and blockers, then check for center line violations by hitters and blockers. Remember to judge whether the player contacts the net, not whether the ball pushes the net into the player. Be aware also that a defender may not block the ball through the net by placing hands at the net and allowing the ball to deflect off the hands.

R2 Antenna: The R2 should blow the whistle if the ball contacts the antenna, net outside the antenna or standard on the R2’s side, or if the ball travels over or completely outside the R2 antenna. This may involve movement to get into proper position to see where the ball goes.

Alignment: Before each play begins, the R2 should be watching the receiving team for alignment faults. At the moment of contact for serve, if an alignment fault exists, the

7

R2 should whistle and show the illegal alignment signal (#1), and then point to the players who are not aligned properly. If necessary, verbalize the player numbers to the coach and offer a brief explanation of what the alignment fault is. If an alignment fault is whistled but does not actually exist, indicate a replay. If players are approaching an illegal alignment, then the R2 may give the team a warning quickly and discreetly, but egregious faults should be whistled without warning.

Assist R1: The R2 should give discreet signals to the R1 in situations where the R1 requests information or is screened from a play. Such signals include 4th contact, back row attack or block, and multiple or illegal contacts (only when R1 is screened). If the R1 makes a call that is unpopular with a coach or team, the R2 should direct the coach away from yelling at the R1 across the court and have him address questions to the R2. Keep the explanations brief and rule-oriented, and do not get into lengthy conversations with a coach over disputed calls, especially when judgment is involved.

7

A full list of R2 responsibilities can be found in the rule book (rule 5.5), but these are some of the major ones.

Table Crew: the R2 is responsible for working with the scorer, libero tracker, and timer. The R2 should be sure that lineups are submitted properly and recorded properly on the scoresheet and libero tracking sheet. When information needs to be relayed to or from the scorer, the R2 is the intermediary. Such information includes incorrect servers, when a team has used two timeouts, when a team has taken substitutions 15, 16, 17, and 18, and asking and reporting who the new floor captain will be if the current floor captain is substituted out of the match.

Verify Lineups: the R2 should use the teams’ submitted lineups to check the alignment of the players on the floor before each set begins. Under NFHS rules, for the service team, the person marked as the first server should be in right back. For the receiving team, the person marked as the first server should be in right front. Under USAV rules, the teams will submit lineups by floor position rather than service position, so the person marked as being in spot number 1 should be in right back regardless of whether the team has serve or receive (use this method for adult recreation leagues). This lineup check is a courtesy to the teams and coaches.

8

TOs and Subs: the R2 should recognize timeouts from coaches or playing captains and requests for substitutions by head coaches or by substitutes standing in the substitution zone. The R2 should be scanning the benches during dead ball for these requests. Not all requests from coaches are made verbally. Subs and timeouts may be granted provided the R1 has not blown the whistle to beckon for serve. When a team wishes to make multiple substitutions, all substitutes must report at the same time. The first substitute should report to the sub zone, and the remaining substitutes should wait just beyond the sub zone in the libero replacement zone. As each substitute is released to the court, the next sub should step up into the substitution zone to be recognized by the R2. If substitutes enter the court without being released by the R2, bring them back to the sub zone. If both teams wish to make substitutions at the same time, the R2 should acknowledge each team’s request with a separate whistle. Remember that when a substitute leaves the set, they must wait one dead ball to re-enter the match.

Benches & Coaches: The R2 is the primary point of the contact for a coach who needs information. The R2 should be ready with information for a coach who is questioning a call. Players at the bench should be seated during play. Players who cannot fit on the bench should be behind the bench in the warmup area or seated in bleachers nearby. If a player or coach on the bench is out of line, the R2 should issue a verbal warning to the individual or request a sanction from the R1.

8

Now you know what you have to do. Let’s see how it gets done. As you watch these R2 videos, notice how the R2s perform. Focus especially on:

Positioning during playsTransitionsCommunication, signalsProviding assistance to R1Administering the match, including checking for requests during dead ball

Click the action buttons to watch the two short videos of R2s working. Ask for participants to offer input about what they see. What do they see the R2s do? What do they think the R2s do well? What do they think the R2s should do differently?

9

Signals: The R2 should be mimicking the signals of the R1 on any play where the R1 initiated the call (exceptions: beckon for serve & net serve). The proper sequence in this case is

1. Point/Loss of Rally2. Fault

If the R2 initiates a call (net fault, center line violation, antenna, wrong server, alignment), then the R2 should:

1. Whistle2. Indicate the fault3. Indicate the player(s) at fault (for net, center line, alignment)4. Mimic the R1’s Point/Loss of Rally signal

In both cases, the R2 should center – that is, stop movement and face the R1.

There are other signals that the R2 may give to the R1 without following the proper sequence. These include discreet signals as well as big signals for information to relay

10

to the R1 on a terminating play (e.g. ball down, ball touched)

Click the first action button to see an example of a R2 assisting a R1 with a down ball. She makes a big signal for the down ball, then repeats the R1’s signals.

Whistle: The R2 may differentiate number of whistles or tone for different circumstances. Each whistle should be sharp and loud so everyone can hear. The R2’s whistle is often during play rather than at the end of the play, so it should be distinct and obvious when it is used. Sometimes an R2’s whistle is delayed due to reaction time. Whistle a fault as quickly as you can. If the R1 and R2 whistle faults at the same time, the R1 should try to determine which fault occurred first. If the simultaneous whistles come at the beginning of the play (R1 beckons while R2 acknowledges request), then the general technique is for the R1 stop the server and defer to the R2’s whistle.

Click the second action button to see a video of a double whistle. The R1 whistles a back row attack and the R2 whistles a net fault. The R2 quickly drops his signal and changes to the R1’s signal. If there was some confusion, the R1 could pat his chest to indicate that the back row attack happened first.

Position: The R2 should position themselves on the defensive side of the court near the net (laterally) but with enough distance to the court to be able to see everything (8-10 feet away from the court). The R2’s position should allow them to see the defensive setup as well as the offensive development and attack. The R2 should move from a wide field of view at the start of a team’s 3 contacts toward a more narrow field of view at the net as the offensive play develops.

Transition: The R2 is constantly in motion as play goes on. When the ball is sent over the net, the R2 must move to the other side of the court. Transitions should be quick and not force the R2 to turn their back to the court or to the ball being played. The R2 should try to minimize the amount of time behind the pole and the R2 should not begin the transition until the play at the net is finished. Sometimes, the R2 gets caught on the attacking team’s side, and that’s okay. It’s more important to be able to see play while on the attacking side than to be stuck behind the pole and screened from play to get on the blocking side. Sometimes during play, a secondary transition is needed to get in the best position to see the play, especially when a ball might be played outside the R2’s antenna.

Click the third action button to see a video of an R2 moving during play to see a ball headed outside her antenna. Explain why the R2 is moving and how this helps her get the best angle on a potential play.

10

Scan: The R2 should scan each bench and the court during dead ball. The R2 is looking for requests from coaches, proper bench control, and clear playing area. Be on the lookout for a last-second request before the R1 whistles to beckon for serve. Anticipate when a coach might call a timeout.

10

Start of Set: R2 should check lineups, identify captains, and allow liberos to enter court. Once this is done for each team, the R2 should roll the ball to the serving team, take position, and indicate a ready signal to the R1.

Click the first action button to see an R2 starting a set.

If you haven’t covered substitutions in as much detail in the earlier slides, now is a good time to do that. Discuss what happens when a sub is requested and what the R2 should do.

Click the second action button to see an R2 administering a double sub, calling the second pair back, and having them do the sub correctly (waiting to be authorized).

Timeouts: The R2 should blow the whistle, indicate the timeout signal on the side of the team who requested the timeout, then indicate discreetly to the R1 how many timeouts each team has used, then start their watch (or be sure the scoreboard timer is running). At 15 seconds remaining in the timeout, the R2 should sound a warning whistle. At 60 seconds, either the audio horn should sound or the R2 should whistle again to end the timeout, and the R2 and R1 should indicate overhead the number of

11

timeouts each team has used. If the teams take the court before 60 seconds, then the R2 should whistle to end the timeout. The R2 should be sure the timer device has been stopped before returning the court to the R1 with the ready signal. If teams do not exit the timeout at the end of 60 seconds, the R2 should approach the team and indicate that they must take the floor. Try to avoid clapping or whistling at them and instead, be verbal (“Let’s play now”).

End of Set: The R2 should signal set point to R1 when this is confirmed by the scorer. The R2 does not have to indicate EVERY set point of the set… just the first one. When the set is over, the R2 should show the “end of set” signal, which the R1 mimics with an accompanying whistle. Once the R1 directs the teams to change courts, the R2 should step out to the right side of the court near the attack line and keep the six players on the floor from returning to their bench. They must change courts immediately, and then they can come back to their bench to get bags, water, etc. Once the R2 knows the players are headed around the court, the R2 can face the net and watch the side change by the bench players and coaches. When the area in front of the scorer’s table is clear, return to the table and be sure the coaches picked up their lineup sheets and that the timer has started the 3-minute interval. Check in with your R1 to see if they have any information or input to give you.

11

12

13

When communicating with coaches, remember three key words: approachability, preparation, professionalism.

Approachability: You want to be someone the coach can talk to. Talking to you may keep them from doing something more drastic, like talking to your partner across the court. This doesn’t mean you want to be chatty with them, but you want to be able to answer their questions and get answers to your questions when you need them. Start the match off right by introducing yourself before the match begins. Be polite and courteous. Sometimes, coaches just want to be heard. You can listen without responding (if they don’t ask a question). You don’t have to be a buddy to them, but show no fear and be open to them. Do not ignore them!

Preparation: KNOW THE LANGUAGE OF THE RULES. Be ready in any situation to step in with an explanation of what happened. Draw upon the rule book, our EOA guidelines, and your own experience. Not every call will be popular or easy to make, so be able to back it up. Keep your answers concise and rule-based. Part of preparation before the match is completing all the necessary pre-match procedures, including briefing your table crew, briefing with your partner, and meeting the host administration. Mentally prepare for the match as well. Don’t come in with

14

expectations about match duration, quality of play, etc.

Professionalism: Be prompt, dressed appropriately, and have all your necessary equipment (and then some). Keep extra scoresheets, libero tracking sheets, and lineup sheets. Keep a positive attitude before the match, and control your emotions within the match. There is a big difference between what we want to say and what we should say to coaches during the match. Do not try to have the last word; you won’t always get it.

14

Be sure to know which violations result in which sanctions.

See Rule 9.9 for examples of unnecessary delays.

15

16