Line Judging
So the first things to remember about being a line judge is to have fun and focus on the complete play. All referees will go over this information with you before each match. So if you aren't sure of something you will have the opportunity to ask for clarification. Also, the ultimate responsibility for the call is on the referee team and as long as you are paying attention and watching the ball you will be fine. Remember the players, officials and coaches appreciate your participation. Have fun and thank you!
WHAT IS THE JOB OF A LINE JUDGE?
The Rules State - Line Judges:
"Line judges are positioned at the intersection of the sideline and end line. One is to the right of the 1st referee and the other stands to the right of the 2nd referee. Line judges signal balls in bounds, out of bounds, and foot faults. They also call balls touching, passing over or outside the antenna, "pancake" saves or hits, and ball contact with players or objects. Flags may be used at the discretion of the 1st referee."
It would be rare that you will be asked to call "pancake" saves or hits.
As a line judge you will have several duties during a match. Your constant attention is required to support the referees even for balls played to the other side of the net. Those duties primarily require you to call:
1. Foot faults on serve at your end line
2. Balls which are in and out:
- Along the end line at your end of the court.
- Along the entire length of the court from your end line to the opposite end line on your side of the court.
3. Balls played over or into the antenna.
4. Tip balls from a block which fall outside the court.
Every play begins with a serve. For serves on your side of the court you will watch to determine if the player foot faults. The rule is fairly self-explanatory.
1. FOOT FAULTS:
The Rules State -
"At the moment of the service hit or take-off for a jump service, the server must not touch the court (the end line included) or the floor outside the service zone. After the hit, he/she may step or land outside the service zone, or inside the court."
If the player’s foot touches the line as they strike the ball or as they take off for a jump serve, it is a foot fault. In the photo above, that IS NOT a foot fault.
What do you do if there is a foot fault? Wave the flag over your head and point to the end line where the fault occurred.
2. THE BALL IS IN OR OUT:
The Rules State:
"The ball is “out” when the part of the ball which contacts the floor is completely outside the boundary lines."
If the line judge sees any part of ball touch the line, it's "in," (even if the super slow-motion replay reveals that it only touched the line after compression).
Question:
A ball is hit very hard and touches the outside edge of the line. I called it "in" because I saw the ball touch the line, but this guy tried to convince me that it was "out" because the ball's initial infinitesimal point of contact was outside the line, and that the ball only touched the line after it compressed. What's the call?
Answer:
You made the right call. USA Volleyball rules on this matter simply state: "The ball is 'in' when it touches the floor of the playing court including the boundary lines....[The ball is out when] no part of the ball contacts either a boundary line or the area within the boundary lines." Notice the word choice: "touches the floor," "contacts" and "no part."
Question:
I saw a ball hit the floor just outside the line. I called it "out," but some other guy tried to convince me it was "in" because part of the ball was hanging over and shadowing the line on contact.
Answer:
You made the right call. It's "out" since the ball did not contact the sideline (or the area within the boundary lines). There is no "ball shadow," "overhang" or "infinite vertical sideline plane" verbiage in the rules!
TRY THIS TIP:
With the speed of the game many times it is difficult to make the call when you are following the ball. Once you realize a ball is headed to either the end line or side line, look to the line, pick up the ball from your peripheral vision and watch the line. That allows you to better focus on the ball's impact point and make a better call.
What do you do?
If the ball is in,
point the flag down and forward at the court.
If the ball is out, raise the flag over your head.
3. THE BALL INTO OR OVER THE ANTENNA:
The Rules State:
"The ball is “out” when it crosses the vertical plane of the net either partially or totally outside the crossing space."
In plain English, a ball that touches the antenna is out. Pretend there is an imaginary line extending up from the antenna. Any ball that touches this imaginary line is out. In the example to the right, all balls are out except the green ball.
What do you do? If the ball passes over the antenna and is out? Wave the flag over your head and point to the antenna.
4. THE BALL IS TOUCHED ON BLOCK AND GOES OUT OF BOUNDS:
One of the most difficult calls is a tipped ball that goes out of bounds. Many tips are slight and are hard to detect without paying close attention to every attack.
There are a couple of things to watch for: a tipped ball may change direction slightly either side to side or up. A second sign may be a change in the spin of the ball. The only time when this really matters is when the ball goes out of bounds after the touch.
What do you do? If you detect a ball was touched on a block and progresses out of bounds. Raise the flag in front of you and place your other hand, palm down, on the top of the flag.
FINALLY, THE PLAY WAS TOO FAST. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL:
In the end there may be times no matter how much you are focused where you are blocked from seeing the play or did not see what happened.
What do you do? If you cannot make a call signal that fact by crossing your arms.