The 1st referee warned a player for minor misconduct going directly to STAGE 2 of the minor misconduct procedures, and showing the player a yellow card, to be recorded on the score sheet.
Is this a correct action by the 1st referee?
Ruling
This is a correct action by the referee. Such minor misconducts must be controlled by the 1st referee.
The yellow card must be recorded.
The 1st referee may give a verbal warning to the team via the game captain (stage 1) if the minor misconduct is of a general nature.
Although, depending of the seriousness of minor misconduct he/she may start with stage 2 showing a yellow card directly to the concerned player or team member through the game captain.
Rules 21.1, 21.2
The 2nd referee observed an attempted deception (a blocker pulled the net) and whistled for the attacking team to win the rally. The 1st referee then signaled a warning to the player by using a yellow card.
Is this the correct penalization for him/her?
Ruling
The decision of the 1st referee was not correct. The rally should have been won by the attacking team because of the net contact by the opposite player which interfered with the play. The blocker then should have received a penalty for the rude conduct of attempting to mislead the referees.
Rules 21.2.1, 21.3
The Coach of ‘A’ stood up at the end of a rally and waved his arms in a manner that suggested disgust with the referee’s decision.
Is this allowed?
Ruling
The coach should be allowed to express certain normal responses and the referee should just calm down him/her without any further consequences.
But , if the response is judged to be minor misconduct reaching the stage 2 level, the coach should be warned by the 1st referee by use of a yellow card. If repeated, he should be penalized with a red card for rude conduct.
Rules 5.2, 21.1, 21.2, 21.3
Between sets a penalty for rude conduct was given by the 1st referee to Team ‘A’ which had the first service for the next set.
What happens next?
Ruling
Sanctions imposed between sets are set against the next set. Thus, before the first service, the 1st referee should signal the penalty for team A. The team B gains one point, rotates and serves.
The following is a summary of infractions which occur between sets, the penalties for which must be recorded on the score sheet:
Warning against a member of any team (yellow card).
Penalty against a serving team member. The receiving team gains a point, rotates and gains the service.
Penalty against a receiving team member. Point awarded to the serving team.
Penalties against each team no matter in which order.
Each team gains a point (score 1-1) and each team rotates one position.
The score is counted only when each team has been penalized.
After the end of a rally, the setter pulled down the bottom of the net.
Should this have been a fault?
Ruling
No. Because the net touch shown on the video occurred after the rally, cannot be considered as a technical fault.
Regarding the misconduct aspect according to Rule 21.3, the 1st referee has the authority to sanction a player according to the seriousness of the offence.
Pulling down the net may be a normal emotional reaction of a disappointed player and can be controlled by the smooth refereeing. In some cases, intentional pulling down of the net may be considered as a rude conduct, e.g during the rally misleading the referee and/or the opponent.
Rules 21.2, 21.2.1, 21.3, Refereeing Guidelines and Instructions 24.7
A player walked towards the 1st referee gesturing wildly and shouting to him even after a warning.
How should we consider this action?
Ruling
This should be regarded as Offensive Conduct, and sanctioned by Expulsion, red and yellow cards jointly.
Rules 21.1, 21.2, 21.3
A player was expelled directly from the court with no prior warning.
How should we regard a subsequent minor misconduct from any other member of the same team?
Ruling
The 1st referee should normally try to prevent a team from reaching the sanctioning level.
However, should a clear case of offensive conduct be committed in the first instance, the referee must expel the player without a previous sanction.
The 1st referee may issue a warning to other team members after the expulsion – but once the yellow card is shown, it may not be shown again to any member of the team.
Rule 21
Player No 5 was expelled from the set.
Where does this player go after leaving the court?
Ruling
The expelled player must return to the team dressing room (escorted by the Reserve Referee) for the duration of the set in progress. After the end of the set, this player must return to the competition area.
Rule 21.3.2.1, D9a
At the service hit, the 2nd referee whistles a position fault against the receiving team. The coach protests angrily and argues with the 2nd referee that his team’s positions were correct “according to the new rules”, and he went beyond any limits telling the referee repeatedly: “You don’t know the rules”.
Ruling
This is a case where the 1st referee needs to protect the 2nd referee.
The coach’s actions and words go beyond an acceptable level. By allowing this behaviour it makes the coach the focus of everyone’s attention. Despite the R2 taking a reasoned approach to explain to the Game Captain, the coach continued his protests, and attempts to undermine the R2 decision.
The 1st referee should have sanctioned with a Penalty this rude behavior from the coach.
Rule 21
After the match one team captain showed very unsportsmanlike behavior towards the 1st referee.
What is the correct procedure of the 1st referee?
Ruling
The player must still be sanctioned in some way.
However, for FIVB events, since the match is regarded as not finished by the last whistle of the referees, the behavior of the team captain must be reported to the FIVB Technical Delegate, and the details of the misconduct recorded in the REMARKS box of the score sheet. The FIVB Control Committee has a range of sanctions at its disposal, including suspension from the Competition.
The Libero replacement was sitting on the bench.
The 1st referee sanctioned him by issuing a penalty. The player did not stop his behavior and applauded the referee. The 1st referee sanctioned him with an expulsion. The expelled player continued the behavior and received a disqualification.
What is the correct procedure to continue the match?
Ruling
Since the Libero cannot play in the front court, the expelled or disqualified player must be substituted immediately, by a regular or exceptional substitution.
This can be done without the Libero having to leave the court, or the team having to play without a replacement player.
After the administration of the sanction, the coach (or captain) should, by use of the appropriate hand signal, simply inform the relevant referee about which number of player is substituting for the disqualified player. This is recorded on the score sheet.
Rules 6.4.3, 15.5.2, 15.8, 21.3.3.1