The first referee carries out his/her functions standing on a referee's stand located at one end of the net on the opposite side to the scorer.
His/her view must be approximately 50 cm above the net.
23.2.1 The first referee directs the match from the start until the end. He/she has authority over all members of the refereeing team and the members of the teams.
During the match the first referee’s decisions are final. He/she is authorized to overrule the decisions of other members of the refereeing team, if it is noticed that they are mistaken.
The first referee may even replace a member of the refereeing team who is not performing his/her functions properly.
23.2.2 The first referee also controls the work of the ball retrievers and quick moppers.
23.2.3 The first referee has the power to decide any matters involving the game, including those not provided for in the Rules.
23.2.4 The first referee shall not permit any discussion about his/her decisions. (FIVB Casebook 1.05)
However, at the request of the game captain, the first referee will give an explanation on the application or interpretation of the Rules upon which he/she has based the decision. (VC Guideline 5.1; 5.3)
If the game captain does not agree with this explanation and chooses to protest against such decision, he/she must immediately reserve the right to file and record this protest at the conclusion of the match. The first referee must authorize this right of the game captain (Rules 5.1.2.1 & 5.1.3.2).
23.2.5 The first referee is responsible for determining before and during the match whether the playing area, equipment and the conditions meet playing requirements.
23.3.1 Prior to the match, the first referee:
23.3.1.1 inspects the conditions of the playing area, the balls and other equipment; (VC Guidelines 1.1; 2.1; 2.3; 2.5; 4.4; 4.6)
23.3.1.2 performs the toss with the team captains;
23.3.1.3 controls the teams’ warming up. (VC Guidelines 4.5; 7.1)
23.3.2 During the match, the first referee is authorized:
23.3.2.1 to issue warnings to the teams;
23.3.2.2 to sanction misconduct and delays; (VC Guidelines 5.2; 7.3)
23.3.2.3 to decide upon:
a) the faults of the server and of the positions of the serving team, including the screen
b) the faults in playing the ball
c) the faults above the net, and the faulty contact of the player with the net, primarily (but not exclusively) on the attacker’s side
d) the attack hit faults of the Libero and back-row players
e) the completed attack hit made by a player on a ball above the net height coming from an overhand pass with fingers by the Libero in his/ her front zone
f) the ball crossing completely the lower space under the net (Rule 8.4.5)
g) the completed block by back row players or the attempted block by the Libero
h) the ball that crosses the net totally or partly outside of the crossing space to the opponent’s court or contacts the antenna on his/her side of the playing court
i) the served ball and the 3rd hit passing over or outside the antenna on his/ her side of the court
23.3.3 At the end of the match, he/she checks the score sheet and signs it.